Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 520

Thoroughly Modern Paranormal Romance Guest Blog with Jennifer Rainey

Thoroughly Modern Paranormal Romance
And you thought you had problems with your love life. Imagine being a monster!
In my short story collection, Thoroughly Modern Monsters, I focused on the effects being a supernatural creature in a human-dominated world would have upon one’s relationships, both romantic and otherwise.
I decided  this: being a vampire—or any other creature of the night—would not necessarily make you a super-sexy chick magnet! If anything, it could seriously ruin your love life. (Do you tell her you drink blood on the first date or is that considered gauche? How long until you show her your fangs? Third date?)
The effects vary from story to story. My vampire, Nadia, is a naïve hopeless romantic desperate to make her human crush her own. She doesn’t exhibit the romantic prowess of most vamps. Her condition has left her socially awkward around people. (Think Zooey Deschanel playing a vampire.)
Meanwhile, my half-siren, Quinnish, oozes sexual confidence. He has a lady (or two or three) in every city, but when a young woman actually shows him some kind of legitimate affection and concern, he crumbles. He has always used the siren powers his mother gave him to keep humans at arm’s length until now.
In yet another instance, a werewolf’s condition helps fuel tension between himself and his family. There has always been negativity between Harold and his brother Michael, but Michael uses Harold’s lycanthropy as an excuse to drive him away even further.
These characters don’t get the standard sweeping romance or happily ever afters of some books, but I can only hope that their stories are asLINKS:
Thoroughly Modern Monsters on Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Thoroughly-Modern-Monsters-ebook/dp/B007QTKA0SThoroughly Modern Monsters in Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Thoroughly-Modern-Monsters-Jennifer-Rainey/dp/1475101813/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1338983655&sr=1-1-catcorrWebsite: http://www.jenniferrainey.comBlog: http://independentparanormal.blogspot.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/JenniferKRaineyFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJenniferRainey
BLURB:
A love-sick vampire working at a department store. 
A confident siren kept from his home by the owner of a traveling carnival. 
A famous crime-fighting werewolf reunited with his hostile brother. 
The age of the monster under the bed is over! New law integrates all beings considered monsters by the United States government into human society, throwing them into the workforce. As these beings overcome workplace woes, unexpected romance and any personal demons that may have come along for the ride, they discover for better or worse what it means to be a thoroughly modern monster. 
Thoroughly Modern Monsters is a collection of seven short stories complete at 21,800 words.

BIO:
Jennifer Rainey was raised by wolves who later sold her to gypsies. She then joined the circus at the age of ten. There, she was the flower girl in the famed Bearded Bride of Beverly Hills show until the act was discontinued (it was discovered that the bearded lady was actually a man). From there, she wandered around the country selling novelty trucker hats with vaguely amusing sayings printed on front. Somehow, she made enough money to go to The Ohio State University for a major in English.

Following Your Dreams Guest Blog with Danica Winters

Following Your Dreams
I come from a conservative background, where being different was something frowned upon and ridiculed.  In my schools, I wasn’t unpopular, but I stuck out.  I was a bit of a tom-boy, the product of two older and somewhat-mischievous brothers.  To be honest, I liked to be just a tad bit off normal—though my inner-voice always pushed me to ‘fit-in’.  When I moved out of my childhood home at eighteen, I left some of my tom-boy ways behind and met the world and college head-on.  I quickly learned that I had accomplished my goal to be ‘normal’ and now instead of blending in, I stuck out against the dread-headed, unshaven, and often pink-haired comrades that meandered around my college’s campus.  I secretly envied their ability to walk with their heads held high as the non-college attendees stared and whispered.  How could they break from the normal and not get tired of the strange looks and judgments made by outsiders?
My parents pressured me to get a ‘real’ degree, and in hindsight I would have been better off following their advice.  Instead, I followed my heart and studied Anthropology with an emphasis in Archeology.  It could have been the pink-haired culture that surrounded me, but I desperately wanted to understand what made people tick throughout history—why some chose to conform while others broke away from the ‘norm.’
In the final years of getting my degree, I did something I had vowed I would never do, I fell in love, and was given a ring by the man of my dreams.  He treated me better than I had ever been treated and loved the fact that I could one day wear cowboy boots and the next a cocktail dress.  He helped me understand that normal isn’t really normal, there is something in each of us that makes us a little bit different—and he embraced (and still embraces) my differences. 
With his constant support, I graduated college, but found myself at an impasse—stay with him, but give up traveling around the world in the name of Archeology, or move to the Southwest, get my Graduate degree and hope that someday I could find a job.  
I chose him, and I know I made the right choice.  It has brought me a different future from that which I had envisioned at eighteen, but it also brought me what my heart truly desired—family, stability, a sense of normalcy, love, fulfillment, and it also brought me an unexpected path—writing paranormal romance. 
Writing has brought me everything I had wanted when I had gone to school, adventure, travel, and I get to think about what makes people do and say the things they do.  It’s a study of interpersonal communications, history, culture, economics—it’s everything and anything that I wish to incorporate into my work.  One day I can be a paraplegic, dealing with the pitfalls of living in a wheelchair and the next, I’m a Veela in search of revenge. 
Most importantly I have followed my heart.  I’ve come to embrace and be proud of the fact that I’m anything but normal.  I’m me.

