Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 504

Blitz for Affinity Bird in a Gilded Cage

October 22 Guest blogA Soul Unsung http://soulunsung.blogspot.com



October 24 Blitz
Laurie, Meg & Caity www.readergirlsblog.com
Sapphyria's Book Reviews: http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
DEB SANDERShttp://DebSanders.com
Howling Books and Designhttp://howlingbooksanddesign.blogspot.ca/
A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Bookshttp://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/
Lisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
Roxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogpost.com
Fang-tastic bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogpsot.com
The Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com

Tour
October 25 PromoBlooding Book Reviewshttp://frankieblooding.wordpress.com/
October 26 PromoAnatea's Bookshelf ~ http://anateasbookshelf.blogspot.com
October 27 Guest blogYaReadshttp://www.yareads.com/
October 28 Promo and reviewLaurie, Meg & Caity www.readergirlsblog.com
October 29 Guest blog and reviewMichelle’s Paranormal Vault of Bookshttp://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com/ 




Affinity: Bird in a Gilded CageAffinity Book #1Mary E. Merrell
Genre:  YA Urban Fantasy
Publisher:  Morningglory PublishersCover Artist:  Dara England 
Book Description:
The crows followed Talon around. Everywhere. When he graduated from high school, Talon moved to Sacramento to work with his Uncle Nate. The birds were there. He recognized the same straggly-tailed old crow that had followed him since junior high. Iris Yorita, who lived in his mother's neighborhood called their ability an AFFINITY, claimed it was a gift from God, and they should use it to help people. Iris' animal was the snake. Talon thought she was out of her mind. How could a bunch of mangy crows or slimy snakes help anyone?
When a thief targeted the people in his uncle's neighborhood, Talon became the main suspect. It was time to put Iris' theory to the test. Find out who was robbing their neighbors and clear his name. As Talon learned to communicate with his crows, it became clear that something more sinister than mere robbery was going on. It would take Talon, Iris, and their new friend Chloe, who communicated with raccoons, to discover what really was happening in Talon's new neighborhood.
Talon would discover how strong his ability was and how complete communicating with his chosen animal made him feel. He would meet more people with an affinity like him, each with a chosen animal of their own. By the time the mystery was solved, Talon would forge new friendships, learn not all was what it seemed and risk his life to save his friends.


Excerpt
Talon took his usual seat on the couch. The television was on but the sound muted. When his uncle returned, he held an old, jacked-up photo album, the cover propped open by yellowed papers. He stopped in front of Talon.“Uncle Nate. Listen.” Talon stood up and met his uncle’s blue gaze and braced himself to be made fun of, for his uncle to laugh his ass off. “I can communicate with crows.” Okay. There. He had said it. First time ever. “I know.”“What?” Talon dropped back onto the couch, sinking into the cushion as he cradled Scraggy close to his chest. “Well, I didn’t exactly know you’ve been talking with them, but I’ve known you’ve got some kind of weird relationship with them. I’ve been waiting for you to spill it, kid. I’ve seen those black buzzards following you around like they was waiting for you to croak or something.”“Why didn’t you say anything?” Talon felt...disappointed. As if everyone knew except him. Like he was a big joke or something.“Don’t get all butt-hurt. I figured you’d tell me when you were ready.”Uncle Nate plopped down next to Talon like nothing bizarre was happening. “Look at this.” He put the photo album on his knees, opened the worn cover and carefully put the papers and news clippings on the end table. Sticky paper held old black and white photographs in place as Uncle Nate flipped the pages.“Do you know what our last name means?” he asked. When Talon didn’t answer, Uncle Nate put the book on Talon’s legs, keeping far from the crow’s sharp beak and pointed to an old picture. He tapped his finger on the man standing there. Behind the man was a big, black bird perched on a fence. “Our last name means crow or raven. It’s the genus for large black birds.” Talon swallowed and took back all the crappy things he had just thought about his uncle. “Your great-grandfather claimed he could talk to these birds. Everyone thought he was nuts. Our grandmother, your great-grandmother told us the family secret when we were in grade school. Your father and I. Of course, we were warned if we ever said anything the crows would come and peck our eyeballs right out of our heads.” He widened his eyes at Talon, took on a spooky voice and waggled both his hands next to his head. “Or you’d be driven crazy by the birds, oouuuuweee aaahhh.”Scraggy cawed and struggled a little.When Talon didn’t laugh or smile at his joke, he continued, “Your father and I used to imagine what it was like if we could control the birds,” he said in a soft voice. “You don’t really control them.” Talon ran his finger across the picture of his great-grandfather. “It’s more like a connection with them.” He let his mind touch briefly with Scraggy, sending comforting thoughts. The bird quieted down. “Right on. When did it start?”“In middle-school.” Talon turned the page, looking for more pictures with a strange black bird.“You won’t find anymore pictures of the bird. Believe me. We searched through this many-a-time. But you might be interested in this.” He handed Talon a small black leather-bound book. “Your great-grandfather’s journal. It sounded like a lot of rambling to me, but maybe you’d understand. With your ability and all.”

About the Author:
Mary E. Merrell lives in the Central Valley of California with her husband, two dogs and four cats. She has two grown sons, Everette Merrell and Richard Mickelson who is married to a great girl, Brooke. Mary has worked at various jobs, selling furniture, a meat company and a manufacturing company. It wasn’t until she started selling real estate that her Real Estate Paranormal Mystery Series came to life in that old, vacant home. She enjoys reading all types of genres and writes Paranormal Mysteries and YA Urban Fantasies. When she’s not writing, she’s working on her decorative planter business LivingCreations with her husband, gardening and playing soccer. Please visit her website to see what she’s working on next. www.maryemerrell.com, or contact her through Facebook and Twitter.
www.maryemerrell.com   
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10227711-mary-merrell
http://twitter.com/MaryMerrell7

