Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 547

Interviiew with Chloe Neill Author of the Chicagoland Vampires Series

I am thrilled to have Chloe Neill here today as part of her Drink Deep tour, the newest book in the Chicagoland Vampires series.


Welcome Chloe, thanks for being here. Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?

Sure! I'm the author of the Chicagoland Vampires series. The fifth book, DRINK DEEP, is now on shelves. I enjoy
writing urban fantasy because I get to make up the rules, and we get different than our usual day-to-day drama.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?

I try to make sure the name matches the person. Merit was originally "Kate," but I knew "Kate" wasn't the right name for her. Merit, however, stuck. I keep a list of names I might want to use in the future, and I also have a baby name book just in case. If I'm creating a character from a particular location other than the US, I'll research appropriate names for that area.

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?

I always think Mallory is the hardest to write. It can be difficult to get the right mix between her flightiness and intelligence.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?

Ethan is a joy to write because his voice is so profound. There are things he can say that no other character could pull off.

Do you write in different genres?

I do. I'm also the author of the DARK ELITE, a magical young adult series. The third book in that series, CHARMFALL, will be released in January.

Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?

It can be a challenge to switch from YA to adult writing, and I find writing YA much more difficult. There are so many more rules to obey--like keeping kids in school and drivers' licenses.

When did you consider yourself a writer?

Not until I started writing fiction in 2005. :)

What are your guilty pleasures in life?

Diet Coke, baking very fattening desserts, great handbags, and lots of books!

Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?

I have a full time job, so I don't have much time for reading. I try to steal 15 minutes before bed each night, so I'm usually in bed with PJs on.

Where can readers find you on the web?

I'm on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, and fans can find links to all the above
on my website: http://chloeneill.com

Thanks for having me!

Thanks for being here today, Chloe.



My review snippet made it into Chloe's newsletter:
"Neill has created a complex world filled with vampires and magic, political subplots, heavy emotions, and a surreal reality thrown into turmoil that make this book a quick paced read you just can't put down. -- Fang-Tastic Books

Interview with Kerri Nelson

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?

KN: Well, my education and workplace background is in the legal system so a working mom who runs a court for demons in her home seemed like a cool place to start a book. I was inspired to write this genre due to my extreme love for all things paranormal. From the days of The X-Files up to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and onward into my current fave Fringe, I just can't get enough of this genre.

What is it about the paranormal that fascinates you so much?

KN: I think it really boils down to just a love of whatever can creep you out the most. Not in a horror/gross kind of way but in a "let your imagination run wild" sort of way.

What inspired you to write this book?

KN: I really wanted a way to combine my love of the law with my love of the paranormal. The idea just sort of fell out of the sky. Well, not really the sky, maybe the faucet. As I was in the bathtub when the idea came to me.

Please tell us about your latest release.

KN:

Paisley Barton was already having a bad day before she turned her husband into a rat.

First, she was fired by her boss and then came home to find hubby in the shower with a naked blonde chick. They say that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned but this break-up may just unleash hell on Earth when Paisley casts a spell of vengeance against her philandering husband.

After her spell casting inadvertently opens a portal between dimensions, Paisley finds her family home transformed into a nightly courtroom for settling disputes between demons of the underworld and she's the judge! If that's not enough, she's got to deal with a charming, ancient demon named Camden who wants to be her personal bodyguard while trying to explain her husband's sudden, mysterious disappearance to sexy police Detective Dalton Briggs.

But Paisley will show them all that an everyday working mom is better equipped than most to deal with the mystical mayhem…and with a tempting demon hottie and a flirtatious young detective vying for her affection, she soon learns that being single again isn't so bad after all.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?

KN: I don't really have a special formula. Usually the names just come to me. Every once in a while I'll search for name or surname that means something like "dark-haired beauty" or "feisty one" but in this book—the characters sort of named themselves. They seemed real to me. I will tell you that one character is named after my great grandmother but I won't tell you which one. I think my Dad might not approve.

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?

KN: One of my fave characters to write was Mrs. Chow. She speaks in broken English because I thought it would make her character funny. I went through several drafts with my husband and I reading her dialogue out loud. He told me "you either have to go all the way with her or just forget the broken English—you can't do it half way". So, I went all the way. Hopefully it won't be off putting to the readers and no those aren't editing mistakes!

Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?

KN: Again, I really don't have any formulas. I recently took a class on creating character sketches. I took the course, although character sketches seem like a foreign language to me, because I thought it might assist me with a certain historical novel I'm struggling to complete. But really, it made me feel like I was working really hard and losing all my creative flow. So, no…I just let the characters speak for themselves.

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?

KN: This is a tough question. Let's see. I love any scene between Mrs. Chow and Zelef. They are absolute polar opposites. He's a demon and she's a witch and they despise one another but are both loyal to Paisley. Perhaps the scene where they first meet in the magic shop. I love this scene.

With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?

KN: I am working on the sequel to this book. It is already in progress and will take place a couple years in the future. I hope that this will make it easy to catch up with "old friends" but will ultimately be a stand alone novel.

Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?

KN: Gosh, yes. Of course, I'm most like Paisley. I know how she felt after being betrayed and incidentally, we wear a lot of the same clothes. But also because I can relate to her constant battle to make things simple. One of the things I say around my house a lot is "why can't just one thing be simple?" Life is complicated. We all have these complications even if they don't quite measure up to Paisley's situation (thank goodness).

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?

KN: I don't really believe in writer's block. But I do have times when I don't feel motivated to write. Where I feel overwhelmed by the whole venture or times when I let self doubt creep into my day. But mostly, I look at writing like my job. No one loves their job all the time. We have good days and we have bad days but we still have to do our job if we want to succeed. Even when I don't feel like it, I write. That's how you get things done and that's how you ultimately get better at it.

Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?

KN: I think I've mentioned this before but I'm addicted to SweetTarts. When I'm on a writing jaunt that needs to get into high gear, I munch on these while I'm writing. Otherwise, I don't have the luxury of a full fledged ritual. Too many distractions from the little people in my house. Things like the throwing of tantrums and the throwing of toys!

Do you write in different genres?

KN: My updated bio says that I'm the multi-published author of every genre under the sun (and moon). I think that about sums it up.

Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?

KN: No. I find it necessary. I just have a story I want to tell and I tell it. I worry about what genre to place it in and sell it to afterwards. Although, other people sometimes find it odd that I've written everything from Young Adult inspirational to Paranormal erotica.

When did you consider yourself a writer?

KN: Pretty much always. But if you want to know when I really decided… "this is it, I'm a professional writer for real now" then it would be when I sold my first book back in 2009. I remember being assigned my first real editor and saying to my husband, "I can't talk right now, I have to e-mail my editor." It gave me chill bumps!

What are your guilty pleasures in life?

KN: Guilty pleasures. I have so few. Seriously, if I could take a bath without interruption that would be swell. But really my fave time of day is when everyone else is asleep and I can sit and read for a few minutes or I can watch a television show or movie without having to feed someone or change someone's diaper. That's my guilty pleasure.

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?

KN: I'm an avid baker. Just whipped up some homemade banana nut bread this weekend. I'm also addicted to watching television shows on DVD. My most recent escape from reality is the show The Big Bang Theory. It makes me laugh my "you know what" off.

What was the last amazing book you read?

KN: Not too long ago I read "Love You More" by Lisa Gardiner. As both a former law enforcement employee and a former single mother to a daughter, this story really struck a strong emotional vibe with me. So much so that I wrote Lisa a personal message about it. I loved every single page. Very touching and a heart-pounding thriller.

Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?

KN: Seriously, just like my writing…I read wherever and whenever I can find a spare minute. Which is not as much as it used to be. In fact, I'm taking some time off from working so hard in November and December and plan to catch up on a box full of books I just ordered. I simply cannot wait to delve into them. But I'll probably read them in the car during our holiday travels.

What can readers expect next from you?

KN: Just finished my first full length mystery/thriller novel. Hope to get it picked up by a publisher soon. I'm struggling through a Victorian era romance that seems to be taking forever to complete. And I've just submitted a proposal for a funny contemporary novella featuring a bankrupt baker.

Where can readers find you on the web?

Read more about Kerri's books at her website: www.kerrinelson.com

Follow her on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/kerribookwriter

Visit her industry blog here: www.thebookboost.blogspot.com

And don't forget to enter my Kindle contest no later than November 7th! The grand prize winner will be announced at my Twitter Party on November 8th.

Details on how to enter that drawing at my blog here:

http://kerribookwriter.blogspot.com/2011/09/courting-demons-blog-tour-win-kindle.html

Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?

Read my Excerpt here:

http://www.jupitergardens.com/excerpts/kn_cd.html

Be sure to follow the tour:

Nov 1 Guest BlogThe Write at Home Momwww.thewriteathomemom.blogspot.com
Nov 2 Promo Spothttp://www.urbangirlreader.com/
Nov 3 InterviewFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Nov 4 Character Interview/Profile GraveTells - http://gravetells.com
Nov 5 PromoLisa's World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
Nov 6 PromoRoxanne's Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
November 8 Twitter Party1 pm EST


Courting Demons
By Kerri Nelson
Blurb:
Paisley Barton was already having a bad day before she turned her husband into a rat.
First, she was fired by her boss and then came home to find hubby in the shower with a naked blonde chick. They say that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned but this break-up may just unleash hell on Earth when Paisley casts a spell of vengeance against her philandering husband.
After her spell casting inadvertently opens a portal between dimensions, Paisley finds her family home transformed into a nightly courtroom for settling disputes between demons of the underworld and she's the judge! If that's not enough, she's got to deal with a charming, ancient demon named Camden who wants to be her personal bodyguard while trying to explain her husband's sudden, mysterious disappearance to sexy police Detective Dalton Briggs.
But Paisley will show them all that an everyday working mom is better equipped than most to deal with the mystical mayhem…and with a tempting demon hottie and a flirtatious young detective vying for her affection, she soon learns that being single again isn't so bad after all.