Curse of the WolfBy Danica Winters
Blurb:
For cursed, shape-shifting Veela, Gloriana, following her heart and giving her body to sexy, tortured werewolf Alexander means one thing-he will die and it will again be her fault.
Once only a man, Alexander finds himself scarred by the memories of his former life and the deceptions and lies that surround him. When a glimmer of light breaks the madness, he must let go of his misguided preconceptions and the hatred that consumes him.
On a mission for blood, they find unity in their desire for revenge, but are driven apart by their pasts. Traveling the darkest paths and fighting the very people they think they can trust, they draw closer to one another's hearts and further into danger.
Will the curse prove to be unstoppable... or is there hope in forbidden love?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Curse-of-the-Wolf-ebook/dp/B0082209H2/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3
          Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/curse-of-the-wolf-danica-winters/1110736449?ean=2940014410502
          Ravenous Romance: http://www.ravenousromance.com/fantastica/curse-of-the-wolf.php
          Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/curse-of-the-wolf
          (and will soon be available in over 10 other locations)

Author Bio:
Danica Winters is an Amazon best-selling romance author based in Montana. She is known for writing award-winning books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and often a touch of magic. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Montana Romance Writers, and Greater Seattle Romance Writers. She is a contributor to magazines, websites, and news organizations. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, the outdoors, and the bliss brought by the printed word.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.DanicaWinters.net
Blog: www.DanicaWinters.net/blog
Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/DanicaWinters
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DanicaWinters
Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/MsDanicaWinters
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5764273.Danica_Winters
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Danica-Winters/e/B006GDN8GI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1




Also by Danica Winters

The Devil’s Angel (Short story):
Blurb:
Even though Sarah Dawes is only dressed like an angel, acting like a saint isn't easy. Especially not at her sex toy company's Halloween party, where hedonistic desire is the name of the game and the Devil is her partner.

Playing with dangerous pleasures, she follows him to Hell, where he shows her he is more than the monster society has deemed him, and he offers her a chance to become his queen. Should she stay at his side, where her days will be filled with pain, but her nights with pleasure? Or, should she return to earth and the dream of a man who may or may not even know her last name?
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/The-Devils-Angel-ebook/dp/B007RZJF3E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336784542&sr=8-2
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-devils-angel-danica-winters/1110162483?ean=2940014509640
Silver Publishing: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/products_id/771/?zenid=0e68a633f40824a828ca99c4d445298c
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-devils-angel


A Christmas Miracle (BTGN Holiday Short Story Award-winner):         
Blurb:
Christie has defined herself by her wheelchair and has created a world filled with ‘I can’t’.  When she meets her marathon running, salsa dancing neighbor, Marcus, he tries to show her that there is more to life than self-imposed limits and other peoples’ judgments.
Will Christie open her heart and her mind to her sexy neighbor, or will the pain of her past keep her a prisoner in her own life?
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/A-Christmas-Miracle-ebook/dp/B006FNIYFO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336784568&sr=8-1
Barnes and Noble: (Currently off of B&N for KDP Promotion, but will return to B&N after 90 days after publisher’s promotion)  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/danica-winters?keyword=danica+winters&store=allproducts
Books To Go Now: http://www.bookstogonow.com/achristmasmiracle.html    

Interview with Erica Manfred Author of Interview with a Jewish Vampire

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
I’m a humor writer, a fan of vampire books, and thought the vampire genre was ripe for parody since Twilight and other romances had de-fanged vampires and made them romantic figures.  Jewish vampires just seemed silly enough to appeal to me.
What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires (or insert the paranormal creature featured in your book here instead), that fascinates you so much?
I fell in love with vampires in the 1980’s when I read Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice.   The language, the romanticism, the concept of an entire vampire society who lived for centuries and were cursed with having to kill to live was enthralling.   The sexiness of Rice’s vampires also made them irresistible.   What red-blooded American fan of paranormal romance doesn’t fantasize about being ravished by Lestat?

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
Sheldon, the Jewish Vampire,  was the most difficult since I’ve never understood the romantic fantasies of men,  and above all Sheldon is a guy who adores Rhoda.  Also I had to create romantic tension by making Sheldon somehow hard to get, although madly in love and that was difficult as well.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
Yes, Fannie, because she’s based on my mother, so she was easy.  :Also Hedwig, the drag queen, because I’ve always loved camp and outrageous gays. 

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course? 
My favorite scene is when Fannie is turned into a vampire and she inadvertently attacks a trucker, so Rhoda has to take her dentures away. 
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
Yes, I did  a lot of research into Jewish folklore and found all kinds of interesting things, like there actually is an complicated  process for de-activating a golem, and that Jews believe in vampires, they call them “estries.”

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
In Sheldon’s world there are 12 step groups for vampires, called B.A. or Bloodaholics Anonymous where vampires go to meetings to curb their cravings.
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Yes, my main character, Rhoda, is based on me when I was a younger, single woman looking for love.  She’s overweight, insecure, and ready for fall for a vampire, as long as he’s Jewish.

What was the last amazing book you read?
I love Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin   I’ve read all five volumes and am impatiently awaiting the next installment.