Interview and Giveaway with Angela Orlowski Peart

What inspired you to write this book?
My infatuation with mythology, the idea of a “rivalry” between summer and winter seasons, overall appreciation for paranormal and fantasy Young Adult literature, and that nagging need to write an epic novel.
Please tell us about your latest release.
Forged by Greed is the first book in The Forged Series. It is a Young Adult paranormal romance, although it’s far from a syrupy-sweet love story. The plot is firmly set in reality, which also makes this book contemporary. There are elements of high fantasy and a lot of mythology as well. Add a good dose of action to the mix and you have a book that should appeal to a large audience.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I honestly love all my characters—the protagonists, the antagonists, the secondary characters. I made each of them unique, gave them a different personality, and a distinctive set of flaws and strengths. But if I had to choose one that I have enjoyed writing a bit more than the others, it would be Penelope. She’s a lot like me so writing her felt more natural than the others.
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
There was a lot of research prior and during the writing of the novel. I have explored the subject of natural disasters (there are plenty in the novel) and various aspects of different mythologies. I have watched countless videos of professional skateboarders, while writing the scene in which my characters skateboard in the park. There was a lot of small research like how do the most popular chocolates look from Dilettante on Broadway in Seattle, or what is the current menu at Subway.
What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes?
Definitely rock climbing. I have developed an interest for it while researching the terminology and various rock climbing techniques. My male protagonist, Jatred, and his uncle Tyrrell are both into rock climbing. There is a scene when they rock climb and the earthquake hits. The scene is pretty intense.
Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
Although I love good fantasy books, I didn’t want The Forged Series to take place in another reality all together. Instead, I created this secretive ancient society of Shape Shifters, living among humans in present time. To add the high fantasy element, I gave the Summer and Winter Goddesses their own Realms, where the Shifters can be summoned from the Human World.
Do you write in different genres?
I mostly write Young Adult books, but I like to enmesh different, although related, subgenres to create a more interesting and appealing to a wider audience story. In the Forged Series I interlace paranormal romance with elements of high fantasy, while the story is firmly set in today’s reality, which puts it also in contemporary subgenre.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Chocolate, sunshine, and stilettos.
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
I like to read in bed right before I fall asleep. But because I am so addicted to audiobooks, I basically “read” them everywhere: while driving my car, shopping, running errands, or doing housework.
What can readers expect next from you?
The second book in The Forged Series, Forged by Synergy, is scheduled for publication in the early summer of 2013. There are new developments of the story that take root in the ending of the first book. There is a new conflict, and all the characters—the main and the secondary—are forced to deal with the brand new personal challenges. Plus there will be a new antagonist.
I am also working on a novella introducing a new sci-fi series. This one will be published in spring of 2013. The story takes place some 50 years from now, when our world is provided with an amazing technology, but human flaws, feelings, and relationships are still similar to what we all currently live with. 
Where can readers find you on the web?
The communication with my readers is very important to me. I write for them, and not for myself, so I want to hear what they think about my published work and also what they would like me to write. I can be found on:my website www.angelapeart.com (subscribe to my newsletter)my author Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angela-Orlowski-Peart/280412012074496Twitter https://twitter.com/Angela_Peart
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Absolutely. Here is an excerpt from the earthquake scene mentioned in one of my answers above:Jatred held onto the wall, his body pressed flat against it. His grip was not secure enough, and he felt his fingers slipping from the rock. He gritted his teeth in pain when a piece of stone hit his shoulder. A few smaller ones bounced off his helmet. Another piece struck him at the nape of his neck, cutting into his unprotected flesh. Jatred lost his footing and fell off the wall again, yelling in frustration. Tyrrell belayed him immediately. He strove to stay upright on the shaking ground. Jatred bared his teeth. He felt the stinging pain in his neck and warm blood seeping through the back of his t-shirt. “Jatred, get down! Now.” Tyrrell yelled. “Use a descender. Fast.”“I’ve got the rescue eight.”“That will do, son. Use it.”Jatred fumbled in his belt. He unclipped the descender and, with a speed never seen in humans, wove the rope through it. Pieces of rock kept falling, shattering on the quaking earth. Jatred slid down his rope, as if in a fast elevator. His feet slammed into the ground. He tumbled down, unfastening the rope from his harness. Tyrrell unclipped his end of the rope. He rushed to Jatred. Together, they scurried away from the rock, staying clear of the trees. Their eyes darted from side to side. One of the trees, no more than five yards from them, toppled down. It hit the two others. Several large branches broke off of them. The tree smacked the soil beneath with a terrifying clamor. Both men shouted and backed in the opposite direction. They dropped to the ground, scanning the area in search for any immediate danger. “Why is it still shaking? It’s been over two minutes.” Jatred yelled over the grinding noise of the earthquake.

October 1 PromoFreda's Voicehttp://fredasvoice.blogspot.ca
October 4 Guest PostStuffed Shelveswww.stuffedshelves.com
October 7 ReviewBooks, Books, and More Bookshttp://dream-reader-dreamer2229.blogspot.com/
October 8 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
October 11 PromoSapphyria's Book Reviewshttp://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
October 12 ReviewMommy and Wehttp://www.mommyandwelikeit.com
October 13 Interview Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviewshttp://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com
October 14 Interview/ReviewCrazy Four Bookshttp://www.crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com
October 16 Interview Blooding Book Reviews
October 17 PromoCover2CoverBlogwww.cover2coverblog.blogspot.com
October 20 Review and Guest PostHappy Tails & Taleswww.magluvsya03.wordpress.com
October 21 Guest PostYa Bteween the Linesyabetweenthelines.blogspot.com
October 23 InterviewFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
October 25 ReviewHowling Books and Design http://howlingbooksanddesign.blogspot.ca/
October 26 Guest Post and ReviewAlways a Bookloverhttp://alwaysabooklover.blogspot.com
October 27 Guest PostNomi’s Paranormal Palacehttp://nomisparanormalpalace.blogspot.com.au
October 29 Reviewhttp://moonstarsfantasyworld.blogspot.com/
October 30 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com



Forged by Greed
by Angela Orlowski Peart

Their choice had been taken away long before they were born.
BLURB
Two Seattle 16-year-old Shape Shifters, Jatred and Jasmira, are torn between following their hearts and protecting the order of the world. The path of the star-crossed lovers leads only to destruction.
The ancient Shape Shifter Races—the Winter wolves and the Summer leopards— live among humans and fit perfectly into modern life, while keeping secret societies with their own laws and traditions.
Two Goddesses, Crystal and Amber command their respective Races. One is on a quest to tilt the scale of power to her side. The other will never let it happen, even if it means sacrificing Jatred and Jasmira’s love.
The Amulet commissioned to bring stability into the world remains hidden and concealed with the help of advanced technology. Jatred is the guardian of the Amulet and key to the Goddesses’ conflict.
When the forces of nature are disrupted, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions rake the world.  The Goddesses go to war and summon all their Shifters to join in the conflict. Jatred and Jasmira must fight not only for their love but to protect the future of both Races and humankind.


About the Author:
Angela Orlowski-Peart was born and raised in Poland. She describes herself as “European born, American by choice”. She was just seven-years-old when she decided to learn English to translate her favorite Polish fairytales.
Angela is a Young Adult fiction writer. She completed her first YA paranormal romance novel, Forged by Greed, which is scheduled for publication on September 20, 2012. It is the first book in The Forged Series. Angela writes in multiple genres, including paranormal, fantasy, urban fiction, sci-fi, and short stories. She is a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Western Washington Chapter (http://www.scbwi.org), and several authors’ and readers’ networking groups on Linkedin and Goodreads. 
Angela loves reading good books almost as much as writing them. She can’t decide which is her favorite season—summer or fall. She speaks with Polish accent, but loves listening to the Southern drawl.
She is passionate about watercolor painting, fashion—especially stilettos, rock climbing, environment, and organic food and gardening. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, two children, and a very independent and chronically curious cat.
Angela can be found on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Linkedin and Goodreads.
https://www.angelapeart.com
https://www.facebook.com/#!/AngelaOrlowskiPeart
https://twitter.com/#!/Angela_Peart
https://plus.google.com/u/0/#104353393440599372773/posts
http://pinterest.com/angelapeart/
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=72040634&trk=tab_pro
http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3228200-angela-orlowski-pearta Rafflecopter giveaway

