Krista Ames's Blog, page 65

Spotlight: Rise of a Queen by Chanta Rand

Rise of a QueenBy Chanta Rand
Pre Order your copy now for only $.99. This price is only for Pre Orders and will end on November 22nd. So hurry and pre order your copy now for this amazing price. 

~*~*~*~*~*~Blurb:
A dead husband. An unconsummated marriage. She needs an heir. Any man will do.1061 AD. A sprawling empire rich in gold, resources, and military might dominates West Africa. It’s The Kingdom of Ghana, and it’s at the height of its power.Twenty-year old Nabeela is grappling with her own power struggle. In order to save her younger sister from their step-brother’s clutches, Nabeela agrees to marry a repulsive African prince and bear him an heir. However, her plans are waylaid when tragedy strikes on her wedding night—her new husband dies—without consummating their marriage.She must find a replacement to impregnate her immediately. Any man will do—including a drunken soldier her servants find naked taking a bath in a neighboring village. Nabeela holds him captive and coerces him into having sex with her—stealing the one thing he can never get back—his seed.What she doesn’t know is the soldier is Rafan, Commander of a warring tribe’s royal army, and one of her family’s arch enemies. Eager for revenge, Rafan tracks her down once he’s released. But when these two reunite, they realize their lust for each other is far greater than their disdain.Enamored by Nabeela’s beauty and bravery, Rafan makes her an offer of marriage, and the promise to help her become queen. He convinces her that they are stronger allies than enemies. Even though they share a commitment to unite, there are others who are determined to destroy them and their plans, including the one person Nabeela would have never suspected. In the end, she’s is forced to choose between her passion and her ambition.~*~*~*~*~*~

Buy Links:Amazon |   

~*~*~*~*~*~Author Info: Chanta Jefferson Rand is an Emma Award winning Debut Author of the Year, a multi-published, best-selling author of sizzling-hot romance, and the former host of The Chanta Rand Show. An avid reader of all genres, she stepped onto the scene in 2010 with her first published historical romance, Pharaoh's Desire. 

Chanta is a history junkie, a Walking Dead fan, and a recovering shoe addict. She never met a stiletto she didn't like! If you still want more, check her out at www.ChantaRand.com or email her at Chanta@chantarand.com.

Remember: You can't expect any sizzle...if you don't turn up the heat!  

Chanta's Social Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Mailing List  a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's All About the Book w/ Christine Potter and Time Runs Away With Her

It’s All About the Book…
 Please tell us about your current or upcoming release. 
Title: Time Runs Away With Her Blurb: It’s not easy being Bean. Bean Donohue lives for her guitar, but her mom threw her out of the house during a snowstorm for singing. No way she’s going to get permission to go see The Grateful Dead at the Fillmore East. Zak, her almost-boyfriend, will get drafted if he doesn’t get into art school. Pot makes Bean paranoid and her best friend can’t stop talking about sex. 1970’s not for wimps--but neither was 1885...or 1945. So why does Bean keep sliding backwards in time?

What is this book’s genre?  Is this the genre you usually write in?  Are there any genres you haven’t written that you’d like to try?
Time Runs Away With Her is paranormal romance, a time travel story.  It’s far from my usual genre: I’m a poet.  Dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it.  I’m loving writing this genre.  Who doesn’t love love?  And I’ve been into the paranormal since I discovered my mom’s old Ouija board when I was in sixth grade.  Plus my favorite fantasy is being able to time travel.  Some day I might want to try a straightforward YA coming-of-age book, but the fantastic elements are such fun to write that I don’t know when I’ll get to it.  

What inspired you to write this book?
A book totally like and totally UNLIKE this book inspired it.  I was on Prince Edward Island, and I read Anne of Green Gables for the first time—as an adult. That got me got thinking about how much I’d loved another YA classic: A Wrinkle In Time, by Madeleine L’Engle. So, I wanted to write time travel, and I wanted to have the main time-setting in my book be the one of my own high school days: 1970.  And like Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne books, I wanted my book to really feel like where it was as well as when it was.  My main character has red hair as a shout-out to Anne. Except there’s a Grateful Dead concert.  And a peace demonstration.  And, like I said, time travel.