Where can readers find you on the web?www.ericamanfred.com or www.Jewishvampire.com
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
We stopped at the first gas station we saw. Tess got out to pump. “Shouldn’t I do that?” Sheldon asked. .“I’m a vampire, not a little old lady. I can pump gas,” Tess huffily replied, grabbing the hose and stuffing it into the tank.“Hurry up, why dontcha,” a beefy man with a ponytail yelled from his pickup behind us. There was only one pump and we were at it. He turned to the blonde next to him and sneered, “This old broad is going to take all week to finish pumping gas.”I heard a growling from the back and then the door opened and Mom flew at the man, yanking open the door of his truck and instantly latching onto his neck with her teeth. She clung to him and I heard a sucking sound. “Mom!” I yelled. “Get back in the car.”Sheldon looked horrified and went after her and grabbed her so quickly I barely saw him move. The man held his neck with an expression of horror and disbelief, staring at Mom. I’m sure he had no idea what hit him.“Tess, let’s get out of here quick,” Sheldon yelled.Tess moved fast, pulling the hose out of the tank and jumping back into the van. Luckily she’d used a credit card.We zipped back onto the road and Sheldon turned to Mom. “Fanny, what were you thinking?“I wasn’t thinking. I’m so tired of being put down by young people. They think we’re dirt. It was automatic. Plus I’m hungry.”“Geez, Mom, you have to control yourself. You could get into a lot of trouble.” I said. “You could get us all into trouble, Fanny,” Tess said. “We try to fly under the radar, metaphorically that is.”“I’m so sorry,” Mom said, sounding truly remorseful. “I’ll try to control myself from now on. It’s just so strange being in this body. I have impulses I never knew existed.”“You’ll learn, Sweetie,” Tess smiled at her. “Just follow what I do.”“Mom, give me your dentures. That should make you pretty harmless.”She obediently handed them over. I asked Tess, “Do dentures grow fangs? What if you’re a toothless vampire?” I’d noticed that Sheldon’s incisors turned into fangs when he was excited. He hadn’t plunged them into me … yet. “We have vampire dentists who make retractable fangs for dentures. When they’re in the vampire’s mouth dentures act like real teeth, but they’re removable. It’s very handy.”“Live and learn.” I grimaced. “Or rather die and learn.”Mom settled down but still looked pretty unhappy. I held her hand, which seemed to help. “Hope you’re not going to go after me, Mom,” I said, trying to make a lame joke.“Rhoda, don’t be ridiculous. You’re my daughter. I would never hurt you. I didn’t know what I was doing back there. It was like there was a monster inside me. I wasn’t myself at all. This whole vampire thing isn’t going to be easy.”




Interview with a Jewish Vampireby Erica Manfred
The last thing zaftig middle-aged journalist, Rhoda Ginsburg, expected when she signed up for JDate was to fall in love with a vampire. But when she meets drop-dead gorgeous Sheldon, a Hasidic vampire, she falls hard. She rationalizes that he may not be alive, but at least he’s Jewish. 
She learns that back in the nineteenth century Sheldon was a rabbi who was turned into a vampire by Count Dracula, an anti-Semite who got his kicks from turning Orthodox Jews into vampires because then they’d have to drink blood, which isn’t kosher. 
Soon after she meets Sheldon, she discovers her beloved mother, Fanny, is terminally ill, so she comes up with the crackpot idea of getting Sheldon to turn Fanny and her friends, known as “the goils,” into vampires. 
Once she becomes a vampire, Fanny tires of her boring life in Century Village, Florida, and, seeking thrills, she goes clubbing and disappears into the nightlife of South Beach in Miami. When Fanny and her goil posse  “go rogue” and start preying on the young, Rhoda and Sheldon must track them down to keep them from killing again. 
Interview with a Jewish Vampire turns vampire lore on its head, proving that not all vampires are young and beautiful and it IS possible to be undead and kosher.
About the Author:


Erica Manfred is a freelance journalist, humorous essayist, and author.   Her most recent book is the novel, Interview with a Jewish Vampire. She’s also authored two non-fiction self-help books, including most recently He’s History You’re Not; Surviving Divorce After Forty. Her articles and essays have appeared in Cosmopolitan, The New York Times Magazine, Ms., New Age Journal, Village Voice, Woman’s Day, SELF, Ladies Home Journal, and many other publications. Erica lives in Woodstock, New York with her Chihuahua, Shadow, and her daughter, Freda. Brought up by Jewish parents who spoke Yiddish but avoided religion, she got her Jewish education at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation which welcomes Jews from all backgrounds, from atheist to Orthodox, to vampire. Her website is www.ericamanfred.com, or visit www.jewishvampire.com

Guest Blog and Giveaway with the Authors of Blood and Whiskey

“Girl on Vampire-Girl Naughtiness”
Here’s one of our favorite reviews from Amazon.  AJBpdx shares the top 10 things they like about Blood and Whiskey:

10. Vampires
9. Cowboys
8. Awesome love story
7. Hot vampires 6. A consciousness realm called the Meta where Vampires hang5. Nice nod to Oregon4. There's a blood farm in it!3. MacGyver-style weapons2. Kick-ass female lead with an even more bad-ass side-kick1. Girl on Vampire-Girl naughtiness