Ten Fun Funky Ways to Celebrate Halloween This Month

Ten Fun Funky Ways to Celebrate Halloween This Month


1. Buy a stash of your favorite chocolate for the big day and then eat it semi-immediately as your resolve to save it for Halloween night crumbles.  Repeat as necessary. 
2.  Organize a “Thriller” flash mob at your local mall or university.  Boil up a head of cauliflower ahead of time and during the flash mob, take a bite out of it, and then throw it on the floor and moan, “Braaaaaiiiins!”
3. Buy or make a costume.  Wear it out in public weeks before Halloween.  When anyone tells you it’s not Halloween yet, whisper, “I can see dead people.”
4.  Pull out your decorations from the attic and garage and then leave them up all year.  When people tell you Halloween was five months ago, look baffled and say, “Really?  I didn’t know that.”
5.  Play a CD of organ music at 3 AM and crank it up as loud as it will go.  When the police arrive, answer the door with a mask over half your face and speak only in French. 
6. Throw a scary movie party and show The Ring.   Just before the end, excuse yourself to go to the bathroom.  Call your home phone (if you have one) or a guest’s cell phone. 
7.  Make festive ice cubes for your party by placing a dead fly or bug of your choice in each section of an ice cube tray and adding water or Coke.  Don’t tell your guests the bugs are real.  They’ll just assume they’re plastic.
8.  Bake a spider web cake.  Instead of decorating it with candy spiders, use real ones.  Fuzzy tarantulas work best.  Don’t tell your guests about your big switcharoo. 
9.  Set up a bowling alley right in your very own front yard for the big night.  Use two-liter soft drink bottles for bowling pins and small pumpkins for bowling balls.  Or dress up as Marie Antoinette and use severed heads instead of pumpkins.  Shout, “Let them eat cake!” every time you roll a strike.
10.  Whistle the theme music to The X-Files at work, at home, on the bus, on the train, or in the car pool until a screaming mob bearing torches and pitchforks hunts you down.
 The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama (A Cleo Tidwell Paranormal Mystery) by  Susan Abel Sullivan . Coming October, 2012.“Grab a peanut butter and banana sandwich and settle in for a cozy mystery full of zany characters, haunted paintings, and a big dose of Southern humor.” — Heidi Ruby Miller, author of Greenshift and AmbasadoraWho knew one gaudy Velvet Elvis could lead to such a heap of haunted trouble?When Cleo Tidwell said, “I do,” for the third time, she had no idea her marriage vows would be tested by a tacky piece of art. But Cleo’s not the kind of woman to let a velvet-offense-against-good-taste just hang — oh no, she’s on a mission to oust the King. Trouble is, Elvis won’t leave the building. And he’s attractin’ all manner of kooks, fanatics, and lookie loos to Cleo’s doorstep, including the entire congregation of the Church of the Blue Suede Shoes.Everyone wants a piece of the painting, but Cleo’s starting to suspect that whatever’s haunting the Velvet Elvis wants a piece of her husband. Why else would her hubby trade in his car for a ’56 pink Caddy, moonlight as an Elvis impersonator, and develop a sudden hankering for fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches? Certainly it can’t be anything as simple as a mid-life crisis, because Cleo is not getting divorced again — her mother would never let her hear the end of it.Cleo’s life is all shook up by crazies with death threats, psychic warnings “from beyond,” kidnapping attempts, invitations to join the Blue Shoe Loonies, and even murder! Cleo’s in a fight for her life, her marriage, and the perseverance of good taste everywhere.___Read the digital edition for $5.99 from these ebook retailers:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | KoboRead the trade paperback edition on October 30, 2012.
Susan Abel Sullivan lives in a Victorian house in northeastern Alabama with two dogs, way too many cats, and a couple of snakes. Her work has graced the pages of Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, ASIM Best of Horror: Vol II, New Myths, Writers’ Journal, and others. For more about Susan Abel Sullivan visit her author page or check out her collection of short fiction Cursed: Wickedly Fun Stories.___Praise for The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama“Part mystery, part ghost story, this humorous whodunnit will have you humming Elvis tunes and watching for the King himself to come gyrating through your door.”
— Jason Jack Miller, award-winning author of Hellbender and The Devil and Preston Black“Cleo Tidwell has taste, sass, and heart. Unfortunately, she also has a velvet painting of Elvis. So begins a fast-paced, fun, and compulsively readable romp. The Burg gave us Stephanie Plum, Las Vegas gave us Lucky O’Toole, and now, Allister, AL, presents us with Cleo Tidwell.”
— Lane Robins, critically acclaimed author of Maledicte, Kings and Assassins, and the Shadows Inquiries series (as Lyn Benedict)“Mystery, murder, mayhem, and…Elvis? Cozy in for a laugh-filled evening as Susan Abel Sullivan spins a ghost tale with Southern attitude and good style that you won’t be able to put down.”
— Heidi Ruby Miller, author of Greenshift and Ambasadora“You’ll love this heroine and her quirky family and be clamoring for more!”
— Rebecca Roland, author of Shards of History“Imaginative, suspenseful, and funny … a unique, must-have addition to your to-be-read stack!”
— Kelly L. Stone, author of Grave Secret and Time to Write: No Excuses, No Distractions, No More Blank Pages“Fans of Stephanie Plum and the paranormal will love The Haunted Housewives of Allister, Alabama!“
— Sherry Peters, author of Silencing Your Inner SaboteurPraise for Susan Abel Sullivan“A writer blessed with imagination and wit.”
— Hugo Award Winner Allen Steele, author of THE COYOTE TRILOGY“Sullivan … delivers a sense of humor, wit and playfulness that cannot be beat.”
— Good Choice Reading___