"When a wronged wife turns her cheating husband into a rat, you know you have to keep reading! Kerri Nelson offers up a lot of fun and wild magic in Courting Demons!" --Bestselling author, Linda Wisdom, Demons are a Girl's Best Friend
http://jupitergardens.com/Courting-Demons-by-Kerri-Nelson-print.html

In print and for the Kindle at Amazon.com

[image error] Author Bio:
Kerri Nelson discovered her love of writing at an early age and soon became a columnist for her local newspaper winning the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.

After a fifteen year career in the legal field, Kerri fulfilled her lifelong dream of publication and is now an award winning multi-published author of nearly every genre under the sun (and moon) and also writes young adult fiction under the penname K.G. Summers.

A true southern belle, she comes complete with a dashing southern gentleman and three adorable children for whom she often bakes many homemade treats.

Kerri is an active member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America as well as numerous chapters including Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal Writers and her Presidency of Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.


Read more about Kerri's books at her website: www.kerrinelson.com
Follow her on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/kerribookwriter
Visit her author blog here: www.kerribookwriter.blogspot.com
Visit her industry blog here: www.thebookboost.blogspot.com
Details on how to enter to win the GRAND PRIZE Kindle at the end of the "Dark Days of Demons Tour" located here:
http://kerribookwriter.blogspot.com/2011/09/courting-demons-blog-tour-win-kindle.html
Don't forget to enter Kerri's Kindle contest no later than November 7th!
The grand prize winner will be announced at the Twitter Party on November 8th #courtingdemons

Guest Blog and Genie Knows Best Giveaway with Judi Fennell

An Interview with characters from Genie Knows Best

Judi Fennell (JF): Please welcome Dirham, fennec fox and Magical Assistance Assistant, and his friend, Lexy, also a fennec fox, both of whom play an important part in my November release, Genie Knows Best. Kal, the hero and genie of the story, could never have gotten along without him.

Dirham puts his little orange paw on the table: "Um, excuse me? Ms. Interviewer? It's Dr. Lexy. She's very smart, you know."

Lexy smiles. Surprisingly, it's not a crafty smile you might think would come from a fox. Then again, these aren't your typical foxes. (Nor are they two wild and crazy ones either…)

JF: "So, Dirham, why don't you tell the readers what it is you do for Kal."

Dirham: "Well, I don't actually do anything for him anymore. I mean, once his and Samantha's story was over, so was my job."

JF: (Dirham tends to take everything very literally.) "How about you tell the readers, then, what it is you did for Kal when you did work for him?"

Dirham, resettling on his haunches: "Oh, sure. Well, see, djinn—or genies as your culture knows them better—who are in The Service to mortals can't do magic for themselves, which can be quite problematic. So they need someone to help them,. Especially when they're stuck in their bottles between masters. I ran errands for him, would pass along messages, kept him company, made deliveries, that sort of thing. Oh, and Kal liked to work out a lot, so I'd count sit-ups and stuff for him."

JF: "So you're a personal trainer as well as a personal assistant?"

Dirham, scratching one of his over-sized ears: "Yes, I guess you could say that. But I do lots of other things."

Lexy: "If I may add something?" Lexy swishes her beautiful creamsicle-colored tail. "Magical Assistants are what makes the magic work in the djinn world and preserve the world order. You cannot have magical beings confined to The Service with no personal gratification of their powers. But if every djinni were to act upon his or her own desires, there would be utter chaos, both in the magical and mortal realms. Gandia, of the twelfth millennium before mortally recorded time, recognized the inherent dichotomy in providing beings with limitless magical powers yet restricting them from using those very same powers for personal satisfaction and/or gain, and instituted the Magical Assistance Program. Were it not for Dirham and others like him, the universe would have folded in upon itself eons ago due to the very basic nature of all djinn and mortals to persevere. Magical Assistants maintain the perfect balance between power and greed and do so beautifully."

Dirham, snapping his jaw closed: "I do?"

Lexy: "Yes, Dirham, you do."

Dirham looks at me and shrugs. "I just thought I was doing what Kal asked."

Lexy: "You were, but because you have, you've kept him satisfied with his predicament, and enabled him to work himself free of it. Without your help, that would not have been possible."

JF: (I'm not sure Lexy is 100% accurate with that assessment—after I, I do think I had something to do with the outcome, but then again, given the way my characters sometimes take over the telling of the story [witness Lexy's little dissertation above], I could be completely wrong about that.) "Hey, Dirham, how about we show the readers what was happening before Genie Knows Best begins. What you and Kal were doing?"

Dirham: "Um, okay. He does have workout shorts on in this scene, though, right? He doesn't always, you know."

JF: (That, I do know. And I doubt you all will question why, since, after all, Kal is one hot guy, as Samantha, the heroine, finds out shortly after this scene.) "Here is the excerpt that didn't make it into the final book, but you can see Dirham in his role as Magical Assistant."

An Outtake from

Genie Knows Best

© Judi Fennell, Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2011

"Nine hundred ninety-seven. Nine hundred ninety-eight. Come on, Kal! You can do it!"

If Kal weren't already in enough trouble with the Djinn High Master, he'd wish laryngitis on his four-legged, court-appointed watch dog—er, fox—just so he wouldn't have to hear that number.

Unfortunately, that same High Master that had handed down this prison sentence for attempting to leave The Service had also banned him from fulfilling his own wishes, so hear it he would.

"Just three more, Kal. Let's go!" The euphemistically titled "magical assistance assistant" waved his bushy tail like a pom-pom.

Nice of Dirham to include himself in the let's part, but the fennec fox was thoroughly enjoying himself bouncing on the mini-trampoline in the spout end of Kal's lantern, while Kal's arms shook with the effort it took to force his body upward one more time. Or maybe it was the energy he repressed so he wouldn't hurt Dirham's feelings. Gods knew, not being able to use his magic had built up a lot of repressed energy.

"That's it, buddy. Two more. You can do it!"

Kal rested his forehead on the cool polished floor of his lantern for a second, then worked into push-up number one thousand.

Dirham went wild, doing back flips that would make any cheerleader weep with envy. "One more! You're almost there!"

That sentiment was the guiding premise of Kal's life at the moment.

Grunting through the pain, he finished off the last push-up and got to his feet, twisted the pewter cuffs on his wrists back into place, then wiped the sweat off his face with a gym towel.

One thousand and one sit-ups done, one thousand and one push-ups. He should probably go for the pull-ups, but the stress of sitting here day after day, not knowing why Monty, his current master, hadn't summoned him in the last six months was getting to him, both with worry and anticipation.

One thousand and one.

That number followed him everywhere. Sit ups, push-ups, pull-ups, tiles in his bathroom floor, divots in the lantern's lid, songs on his iPod, probably even grains of salt in his salt shaker.

And masters. He had to serve one thousand and one masters with one thousand and one wishes to complete the sentence imposed on him by the High Master.

He was on number one thousand. So close to the end, he could taste it.

Or smell it actually. Was that fesenjān?

Kal walked around the exercise equipment and sniffed through the lantern's spout. It was fesenjān. What was his master doing not sharing it? Monty might keep the lantern—and therefore Kal—locked in a safe in his office when he wasn't around, but they'd often had dinner together in that office, with Kal doing the cooking, of course. Well, conjuring. One of Monty's favorites was fesenjān.

And it was one more reason to worry.

Dirham hopped into the tunnel of the lantern spout, his paws sliding on the smooth copper finish. "Now for the pull-ups."

Kal picked him up and set him on the sit-up bench on the Bowflex. "Not today, Dirt."

"Hey, I'm not dirty. I just took a bath."

Dirham might be a helpful little thing, but he had a major deficit in the sense of humor department. Everything was always so literal with him.

Take the time Kal had said he was so hungry he could eat a camel. He'd had to spend hours cleaning up the floor from the camel's, er, "presents" until Dirham had shown up and led the animal out through the magic portal in the handle.

This no-magic-for-personal-use thing sucked.

"You're right, Dir. And your fur looks great. Any special reason?" The fennec was in love with a vixen named Lexy—hopelessly so because Dirham thought she was way out of his league. Given that Lexy was the head of the thinktank headquartered in the magical outpost of Madeenat Al-saqf Al-zojaajey, Dir might have a case. Kal kept trying to beef up his magical assistance assistant's confidence.

But when Dir toppled, slack-jawed, off the weight bench at the question, Kal figured it was better to let sleeping dogs, er, foxes, lie. No sense piling more pain on Dirt's bruised heart and fragile ego.

Kal headed to the mini fridge, chucking the towel into the basket beside the sofa, then grabbed a V-8. He'd have to do laundry soon, and since he couldn't use his magic even inside his own lantern, he was going to have to do it the mortal way.

Luckily, the stainless stackable washer and dryer had been magicked to contour to the curved wall, so he didn't have to send his clothes out. The genie laundry service always took a while to get his stuff back. You'd think magical beings could zap laundry to rights in an instant, but apparently there was a whole lot of red tape to go through for demi-genies.

Demi-genie. The categorization bugged the kharah out of him.

Kal swiped the cold bottle across his forehead to cool both his body temperature and his temper. It wasn't his fault he was a demi-genie. Well, all right—the demotion was a by-product of removing the gold cuffs that had bound him into The Service, but he'd only done it because of Faruq.