How did you pick its title?  Did it come first or did you have to write the story first?
I wrote the story first.  For a long time, I just referred to what I was writing as The Bean Book, after Bean Donohue, my main character.  But as I got deeper into the book and into the way Bean time travels, the title popped into mind.  Time really does “run away with her.”

How did you create your characters?  Did you use any real life people in their making?
Time Runs Away With Her is fiction.  Sure, I started with a grid of people who were important to me in high school: my mom, my best friend, my first real boyfriend.  That said, once I got the story rolling, the characters turned into who they are in the book.  Drafting fiction is kind of magical that way; characters show up and tell you who they want to be. So no one is really my old friend or my mom.  Or me. My real high school best friend was WAY tougher and smarter than the boy-crazy best friend in this book. My high school boyfriends were cool guys, but not noble Old Souls.  I used my best friend’s canopy bed and her white furniture, not who she was—at all! 

Who is your favorite character of this book and why?
Tough question.  I like ‘em all, even my terrible bad guy.  Zak Grant, the boyfriend, is close to my heart.  He’s an absurdist, and I like that.  Kind of a Bugs Bunny type. He’s also got a huge, loyal heart. And he’s very striking physically: long, white-blond hair, tall, army jacket and jeans.  I’m very fond of my radical priest, Father Tollman.  He’s a shout-out to my old inspirer Madeleine L’Engle, and a minor character, but very fun to write. I love Janis Joplin wanna-be Samantha, despite her recklessness and her shoplifting peanut butter cups. 

What is your favorite part of this book?  Can you share an excerpt from that part?
Hard to do that without spoilers!  It was fun writing the time travel sequences, but I want you to experience them as Bean does—as a total surprise. I managed to get my parents mad enough to throw me out in the snow once when I was in high school, and I used that to write the opening of the book.  I like rereading that:
Snowflakes spangled the long red hair spilling over Bean’s collar.  Only three blocks to Zak’s house, she told herself––but that was nuts.  She was also well on the way to Suzanne’s if she kept going. In one house she passed, a couple sat, facing away from their picture window, watching a woman in a sparkly red gown singing into a microphone on TV. Blue light from the screen flickered out into the night. Zak probably gives drawings to everyone, Bean thought.  Mine’s only a doodle.  Doesn’t mean anything.  There was almost no traffic, just the occasional car driving by slowly and almost silently in the snow.        Then she was at the corner of Route 8E and Sickles Avenue.  Zak’s house was two doors down, on Sickles. Bean had seen the school bus drop him off there back when they were in junior high, before everyone was way too cool to ride it: The Loser Cruiser.  She looked down Sickles.  Snow falling under the streetlights made the night a little less dark.          What was it Mr. Kaminsky had said about frostbite in Health?  She couldn’t actually have frostbite, could she?  Bean slipped one hand out of its glove and felt the tip of her nose just to make sure.  How could you tell, really?  Maybe you could have creeping frostbite. Stealthfrostbite.        “Oh, HELL,” she said out loud to nobody, and turned left. This really was a special situation.          The windows of Zak’s house were mostly dark, but upstairs were some orange paisley curtains with lights on behind them. It looked like someone was maybe watching TV downstairs, too.         But there was no car in Zak’s driveway. Probably only Zak’s mom was out.  That would be a good thing, right?  Bean knew Zak was like her in one way: his parents were divorced.  What would he think if she knocked on his door?  Were girls even supposed to do that? She shuffled through the snow and stood for a moment in front of the house, stomping the stadium boots to warm her feet.       A shadow passed behind the paisley curtains, and Bean’s stomach lurched.  Was that Zak?  She thought of how far it was to Suzanne’s house, of the walk back to her own house, of her mom closing the drapes.   Then, she stumbled up Zak’s slippery front steps, and rang the bell.