Guest blog and Giveaway with Amber Skyze and Katalina Leon

Ideas When You Least Expect Themby Amber Skyze
I’m often asked where do find ideas. I find them everywhere and sometimes they find me.My most recent book, Claimed by Dragons, co-authored with Katalina Leon, came from a visit to Salem MA.
My husband and I wanted to visit Salem during October when we knew the town would be full of the Halloween spirit. The shops were hopping with things to do. If you wanted your palm read or a tarot reading, Salem was the place to be.
My teenager and her two best friends were along for the trip with us. They visited a shop where the owner told them to pick a stone out of a black velvet bag. She instructed the girls to make a wish and return the stone to nature and their wish would come true.
When I told Kat about this, we both said, “Wouldn’t that make for a fun book.” One book idea turned into four and so began the Bag of Tricks series. Four women on a reunion in Salem. Four stones that will lead them to their true love.
Most of the time I’m not looking for ideas, they just seem to find me. :o)
by Katalina Leon
I get my ideas all over the place, but I love the challenge of working with a partner’s ideas and developing them as far as we can go. I’ve done that for years with various mixed-media art installations and group art shows and now I’m learning to do it as a co-author with Amber Skyze and The Bag Of Tricks book series. I get a huge hit of inspiration from the people I’m fortunate enough to work with. Working with Amber was a dream. She’s so creative, modest and open to collaboration. She’s incredibly trusting as well. She handed me a beautifully written 32k story and allowed me to expand it. We each have our own areas of expertise. Amber has years more experience than me and I’m honored to be working with her. A dragon-shifter novel was all her idea, her characters and plot. I was given a great structure to embellish on. I added in-depth dragon mythology, world building for the Marduko dragons, action scenes and additional sexual content, because an erotic adventure must be erotic and Claimed By Dragons certainly is. I’m super proud of our lovechild. Claimed By Dragons is a high-octane addition to the growing dragon-shifter sub-genre and I hope a few of you will give it a try.
Excerpt:
(In this scene Jael has just pulled a stone from the wish bag. Witch Casey offers to tell Jael’s fortune.)
“Let’s sit in the corner where we can have some peace.” Witch Casey steered Jael toward a small table set with a melted tallow candle and two chairs. She encouraged Jael to take the chair facing the window.Jael sat. Her gaze drifted toward Devon and Becca, who were standing on the far side of the shop trying desperately not to look like they were eavesdropping when clearly they were.Witch Casey sat opposite Jael.Jael looked closely at Witch Casey for the first time and noticed how beautiful the older woman was. Witch Casey had curly red hair that cascaded to her shoulders and piercing blue eyes swept with a thick fringe of black lashes that looked convincingly real. Something about her crisp profile reminded Jael of the classic beauties of old Hollywood. “You have such a wonderful face. May I ask where you’re from?”“I’m originally from Greece. Do I look familiar?” A brilliant smile lit Witch Casey’s face. “I used to be known as the second most beautiful woman in the world.”“Were you a runner-up in a Miss Universe pageant?” Jael asked innocently.“No.” Witch Casey shook her head. “Helen of Troy was hailed as the most beautiful woman in the world, and I don’t begrudge her the title. Helen was breathtaking. No one could argue with that. I earned the dismal title of ‘Cassandra,’ the second most beautiful woman in the world, after I spurned Apollo’s amorous advances.”“Apollo who?”“The Apollo!” Witch Casey looked scandalized. “My goodness, there’s only one. I must say, being hailed as the king of the gods, driving a golden chariot, and having grabby hands are a bad combination.”“You mean Apollo, the Greek sun god?”“Yes, Apollo. Who else would I be talking about? Apollo came on too strong, and I rejected him. In different but certain words I told him he was a jerk! I’m one of the few women who did and lived to tell the tale. He’s a vain and vengeful man, and of course he punished me for my honesty. When Apollo granted me the gift of prophecy, he meant it as a curse. I’m cursed to tell the truth to all I speak to, whether they want to hear it or not. Over the years speaking the truth certainly has cost me friendships and ruined a few wedding receptions. I won’t deny prophecy can be problematic. But little did Apollo know that I would learn to make good use of the gift and prevail.”Jael’s heart dropped. She was wasting her time sitting with some crazy lady. Damn. It was too late to get up and run, though she wanted to. She hoped against hope that even a madwoman might have some insight into her chaotic love life. It could happen. Sometimes the insane did speak lucent moments of truth. “What tarot card deck do you use—Rider or Thoth”“No cards.” Witch Casey wagged her raised finger in the air. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to use a more precise divination tool.”Witch Casey reached under the table and withdrew a round, tightly woven basket the size of a small pumpkin, removed the lid, reached inside, and pulled out a wriggling snake.“Whoa!” Jael gasped and bolted backward as a speckled gray snake hissed and slithered across the tabletop directly toward her.“Oh my God!” Devon and Becca burst into shocked laughter and rushed behind the counter to escape the snake.Witch Casey glanced around in alarm. “You’re not afraid of reptiles, are you?”“No, but you should have warned me!” Jael leaped against the wall as the snake slithered closer, flicking its blue tongue at her.“You are afraid of reptiles.” Witch Casey lifted her chin. “It’s a shame, because reptiles are such lovely creatures. People fear them for no proper reason at all. For instance this snake is completely harmless, unless you’re a mouse.” She looked Jael up and down. “You’re clearly not a mouse, so there’s nothing for you to worry about. Please, sit and listen with reverence to what this cunning little snake has to say to you.”Holy crap, this woman is wacko. Jael bit her lower lip. “No more slithery surprises?” Witch Casey pronounced with certainty, “If your future is half as bizarre as I suspect, there will be many shocking surprises!”Jael swallowed a tense breath. “What do you mean?”Witch Casey picked up the snake and brought the wiggly creature to her ear. “The snake is telling me that you have a date with an ancient destiny. This is so refreshing.” She sat silently for a moment as if she were listening intently to the snake. “I’ve never heard talk quite like this. The snake says the lovers who are coming into your life are old souls you’ve agreed to be with in this life, and the best part is...” She giggled as the snake’s flicking tongue tickled her ear. “Oh, you wouldn’t believe what this snake is telling me. This is utter madness!” She burst into a fit of giggles. “Coming from me, that’s saying a lot.” She seemed to struggle to compose herself and spoke with a sense of importance. “The snake says you shall come to love the scaly ones. You will be bound to them in fortune and blood. Isn’t that sweet? You’re going to be a reptile lover after all!”Jael was flummoxed. “Is that all the romantic advice I’m going to get? Love the scaly one?”“Not one. There will be two masters of your heart.” Witch Casey’s demeanor sobered. “Two equals shall claim you as their own, and you mustn’t resist. This love was meant to be.”Jael rolled her eyes. “Two snakes are going to fight over me? Terrific, I can’t wait. No more lonely nights for me.”“No!” Witch Casey crossed her hands over her heart and sighed. “It’s not what you think. I’m cursed to speak like a madwoman, but I do speak the truth! In a hot and ancient land, where beasts roam free and the grass sways above your shoulders, you shall know ecstasy with a race of men who once soared above the earth in great numbers. It is your privilege that you shall love the best of the high plains Marduko.”Jael shrugged impatiently. This was complete bullshit. “What’s a Marduko?”“Ancient royalty from the Draca constellation. They were exiled here many millennia ago and forced to survive on their wits.”“Oh, those Marduko.” Jael played along. “I understand now. They’re not really snakes, are they? They’re more like handsome princes, am I right?” She tried desperately to get Devon and Becca to look her way and signal for them to rescue her from the madwoman.“Yes, exactly. That’s a better way to say it. The Marduko are like handsome princes.” Witch Casey enthusiastically nodded in agreement. “With wings and scales.”Jael huffed in disbelief. “Gee, I hope I recognize my mystery dates when I meet them.”“That’s the funny part.” Witch Casey cheered. “You probably won’t recognize them at all! The Marduko are a secretive race. They’ve had to be to survive. Their lives are constantly at risk. To this day they are hunted by a secret order of knights, and any woman they choose to love will also be asked to put her life on the line. The Marduko can appear completely human, and indeed, they all have human mothers. A casual observer would never notice them as anything unusual. Marduko males would never reveal themselves to any but the truest of hearts.” 
It’s not long before Jael life gets turned upside down. Beyond this Jael story really heats up fast!
Claimed By DragonsBag Of Tricks Book 2
Amber Skyze and Katalina Leon
Genre: Erotic-romance, paranormal, dragon-shifters, ménage & polyamory.
Publisher: Loose Id PublishingISBN: 978-1-61118-903-2
Number of pages: 286Word Count: 92k
Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs
Loose Id   All Romance eBooks  Amazon
Book Description:
In an odd Wiccan shop in Salem, Jael pulls an unusual stone from a witch’s wish bag. Little does she know her wildest dreams of adventure and a torrid affair with two gorgeous co-workers are about to come true—in spades.

Jael’s dreamy boss, Roarke offers her the assignment of a lifetime: a photo safari to Mount Kilimanjaro. The African scenery is stunning but the unexpected arrival of her two office crushes, Roarke and Kypton ignites her passion. Just as the trio is getting steamy at a beautiful waterfall, danger intervenes forcing the men to reveal their secret. They're dragons. And now, to save her life, they have no choice but to abduct a startled Jael to their mountain lair on Kilimanjaro.