Bile churning in his gut, Kal uncapped the bottle and drank half. Faruq. The most vile ibn el-kalb who'd ever flown a magic carpet.

Dirham bounced over. "So, you need anything, Kal? Can I get you something? What about a body pillow? I hear they're comfortable. Or water wings? Some taffy? How about a jar of foot cream?"

Where did the fox come up with this stuff?

"The combination to the safe would be nice." Or Faruq's head on a silver platter.

Kal shook his head and finished off the drink, restraining himself from flipping the bottle into the air. In centuries past—two millennia actually—the bottle would have simply disappeared into the spectrasphere. Now, it'd shatter all over the floor.

He sighed and set the bottle on top of the fridge.

"The combination?" One of the fox's bat-like ears ticked forward as he leapt onto the recliner in front of the high-def. "Gee, Kal, that might be kind of hard."

"I was just kidding, Dirt—Dirham." Kal shooed him out of the chair and sank onto the cool leather. He'd have to wipe it down afterwards, but the beauty of not living with anyone was that no one would care if he didn't.

That was also the curse of not living with anyone.

"So what are we going to do today, Kal?" Dirham hopped up and down like a rabbit. He was the size of a rabbit actually.

"Today? Let's see." Kal pretended to contemplate the vast opportunities he was faced with. Trouble was, there weren't any. He was stuck in this lantern until a master summoned him. Bad enough he wasn't able to move forward with his life, having to hang out until Fate passed him around to one thousand and one masters, but to be stuck waiting while he was waiting… Kal hated being an alpha male in a beta role. Hated treading water and this sentence the High Master had imposed on him was the ultimate deep end.

"Want to paint rainbows in the air?" Dirham asked, swiping his tongue over his lips. Mist-paint was like catnip to fennecs.

Kal shook his head. "I'm not in the mood, but don't let me stop you." He pointed to the pull-down table on the wall that he stored the supplies behind. Without altering the outer lantern dimensions, the interior could expand to house whatever he wanted to order through the Genie Supply System—a race track, football field, the island of Crete, a camel—but Kal was into minimalism. Give him his fridge, workout equipment, the recliner, and a high-def TV, and he was good. Oh, and the remote. Definitely needed the remote. It was the only magic he could do these days.

Thanks to Faruq.

Kal gripped the leather arm rests. The prick had stolen not only his High Master's thesis and his magic, but also his reputation. Instead of the promotion Kal had expected all those centuries ago, his name had been dragged through endless jeribs of worthless desert sand and buried so deep that even Mudd was a better name than his.

Well, Karma could be a bitch and she'd finally bitten Faruq on the ass. The High Master's vizier was currently under lantern arrest for exactly what he'd framed Kal for, trying to double-cross the High Master in an effort to gain the title sooner rather than later, so the job was back up for grabs. As soon as Kal was finished serving his next master, he fully intended the position to be his. Gods knew, he'd worked hard enough for it, but then that prick had come along and stolen it.

Kal had given up then—and it wasn't something he was proud of. But genies were immortal, so it would have been a long time—if ever—until Faruq retired. There would have been no point in hanging around, and the surest way out of The Service was to get rid of the bracelets.

He should probably feel some pride in being the only djinni who'd ever figured out how to do that, but pride was a lonely bedfellow and a poor substitute for losing his magic.

"You know what, Dirham? I would like something."

The fox turned around with seven paintbrushes sticking out of his snout. "Wwaah is ih?"

Kal stood up, then stripped off his gym shorts. He finally had a shot at getting the job; he might as well look the part. Dress for the job you wanted, not the one you had. "My uniform. The orange one. And don't forget the scimitar."

Dirham dropped the brushes. "Scimitar?" His tongue snaked around his snout and not with the same enthusiasm as it had for mist-paint. "Have I displeased you?"

Kal shook his head and forced a smile to his face. Dirham was the one being who still believed in his innocence. Probably because the fennec didn't have a suspicious bone in his tiny body, but Kal would take every supporter he could get. Which, as of now, consisted of only one. "It's been a while and I don't want to lose my edge."

"Phew!" Dirham's tail twitched upright, a sure sign the little guy was happy. Some days he was so happy he looked like a show dog determined to win Best in Breed. "Okay, I'll be right back."

Kal took a quick shower while Dirham was gone. One more master; that's all he had left. After two thousand years of having his hands tied, with pewter cuffs instead of gold, an end was in sight—

An end that might be sooner rather than later, thanks to the orange smoke that began to fill his lantern. Smoke heralded his transmission to the outside world, and that particular shade of orange meant only one thing.

He was about to get a new master.

###

JF: Oops. I guess Kal wasn't clothed the entire time. My apologies to everyone--unless you enjoyed it. Then I won't apologize. :)

Thank you so much for having me and if you'd like to check out an excerpt that actually made it into the book, you can find it on my website: www.JudiFennell.com, and, remember: every wish comes with complications...

Genie Knows Best by Judi Fennell – In Stores November 2011!

Be careful what you wish for…

Samantha Blaine is about to make a fateful discovery. A tall, dark, handsome, ohmygosh kind of fateful discovery…

Kal is very pleased to meet his attractive new master—especially since he intends to seduce her into granting him freedom. But when seriously dark magic spells trouble for both of them, Kal can't help himself from falling for the woman who holds his fate in her hands…

Warmly acclaimed by readers and critics alike, Judi Fennell brings to life a fabulous world of magic and mayhem where wishes come true in the most unexpected ways!

About the Author

Judi Fennell is an award-winning author and writes what she calls "fairy tales with a twist." Her romance novels have been finalists in Gather.com's First Chapters and First Chapters Romance contests, and have won numerous RWA Chapter Awards, including the FF&P Prism Award, and the New Jersey Golden Leaf Award. Judi lives with her family in suburban Philadelphia, PA, where she is working on the next book in the Genie Trilogy, Magic Gone Wild, set for release in August 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.judifennell.com/.

Giveaway Time!
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Iron City Tour Launch with David Scott Milton

[image error] The Old MongooseDavid Scott Milton

I have always thought of myself as the Archie Moore of writing. For those who don't remember Moore or never knew of him, he was light heavyweight world boxing champion (1952–1959 and 1961). Known as The Old Mongoose, he had one of boxing's longest careers. He fought his last fight when he was 47. He holds the record for the most career knockouts, was ranked by Ring Magazine as one of the most devastating punchers of all time, and proclaimed by Box Rec to be the greatest boxer of all time.

I have been writing professionally for over fifty years. I started out writing pulp fiction for men's magazines, "Dude", "Gent", "Adam." I wrote under at least a dozen pseudonyms. My "premier" doppleganger was "Osgood Scott." The publications in those days paid five cents a word; the stories ran 2500 words and there'd be times when I'd have five or six tales in one edition; often I wrote complete issues under different names. Most of the stories were hard-boiled cop tales with a good serving of soft sex, heaving breasts panting heroines, square-jawed heroes.

Since I considered myself a serious writer and was doing this only to survive, I made a compact with myself: I would never think at all about what I was going to write; I would never take more than two and half hours to write a story; and would not rewrite one word. The editor would call me on a Monday and give me a list of titles, "The Girl Who Knew What She Wanted", "One Tough Cop", "A Wild Tale of Murder", etc. I'd get off the phone, turn to my Remington portable typewriter, and write away, story, after story, until I had fulfilled the order.

During this period I had begun to have my plays done at Theater Genesis on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Sam Shepard was having his first plays done there at the same time. At night I worked as a waiter in two well-known jazz clubs, The Five Spot and The Jazz Gallery. The two clubs, run by the inimitable Termini Brothers, Joe and Iggy, catered to a literary, music, and art crowd and I got to know writers Jack Kerouac, Norman Mailer, Jack Micheline, artists Willem De Kooning, Larry Rivers, Grace Hartigan, jazz muscians Dizzy Gillespie (with whom I used to play chess between sets), Art Blakey, and John Coltrane, among others.

I was going along, living a pleasant, eventful, even adventurous existence. Things were comfortable-- between writing for the pulps and waiting on tables, I was earning good money; at Theater Genesis, I was getting some notice as a playwright—Shepard's first play and mine opened within weeks of each other. I was busy, involved, struggling, but happy.

And then my life took a sharp and unexpected shift: as happens in the jazz world, temptation is always present; I had a contretemps with a pimp over his main squeeze; discretion being the better part of valor, I took my savings and got out of town, lit out for Mexico where I wrote my first novel, "The Quarterback." It took me eight years to get it published; it taught me how necessary perseverance was for a writer; it taught me many things, but that's a story for another time.

Why do I compare myself to Archie Moore, the Old Mongoose? I've gone on as a writer a long, long time. I'm shifty and tricky as the Mongoose was. Mongooses are known for their ability to kill venomous snakes, including cobras. I'm constantly fighting literary snakes, those who abuse writers, exploit or try to humiliate them, critics, agents, producers. I take my writing seriously and continue fighting the good fight for quality writing.

I keep throwing punches. I've had fine success with novels, screenplays, and plays. I've earned a living as a writer for all the years since the pulp days. I've been battered by the literary business as every writer has and yet I've managed to remain relatively unscarred. And nearing the end of my eighth decade I'm still throwing punches. When you read my latest novel, "Iron City", I think you'll agree that the Old Mongoose is still agile and immune to the venom of empty and superficial writing.

And so we're off! I'm looking forward immensely to this tour. I believe Archie Moore, the original Old Mongoose, would wave a gloved hand in my direction and wish me well. We'll touch on myriad things, life things, career things, craft ideas and problems, how to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity we have to express ourselves, how beauteous and rich the writers' world is, how important and precious our craft is, how important it is to fulfill our talent and abilities.