What was the hardest part of this book to write? Can you share an excerpt from that part?
Making my bad guy bad enough and conflicted enough to do what he finally does was very hard.  I’m a gentle soul.  I had to come from real anger and pain to write him--and remember hurtful things that had been done to me and use those feelings.  And I had to build his bullying confusion early on in the book, so that meant going back and rewriting and adding stuff like this: 
Bean leaned against the wall next to the library door as Zak kissed her. Classes were changing, and the hall seemed extra-noisy with her eyes closed: laughter, footsteps … locker doors.  She felt someone bump into Zak, hard.             “Ear Wax,” said Don. She opened her eyes.  Don and Blair stood beside Zak.  “Eaaarrr Wax,” Don said again.                That is so totally moronic, thought Bean.                “Ya know...” Zak said.  Don snickered.             “I got tickets for Friday,” said Blair, although it was hard to say whom he was talking to.  His eyes were always all over the place.  He was wearing the black and red paisley shirt Bean had helped Suzanne pick out for his last birthday. They’d gotten it in Constant Karma, and it was much hipper than the madras button-downs he usually wore.  “I can’t believe you’re going!” he said, his eyes finally settling on Bean.              Oh. That was meant for me, she thought. He’s actually talking to me.  Blair hadn’t said more than a handful of sentences to Bean in all the time he’d been going out with Suzanne.               “Well, I am,” she said.  “I’ve been into the Dead a lot lately.” She glanced up at Zak, again, and he cleared his throat loudly.               “As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted,” Zak said. He turned away from Don and Blair, and pulled Bean up into another kiss, lifting her almost off her feet. “My house after school, when you and Suzanne get done playing tunes?” he said.                “Like four-thirty, quarter of five,” she said. Zak grinned a huge, silly grin.  But then he grabbed Blair by the chin and leaned in about an inch from his nose. Bean sucked in her breath, and watched as Blair’s face went red.                Blair is going to hit him, she thought.  He is totally going to...                “Turn On Your Love Light!” Zak sang out. Then he turned back to Bean and Don.  “An R&B classic written by Bobby Blue Bland,” he said in a fake radio-announcer voice, “and performed by The Grateful Dead on their latest hit album, Live Dead.”             “Jesus Christ, Grant.” Blair unclenched the hand he’d made into a fist.  Five seconds later, his eyes were as unreadable as ever.               “Au revoir, amigos!” Zak said, pecked Bean on the cheek, and ran for the stairs to the third floor and math.  Bean watched him disappear into the crowd of kids heading for class.                  She started down the hall to Social Studies, and Blair fell in step beside her. Ugh, thought Bean, but there was nothing she could do about it.  Suzanne’s boyfriend, after all.  She wondered if he really would have punched Zak.  Was Blair the one who’d shoved her and Zak or was it Don? Don had peeled off in the direction of the cafeteria. First Lunch started at 10:54.  How anyone could face cafeteria Sloppy Joes at that hour was beyond Bean, but everyone knew Don would eat anything, anytime.             “So, I never see you at track meets,” Blair was saying to her.                Oh! He’s actually talking to me again. “Yeah, I guess not,” said Bean.  This was weird.                “Seriously. I didn’t know you liked The Dead,” he said.                “I do.  I mean, I like them better now that Zak turned me on to their early stuff, but...”              “You and Grant.” Blair made an odd, snorting noise in the back of his throat.              
Did you have any special rhythm or quirks while writing this?
I wrote a bunch of it on a long-distance train coming back to New York from Hedgebrook, a writing retreat for women on an island off Washington State. I’d gotten stuck in Seattle after Hurricane Sandy.  And then I just pounded on it until it was done.  About a zillion drafts.  It was a first novel.    


Is this a stand-alone book or is it part of a series?  If so, we want to hear about it and what’s next in the series.  If not a series, what comes next to be released?
I’m beginning to work on a sequel: same characters, same main time setting: the year 1970.  Bean will travel in time again, and her understanding of why she gets to do it will change pretty dramatically.  There’s also a little FM radio station that’s central to the new book.  I did college radio and a wee bit of FM back then, and it’s been fun writing that! Bean, Zack, Samantha, and Suzanne are still telling me what’s going to happen.
*   *   *   *   *
Time Runs Away with HerChristine Potter
Time Travel Romantic Suspense, 74kEvernight Teen Publishing

It’s not easy being Bean. Bean Donohue lives for her guitar, but her mom threw her out of the house during a snowstorm for singing. No way she’s going to get permission to go see The Grateful Dead at the Fillmore East. 
Zak, her almost-boyfriend, will get drafted if he doesn’t get into art school, pot makes Bean paranoid, and her best friend can’t stop talking about sex. 1970’s not for wimps—but neither was 1885...or 1945. So why does Bean keep sliding backwards in time?