In the dragons' love nest, Jael learns the truth about their origins and explores all the erotic possibilities two eager lovers can offer. Love awakens, but the guys are being stalked by a covert group of dragon hunters and withholding a life or death secret that will push Jael’s courageous heart and commitment to the limits.
Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices, menage (m/m/f).
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/F9iN7Ajq4o4
About the Authors:
Katalina Leon
I’m an artist, an author, mother and wife. I write for Loose Id Publishing and Ellora’s Cave. I try to bring a touch of the mystical and a big sense of adventure to everything I write because I believe there’s a bold, kick-ass heroine inside all of us who wants to take a wild ride with a strong worthy hero.
Night Owl Reviews Author page http://erotica.nightowlreviews.com/nor/Pages/Authors/Katalina-Leon.aspx
Seven Sexy Scribes blog http://sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com/?zx=9dc4c582426b5efe
Katalina’s blog http://katalinaleon111.blogspot.com/
Ellora’s Cave http://www.jasminejade.com/m-569-katalina-leon.aspx   
Facebook: www.facebook.com/katalina.leon.142
Amber Skyze
From a very young age, Amber Skyze began making up stories–the only child syndrome. Telling tall tales to all her friends she never dreamed of putting words on paper. In fact if anyone asked her if she would write when she grew up, she’d have laughed.
It wasn’t until raising children and reading all those romances that she decided–hey, I can write these. HA! Easier said than done.
When not crafting hot, steamy tales, this New York transplant now resides in Rhode Island with her husband, four children (who force her to work a day job), and three dogs.
She currently writes for Ellora’s Cave, Loose Id and is self-published.
www.amberskyze.com
http://amberskyze.blogspot.coma Rafflecopter giveaway

Now On Tour Demos City Blues by Jonathan Lister

Writers and Writing: Why We Suck So Much
Had my landlord not flooded my bathroom in a stunning display of either plumbing prowess or outright buffoonery, this post may have ended up on my own blog. This article landed here because of the book the spate of indoors rain destroyed – Anne Lamott’s “Bird By Bird.” This work is instantly my most reliable resource for writing. I panicked, wheezed, pretended everything was okay, pleaded, passed out, revived myself, soldiered on – all on the inside of course. I attempted to dry its water-soaked pages in my oven (good plan? I thought so). As I did so, my mind went over all the useful chapters I’d leaned on throughout my writing life. One chapter jostled to the front of the line:
Shitty First Drafts.
As a writer, you have to accept that you’re never going to get it right the first time. Failure is an important part of the game, as is the ton of crap lines you have to write just to get through to the good stuff. In her book, Lamott calls the image of a great writer sitting down at her desk and penning a bestseller on the first try a “fantasy of the uninitiated.” Writers are like baseball hitters: we fail much more than we succeed and the homeruns likely lead to million dollar contracts. Seldom have I ever known what I’m doing as a writer until I’ve finished the work. Despite all my best efforts, I may lay multiple bad eggs before one turns out to be golden. That’s the process, love it or leave it.
When I was writing Welcome to Demos, and its sequel, Demos City Blues, multiple characters ended up differently on the second and third draft. I even wrote an entire different version of the first book with an entirely different storyline! Sometimes, you just have to take the shiny little nuggets of goodness from that first draft, and scrap the rest. As you build the narrative, the shiny bits become larger, and the story becomes leaner on fat. Anne Lamott taught me there are no mistakes in writing, only drafts. She also taught me a few other things:
·        Quiet those voices in your head – they’ll only censor you and prevent the work from taking shape. Even if it takes all day, and a few drinks, calm thyself.
·        Don’t panic! You never have to get it right on the first try. Write whatever comes to mind.
·        Keep writing no matter what – don’t allow the voices in your head to convince you to stop. The unusable text has to come first before you can harvest all that sweet plot arc goodness.
·        You are not perfect, and neither is your writing.
That’s it! Simple right?            October 22 Tour IntroFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com 
October 22 Guest blog and reviewhttp://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com 
October 23 guest blogBelleBookshttp://www.bellebooksx.blogspot.com 
October 24 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com 
October 25 interview and reviewHappy Tails & taleshttp://magluvsya03.wordpress.com  
October 26 promoSapphyria's Book Reviewswww.saphsbookblog.blogspot.com
October 27 PromoBook Dream Land  www.booktimeforlife.blogspot.com
October 29 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com



Demos City Blues
Book Two Demos City SeriesJonathan Lister
Genre: Urban Fantasy
ASIN: B008J7EYDK
Number of pages: 232 (approx)Word Count: 83,735
Cover Artist: Nicholas Kay
Purchase Links: Amazon
Book Description:
War is coming to Demos City -- in more ways than one. Leon Gray struggles to balance a new job with helping his daughter Shauna navigate the landmine life of a full werewolf. Further complicating matters, a new Alpha has arrived in Demos, laying claim to the territory as her own -- including Leon. Meanwhile, the political information David Hastings unearthed may reveal a much darker truth than anyone expected. Demos City's corruption has deep roots, older than the bones of the town itself.
Can Gray and Hastings keep the city from tearing itself apart long enough to discover the source? Can it wait until Leon sees Shauna's high school play? As the first snow falls, the flakes may only have bloody footprints to greet them on the earth below.
About the Author
Jonathan Lister lives in the Philadelphia area and is a full-time writer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Shippensburg University and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing & Poetics from Naropa University. His work has appeared in outlets of USA Today, The Houston Chronicle, Matter, Square One and Image Magazine among others. He wrote his first two books in 2009 from midnight til 4 a.m. while waiting tables during the daylight hours. DEMOS CITY BLUES is his second urban fantasy novel. Jonathan drinks too much coffee and appreciates your time.

Book facebook: Welcome to Demos
Good reads: Author Page
Author Blog: Demos City

Guest Blog with J.T. Geissinger

Is He a Shape Shifter?
The prevailing logic has it that women are much more complicated than men, but when it comes to shape shifters, you can throw logic right out the window! They’re unpredictable by their very nature, so you might have a really hard time figuring out if that new hot guy you’ve been dating has a big surprise for you under those tight jeans he looks so good in…for instance, a tail!Here’s 5 sure-fire ways you can tell if your man is a shape shifter:1.     Does he purr, growl or claw when you scratch his back?Granted, plenty of guys make strange noises, but give your man a nice, long back scratch after dinner and see what he does. If he falls asleep: human. If he purrs, growls, howls or tears holes in your dress with his suddenly sharp fingernails as he throws you over his shoulder and heads for the bedroom: shifter. (And all around win-win.)  2.     Does he really, really, REALLY like his meat cooked rare?This might seem obvious, but only humans like their meat cooked. If he’s a werepanther, werewolf, weretiger or any other kind of were, his preference will be all raw, all the time. He’ll probably be trying to hide it, though, so invite him over for a home-cooked meal, then serve steak tartare with a lamb chop so rare it’s still moving, and see how fast he pounces. 3.     Can he find you in a crowd by your scent alone?A shifter’s sense of smell is so keen it can find a single drop of blood on a football field. A human male can usually only sniff out three things: beer, pizza and an easy woman. If your man can sense your presence, mood or state of mind without you saying a word, you might have a shifter on your hands. Hint: Skip the perfume, shifters like the smell of your skin much better.4.     Is he nocturnal?Does he describe himself as a night owl? Does he work the graveyard shift? Is he ready to party into the wee hours of the dawn while you’re struggling to keep your eyes open? If so, he might be a creature of the night, born and bred for darkness. Don’t worry, though, nocturnal creatures like to sleep during the day so you can power nap with him during your lunch hour. Or use the bed for something equally…relaxing. 5.     Are other animals afraid of him?Women typically love it when their dog (or cat) takes a shine to their new man. But if Spot or Fluffy absolutely loathes your guy and acts like Cujo or that cat from Pet Sematary when he’s around, it might mean you’re dealing with something wilder than you thought. You might have a real-live Alpha on your hands! Don’t panic, though, you can turn that mountain lion into a pussy cat with something no shifter can resist: You. Smile, be sweet, put on those sexy new heels you just bought and watch that wild thing be tamed. 