Nov 1 Tour LaunchFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Nov 2 Guest Blogwww.sithereandread.com
Nov 3 Interviewauthorsbyauthors.blogspot.com
Nov 6 PromoMad Moose Mamahttp://www.madmoosemama.blogspot.com
Nov 7 InterviewLisa's World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
Nov 8 Guest blogParanormal and Romantic Suspense Reviewshttp://paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com

Nov 9 Guest BlogMama Knows Books http://mamaknowsbooks.blogspot.com
Nov 11 Guest Post and reviewhttp://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/
Nov 12 Guest BlogFor The Love of Reading!http://niinas-reading-and-reviewing.blogspot.com/
Nov 15 promo and reviewLissette E. Manninghttp://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning



Iron City
By David Scott Milton
Publisher: White Whisker Books Date Published: September 1, 2011
Genre: Dark Mystery
Frank Kalinyak, disgraced ex-cop, returns to Pittsburgh, Pa., "Iron City", his hometown, from Tucson where he has been living a desperate existence since the death of his young daughter. He has been summoned home by Bobby Mack, an Assistant D.A., to find out who murdered an old high school friend. Kalinyak is swept into a whirlpool of bizarre killings, religious fanaticism, church duplicity, hustlers, cops, junkies, old friends gone bad. Amid the fractured landscape of Iron City, rusting mills, rotting industry, he struggles to find sense in his life. Ultimately he must ask: who is he and can he survive?

"David Scott Milton can write like an angel… a writer hell bent on fulfilling the legacy of John Steinbeck, carrying on the tradition of James Jones and exploring his own heights." -- Alabama Journal
Available for the Kindle on Amazon and on BN for the Nook, will be available in print in November

About the Author:
David Scott Milton (born September 15, 1934) is an American author, playwright, screenwriter, and actor. His plays are known for their theatricality, wild humor, and poetic realism, while his novels and films are darker and more naturalistic. As a novelist, he has been compared to Graham Greene, John Steinbeck, and Nelson Algren. Ben Gazzara's performance in Milton's play, Duet, received a Tony nomination. Another play, Skin, won the Neil Simon Playwrights Award. His theater piece, Murderers Are My Life, was nominated as best one-man show by the Valley Theater League of Los Angeles. His second novel, Paradise Road, was given the Mark Twain Journal award "for significant contribution to American literature.
http://www.dsmilton.com/
Learn more about David at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Scott_Milton
You Tube Video of David reading from Iron City http://youtu.be/U-ERnDTWhaA

Guest Blog and Spooky Excerpt of Shada

DEXTER is stalking Showtime, the movie theatres are rife with PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, and THE WALKING DEAD are lurking in the darker corners of AMC. It must be Halloween.

Every few years, the earmarks of the season change, but Halloween has never been larger. In fact, it's the second-biggest retail holiday of the year, second only to Christmas, surpassing such perennial favorites as Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve, Easter, and, in the US, Independence Day.

That's why it took me by surprise when I talked to a movie theatre owner recently, and he bemoaned the relative lack of scary movies this Halloween. With one exception.

"I'm really glad PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 is out," he told me. "But that's pretty much it, this year. There's virtually no other spooky movies out for the biggest spooky day of the year."

As we talked, it became clearer that he felt there was a reason for this.

"Spooky stuff's gone mainstream," he said. "You can release a scary movie any time of the year now, and do well. It used to be we'd have a flood of scary movies timed to release on Halloween, and we'd do huge business then. Now they release according to whether they expect the movie to be a big blockbuster or a quiet film. The blockbusters get their release dates in the summer movie season, or starting around Thanksgiving for the holiday rush. As a result, there's not many scary movies left on what used to be the biggest weekend for them."

It was a fascinating conversation.

But it's also a bit new. Even last year, the Halloween "spooky movie" season was more well rounded by at least containing a SAW installment in addition to a PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. But he's right, in essence. Scary stuff has gone mainstream. What else would explain decisions in recent years to release an excellent horror flick like THE STRANGERS in the spring, of all seasons?

I timed SHADA to be out in time to really promote it and build it up in time for Halloween. As a spooky tale involving ghosts, speaking to the dead, and séances, my little young adult paranormal suspense movie may not be the scariest thing on the market right now. But it is spooky. And haunting.

And that makes it perfect Halloween reading material.

SHADA
By Craig Hansen

Book 1 of the Ember Cole series.

Genre: young adult paranormal suspense

Word Count: approximately 32,500 words.


SHADA Book Blurb:

"If you could talk to a dead person, anyone at all, who would it be?"

A year ago, Ember Cole witnessed the death of her grandfather. Now, with her grandmother slipping away into dementia, she seeks answers from the only person who loved her grandmother more than her, even if he is dead: Grandpa Normie.

Joined by three of her closest friends, Ember treks deep into the woods of northwestern Wisconsin, seeking the advice of a dead man on how to save the living. But sometimes, the dead have their own agenda.

AUTHOR BIO:

Craig Hansen wrote stories from an early age, but when his SF short story, "The S.S. Nova," was published in the Minnesota Writers In the School COMPAS program's 1981 anthology of student writing, When It Grows Up, You Say Goodbye To It, he decided to dedicate himself to writing. Several unpublished novels and short stories followed.

Hansen earned two degrees at Minnesota State University at Mankato under the mentorship of young adult novelist Terry Davis. In the years that followed, Hansen worked a variety of jobs related to writing, including editorial work at a small publishing house, holding a position as a Web site editor, and five years in journalism in northwestern Wisconsin, where he earned several state awards for his writing and editing.

His work has appeared in the Meadowbrook Press anthology, Girls to the Rescue, Book 1, as well as the true crime journal, Ripper Notes, in volume 28.

His first novel, Most Likely, was released in May. Shada is the first installment of the Ember Cole series of young adult paranormal suspense books. Hansen is hard at work on the next installment in the series, the novel-length book, Ember.

Hansen recently moved to Oregon with his wife, a dog, a cat, and his 89-year-old father, a World War II veteran.

Craig's interests include the music of Johnny Cash, reading the novels of other independent authors, blogging, and the study of Messianic theology. On his Web site, you can sign up to receive a periodic email newsletter that will notify you when he releases new novels.

Connect With Craig Online At:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/craigahansen
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Craig-Hansen-Author/
Blog and Web site: www.craig-hansen.com