Character Envy


Writing together, especially romances, can make for strange jealousies.
By Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall
In 1999, we came up with a radical plan to save our romance: write together. We had just reunited after an epic break up that required a several-year cooling off period. When a not-so-chance meeting rekindled the flames, we decided to channel some of the excess passion into a joint creative project to hopefully of avoiding total combustion.
The Cowboy and the Vampire: A Darkly Romantic Mystery (Midnight Ink, 2010) — and a newly entangled romance — was the result. This May, we finished our second book, Blood and Whiskey, and we learned something important: our characters lead far more romantic lives than we do.
Of course, they’re also dealing with murderous vampire hordes, cold-blooded killers straight out of the old west, biblical prophecies, undead race wars and the care and feeding of an overly-sensitive dog cow dog named Rex. But even with all of that, and even setting aside the fact they are from very different worlds — she needs human blood to live, he’s more of whiskey drinker — Tucker and Lizzie have a romance for the ages.
It may be petty, but we’re kind of jealous.
And not just of the main characters. Elita, the fierce, sexy vampire warrior sworn to protect Lizzie, has seduced her way through half the undead world and left a trail of drained human bodies — stone cold dead but with smiles on their faces — stretching back thousands of years. In Blood and Whiskey, she finds herself sandwiched happily between a handsome Russian vampire, Rurik, and his supermodel human consort, Virote.
Us? Well, we find ourselves sandwiched between deadlines.
Early on, we figured that when romantic partners wrote together, it would involve far more reclining on satin sheets, sipping champagne and whispering sweet plotlines to one another. The truth is far less, well, romantic. Here’s what a typical exchange between us sounds like (names changed to protect the not-so-innocent):
Chuck: Did you finish your chapter yet?


Cathy: Almost, did you finish yours?


Chuck: I need about two hundred more words and a better description of the thing.


Cathy: What thing? 


Chuck: The thing. In the mountains. With Elita.


Cathy: Oh yeah. I forgot about that. Should we talk about the next chapters?


Etc., until bed time.
Compare that to a scene from Blood and Whiskey featuring Tucker and Lizzie:
“Do you ever, you know, take a look when I’m dead? Does it turn you on to have a naked corpse next to you?”
“Woman, don’t be gross.”
“I’d probably take a peek. I mean, I do anyway, at least when you are sleeping. What’s the difference? It’s perfectly natural.” She nipped at his neck playfully.
“It’s un-natural. That’s why they call you un-dead.”
“Is what I’m feeling now un-horny?”
“I’m pretty sure it’s the pregnancy hormones getting you all riled up.”
She unbuttoned her shirt and slipped his hand under, molding it around her breast and they both sighed.  “You sure you haven’t felt me up when I’m cold and dead? I wouldn’t mind. And I wouldn’t know it if you, you know, did stuff to me.”
“No. I mean, yeah, I’m sure. I’d like to do stuff to you now though.”
“I like that idea.”
Is it any wonder we’re a little jealous?
Still, just in case it sounds like we’re complaining, we don’t write all the time. And the passion we channel into our characters has to come from somewhere. 



Blood and Whiskey A Cowboy and Vampire Thriller 
by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall 
Publication date: May 1, 2012 
Fiction, Trade Paperback (362 pages) $14.95; e-book $4.99 ISBN: 978-0-9838200-1-7; Library of Congress Control Number: 2012902814 
SUMMARY 
Wanted: Lizzie Vaughan, Dead or Alive 
Relationships are always hard, but for a broke cowboy and a newly turned Vampire, true love may be lethal. 
After barely surviving an undead apocalypse in The Cowboy and the Vampire, Tucker and Lizzie hightail it back to quirky LonePine, Wyoming (population 438), to start a family. But she’s got a growing thirst for blood and he’s realizing that mortality ain’t all it’s cracked up to be when your girlfriend may live forever. With a scheming Vampire nation hot on their boot heels and a price on her head, how far will Lizzie and Tucker go to protect their unlikely love? 
Blending evolution, religion and an overly sensitive cow dog named Rex, Blood and Whiskey drags the Vampire myth into the modern west, delivering double-barreled action, heart-pounding passion and wicked humor.


ABOUT THE AUTHORS 
Clark Hays grew up in Montana in the shadow of the Tobacco Root Mountains. In addition to his fiction work, he is a cowboy, a published poet and occasional food critic. Recently, he was nominated for Pushcart Prize for short fiction and not so recently for a Rhysling award for poetry. Clark brings a deep knowledge about the modern west, weaponry, country music and existentialism to his writing. 
Kathleen McFall grew up in the heart of Washington, D.C. She worked as a petroleum geologist and, later, as a journalist, and has published hundreds of articles about scientific research, energy and natural resources. An interest in the overlap of science and mysticism are an essential aspect of her fiction writing. She received an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship for fiction writing. 
Learn more at http://cowboyandvampire.com/ and www.facebook.com/cowboyandvampire



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Immortals and Melodies Blitz