Edge of OblivionNight Prowler Novels, Book TwoJ.T. Geissinger
Genre: Paranormal RomancePublisher: Montlake Romance
ISBN: 1612184197ASIN: B007SX0246
Number of pages: 384Word Count: 98,000
Amazon
Book Description:


Morgan Montgomery is waiting to die. Branded a traitor by her tribe, the Ikati shape-shifter has no hope for mercy—until Jenna, the Ikati’s newly crowned queen and Morgan’s former ally, offers one last chance for redemption. Morgan must infiltrate the Rome headquarters of the Expurgari, the Ikati’s ancient enemy, to destroy them once and for all. The beautiful renegade has just a fortnight to complete her mission or forfeit her life. Because she does not travel alone…
Xander Luna is a trained assassin and the Ikati’s most feared enforcer, famed for his swift brutality and stony heart. Fiercely loyal, he is prepared to hate the traitor under his watch—until they come face to face. For Morgan Montgomery arouses something unexpected inside of him, something that threatens everything he believes in and the fate of the tribe itself: a love as powerful and passionate as it is forbidden.
Sensual, thrilling, and action-packed, Edge of Oblivion will enthrall readers with nail-biting suspense and heart-pounding passion.



About the Author:

A life-long lover of reading and a self-professed “book addict,” J.T. Geissinger didn’t realize her dream of writing a novel until a milestone birthday forced her to take stock of her goals in life. Always believing the right time to commit to putting pen to paper would magically announce itself, it took waking up one cold January morning with a shiny new zero as the second number in her age to kick start her determination.

More than a year and two unsold novels later, it was time to take stock again.

But her determination matched her initial procrastination, and she kept on writing and learning and trying to improve, trusting that if it was meant to be, it would be.

Then, during a trip to Italy in honor of their 10th wedding anniversary and the honeymoon she and her husband never took, she received an email that would change her life. It was from a literary agent, and it contained the three words every aspiring author longs to hear: “I loved it.”

The manuscript was sold to Montlake Romance who published it six months later. Hitting the Amazon bestseller lists in both the US and the UK within weeks of publication, Shadow’s Edge was book one of the Night Prowler Novels. Book two, Edge of Oblivion published October 2nd, and book three will follow in the spring of 2013. Three additional installations in the Night Prowler series are planned for the future.


www.jtgeissinger.com
www.facebook.com/JTGeissinger
www.twitter.com/JTGissinger
www.goodreads.com/JTGeissinger





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Blitz The Pagan Sorceress Slave Nano

Promo and reviewMy Escape http://myescape84.blogspot.com
guest blogButterfly-o-Meter Bookshttp://butterflyometerbooks.blogspot.com/
PromoKrystal's Enchanting Reads ... http://enchantingreads7.blogspot.com/
Interview and reviewwww.ThatsErotica.com 
Guest post about pagan holidayOn the BroomstickHttp://onthebroomstick.blogspot.com/
guest post about erotic pagan rituals (and review)Erzabets Enchantments Http://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot.com/
Promo and excerptGraveTells.com

Guest blogThe Solitary Bookworm thesolitarybookworm.com
Guest blog/ PromoLife-Love, Family, & Passionwww.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com
ReviewReadaholic's Reviews www.readaholicsreviews.com
PromoLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
PromoRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
PromoFang-tastic bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
PromoThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com

The Pagan Sorceress
Slave Nano
Genre: Historical/Paranormal
Publisher: House of EroticaASIN: B008Y25MDQ
Number of pages: 45Word Count: 15,260
Amazon.co.uk   Amazon.com  All Romance  Barnes & Noble
Book Description: 
  If you’re looking for an erotic read this Halloween then check out Slave Nano’s new release ‘The Pagan Sorceress’.  The action takes place on Samhain as archaeology student Sam sets out to re-enact a Pagan burial ceremony.
If the author of the Anglo-Saxon heroic tale Beowulf did erotica what might it have sounded like?  That’s the challenge author Slave Nano has set himself in his newly released novella ‘The Pagan Sorceress’.
Sam is about to carry out a strange experiment.  She is an archaeology student specialising in reconstructive archaeology and her idea is to recreate an Anglo-Saxon pagan burial ceremony.  It’s Samhain eve and the night of a full moon so it’s the perfect time to carry out such a ritual.  She enlists the help of her friend, Dan, and together they go off to the site of a burial mound where wonderful swords and sceptres were excavated many years ago.
A travelling story teller is at the court of a Saxon king.  He recites the tale of two soul-entwined lovers from an earlier, more chaotic, period when king’s warred amongst each other.  He tells the tragic tale of Cyneburh, Pagan sorceress and daughter of the mighty Pagan king Penda and Alhfrith, son of Athelwald the king of Deira, her hero-warrior lover and betrothed.  The two kings have formed a mighty political and religious alliance but, more than that, the young woman and man have forged a passionate union of their own.  But this new alliance has enemies and before their wedding night is over there will be a tragic outcome.  As King Penda stands at the edge of their burial chamber he invokes a curse of vengeance against the murderous act perpetrated against him.  But, how many years will it take before he is finally avenged?
As Sam stands on top of the burial mound dressed as an Anglo-Saxon pagan priestess with Dan at her side, is she aware of what ancient powers she will invoke as their lives become entwined with those of Cyneburh and Alhfrith from many centuries ago?  Will the pagan king’s oath of vengeance be fulfilled?  Will the souls of the two lovers be finally released? 
Author Bio:


Slave Nano is a writer of erotic paranormal and fantasy stories with bdsm and fetish themes.  He has had short stories and novellas published by Xcite Books and House of Erotica.  His first erotic novel, ‘Adventures in Fetishland’, was published by Xcite in March 2012.
Slave Nano writes stories drawing on the themes of female supremacy, goddess worship, bondage, domination and submission, sado-masochism and fetish, frequently in fantasy, paranormal or historical settings.
Web site: www.slavenano.co.uk
Nano http://www.facebook.com/nano.vaslen

Review Tour The Hands of Tarot by SM Blooding

October 22 IntroFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
October 28Edensbookshelfhttp://edensbookshelf.com/

October  29 http://www.pwcreighton.com/surveillance-report/
October 30Lisasworldofbooks.net
November 2Books, Books, and More Bookshttp://dream-reader-dreamer2229.blogspot.com/
November 21 ReviewMichelle's Paranormal Vault of Bookshttp://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com/ 
November 26Krystal's Enchanting Reads http://enchantingreads7.blogspot.com/
November 28Keeping Up With The Rheinlander'shttp://mnmrheinlander.com



The Hands of TarotSM Blooding
Available: August 7, 2012Format: E-book & Paperback
Blurb:
She killed his father.
She imprisoned and beat him.
And now she thinks he’s her trophy.
Synn El’Asim will do almost anything to prove her wrong. But he’s only proving her right.
Queen Nix awakened his Mark of power and inducted him into the House of Wands. She knew what she was doing. The son of the two most powerful Families standing against her is the ultimate prize.
What she didn’t take into consideration was that maybe he was too strong for her.
Maybe.
But the Families aren’t. They’ve been weakened and it’ll take a lot more than one young man with a powerful Mark to take on the Hands of Tarot. About the Author:
SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, their new addition, Mr. Bird, who’s a real bird. She likes to hike the beautiful Rocky Mountains, and is learning to play the piano and guitar. Currently, she’s trying to MURDER them both. Friends call her Frankie.
She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories.
She’s also an investigator with a local paranormal investigation group, Colorado Paranormal Rescue!
Find out more about her at:
TwitterFacebook              Website/blogAmazon – Kindle   Amazon – Paperback    B&N – Paperback   Autographed copy  Additional informationGoodreads http://www.smblooding.com/ http://www.smblooding.com/the-hands-of-tarot/ 