SHADACHAPTER 12"THE LEGEND OF ABE WINDLER"
IT HAPPENED LONG AGO, ON A DAY VERY MUCH LIKE THIS ONE. A hot, sticky summer day, back when my grandfather was my age. He was a freshman in high school and Abe Windler was a classmate of his. A very popular one.
Abe Windler, you see, stood taller than anyone else in school, even the seniors. He had a clean complexion and sharp, solid features. A gifted athlete, he played running back for the football team in the fall, point guard for the basketball team in the winter, and ran the hundred-yard dash every spring on the track team. Everything he was part of, he excelled at. He could not lose.
His freshman year was the last year the Hope football team and basketball team went to state in the same year.
Yet for all his ability, all his popularity, Abe was humble. Some say it was because of his youth, because he still felt inferior to those ahead of him, even though he had accomplished so much so young, and even though he towered over even the tallest of his own classmates. He stood like a giant, but carried himself like the servant of all.
Many people in Hope held onto great dreams after his freshman year. The football coach dreamed of three more undefeated seasons. The basketball coach, of three more state tournament appearances. His track coach, a religious man, prayed for Abe to take home many more gold medals.
Yet Abe possessed a single weakness. He was in love with a girl two years ahead of him. Back then, such couplings were unheard of. No junior girl would consider dating a freshman, two years below her station. Yet this was only the beginning of Abe's challenges.
The girl he loved was named Emmaline Steele and she was the daughter of the first Baptist preacher ever to serve at Hope First Baptist Church. She was wasicun winyan—a white woman—and her whole family devoutly and conservatively Baptist, whereas Abe Windler was everything she was not; he was proudly Lakota and he did not embrace the religion of the wasichu—the white man.
Even so, Abe Windler's heart beat for Emmaline the way a husband's heart beats for his wife. He would not be dissuaded. At homecoming, he invited her to the dance, but she refused. When he asked why, she told him that as a Baptist she did not believe in dancing. Devastated, he stayed home as the girl he loved did, rather than go to the dance without her on his arm.
In the winter, he invited her to the tribal solstice dance. This would not require her to dance, only to watch, he reasoned. Again she said no. When he asked her why, she explained that as a Baptist her family did not believe in attending pagan rituals.
By this time, most young boys would have given up. Yet in the spring Abe decided he'd stumbled upon just the thing; he offered to attend her father's church upon the celebration of Easter. Once again, Emmaline said no. When he asked her why, she told him that her father felt his church was for the white people, and as Lakota, he was unwelcome.
Abe was devastated, especially for one so young. He could not imagine loving another, yet also could not understand how someone he loved so deeply could treat him with such cruelty and hate. And at this point, most sane young men would have rejected Emmaline in spite of her beauty and sought out a kinder soul.
Yet Abe Windler was young and foolish and thought he knew more of love than he did. So he continued to pine away for her. As spring rolled into summer, he took to working in the fields of Old Man Saint Croix, whose fields border the south side of the Elk Ridge River.
The reason for Abe taking the job helping out in the Saint Croix fields is that, three times a week, regular as clockwork, Pastor Steele would drive past the fields with his daughter in the car with him, escorting her to piano lessons with Old Man Saint Croix's wife. Abe worked long hours in the hot sun, just for these brief glimpses of his cruel beloved.
One day, he could take no more. As he saw the Steele car approaching, he rushed from the field and flagged the car down. Pastor Steele stopped for him, but demanded to know why the young Lakota boy would not leave his daughter alone.
"I cannot change that I dance," Abe told the pastor, "I cannot change that I am Lakota, and while I could pretend, I cannot change that I do not believe in your God. Even so, I cannot believe that it is impossible for things to change. Even your God must believe that with love, all things are possible. So tell me what I must do. Tell me to accomplish some impossible thing, and I will do it. If you ask that I help win three more state championships in football, I will do it. If you ask that I help win three more basketball titles, I will do it. And if you ask that I win three more gold medals in the hundred meter dash, I will do it. All these trophies, all these prizes, I will lay at your feet for a dowry, if only you allow me to court your daughter."
Pastor Steele was astonished at the young Lakota's dedication. He had thought the lad a vain and shallow youth and had ordered his daughter to ignore Abraham's advances. Now that he saw the Lakota's sincerity for himself, he needed to put it to one final test.
So he told Abraham, "If you are dedicated so deeply to my daughter, I will offer you a chance to win her attentions. I do not care if you dance with her, so long as you wait until your wedding day for the first waltz. I do not care that you are Lakota, so long as you raise your children in the white man's ways. And I do not care that you don't believe in our God, because I can convince you of His truth once I am your father-in-law."
"So what task would you ask of me?" Abe Windler asked.
Pastor Steele considered this for a moment. While Abe's athletic skills had impressed the town, the pastor held little interest in the fame such achievements in sports would bring to Hope.
What's more, all the lad had accomplished so far told him such achievements were not a true test of his character, since he believed so deeply he could do them.
Turning in place, he spotted the Elk Ridge River bridge nearby, and bid Abe to follow him as Emmaline followed along after. They walked silently to the bridge. He began to form a plan to test both Abe's resolve and his bravery one final time.
"You walk taller than men far older than you, Abe, and I do not doubt your physical abilities. What I doubt is your wisdom. You trust in yourself more than any other, more than fate itself. Behold, the Elk Ridge River," Pastor Steele said. "I know this river well. It runs deep in some places and shallow in others, much like the heart of a young man."
"I will swim it from mouth to headwaters," Abe said, "if it means I gain your blessing."
"That will not be necessary," Pastor Steele said. "All I ask is that you dive in, from any point on the bridge you wish. If you land in a deep area, and emerge unscathed, you may court my Emmaline. If you land in a shallow area, you may very well never emerge and breathe the fresh air again."
Abe looked at the bridge, fully thirty-feet above the surface of the water. If the river ran deep, it would be easy; if he broke the surface of a shallower area, that height was enough to end his life. This, Abe Windler knew in his heart.
At this point, if Emmaline had cared for Abe at all, she would have begged her father for mercy, to make a demand that would not put the young boy's very life at risk. But Emmaline, however devout she appeared, hid a cold and icy heart. Instead of begging for mercy, she urged young Abe on.
"Do this," she told him, "and we shall be together, as you wish."
With those words, she stood on the tips of her toes and sealed her promise with a single, lingering kiss upon his lips.
For all his skill, for all his achievements, for all that Abe Windler had going in his favor, he was still a boy of only fifteen years. Receiving a kiss from a girl two years older than him, with peach-scented skin and generous curves barely concealed by her modest dress, was enough to drive all sense from him.
In haste to win the continued affection of his love and the blessing of her father, Abe scrambled to action. He clambered hastily over the railing, paced quickly to the end of a beam, and executed a perfect forward swan dive.
Now, depending on who you talk to, some say Pastor Steele cried out in warning. Others say he closed his eyes in prayer for the boy's safety. Still others insist that when he saw the rashness of the boy, he turned his eyes from the sight and looked away. Yet no matter who you talk to, no matter who tells the story, they all agree on one thing: Emmaline said not a word. She watched as Abe foolishly rushed to his task of diving in the river, and a smile passed on her lips for more than a moment when she saw him leap. Everyone agrees she knew the bridge and the river and Abe's position well enough to know what would follow.
Abe Windler leaped carelessly from the bridge, too near the shallow edge of the river, well short of the drop-off that would have allowed him to dive deep and emerge safely. He dove to his death, landing, they say, head first.
The Steeles did not remain in Hope long after that. The church dismissed the pastor from his post, and he moved his family on to an area where his connection to the death of Abe Windler was not known.
Yet they say, on hot days like this, the ghost of Abe Windler roams these lands. Up and down the Elk Ridge River, throughout the woods, and along the old dirt road leading out to the Saint Croix farms, where the bridge he leaped from can be found to this day. They say he's searching still for the hand of Emmaline Steele, to be joined to her as he was promised. To have her join him in death.

Lothaire By Kresley Cole

Title: Lothaire
Author: Kresley Cole
ISBN: 9781439136829
Price: $25.00/$28.99 CAN
Format: Hardcover
On Sale: 1/10/12


#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole continues her electrifying Immortals After Dark series with this thrilling tale, revealing secrets of the Lore, fierce realm of the immortals. . . .

ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLD
Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore's most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde's crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness—until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER
Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she'd be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month's time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED
Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millennia-old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Want to Know More about Lothaire? Watch Kresley Cole answer insider questions and reveal information that readers are dying to know!
http://www.simonandschuster.com/multimedia?video=1225067229001



Click here to pre-order your copy!
http://books.simonandschuster.com/buy/Lothaire/9781439136829/from-other-retailers#book_retailers


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Tour Finale and Giveaway with Eri Nelson

What does an Author do when a character goes alive within their mind?
The ground was moist and laden with the smells of fall. Crisp and clean the briskness gave away to all the enticements that the land had to offer.
With his night covered face he found himself alive with the vast scope in which lay in front of him. All around him the darkness was thus but his vision was proficient and it kept watch of the movement.
He was young still and so his strength was not as, his creator, the alpha. However Wash, Washington Lee Jefferson, still swam in the depths of his anger. He needed blood to cure his ache for revenge. Perhaps something of Owen's, the alpha, line would suffice. Therefore he waited in that same spot for the past week lingering over the alphas blood line.
There were parts of him that falter and wish him to drop this blanketed façade. To let himself be free of this retched ache that rotted within him. However this human strength was weak now within him. No longer days until none of what he once was would be left.
A shimmer of light came through the wooden embankment where he gaze from. Someone had emerged for the rustic lodge's front. At first scent it was known who it was and it sent his animal beast onto a run. Full in stretch of his legs extended length he spread across the space with not an alteration in time.
Springing up from the ground he pounced down on to his prey. Immediately ripping the soft beaten flesh from its bone. Wash's taste buds were enflamed with the mortal fleshy tissue that held brazen to his tongue's pallet. Every fiber of him could sense the thin procession of ancestry. This was the last of the alpha's line and would have to suffice until Wash could master enough strength to eventually killing Owen. Nevertheless the last few kills did little to meet his revenge's requirements.
As Wash drank onward off the last beats of life from the mortal he took solace in the fact that the Owen would least know that it was him that laid his once kin to their demise.
When something from the above tussles and turns within your mind, eventually coming to life. I find it's better to put out as many traps as possible and imprison it onto any pages of work you can find.
Thank you so much Fang-tastic Books and all the wonderful prior blogs for the brilliant venue you allowed me join within. It has been a fantastic run of blogging!!
Best Wishes
Eri Nelson

5 signed copies of The Call from Within

are being given away tour wide

Open to US Shipping Only

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Dearhart Clan is a series of fast paced books that dabble in the world of paranormal and remain in the erotic pulse of what can only be classified as a primal fantasy. If it's a typical romance you're looking for you won't find it in this series.

Eri Nelson writes in a darker world where heat and need are the forefront for a slipping existence. There is not time for all the tenderness love deserves but if you're imprinted to another you are far beyond those mortal requirements.

Our author is driven by swift action packed intrigues that often leave you wanting more. As she writes each new book into the series the number of pages might increase but the action never lets you feel the increasing distance to the final page.

The Call From Within is Eri Nelson's first look into this series. It is here that we meet Owen our Pack's clan leader. He has been driven by what is expected of an alpha. Facts that were told through the decades all but look like fiction to him now. So he never dared to believe in fate and only let duty push him forth. Although now his resolves make no sense and it took little to no time at all in showing him through the lust he feels for another.

Kristen Still bares the imprinted mark to our handsome alpha. However he wasn't the first to notice what she was and it's that bedding of prior passions that control her new weakness. Yes, Owen is pushed by jealousy to possess what his four footed insight tells him is his.

A former distraction wanted more than heated moments with Kristen. In her he saw a stronger life force for his young and if Brinston Drake must he would take what he needs from her. He just did not foresee another finding her as well.

While the rest of Eri Nelson's cast of characters find their selves caught up in furthering personal existences. Another by the name of Wash seeks to use their distractions as his gain. A rogue sent to track and update, Wash is tested by his hatred and desire for revenge. He'll have it but not as quickly as he would like. But soon enough Owen will slip farther into his madness over a bitch in heat. Then Wash perhaps can use the heated vixen to distract both her and the alpha into their future demise.


Available on Amazon in print and for the Kindle

Teaser Excerpt: "To sink his teeth in that ivory clad hide and nibble on her most womanly parts. Her moistened heat to be lavished under the weight of his tongue. She smelled and looked better for breakfast than any food the diner had to offer. He knew nothing about her outside the fact that she was his and he had to have her."