Buy Links:   Evernight Teen     Amazon



*   *   *   *   *

Author Bio: Christine Potter lives in a small town not far from the setting of Time Runs Away With Her, near the mighty Hudson River, in a very old (1740) house with two ghosts.  According to a local ghost investigator, the ghosts are harmless, “just very old spirits who don’t want to leave.” She doesn’t want them to.
Christine’s house contains two pipe organs (her husband is a choir director/organist), two spoiled tom cats, and too many books.  She’s also a poet, and the author of two collections of verse, Zero Degrees at First Light, and Sheltering in Place.  Christine taught English and Creative Writing for years in the Clarkstown Schools.  She DJ’s free form rock and roll weekly on Area24radio.com, and plays guitar, dulcimer, and tower chimes. 
Website: http://chrispygal.weebly.com/Facebook book page for Time Runs Away: * https://www.facebook.com/beanstravels?fref=tsTwitter: @chrispygal

Giveaway: 
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Character Interview with Melodie from More Than One Night by @NicoleLeiren

Hello everyone!  Nicole Leiren here, getting ready to interview Melodie Alexander, the heroine in my new release, “More than One Night”!!
NL – Hi Melodie, thanks for being here. I know you’re not a big fan of these types of things.
*smiling shyly* Not really, that’s more my sister, Evelyn’s deal. I did do some research on the subject though so I should be adequately prepared.

NL – You researched interviews?
Yes, I research…well, everything. It’s how I learn.

NL – Fair enough. Where do you do your research? I do most of mine on Google.
I work at a library, there’s a lot of information there. I can get lost in the pages of those books.

NL – Well, being an avid reader myself, I can appreciate that. What do you do at the library, besides research? J
I’m a children’s librarian.

NL – That’s wonderful. How exciting to be part of creating a love for reading in children!
Not everyone feels the same as you, I’m afraid.

NL – I’m not sure I understand.
My mother believes I’m wasting my career.

NL – I’m sorry. Family issues can be tough.
(Melodie’s green eyes flash and her mouth sets into a firm line) You have no idea. Can we change the subject?

NL – Of course, I didn’t mean to bring up a difficult subject. We’re supposed to be having fun here. What do you do for fun?
Read and research.

NL – Okay… What about a boyfriend?  What do you and your boyfriend do for fun? *I grin* I’m betting you do more than research.
Tom. He’s in Afghanistan.

NL – I’m feeling like maybe I should’ve done some more research before starting this interview.*Melodie starts laughing* See, research is a good thing! It’s okay, according to MY research, you’re asking normally acceptable questions.
NL – Well, thank you for your understanding. Would you mind telling us a little about Tom?
He’s been my best friend since high school.

NL – What attracted you to him?
He wasn’t interested in my sister.

NL – That happen a lot, did it?
Don’t get me started. It’s probably best if you don’t ask me questions about my mother and sister.

NL – Family topic is off limits, I got it. Do you think you and Tom are going to get married when he returns home from Afghanistan?
That’s our plan. We made a pact that if we weren’t married by age 30, we would marry each other.

NL – No offense, Melodie, but my research shows that’s not really a reason to get married and certainly not very romantic.
Romance outside the pages of a book has never really interested me. Tom and I are good together. I do love him. Marriages have been formed on much less.

NL – I suppose you have a point, I just…
What?

NL - *smiling* I can’t help it. I’m a hopeless romantic. I want everyone to have that fairy tale romance and happily ever after.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to happen in real life very often. Are you married?

NL – Hey, I’m supposed to be asking the questions. But since you’ve been such a good sport so far, yes, I’ve been married for 27 years.
That’s a long time. 

NL – Sometimes it feels like forever and other times like we’re newlyweds. Speaking of newlyweds, have you and Tom started making plans for your wedding?
I’m doing some research.