Immortals And Melodies
Chapter 1

I always assumed my high-tech home security system would come in handy if an obsessed fan-turned-stalker crossed a line, or if the overzealous paparazzi tried to get too close, but I was fairly certain it didn’t guarantee protection from the supernatural. If only I had known that photogs and obsessed fans would be the least of my worries.
The night started off like any other. We were at Karatz’s place for rehearsal. We were done recording the album, but he’d offered to let us use his live room as a rehearsal space. Of course, we couldn’t refuse an offer like that. We’d been there for three hours and midnight was fast approaching as we ran through the dozen songs that made the cut for the record. That included a new song called “You Only Live Twice,” which we’d added last minute and decided to make the first single. We hadn’t played most of the tunes since we’d finished recording them, so there were a few kinks to work out. Our tour manager, Roger, was there, too. He was with us for the last tour, which made things easier since he already knew what we liked. He sat nearby and made a list of all the equipment we’d need for the live show. I was just glad I didn’t have to figure all of it out.
The record’s release date was set for the day before Halloween, which meant we had less than three weeks before it would hit record stores and iTunes. It felt great to have the album ready to show the world. My only regret was that Wes would never hear it in its entirety.
“Let’s take five,” I suggested after the last run through of Midnight Poison. I set my guitar down and made my way over to Aurora who was hanging out in the lounge. She’d spent the earlier part of the night on her phone and her computer while she talked to some Web designer about doing a website for her art. Since she was going to be coming on the road with me and the guys, I suggested she consider getting her paintings on the Web so she’d have greater exposure. She’d been trying to find the right person to design a website for a few days now. She handed me a bottle of water and I downed half of it. That was when I noticed she was looking a little out of sorts. “Come on,” I said, offering my hand to her. “Let’s get some fresh air.” She took my hand and let me pull her down the hallway and out the studio doors. Once outside, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp night air. Then I turned to look at Aurora. She forced a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Are you okay?” I finally asked.
“I’m fine,” she said. “It’s just been kind of crazy lately. That’s all.”
I pulled her hand to my chest and wrapped my arms around her. She squeezed me back and let me hold her in silence for a moment before she pulled away.
“You smell so good,” she moaned pitifully, staring up at me from under those thick dark lashes.I chuckled, taking that as a compliment and bent down to her. Aurora’s lips met mine in a hungry kiss. Her hand went to the back of my neck, pulling me closer. I ran my fingers through her hair and lost myself entirely in the kiss.
When she pulled away, the movement was sudden. I looked up to find her staring at me through luminescent, green eyes. She gaped in surprise, probably because her fangs had unsheathed in the heat of the moment.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“It’s okay,” I said, taking her hand. “Besides, you know I think it’s hot when I get to see you like this.” I expected that comment to earn a smile, at least, but she just turned away from me to compose herself again. She wasn’t acting like herself and I thought I might know why. “When was the last time you … you know … fed?”
She opened her mouth to answer when O’Shea’s voice rang out from behind her. She stepped into my arms again and buried her face in my shoulder to keep from being seen.
“You coming back in or what?” O’Shea hollered at me.
“Be there in a minute,” I called out. He shrugged and disappeared through the studio doors, leaving us alone again. I sighed, and Aurora looked up at me with questioning eyes that were no longer glowing in the dark. “He’s gone,” I assured her. “But I’m serious about you feeding. When was the last time?”
“It’s been a few days,” she admitted. “But I’m fine. Really.”
“Unless you’re sneaking out while I’m asleep, it’s been more than a few days.” She hadn’t been sneaking out. I already knew that. She insisted it wasn’t safe for us to be apart. I hadn’t argued and not just because I knew there were vampires out there who wanted me dead. We’d spent every minute together since Wes’s death. Every minute except the night before she’d made lasagna for me and the guys. She’d gone out to feed then. “It’s been more than a week,” I blurted out, shocked by the realization that so much time had passed since that night. “No wonder you find me so irresistible.”
She sighed and reached for my hands. “It’s not a big deal. I’ll feed tomorrow night.”
“I’m safe here,” I said to her. “Nobody’s going to come after me while I’m with the guys. There are too many witnesses. Go. Find someone yummy.”
She let out a disbelieving laugh and shook her head at me, but her smile was genuine now. “You’re such a dork.” Then she bit her bottom lip and gazed at me seriously. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. The last thing this rock star needs is to be eaten by his hungry girlfriend in the middle of the night.”She relaxed a little at my joke. “I’ll only be gone a little while,” she promised.
“Stop worrying. We’re almost done here anyway. I’ll just catch a ride home with O’Shea and meet you at the house. I just have one condition,” I said. “No biting some guy who’s hotter than me.”“I’d be hard-pressed to manage that,” she said, grinning.
“Take your time. I’ll be fine,” I insisted. “See you back at the house.”
“I won’t be long,” she added. “Now get back in there before my mouth starts watering.”
I kissed her cheek and headed back inside, wondering when it had become so normal to send my girlfriend out to hunt for someone to drink. The guys and I wrapped up rehearsal just twenty minutes later. I caught a ride with O’Shea back to my place, finding that I’d beaten Aurora back to the house. It wasn’t until O’Shea was pulling away and I was letting myself in the front door that a sick feeling arose in my stomach. I pulled out my keys and reminded myself not to forget to set the security alarm as the lock clicked and I opened the door. I had only taken one step inside when, in a rush of air, I was shoved forward and slammed into the wall in my entryway. Something, or rather someone, had pinned me to the wall with strength I couldn’t define. The wind was forced from my lungs and I fought to draw in breath as my ribs tried to expand against the pressure of the wall at my back.
“Where is she?” The vampire’s voice rasped.
“Who?” I coughed.
“Don’t play stupid, human. The proditor. The betrayer … where is she now? Don’t tell me she’s just left you alone for the curious to sample?”
“She’ll be here any minute,” I choked out, hoping it were true. “If I were you, I wouldn’t stick around to find out what happens next.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Not at all,” I insisted, my voice stronger now. “It’s a promise.”
Then came a weightless sensation followed by the shocking realization that I was flying across the room. 

Immortals And Melodies Blood And Guitars #2 
Book Blurb: 
 "I found myself wishing for the power and whimsy of fairy tales. If only things were as simple as we’re led to believe as children. I remembered the story of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Both were saved by the power of a kiss, drawn out of their lifeless state to live happily ever after. Desperately, I bent and left a soft kiss on Trey’s lips. It was foolish. I knew that, but even that knowledge couldn’t prepare me for the agony that ripped at my heart when he didn’t respond." -Aurora 
Catalyst frontman Trey is no stranger to chaos, but even the life of a rock star couldn’t prepare him for the consequences of loving a vampire. Trey’s life is in danger; threatened by the very group he must join to stay alive. 
His struggle to continue his career and release a new album is marred bye vents that force him to go to a powerful Synod Elder for help. Aurora has to keep Trey alive until she can make him a vampire, but her own kind will stop at nothing to prevent it. 
The head of the Emissary is having her followed, and if she can’t figure out who is behind the violent attacks, Trey might not make it to the full moon. As Aurora battles her own kind, she’s also plagued by the risk she’s taking by changing Trey. 
Will her moon-given power be enough to carry Trey through the change, or will he be left floating in the wake of destruction?