Meet the Author
Hi, my name is Eri Nelson or as I rather like to call myself an Ohioan Hermit (lol). Life is pretty simple for me. I like being home where my family is. This family also includes are far too many pets. Although I try to put limits on our personal zoo we are hard to pass off a stray.
I have always enjoyed writing but never feeling that the patience was within me to write a book. So on a whim I wrote my first book of forty thousand words in the fall of 2010.
Quickly following that up with a sequel in hopes to make a series of it.
However these were not the series I chose to put out for readers….. That is, not just yet.
Loving challenges as I do, the call out for a paranormal romance caught my eye. So in my haste I threw out a fifteen thousand word book in hope that it could find its way into becoming an eBook. But alas this was turned down. However, like myself I did not write a series that was solely a romance. More what I think of as primal fantasies. Course I did not let the denial of what was not classed as their type of romance stop me. With the story still raging in my head my fingers typed off another round, making my one into two books. This one verging on a little over twenty-four thousand words. Well as it usually does in my case, the story line would not leave my head so now I am working on book three in the Dearhart Clan Series.
Now I must say that it was not just my love of writing that pushed me into looking for alternate publishing paths. No that honor goes to my husband, Jeff Nelson. He truly has been my most honest critic. It was not easy at first for me to concede to his thoughts. In fact it was every curse word I could think of stating how wrong his views were (lol). Nevertheless we came to a few resolutions and became a team in the editing process (so any errors in my books we blame him, ok….lol…just joking …wink wink).
You will never hear me claim to be this glorious fantastic writer. For I am just pleased when another simply enjoys the read. It truly amazes me when someone likes my writing style. I hope with all my heart, you dear reader will be one of those who do.
http://www.dearharts.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Eri-Nelson/119732781417072

Guest Blog and Giveaway with The Witches of Paranormal Pleasures

Today I have the pleasure of chatting about Halloween with a few of the witches from my erotic short story collection Paranormal Pleasures: Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction.

I'll start with Marissa from "A Last Goodbye". Marissa is new to the supernatural world, being a late bloomer with her magic but her trainer, Deirdre, who happens to be a vampire, is showing her the ropes and helping her acclimate quite well.

RR: So Marissa how are you celebrating Halloween this year?

Marissa: Deirdre's brother Dante is throwing a Masquerade Ball at his mansion, it's going to be blast.

RR: Are you going in costume?

Marissa: Yes I'm wearing a Marie Antoinette era gown and gorgeous mask- authentic too, no reproductions. It was Deirdre's, you know vampires, they are such hoarders, which can come in handy when you're searching for rare antiques and vintage clothing.

RR: I would love to peak into her closet, or should I say closets? Considering she's been around for a long time I bet she has tons of clothes.

Marissa: Oh she does, I haven't even begun to see everything. I've only been to two of her houses here in the states, she and Dante share several in Europe.

RR: Vampires and their luxuries…

Marissa: You know it.

As Marissa giggles thinking about her new life full of vampires I turn to Ariadne from "Witch in the Middle". Ariadne has not one but two gorgeous men in her life. Such a greedy witch J

RR: Hi Ariadne, how are you celebrating Halloween this year? Anything special planned?

Ariadne: I've been invited to a couple parties. I'm not sure if I'm going though.

RR: Why not?

Ariadne: The whole "who to take issue", choosing which guy will go where with me is such a headache.

RR: Why not take them both?

Ariadne: And risk the dirty looks, the questioning looks…or even worse the guys getting into it in the middle of a party and embarrassing me? No thank you.

RR: So they're still having issues with each other?

Ariadne: Men are so territorial, jealousy is always an issue. They are always trying to one up each other or be the better man. Sometimes I wonder if I should just choose and be done with it.

RR: I'm sorry to hear that, I was really hoping the three of you had worked things out.

Ariadne: Perhaps they'll get over the pettiness so I can have a Happy Halloween, it is my favorite holiday of the year and above all both guys love to make me happy.

RR: Well there you go, just tell them you want to go out and have fun without their egos getting in the way.

Ariadne: Thanks, Rox I will do that. Now I just have to figure out what to wear.

RR: Maybe you should go chat with Marissa and Deirdre I hear Deirdre has closets full of amazing clothes.

Ariadne: Thanks, I'll do that.

Ariadne wanders off to find Marissa and I turn to Elita from "The Questioning Concubine".

RR: Hello Elita, glad you could join us today. How are things going with the investigation?

Elita: Thanks to Connor I'm finally making some headway with the case. I'm closer than ever to finding out who killed my parents.

RR: That's great news. Are you taking any time off to enjoy the Halloween season?

Elita: I have to. Taking my parent's place in the circle means I have to organize and head up all of the Samhain activities- the bonfire, the ritual, and of course the party.

RR: Will Connor be joining you?

Elita: A wicked little grin creeps across her pretty features…He will.

RR: Does anyone know what he is, other than you?

Elita: No, he passes quite well as a witch. Glamour can hide all the little things that some might notice and think strange.

RR: So amid all those witches you don't think anyone will notice that he's different?

Elita: They haven't yet and I've been dragging him with me everywhere. He has a way of making people talk, making them give up secrets, information they might not have even known they had. It's a tremendous help with the investigation.

RR: That's good news. I'm glad that summoning him turned out to be a good thing. You hear so much about those things going wrong, it's good to know they can go right sometimes.

Elita: Oh that summoning was definitely right, and amazing and so damn hot…

she blushes as she realizes she's getting a little carried away

RR: I clear my throat thanks for joining me for this little interview, I hope all of your Halloween/Samhain festivities turn out to be fabulous.

Elita: Thanks Rox I'm sure they will as long as Connor is by my side.

Elita wanders off and I turn to the witch that's left, Vicki from "Witching You A Merry Christmas".

RR: So Vicki, You and Daniel ended up having a very wonderful Christmas last year, will you be celebrating Halloween together as well?

Vicki: She gives me a shy smile Yes, we'll be together for the holidays, all of them.

RR: Wonderful. So any plans? I know you come from a blended family- do you celebrate the harvest, Samhain, or Halloween?

Vicki: All of them. We've already attended quite a few harvest festivals, went on hayrides and drank spiced apple cider. This weekend we have a few Halloween parties to drop in on then a special Samhain ritual and bonfire on Monday night.

RR: Sounds like a busy weekend. Will you be dressing up?

Vicki: Oh yes. Daniel and I are wearing steampunk inspired costumes with some very nice gadgets and gizmos he made that look right out of the 1800s, of course most of the parts are from the 1800s with a little bit of modern tech thrown in.

RR: Parts from the 1800's? Another example of vampire hoarding?

Vicki: She laughs Oh you have no idea! Daniel is such a pack rat. The man has boxes and trunks and all kinds of stuff tucked away in his house…houses I should say.

RR: I know he loves Christmas and goes all out with the decorations, is he the same way for Halloween?

Vicki: Let's just say there is the biggest skeleton I have ever seen currently residing in his front yard along with a vast collection of other iconic Halloween creatures and features.

RR: So that's a yes? I laugh.

Vicki: Most definitely.

RR: Well thank you for joining me today, thanks to all the witches that took the time to stop by during this busy haunting season.

It's interested to know that the supernaturals pretty much celebrate just like we do: costumes, bonfires, parties, hayrides, along with silly and scary decorations.

To learn more about these characters be sure to check out Paranormal Pleasures Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction.

Title: Paranormal Pleasures Ten Tales of Supernatural Seduction
Author: Roxanne Rhoads
Publisher: Bewitching Books
Genre: Paranormal erotica
ISBN: 0615470386 / 9780615470382
Page Count: 138

Book description:
Ten tantalizing, erotic tales of vampires, witches and demons grace the pages of this short story collection by Roxanne Rhoads.

Step into the darkness and let these tales tempt and tease to satisfy your paranormal cravings.

Eight of Roxanne Rhoads' previous eBook publications appear in print for the first time, along with two brand new, never before published tales of supernatural love and lust.

Extended Description
A Last Goodbye

New witch Marissa is learning the ropes of being one of The Others. One of her mentors is vampire Deirdre, a tall beauty who really irritates Marissa. Marissa is extremely pissed when she shows up to Dante's Ball and finds Deirdre there with Marissa's recent ex-boyfriend, Jeff. The one she was encouraged to break up with because of his humanity. Deirdre explains her reasons for bringing Jeff and offers to help Marissa say goodbye to him in a way none of them will ever forget

Overkill

Vanessa is tired of her boyfriend Simon's promiscuous vampire ways and stakes him, repeatedly- not close enough to the heart to kill him but close enough to make it hurt. But now she's had a change of heart and considers embracing the sexual world of the vampire instead of being jealous of it.

Witch in the Middle

Ariadne is a witch torn between two men, a vampire and a human. Her heart doesn't want to choose but the men force her to make a decision that could break her heart, unless with the help of the Goddess all three of them can come to a mutually acceptable…and enjoyable agreement.

When It Storms

Devon's witchy girlfriend becomes insatiable every time a storm rolls around and he's more than happy to give her exactly what she needs.

Monster Inside

Shannon's never seen her vampire boyfriend, Logan, vamp out before. Then one night he has to kill to save her life. Can she ever look at him the same way again?

The Questioning Concubine

Elita, a pure blood witch, has come home to find who or what killed her parents and to take her rightful place as the head of the coven. After five years of investigating and exhausting all conventional methods at her disposal, she decides to do the one thing a good witch should never do—summon a demon. The demon is not what she expected. Elita is soon swept up in his power… and her own.

Renata

The residents of the sleepy little town of Flushing, Michigan had no idea a vampire lived among them, seducing and drinking from all the men in town. Renata walked among them, blending in, taking only what she needed. One night, while she was on the prowl for fresh blood at a carnival, a handsome carnie caught her eye. She had no way of knowing he was a vampire hunter and was there for her.

Sea of Blood

Liana made Nerissa a vampire centuries ago in the islands of Greece but she's never tired of her companion or the way she hunts her prey.