NL - *laughing* Ah yes, of course. Well I’m sure you’ve done your research to determine that Tom is your knight in shining armor and I wish you all the happiness in the world.
*Melodie hangs her head* Yes, well he certainly has rescued me more times than I can count from my family.

NL – As that topic is off the table, let me just say that I hope you find some happiness, not only with Tom, but with your family as well.
That really would be a fairytale.

NL – One last question, not about Tom or your family, I promise. Have you ever dated a bad boy?  Sounds like Tom is a nice, upstanding guy. But, let’s be honest, girls love to at least date a bad boy from time to time.
*Melodie is blushing now, a crimson red* Okay, I admit there is a certain allure to a bad boy. I dated one briefly in high school, before Tom, more to aggravate my mother than anything else. Leather jacket, tight fitting jeans and abs that could be on the cover of a sports magazine. He was hot. I liked him, not because he was bad, but because he made me feel alive. I think that’s why we like bad boys. Before we settle into the routine of day-to-day life, we want to feel that fire that they can bring out in us.

NL – You had me at tight fitting jeans!  LOL Well, Melodie, whether it’s the comfortable friendship of Tom or a bad boy you tame, I hope you find your happily ever after and I hope you find it outside the pages of your books.
Thank you, Nicole. I hope so too…

*   *   *   *   * More Than One Night 
Heroes of the Night book #1
Nicole Leiren


The Few. The Strong. The Brave. 
Melodie Alexander, a children's librarian, prefers to live life between the pages of a book. But when the death of her best friend prompts her to step out of her comfort zone, she finds herself directly in the path of self-proclaimed bad boy, Daniel Bresland.

Daniel knew how to be a solider. Life after war? Not as easy. He served his country in Afghanistan, both in the military and as a private contractor, but fighting the war came at high personal cost. Now he's determined to keep his relationships "casual" in order to protect his heart and prevent anyone from getting too close.

A chance encounter between Melodie and Daniel on a flight to Dallas proves that opposites really do attract. But when scars from the past threaten their new relationship almost before it starts, Daniel must decide if he can risk opening his heart again to convince Melodie he wants more than one night.

* * *
If you love men in uniform and believe the night belongs to lovers, then The Heroes of the Night series is perfect for you! Stories of military heroes, sexy and flawed, and the women they love.

Buy Links:   Nook    iBooks      Kobo     Smashwords     Amazon     Gemma Halliday PublishingSubscribe to the GHP newsletter to receive an email alert when new books are available!Follow the tour HERE
Excerpt – A kindred spirit
Daniel’s keen vision paid off as he caught a glimpse of her freckles hidden mostly from view. Down, boy. This would lead him to trouble as sure as molasses melts and sticks to the bottom of your shoes. He forced his gaze away and back to his drink. "Any special plans for your time in Dallas?"Crimson colored Melodie’s flesh, extending his focus on her. Why couldn't he just leave her alone? Walking away had been his mantra of late. The moment her face turned toward him, he understood—a kindred, troubled spirit. Though he had no clue what pain she was trying to bury, he recognized the look in her eyes easily. He saw the same expression every time he looked in the mirror."A little history and, hopefully, some fun. I've spent entirely too much time in the present lately, and," her gaze bore into his, "it's been entirely too long since I had any fun.""You're a history buff?" His voice jumped almost an octave as his pulse quickened. Maybe a troubled past wasn't the only common thread between them."I've read so much about our history, and I'm fascinated. Mother talked a lot about Kennedy's assassination when I was younger. She was eight when he was shot, and it created a memorable impression on her. I want to visit the JFK Memorial while I'm in town."His gaze held hers and wouldn't let go. He'd served his country for two tours in Afghanistan and another stint as a private contractor because of his love of America and everything she stood for. "History was my favorite subject in school. American history." His smile widened. A woman with a shared interest—an interest that didn't revolve around sex. Maybe there was hope for him yet.This time the corners of her mouth turned up a little more. Progress. God help him if she ever gave him a full-on smile with teeth. He might have to introduce her to the mile-high club. This woman could spell trouble for him in capital letters. He only wished he knew how she'd found a way through his protective barriers."Always nice to meet a fellow American history buff." "Let's go together." The words slid out smoothly, not even slowing down to consider how he'd save face if she said no. Or, God help me, if she says yes.