Author Bio: 
Heather Jensen writes paranormal fantasy for teens and adults. She began writing her first book at the age of 16. She is an avid reader and loves anything vampire-related, but likes all kinds of fantasy. When she’s not writing she enjoys traveling, listening to music, going to concerts, playing guitar and spending time with friends and family. 
She is addicted to Oreos and White Knight drinks from Perks. Her favorite color is green and the uglier the shade the better. 
Heather lives in Southern Utah with her husband and son where she continues to write the Blood And Guitars series. 
The second book in the series, Immortals And Melodies has just been released on Kindle. 
Website www.heatherjensen.info 
To purchase the first book in the Blood And Guitars series in e-book or paperback, visit http://heatherjensen.info/about-the-book/shop/ 
Facebook www.facebook.com/BloodAndGuitars 
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/theedgeofwords 
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/112920558824411082148/112920558824411082148/posts 
Book Trailer playlist on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6188671C464951F2&feature=plcp 
Goodreads Author Page http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2870615.Heather_Jensen

The Flint Vampire Ball is Seeking Vendors and Sponsors

This year's Vampire Ball will feature a new event- Vertigo’s Vampire Emporium. An afternoon of shopping, networking and learning. Vertigo’s Vampire Emporium will feature many opportunities for you to feed your interest in all things Vampire, as well as explore other arenas such as pagan worship, candles and incense, costuming, fangsmithing, and much much more. You can even find last minute touches for your Vampire Ball Costume, as well as items for your everyday Vampire lifestyle.


The Emporium will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will be $5 at the door.



If you are interested in being a vendor for the Vampire Ball's Emporium, tables are $50


Tickets to the ball are $25 at the door, $20 in advance


If you would like to be a vendor at the Emporium and attend the ball that evening you can get an advance package of two tickets to the ball and a vendor table for just $80 

Email vampiressicuka@gmail.com to reserve your vendor space



The Flint Vampire Ball Sponsorship Options




Plasma Donor/Sponsor


With 2 tickets to event: $125
Without tickets: $95
Add one table at Vertigo’s Vampire Emporium for an additional $25.00
1/4 Page Advertising in Program
Listing on sponsor board and main web page.
In addition, promotion on all web arenas that we have for the ball: vertigosvampireball.com; facebook and myspace. Sponsor can submit/post information on their events and/or sales to be shared with the Vampire Ball Network. Must provide 3 days notice for posting otherwise it can not be guaranteed.



Coffin Sponsor


With 3 tickets to event: $175
Without tickets: $130
Add one table at Vertigo’s Vampire Emporium for an additional $25.00
1/2 Page Advertising in Program
Listing on sponsor board and main web page.
In addition, promotion on all web arenas that we have for the ball: vertigosvampireball.com; facebook and myspace. Sponsor can submit/post information on their events and/or sales to be shared with the Vampire Ball Network. Must provide 3 days notice for posting otherwise it can not be guaranteed.
2- 10 minute readings with Linda Forbes and friends


contact Icuka at vampiressicuka@gmail.com for details and information- or to reserve your sponsorship
Crypt Sponsor


With 4 tickets to event: $300
Without tickets: $240
Full Page Advertising in Program
Listing on sponsor board and main web page.
In addition, promotion on all web arenas that we have for the ball: vertigosvampireball.com; facebook and myspace. Sponsor can submit/post information on their events and/or sales to be shared with the Vampire Ball Network. Must provide 3 days notice for posting otherwise it can not be guaranteed.
2- 10 minute readings with Linda Forbes and friends
4 drink tickets
1 Table at Vertigo’s Vampire Emporium
Banner in auditorium


Bat Sponsor


With 4 tickets to event $600
Without tickets: $540
Company Logo or Advertisement placed on 400 commemorative limited edition beads to be distributed to each guest and/or performer in attendance.
Listing on Sponsor Board and main web page
1 Table at Vertigo’s Vampire Emporium






Belfry Sponsor
$1000
Full Page Advertisement in program
(not back cover unless Castle Sponsorships are not sold)
Listing on sponsor board and main web page
In addition, promotion on all web arenas that we have for the Ball: vertigosvampireball.com; facebook, and myspace. Sponsor can submit/post information on their event and/or sales to be shared with the Vampire Ball Network. Must provide 3 days notice for posting otherwise it cannot be guaranteed.
6 tickets to event
3 Seance tickets
3 reading tickets (10 minutes maximum per reading)
1 vending table at Vertigo’s Vampire Emporium
6 drink tickets
Banner in auditorium
Castle Sponsor


2 Castle Sponsorships available at $2500 each.


Full Page Advertising in Program - back page or inside back cover
(first come first serve on placement.)
Listing on sponsor board and main web page.
In addition, promotion on all web arenas that we have for the ball: www.vertigosvampireball.com; facebook and myspace.


Sponsor can submit/post information on their events and/or sales to be shared with the Vampire Ball Network. Must provide 3 days notice for posting otherwise it can not be guaranteed.