Interview and GIveaway with Darynda Jones

      Hi Darynda,  please tell us about your latest release.
Oh, the pressure! Okay, here goes:
Death and the Girl Next Door is about sophomore Lorelei MacAlister. Ten years ago, Lorelei's parents disappeared without a trace. Raised by her grandparents and leaningon the support of her best friends, Lorelei is finally beginning to accept the fact that her parents are never coming home. Life goes on and is as normal as can be until a new guy—terrifying, tough, sexy Jared Kovach—comes to school and he seems to have a specific interest in Lorelei, something that never happens. To complicate matters even further, the school's designated loner, Cameron Lusk, begins to stalk her, turning up where she least expects it, standing outside her house in the dark, night after night. Jared and Cameron instantly despise each other and Lorelei seems to be the reason for their animosity. What does Jared know about her parents? Why does Cameron tell Jared he can't have Lorelei? And what will any of them do when Death comes knocking for real?
 Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
None of them are terribly easy, but I’d have to say the biggest challenge was my hero, Jared. That is partly because between the first and second drafts of the book, his part changed drastically. Let’s just say he was one being in the first draft and another being entirely in the second. It took a lot of work to create his alter ego, but it paid off in the end.
 Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I really enjoyed writing Brooklyn and Glitch, my heroine’s best friends. They are fun, bossy, and fiercely loyal to Lorelei. And they made for great comic relief.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
If I get stuck, I have learned that it means something is inherently wrong with mymanuscript. I force myself to step back and take a look deeper look at it. Oddly enough, it’s almost always something with my hero. They are so cantankerous. Or there’s something wrong with the story itself. Something just isn’t quite working, and I know it deep down inside.
 Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
My oddest or most reliable writing ritual/habit: Well, I am easily distracted, so I MUST block the internet. Not just turn off the Wi-Fi, but totally block it. So I check my email on my phone before I even get out of bed in the mornings and the minute I get on the computer, I use a program called Freedom that blocks access to the internet for the time you allot. It’s fantastic! I think I would still be on my second book without it. (Clearly, I have no impulse control.)
Do you write in different genres?
I swear, EVERY genre appeals to me! I have manuscripts started in every genre under the sun. Mostly I write in paranormal, science fiction, young adult, and I even have several manuscripts started (and one completed) in historical romance. I love it all. I even have a spy story and a couple of assassin stories in there somewhere.
Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
Not at all. I love it and my mind goes a thousand miles a minute. When I have to complete a manuscript, I just have to force myself to focus and not get sidetracked, but it’s no harder to write in one genre than another. It’s all hard.
What was the last amazing book you read?
Well, I am so behind in my reading, but I recently read Divergent by Veronica Roth and really liked it! The next one in the series is out and I have it downloaded, just waiting for me to get caught up enough to be able to read for pleasure. 
 What can readers expect next from you?
Well, I’m currently working on rewrites for the second in the Darklight Trilogy, Death, Doom and Detention. Then it’s on to Fifth Grave Past the Light, the fifth in the Charley Davidson series. I also have three other series started, but I’m trying to focus. Again, not easy when you really do have ADD. :)


 Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Death and the Girl Next Door (excerpt)By Darynda Jones
I laughed to myself and headed toward the back of our favorite and pretty much only hangout. It sat a mere block from our alma mater, Riley High, and we practically lived in our corner booth. I ducked past the snack counter and into a very dark back hall. Judging by the boxes lining the narrow passage, I’d be taking my life into my hands if I risked a journey to the little senorita’s room without illumination, so I ran my hand along a  paneled wall. Where would I be if I were a light switch? Just as the tips of my fingers found the switch, a silhouette stepped out of the shadows and brushed past me. I startled with a gasp.
“Excuse me,” I said, placing a hand over my heart.
“Sorry.” The guy paused slightly before continuing on his way, and in that instant, I saw the makings of utter perfection: along arm with shadowy curves that dipped around the fluidlines of muscle; a tall, wide shoulder; dark hair that curled playfully over an ear and led to a strong, masculine jaw. Something inside me lurched, craving a closer look at his face, but he walked by too fast and the hall was too dark for me to catch anything else.
After a couple of seconds, I realized my hand had brushed against his arm. It was enough to send a vision crashing into me, like the flash of a nuclear bomb, bright and unforgiving. Tamping down my surprise— I hadn’t had a vision in a very long time— I pressed shaking fingers to my forehead to wait out the familiar storm, to see what treasures would wash ashore in the aftermath.
Yet the things I saw were unreal, impossible, and certainly not of this world: A desolate landscape lay before me with scorched clouds and a roiling, violet sky. The air was stagnant and so impossibly thick, breathing it took effort. Then I heard the clanging of metal. I turned to watch in horror as a being, a boy of no more than sixteen or seventeen, fierce and somehow not quite human, struggled with a dark, monstrous beast. The boy’s arms corded as tendon and muscle strained against the weight of the sword he wielded. He slashed again and again, but the monster was fast, with razorlike talons and sharp, gleaming teeth, and the boy knew what those teeth felt like when they sank into flesh, knew the blinding pain that accompanied defeat. But he also knew the power he himself wielded, the raw strength that saturated every molecule of his body.
Another herculean effort landed a thrust in the monster’s shoulder and continued through its thick chest. The monster sank under the boy’s sword with a guttural scream. The boylooked on while the beast writhed in pain, watched it grow still as the life drained out of it, and somewhere in the back of the boy’s mind, he allowed himself to register the burning of his lungs as he struggled to fill them with air.
Blood trickled between his fingers, down the length of his blade, and dripped to the powdery earth beneath his feet. I followed the trail of blood up to three huge gashes across his chest.Evidently three of the monster’s claws had met their mark, laying the flesh of its enemy open. I gasped and covered my mouth with both hands as the boy spun toward me, sword at the ready. Squinting against the low sun, I could almost make out his features, but the vision evaporated before I got the chance. A heartbeat later, I was back in the dark hallway, gasping for air, one palm pressed against my temple, the other against the wall for balance.
I squeezed my eyes shut, fought the memory of the vision, the fear that summoned the taste of bile in the back of my throat, the feel of blood dripping down the boy’s arm.
 Thank you so much for having me! ~D~



