A Halloween to Remember

What says Halloween better than a wild party at an old Victorian mansion complete with its own cemetery? Perhaps meeting the man of your dreams thanks to the magic of Halloween.

Adena can't believe her eyes when she spots Dimitri in the library- he looks like something straight off the cover of a historical romance novel-the type of guy she's always dreamed of. Too bad he disappears before she has the chance to introduce herself. When she finally spots him again later that night she decides she's not letting him get away again. Adena thinks she's finally found the one. Until she wakes up alone the next morning- in the cemetery.

Halloween magic brought them together but will it be strong enough to keep them together?

Witching You A Merry Christmas

Witch Vicki has been leery of vampires ever since she was attacked five years ago. Daniel's a vampire and he's been secretly in love in with Vicki for two years ever since becoming Vicki's partner in The Guardians a supernatural group of paranormal crime fighters. Daniel loves Christmas and hopes the spirit of the holidays will soften Vicki's hatred of vampires and help her see him in a new light. Will he get his Christmas wish?

Giveaway Time
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Interview with Craig Hansen Author of Shada

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?

Two of my favorite things growing up were comic books and scary stories. I read Stephen King starting around the time I was thirteen or fourteen, back in 1979 or 1980. Maybe a little earlier. And I'd thrived on comic books before that. My father kind of introduced me to them when I was sick in the hospital with pneumonia. I needed reading material, and the place he went to get cigarettes also sold comic books, a book and tobacco store in Austin, MN, that closed down a few years ago, called Nemitz's.

I had two bad bouts of pneumonia when I was a kid. One was in 1977, when the original Star Wars was released. I remember that because one of the comic books he bought me was the adaptation of the movie.

And then the first time was at least a couple years before that. I know because I was already reading comics regularly when Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man came out in 1976. Both times, it was winter and I missed like two weeks of school. Comic books helped me get through all those inhaler sessions where you end up coughing a lot to clear your lungs of the bad stuff.

Anyway, comic books and scary stories were two passions of mine from a very young age, and SHADA is the starting point of a series of novels that will contain elements of both those interests.

What is it about the paranormal, in particular ghosts, that fascinates you so much?

I find the concept of ghosts fascinating because of the hint it drops of a life that follows this one. I won't go into matters of personal faith, but the idea that this life isn't the end is one thing you can take away from any ghost story. It affirms that hope for life after death.

Not to say sitting around for eternity, unable for the most part to communicate with the living is anyone's idea of a good time. But as those Ghost Hunters t-shirts say, Ghosts were people, too!

Plus, of all the paranormal creatures there are out there, ghosts just seem like the most plausible, the easiest suspension of disbelief. After all, who doesn't get a little freaked out in a place where someone died, or walking through a graveyard at night? Most of us are too freaked out to even attempt a nighttime graveyard walk. And for good reason; it is freaky.

What inspired you to write this book?

I'm actually drawing on a lot of personal experiences, though I change a lot of details to make it Ember's story and not my own.

For example, I had an elderly relative who would come to visit when I was young, who could wiggle his ears. Very few people can do that, and at the right age, it seems like the coolest thing in the world.

Also, my grandmother had a boyfriend who we sometimes called grandpa at a young age, and he died in a car accident after a visit to her, also.

Third, my grandmother had both Alzheimer's and dementia when I was younger, so I know something about that. My father, who lives with my wife and me, has both of those things, too, now.

And finally, when I was close to the age of Ember and Shada, I also experimented around with séances. I have a great blog about that up on Craig-Hansen.com, actually, so I won't recount that again here, but those are four elements from the book that are drawn from similar events in my own life. The details are very different, but the inspiration was drawn from those experiences.

Please tell us about your latest release.

SHADA is a paranormal suspense novel and, basically, a bit of a ghost story. It's a fun read but has some depth to it as well because of some of the themes I brush on. On one level, it's a very serious tale about dealing with loss. On another, it's a summer adventure tale about four girls going on a spooky camping trip in the woods. And on yet another level, it's a novel with a sense of humor and fun; the opening chapter, for example, has some witty dialog, while other chapters have some nice situational humor.

So there's something for everyone, and while it may not be brimming with vampires and werewolves and witches, it is a haunted and, also, a haunting, story.

Finally, it's the lead entry in a paranormal suspense series featuring Ember Cole, who we are first introduced to in SHADA. So while some fans of hardcore paranormal fiction might consider this entry tame, the supernatural elements will ramp up in future installments.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?

I do a little of all that, and more. Ember Cole, for example, was originally conceived as a comic book character with fire-based powers. So her name is believable but directly ties into her ultimate identity. The whole Cole clan was fun to name, actually. You have the maternal grandmother, Char. There's her mom, Bernice, who is usually called Bernie. And if I ever introduce her father into the storyline, his name will probably be Blake, but his nickname will be Blackie. So, yeah, a lot of fun playing off fire-based powers and the family names.

SHADA refers to a supporting cast member, but our narrator for this book, Shada Emery. Shada, pronounced shay-dah, is a name I found while looking through a list of names that were Native American. It might have even been a list of Lakota names. I loved it on first sight, too, because I'm a long-time Doctor Who fan, and "Shada" was the name of an unfinished six-part Tom Baker WHO story that was never finished due to a writer's strike or something. The writer behind the episodes was Douglas Adams, who went on to write all the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy books. So the chance to not only give this character a genuine Native American name, but also pay tribute to Douglas Adams at the same time, was irresistible. Emery is just a surname I know from my time up in northwestern Wisconsin. It fit well with Shada as a first name, so I used it.

I could go on and on, but yeah, for important characters, each name has a bit of a story behind it.

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?

Well, I'm a male writer in his mid-forties, writing about young teenage girls. So it's all challenging, to one degree or another. I think the hardest character to nail down was Willow. She's the brainiac outcast of the group, not many friends, a bit withdrawn, but quite smart if you can get to know her … but she might not let you.

In a way, she's a female version of me in middle school; I can relate to Willow's struggles to relate to and get along with kids her own age, because she's operating on a level way above her peers intellectually, but she often just doesn't have social skills, so in some ways she can seem stupid or unsophisticated. That's fun, but it's hard to get right.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?

Ember is always fun. She'd have to be, since I'm going to be writing several novels featuring her.

But beyond Ember, I guess I'd have to say Shada was the most interesting. Her main task as narrator is to show us Ember, Jeni and Willow, so in early drafts her own life didn't really emerge because I was using her more as a plot device to show readers everyone else.

However, as the novel progressed, I added more about who she was, more of her life and what makes her tick, and I think I ended up with a good balance by the time I let SHADA out into the world.

I quite like Shada Emery, and I have big plans for her to return at some point in the future, in a very different capacity. So I had to be careful to only reveal enough to make people care about her, but not so much that I ruin any of the stuff that's coming a few novels down the line.

Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?

For me, there are a lot of steps in getting to know my characters, and it's a never-ending process. I begin when I get the novel idea; I start casting my novel by coming up with characters, ideas for characters, names for them. Naming is a big thing for me, it helps me form an idea of their personality.

For example, if I name someone Peter or Richard, I automatically know they had to endure a ton of penile jokes in their early years, and I start to wonder how that affected them. Not just anyone in general, but how they responded to it. Were they the type to confront their bullies, or run away, or avoid entirely?

Sometimes I'll have a great concept for a character and he or she will come together quickly. Other times I'll have to let a character sit on the sidelines for years before I feel I know them well enough to tell their story.

Ember, for example, was born out of an idea for a comic book or graphic novel, as I've said. As I was developing that, I laid out a lot of the structure for her and her world. That's when I invented the setting of Hope, Wisconsin and started filling it up with people, places, local lore, and other stuff. Most of my cast for SHADA and EMBER were created then.

But two weren't!

For example, Willow has a very brief role in EMBER, but when I developed SHADA, I took the chance to spend more time with her. And Shada Emery I invented specifically for SHADA, and I had not even conceived of her prior to 2011. Now she's a part of my long-term plans for the Ember Cole series.

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?

I can honestly say I have several favorite scenes in the book. One that keeps coming to mind for me, though, is the dinner table scene between Shada and her parents. It's roughly the first time we get to see Shada outside of how she relates to Ember, Jeni, and Willow, and I enjoy the time we spend around their dinner table.

I especially enjoy how her parents handle the news about what the girls are actually up to: a séance in the woods. That's a scene I keep coming back to as one I'm happy with, as it reads.

Did you find anything really interesting while researching this book?

I had to do a lot more research for a brief tome like SHADA than I've had to do for EMBER, and I've been working on that novel for over a year already, minus some interruptions.

I researched both the Lakota and Shoshoni dialects and was able to spice the novel up with some genuine Lakota and Shoshoni dialog, which is all explained so that readers don't get confused or feel left out.

I also had to find someone Willow would look up to, and found William Kirby, the father of the scientific study of insects. It was a nice bit of self-education, but I tried to make it fun for readers at the same time.

So both of those elements were fun research bits I had to do during the writing process for SHADA.

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?

I know this might be disappointing for fans of hardcore paranormal novels, but I'm going for something a little different with SHADA and EMBER and the books that will follow those.

The world of Ember Cole is very much like our own reality, except the paranormal is just a tiny bit more common. In fact, the paranormal is pretty rare and when it does show up, it doesn't show itself to anyone and everyone.

One way I like to get this across is, there are a lot more normal characters in the world of Ember Cole than there are paranormal ones. I think that's where I'm doing something a little bit different with the genre. I'm going for more of a Stephen King approach. The paranormal is mostly hidden from view. And those who witness it are seldom believed.