10 tickets to event
1 hotel room
5 tickets to Seance
2 tables at Vending Event the day of the ball
5 tickets for a 10 minute reading with Linda Forbes and Friends
Banner at stage



The Flint Vampire Ball will be October 27, 2012


This is the 5th year for Flint's Annual Vampire Ball. It is a wonderful Halloween event that brings out the bloodsucker in many of us every year.


Vertigo Theatrics Vampire Ball is enchanting and eerie, creepy and scary as well as festive and fun for the 21 and older crowd.


The Ball features live entertainment including Belly Dancers and Voltaire along with a a cash bar serves the specialty drinks of The Blood Bath, Vampire Kiss Martini, Vampire Wine, Blood (Bud) Lite, True Blood and the Familiar.


Hors ‘d oeuvres are included with your ticket.


Tickets are $20 in advance/$25 at the door.


2012 will bring new features to The Vampire Ball:


Seance with Linda Forbes and Friends: Limited Seating Available. Tickets to the Seance are $20.00 and can be purchased in advance. Watch for details – coming soon.


Advance Purchase Ticket information will be announced soon at www.vertigosvampireball.com




Vertigo’s Vampire Ball and Vertigo’s Vampire Emporium will be held at Flint’s Historic Masonic Temple at 755 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI.


As always, Vertigo Theatrics is able to provide free parking to all of their guests.

Guest Blog and The Taken Giveaway with Vicki Pettersson

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN.
THE TAKEN is the first book in my new Celestial Blues series, a book that’s been … well, it’s been a long time coming. It was initially inspired by a short story I wrote right before I sold The Signs of the Zodiac series. (By the way, that very short story can be seen in all its pared down glory on my Facebook “Like” page. It’s kinda fun, even for me, to compare how it began with how it evolved and eventually saw its way into print.)
The important thing, though, was that the story stayed with me for seven long years. I literally could not shake the idea of a mortal-turned-angel whose job it was to assist murdered souls into the afterlife, and after six books, I’d learned that the ideas that haunt you are the ones worth pursuing on the page.
One of the perks of being an author is the chance to research, to learn and to play according to whim. Want a protagonist who’s into the rockabilly subculture? Call up a modern-day burlesque star and ask her about her world. Want to pair her up with an old fashioned PI who died back in 1960? Read The Maltese Falcon and The Last Good Kiss, and call it a day’s work. And want a romance that defies the ages? Study an epic romance like that between Hepburn and Tracy to see what chemistry really is. Suddenly, effort and time and a pinch of kismet combine to create not just a new book, but a new series. In this case it birthed my unlikely sleuthing team of Griffin Shaw, busted angel, and Kit Craig, rockabilly reporter.


That’s why “Where do you get your ideas?” is such a hard question to answer. “Everywhere” is a simple answer, but a more accurate one is, “By mining every current interest and errant thought throughout my waking day.” Every thought is fodder. Every conversation can be turned into text. Every headline is a potential story.


And that’s how the things that haunt you combine with the things that interest you to create a world that didn’t previously exist. Suddenly I’m talking about these characters as if they’re people who really lived the lives I’ve created for them. And suddenly, because of them, I’m living a new life too. What a surprise. What a gift. What a world.


*Read Samples
Chapter 1: http://www.scribd.com/doc/93783449/The-Taken-Chapter-1

Chapter 2: http://www.scribd.com/doc/95469416/The-Taken-Chapter-2

Chapter 3: http://www.scribd.com/doc/96303130/The-Taken-Chapter-3*
Cover copy:

Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he’s an angel, but that doesn’t make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he’s been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul—Katherine “Kit” Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped.
Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder—and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.
Joining forces, Kit and Grif’s search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy.
But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn’t Grif’s biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife . . .
Who Killed Griffin Shaw?
Author bio:

The New York Times bestselling author of the Signs of the Zodiac series – and former showgirl – Vicki Pettersson was born, raised, and still lives in Sin City, where a backyard view of the Strip regularly inspires her to set down her martini and write.









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Press Release : Do You Believe in Destiny? The Last Arakad

Contact: Roxanne Rhoads, Publicist Bewitching Book ToursRoxanneRhoads@bewitchingbooktours.com


The Last Arakad
Do You Believe in Destiny?
Los Angeles, California Guillame Wolf (AKA Prof G) embarks on a month long Bewitching Book Tour for his book The Last Arakad starting June 15. Everything is about to change.  When Maya moves from Los Angeles to Paris, along with her brother Thomas, things begin to take a turn for the bloody when a series of killings connected with an Arakad magical tradition begins to take place. A battle between what is good and what is evil is on the horizon. And Maya is in the middle of it. Power is a dangerous thing. When Maya is thrust into the midst of a battle that deals with an ancient prophecy, shattering murders and intricate relationships, she must learn to take the reigns and explore her true powers and unlock her destiny. The future of humanity may well be at stake. Sinister clan war and confounding mystery combine to create a pulse-pounding thriller that will entertain readers and keep them on the edge of their seats. Also known as “Prof G,” Guillame Wolf injects his interest of European traditionalism and mysticism into his work. Featuring a strong heroine and positive supporting characters, there is much to be said for this novel. Readers will be offered a slice of magic and history simultaneously, an art that the author has mastered and as a result, the reader will be both entertained and educated. Guillame Wolf weaves a fantastic international tale that interests the young and the young at heart. He grew up abroad, born in Africa, traveling and living throughout Paris, and used those places as an inspiration for The Last Arakad. He has spent a lifetime studying the meanings and uses of different symbols throughout the world. He currently resides in Los Angeles. 