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Interview with Kate Lynd

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre? I didn’t really pick this genre, the story did. I found I liked writing about dystopian themes so several of my upcoming books will be in that genre.
What inspired you to write this book? It was NaNo time and I was searching for a story and saw the cover of a Love Inspired novel with the picture of a gladiator on the cover and realized I wanted to write a gladiator hero but not be constrained by the dictates of inspirational romance.
Please tell us about your latest release. Gladiator tells the tale of Tristan Shane, man forced to endure the brutal rape and murder of his wife and the loss of his children. Enslaved for ten years and forced to fight to the death for ten years his life is upended when the queen orders him to kill the healer but must choose serve the queen or save the healer and thus, save the world.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another? This is going to sound really bad but Gladiator was a joy to write start to finish kind of written in a caffeinated haze.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others? Tristan and Alexandra were my favorites to write for.
Do you have a formula for developing characters?
No formula I just spitball a few things and go.  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? Again this is going to sound sad but I discover as I go.
What is your favorite scene from the book? The ending.
Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course? I’m afraid I would give away the whole story if I did lol.
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book? This is going to sound hideous, but I don’t really research all that much and what I do need I google for.
What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes? My life experiences, books I’ve read, movies I’ve seen, lately I’ve been watching a lot of political television and its been giving me anxiety. That comes out in the dystopian nature of my books.
Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? I wish I had a great answer here, but I just make stuff up as I go.
How does this world differ from our normal world? There are paranormal elements in that there are healers and that they can command the elements. It’s set in the not so distant future. And the world has gone to pot.
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? Characters reappear. The arc of the true leader follows all three books. Can these books be read as stand alones? But these books will all read as stand alones.
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they? Tristan has a lot of rage and he is very passionate about what he believes in. That a lot like me. And the healer is self-sacrificing. Which is also a lot like me.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? I go through periods of being burnt out. How do you deal with it? I try to take a break for a few days work on a different format creatively. The screenplay I’m working on now is for a contest but it’s just for s&g’s.
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals? During the day I pretty much write and promo. Although I’ve backed off the promo because of this book blog tour and I’ve been pretty much writing and/or promoing since September of last year.
Do you write in different genres? Yes. Scifi/f/f and Dark Romantic Suspense
Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres? No. I just write whatever I want whenever I want.
When did you consider yourself a writer? Always.
What are your guilty pleasures in life? Food and movie star crushes
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life? Reading, movies, television, love music.
What was the last amazing book you read? Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter
Where is your favorite place to read? Anywhere.
Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot? Not really.
What can readers expect next from you? Bounty Hunter. Gunpowder and Lead, ORACLE, Breath of Life.
Where can readers find you on the web? http://Creative-Chatter.blogspot.comand http://AmyLMcCorkleKentuckyAuthors.webs.comand @Kate_Lynd on Twitter.Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?“What is it you want, Veronica?”She leaned in close and whispered seductively, “Why, you know I only want you, Tristan.”He snatched her up by her throat, pinned her against the wall and kissed her passionately, brutally, and without clemency. When he pulled away she was smiling with a darkness that made him angry. She was a power-hungry mongrel who played on her husband’s weaknesses and jealousies. Tristan hated her. And he hated himself for f***ing her. But this was his life. He let go of her and walked away.“Is my poor Gladiator jealous? There’s really no need for that, is there? You know you’re my favorite.”“What is it you really want, Veronica?”She came up behind him and seductively began to ease off his armor. He was covered in sweat and blood and he felt her shiver against his body. And as always there was a twinge of nausea that would precede the raw animal aggression.She turned him around. He looked at her. There was no doubt about it; she was beautiful. But she was poisonous—a rattlesnake with crystal green eyes and flaming red hair. Her father had promised peace and a return to normalcy and democracy in the wake of economic and nuclear disaster, and instead this was what had become of the world. And she was no doubt always enjoining her father to maintain her life in this fashion. He loathed her. He detested her. And every time he had sex with her his intense hatred for himself deepened a little bit more.“My dear, sweet Gladiator, as much as I’d like to celebrate your victory with you tonight, my husband wishes me to share his bed. But fear not—I do have a consolation prize for you.”His skin began to crawl. Veronica had a twisted way of looking at what constituted a consolation prize; it was usually just a groupie who wanted to watch what the queen did with the equivalent of rock stars of the former United States of America. And he usually did the dog and pony show. But sometimes Veronica required something to prove his loyalty to her. That would be more complicated.“What is it this time?”She smiled. His response had given her the mistaken impression that he cared.“The rebels have been restless. And it seems there is a young woman we have in our prison whom they want terribly. Well, frankly, they are in two minds as to what to believe. It is rumored she is the mythical Healer. The one meant to find her soul mate, so together they will lead our Nation out of the so-called darkness into which it has plunged itself.”“And what do you want me to do?”“Oh Tristan, why are you being so defensive? I just want you to find out whether she really is the Healer, and report to me if she is.”“And then, what?”“And then you let me handle it,” Veronica said, sliding back into the evil skin that was her natural state. “The rebels have no idea what it takes to run a country.”The image of his wife being raped and murdered flooded him and it was all he could do not to throttle the queen right then and there.“So can I count on you to do this for me or do I need to find someone else who can?”He was no one’s hero. But she had said young woman. And he couldn’t just allow his wife’s fate to be visited upon some other unsuspecting girl. “I’ll do what I can.”Veronica ran her index finger down his cheek and whispered, “Good boy, Tristan,” she purred. “Guard! She’ll be delivered before the night is over. I don’t know when I’ll be able to return to you, but I expect that you’ll have had enough time to gain her trust by then.”Tristan’s stomach churned. The Healer? In the beginning there had been whispers of it. But he had never believed in such a thing. It had been years since the crown had feared anything. And now this. He said nothing as the queen was escorted away. He was left to think about the young woman he might be forced to turn over in the end.
October 8 Promo
www.ThatsErotica.com
October 10DEB SANDERShttp://DebSanders.com
October 11 IntevriewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
October 12 Guest blogSMARTMOUTHTEXANwww.smartmouthtexan.wordpress.com
October 14 PromoThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
October 16 InterviewBooks & Other Spells. nightskydarkstar.blogspot.com
October 17th, Guest post, Paranormal Romantic Suspense, http://sjclarke.com/blog-2/
October 17 PromoBlooding Book Reviewshttp://frankieblooding.wordpress.com/

October 19 Guest blogWords of Wisdom from The Scarf PrincessHttp://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com
October 20 InterviewLaurie's Non-Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews http://lauries-interviews.blogspot.com
October 21 InterviewFang-tastic BooksWww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
October 22 guest blogErotica For All,http://eroticaforall.co.uk


Gladiator
The Gladiator Chronicles, Book 1Kate Lynd (Amy McCorkle)
Genre: Dystopian Erotic Romance
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
ASIN: B0094JN30M
Number of pages: 122Word Count:  37,774
Cover Artist: Delilah Stephans
Amazon
Book Description:
Ten years ago Tristan Shane had failed to pick sides and he paid with the ultimate price—his family. Enslaved as a post-apocalyptic gladiator, he is now faced with a similar dilemma, serve the despot Queen and murder her innocent sister, or face certain death himself. What will he choose?

Tristan Shane was a moderate before the nuclear and economic crisis which plunged the world into darkness. While his sister Aidia ran off to fight the rebel’s war he desperately tried to hang onto normalcy and lost his wife and children in the process. Spending the next ten years as the Crown’s favored and the mob’s favorite Gladiator, he never expects to meet the Queen’s sister, Alexandra, a Healer.

She claims to be the much whispered about Savior sent to heal the wounded Earth and oceans, the one who would bring about her cruel sister’s dethroning. But is she? Or is she just a fraud? But he quickly learns her erotic touch has the power to heal his heart and his to save her life. But as the passion heightens and the danger increases will they have forever or will he have to give up everything to save the planet?
About the Author:Amy McCorkle was born and raised in Louisville, KY. She has lived in New Mexico and Texas as well but she currently makes her home in Shepherdsville,KY.

An award winning blogger she is also a successful author in both the sci-fi erotic romance genre with No Ordinary Love and the upcoming release a dark romantic suspense tale Another Way To Die. She also has been contracted for GLADIATOR a Mad Max meets Gladiator series set to be a trilogy. She has placed second in the 2011 Preditors & Editors Readers Choice Poll for Best Short Romance Story. And semi-finaled with Another Way to Die in the 2012 Moondance International Film Festival.

From Hydra Publications, Set Fire to the Rain recently released and her first print novel, Bounty Hunter is due out in October. She is also contracted for the Gunpowder & Lead series she is co-authoring with Melissa Goodman.

Her work is flavored by her childhood heroes, pop culture, music, and the cinema as well as the writers she still enjoys reading today.

http://thegladiatorchronicles.webs.com
http://Creative-Chatter.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/Kate_Lynd
http://www.facebook.com/amy.l.mccorkle.5
http://facebook.com/TheGladiatorChronicles
http://amazon.com/author/amymccorkle
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