The Emery family kitchen table scene is a good example of that feel. This is a light-touch paranormal world. There are not vampire boyfriends lurking in every hallway, in other words.

With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?

SHADA is the first book in the series, so nothing comes before it. Also, I really believe that any book in a series should be open to being read as a standalone novel and fully enjoyed. I want hooks to sink into readers so they're ready for the next installment, but I don't want any of these novels to feel like, "Gee, maybe I'd understand this better if I'd read another installment first."

I fully believe that even when you're writing a series, a good story, well-told, has a beginning, a middle, and a resolution of at least the main conflict or issue driving that novel.

I have long character arcs planned for Ember, Jeni, even Shada and maybe some others, sure. In fact, I have characters who will be the main stars of future novels in other series or stories, who are popping up in minor roles here in SHADA, or will in EMBER. So, long-term readers will get those kinds of Easter eggs to enjoy.

But it won't be at a level that will confuse those who haven't read my other titles yet. At least, it won't be like that if I do my job of writing these things well.

Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?

Does preferring to write during graveyard shift hours count as a quirk?

Do you write in different genres?

I have some straightforward suspense stories for an older audience coming up. I may get to those standalones next year. Further down the line, I'd like to write some mysteries. But the Ember Cole series is going to be a major home base for me as a writer. It's not some tiny trilogy I'll do and then never revisit. I have a lot of stories I can tell with this character.

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?

Believe it or not, I've been a Messianic rabbi in training for about four years now. I'm still studying, and I don't have a congregation yet, but I'm building toward that day, when I'm not writing. So I love reading the Torah and the New Covenant writings. And I dig History Channel, Discovery Channel, magazines like Biblical Archaeology Review, stuff like that.

Also, I enjoy singing and sometimes I find a restaurant that offers karaoke, which I used to do a lot. You wouldn't guess it to look at me right now, but I can do very well with Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, U2 and such.

What was the last amazing book you read?

It's been NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS by Victorine Lieske for over a year now, ever since I finished it. Amazing book. Fun read.

But I'm about ten percent through UNDER THE DOME right now, so King is giving Ms. Lieske a run for her money, as King's books are a lifelong obsession of mine.

Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?

In bed, on my Kindle, lights off, with a Mighty Brite illuminating the Kindle but not shining in my eyes. I read until I start drifting off, then stow it away till morning.

What can readers expect next from you?

EMBER is definitely my next project. SHADA is a prequel of sorts, but EMBER is the main event where I get a lot of my pieces on the table and see what I have to play with. It's where Ember Cole's life really starts getting complicated.

Where can readers find you on the web?

I have a blog/website at Craig-Hansen.com. I can be found on Twitter @craigahansen. I have a Facebook fan page, as well. And while it hasn't taken off quite yet, I have an ID on FormSpring, too. Plus I hang out a lot at Kindleboards.

Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?

Sure. Here's something funny from the first chapter….

"IF YOU COULD TALK TO A DEAD PERSON, ANYONE AT ALL, who would it be?"

* snip *

…Once we were all together, Jeni spoke up again. "Okay, so Willow wants to talk with creepy bug dude."

"William Kirby," the youngest girl corrected.

"Fine, whatever," Jeni said. "What about the rest of you? Shada?"

I was silent for a moment, pondering my options. I must have taken too long, because Jeni called my name again.

"I'm thinking!" I protested.

"Well, think faster," Jeni sniped, and then laughed.

"Probably some cool musician type guy," I said. "Mick Jagger, maybe?"

"Pick someone dead," Jeni said.

"Mick Jagger's dead, isn't he?"

The others girls laughed and Ember replied, "Mick Jagger is definitely not dead. Unless it's something you read on the Web before coming here today."

"How's Mick Jagger still alive?" I asked. "He's gotta be, like, older than my grandma, and she died two years ago."

"So, your grandma's dead," Jeni said. "Why not talk to her instead?"

"I didn't like talking to her when she was alive," I said. "She was always grouchy and smelled like stale prunes."

"That's not nice," Ember said.

"It's the truth," I replied. I noticed I was veering close to shore and kicked a few times, using my arms like oars to steer myself back closer to the center of the river. "Anyway, I don't want to talk to her. I'd rather talk to someone famous."

"What about Michael Jackson?" Willow offered. "He'd dead."

"Michael Jackson was gross," I replied. "My dad loves Johnny Cash music. So maybe him."

"That'll work," Jeni agreed. "So we've got Willow down for that bug guy, Kirby, and Shada wants to talk to dead singers. What about you, Embie?"

"Who do you want to talk to?" Ember replied. "It's your question."

"I'll tell you soon enough," Jeni said. "I asked you first."

"Then I pass."

"You can't pass."

"I can if I want to." Ember's voice sounded firm, resolute. "You go."

"God, okay!" Jeni huffed in frustration. "I know who I'd choose anyway. Sacagawea."

"The girl who guided Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean?" I asked.

"That's the one," Jeni said. "She was only like seventeen and pregnant when she did that, and she died when she was, like, only twenty-four or twenty-five."

"Was she Lakota, like you?" Willow asked.

"No," Jeni said. "She was Lemhi Shoshone, but that doesn't matter. She's just someone I admire. So now we know who everyone would like to talk to except you, Embie. Time's up."

Ember stopped floating then and began treading water. "Hey, I can barely see the bridge. We've drifted a long way downstream. We should probably start swimming back."

"Yeah, I'm hungry anyway," Willow said, "and our lunches are back there under the bridge."

"Fine," Jeni conceded. "But you're not off the hook, Ember. I still want your answer."

We all swam hard against the mild current, doing front strokes, and for a few minutes we couldn't talk. But even though she hadn't said anything out loud, all of us knew Ember well enough to know who she'd want to talk to if she could.

He died one year ago.

SHADA
By Craig Hansen

Book 1 of the Ember Cole series.

Genre: young adult paranormal suspense

Word Count: approximately 32,500 words.


SHADA Book Blurb:

"If you could talk to a dead person, anyone at all, who would it be?"

A year ago, Ember Cole witnessed the death of her grandfather. Now, with her grandmother slipping away into dementia, she seeks answers from the only person who loved her grandmother more than her, even if he is dead: Grandpa Normie.

Joined by three of her closest friends, Ember treks deep into the woods of northwestern Wisconsin, seeking the advice of a dead man on how to save the living. But sometimes, the dead have their own agenda.

AUTHOR BIO:

Craig Hansen wrote stories from an early age, but when his SF short story, "The S.S. Nova," was published in the Minnesota Writers In the School COMPAS program's 1981 anthology of student writing, When It Grows Up, You Say Goodbye To It, he decided to dedicate himself to writing. Several unpublished novels and short stories followed.

Hansen earned two degrees at Minnesota State University at Mankato under the mentorship of young adult novelist Terry Davis. In the years that followed, Hansen worked a variety of jobs related to writing, including editorial work at a small publishing house, holding a position as a Web site editor, and five years in journalism in northwestern Wisconsin, where he earned several state awards for his writing and editing.

His work has appeared in the Meadowbrook Press anthology, Girls to the Rescue, Book 1, as well as the true crime journal, Ripper Notes, in volume 28.

His first novel, Most Likely, was released in May. Shada is the first installment of the Ember Cole series of young adult paranormal suspense books. Hansen is hard at work on the next installment in the series, the novel-length book, Ember.

Hansen recently moved to Oregon with his wife, a dog, a cat, and his 89-year-old father, a World War II veteran.

Craig's interests include the music of Johnny Cash, reading the novels of other independent authors, blogging, and the study of Messianic theology. On his Web site, you can sign up to receive a periodic email newsletter that will notify you when he releases new novels.

Connect With Craig Online At:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/craigahansen
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Craig-Hansen-Author/
Blog and Web site: www.craig-hansen.com

A Review of Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Warning possible mini spoilers ahead- I try not to give away too much details but if you follow this series you'll probably know what I'm talking about.



Thank you Chloe for getting this series back on track. I was worried after the last book but you did tell your fans to trust you and I did and continued on to Drink Deep- and I was not disappointed.

This book put Chicagoland Vampires back on the map with a phenomenal storyline and unbelievable plot twist you won't see coming- and one that you'll hope for but if you're like me you just couldn't let yourself believe until it's all said and done.

Merit is still heartbroken and feeling lost after losing Ethan but everyone tells her she has to move on even when some give her dirty looks and snarky comments because it looks like she has with Jonah.

Jonah is her new partner, a member of the Red Guard who is recruiting Merit and always has her back- the way Ethan used to.

Jonah may want more from Merit than she can give but he just might wait around for her- he is, after all a vampire, with immortality on his side. At least he's there for her, in the real world and not just the world of dreams- where Ethan still plays a role on Merit's life.

The nightmares keep plaguing Merit and while each have a different twist they all end with Ethan disappearing and screaming her name.

The House is in disarray thanks to the GP and to make matters worse all of Chicago seems to be in a vampire hating state of mind especially when the lake turns black and the sky turns red and it literally looks like all hell is going to break lose.

Merit wants to help and turns to her best friend Mallory who is taking her sorceress exams and seems to be stressed beyond all belief. With no help there she turns to Catcher, Mallory's boyfriend who is not happy about Mallory's behavior or her exams.

All Merit has left is Jonah who helps however he can.

Will they be able to figure out who and what is behind the black lake and red sky before the whole city turns against the vampires and destroys everything Merit has grown to care about?

Neill has created a complex world filled with vampires and magic, political subplots, heavy emotions, and a surreal reality thrown into turmoil that make this book a quick paced read you just can't put down.

And an ending you won't be disappointed in.

I just hope the future books don't break Merit's or the readers' hearts again.
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