THE LAST ARAKADby Guillaume Wolf “Prof. G”Do you believe in destiny?
When sensitive Maya moves with her brother Thomas from Los Angeles to Paris hoping for a better life, she has no idea that everything is about to dramatically change. 
What starts as an initiation into the age-old Arakad magical tradition takes an unexpected turn when a wave of brutal murders shatters her world. Caught up in an ancient prophecy, she finds herself at the center of a ruthless battle between good and evil in which humanity’s future is at stake. 
When all hope is lost and she becomes the final target of a sinister clan, will Maya learn to trust herself and her own power? Or will her own fears prevail?

BIOBorn in Africa (Sénégal), raised in Paris, France, and currently living in Los Angeles, California, Guillaume Wolf “Prof G.” embodies the spirit of the 21st Century “global village.” 
Guillaume has spent decades exploring the transformative power of symbols, archetypes, and creativity (and their relationship with the everyday world); and this passion inspires his writing. 
Guillaume’s background includes among others: creative director; branding consultant; and teacher of communication design at the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
He is the author of reDESIGN: reCREATE, a book about reinvention and creativity. The Last Arakad is his first novel.
Guillaume lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles, California.
To learn more about Guillaume Wolf’s books and discover additional content, collectibles, and behind-the-scenes bonuses, visit www.Arakad.com
Meet Guillaume on Facebook at www.facebook.com/profgpage.
Web: http://www.arakad.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profgpage


To receive a review copy, arrange an interview, guest blog, or event with the author please contact Roxanne RhoadsRoxanneRhoads@bewitchingbooktours.com 


Tour Hosts that take part in the tour and post a review on Amazon will be entered into a drawing to win this Arakad necklace above along with a signed print copy of The Last Arakad

Giveaway : 100 Postcards from PrintRunner

PrintRunner is an online printing company that you can use for postcard printing services

PrintRunner.com was established with little more than a small press and a dream. Ten years later our company became one of the foremost quality printers in Southern California. Our commitment to provide the best value and high quality full color printing at affordable price made our company grow.  PrintRunner is a full service high quality printing company located in Chatsworth, California.

In addition to postacrds they offer a fabulous selection of other online printing services too
I've used them for postcards and stickers

Here's an example of what I designed and had printed through Printrunner

Today they are offering to giveaway:
Postcards to one lucky winner
Postcard Size: Postcards 5x7
Quantity: 100
Colors: 4/0 Front Only Printing
Paper: 14 PT. UV Coating on Front,
Rounded Corners: Yes
Proof: None
Ready to Ship In: 4 Business Days
*Giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above.

Be sure to Follow Printrunner on Twitter and Like them on Facebook


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Disclaimer: Thank you to PrintRunner for providing us this giveaway, I will receive a set of postcards for hosting this.

Press Release The Naked Truth

 Contact: Roxanne Rhoads, Publicist Bewitching Book ToursRoxanneRhoads@bewitchingbooktours.com
The Naked Truth
Romance can be found in the darkest places.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada The Naked Truth Online Book Tour Launches with Bewitching Book Tours June 11 and goes through June 18
Susan has been through hell - after enduring brutal torture at the hands of terrorists, she returns home to to a horrible accusation: treason. Captain Susan Branscombe is now suspect number one in a criminal case that threatens to undermine her reputation...and her life.
What’s worse than being captured by the enemy and tortured? Being released and sent home labeled a traitor. That’s what happens to Captain Susan Branscombe when she returns from the harrowing ordeal of being a prisoner of war. In the second installment in the Confederacy Series, Susan must trust Alser Kiis, an Inarri alien that was discovered only months before, to examine her very mind. He does so, but in the process ends up unable to separate his feelings for Susan and his duty to find the truth to protect the world, perhaps a fatal mistake. Woven throughout with suspense, drama, steamy romance and incredible revelations that will please readers who have read the first installment in the Confederacy Series, The Naked Truth is a thrilling, dead sexy ride.
Lilly Cain describes herself as a “wild woman with a deep, throaty laugh and plunging necklines, and a great lover of all things sensual - perfume, chocolate, silk!” A single mother of three, her books encompass all that romance fans are looking for: dangerous situations, captivating heroes, strong and savvy heroines and an emotional undertone that gives readers both steam and excitement. “My stories are an escape and a release,” she says. “I love romance and the freedom erotic fantasy gives my imagination.”  The Naked Truth is one of her many novels, which include: Alien Revealed, Building Magic, Undercover Alliance, and Dark Harmony.
The Naked Truth The Confederacy Treaty Book TwoCarina Press
Book Blurb
Captain Susan Branscombe was the victim of brutal torture at the hands of terrorists. Though rescued, she’s now facing an equally brutal accusation: treason.The only way she can prove her innocence is to allow Asler Kiis, a Confederacy Examiner, to delve into the depths of her mind. Asler is Inarri, the alien race that made contact with Earth just months before. His duty is to find the truth, but when he explores Susan’s mind he can’t resist drawing her into a more intimate experience.Susan takes comfort in Asler’s heated sensuality. Their erotic sensory exploration chases away the darkness and her body aches for more. But as their desire reaches new limits Susan finds it difficult to suppress the memories she is desperate to forget.Is the passion they share enough to let Susan push aside her fear and trust Asler, not only with her mind and body but with her ever-opening heart?

 
To receive a review copy, arrange an interview, guest blog, or event with the author please contactRoxanne RhoadsRoxanneRhoads@bewitchingbooktours.com