About the Author:Nicole is a debut author with her contemporary romance series, Heroes of the Night. She has been an avid reader and lover of books from a very young age. Starting with Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, and The V.I. Warshawski novels, her love for mysteries grew and expanded to include romance and suspense. A Midwest girl, born and raised, her stories capture the love and laughter in her real world heroes and heroines.

Email:  nicoleleiren@yahoo.comFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/NicoleLeirenAuthorPageTwitter:  @NicoleLeirenWebsite:  www.nicoleleiren.comStreet Team:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/Leirens.Lovelies/Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/LeirensLovelies/Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Nicole-Leiren/e/B011MKQRMQ/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

    Giveaway:

$25 Amazon Gift Card
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It's All About the Book with Teresa Richards and Emerald Bound @BYUtm33

It’s All About the Book…
Please tell us about your current or upcoming release
Emerald Bound is a dark YA retelling of the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. Here’s the book blurb:A princess, a pea, and a tower of mattresses. This is the sliver that survives of a story more nightmare than fairy tale.Maggie Rhodes, high school junior and semi-reformed stalker, learns the tale’s true roots after a spying attempt goes awry and her best friend Kate ends up as the victim of an ancient curse. At the center of the curse lies an enchanted emerald that has been residing quietly in a museum for the past fifty years. Admirers of the gem have no idea that it feeds on life. Or that it’s found its next victim in Kate.Enter Lindy, a school acquaintance who knows more than she’s letting on, and Garon, a handsome stranger claiming he knows how to help, and Maggie is left wondering who to trust and how to save her best friend before it’s too late.If only Maggie knew her connection to the fairy tale was rooted far deeper than an endangered best friend.
            **What is this book’s genre?  Is this the genre you usually write in?  Are there any genre’s you haven’t written that you’d like to try?
Emerald Bound is YA fantasy/magical realism. Most of my stuff is YA, but a year or so ago my writing group convinced me to branch out and write a zombie story to contribute to their zombie anthology geared toward adults. That was new for me. I love to read historical fiction and I’ve always wanted to give it a try, but I’m really bad at history so that may never happen. My books are best when the details come from my imagination, not from a history book.

**What inspired you to write this book?I’ve always loved fairytale twists, but there are some tales that are done over and over and some that are completely overlooked. I started thinking about The Princess and the Pea and wondered what it would be like if the Pea was actually an enchanted emerald, created to steal life from the unlucky maiden sleeping above it. There would have to be a curse. There would have to be some kind of magic. And there would have to be a handsome prince. But what if everything else went completely against the rules? That’s how Emerald Bound was born.
**How did you pick its title? Did it come first or did you have to write the story first?
The original title was The Emerald Binding, which I changed early on to Emerald Bound. I played around with some variations that made it more clear this was a Princess and the Pea retelling, but they were all pretty lame. Even though I had the title early on, the story still came first in my mind.
**How did you create your characters?  Did you use any real life people in their making?I didn’t plan these characters out too rigidly before I began writing. I knew who I wanted them to become and where they were starting out from and I let the details and their personality quirks evolve from there. It’s a good thing, too, because one of my favorite characters popped onto the scene without me even knowing he was going to. I could never have planned him out the way he came—he just showed up on the page this way.
**Who is your favorite character of this book and why?I like both of my leading ladies, Maggie and Lindy, but my very favorite character is Garon. As I said in the previous question, Garon arrived on the scene without permission or previous planning from me. Maggie was running around a corner, and suddenly, there he was. I knew the second he stepped onto the stage of my mind that he was going to stay. He’s charming, clever, and ruggedly handsome. He’s also a little bit awkward—adorably so—because … oh wait, I don’t want to spoil anything. Let’s just say he’s adorably awkward for good reason and leave it at that.
**What is your favorite part of this book?  Can you share an excerpt from that part?My favorite part is probably the end, but since I don’t want to give anything away, I’ll tell you about another part that was fun to write. In this part, we see Calista, the villain, after she’s dropped her sugar-coated pretenses:
My frantic banging did the trick. I heard the metallic grate of a key in the lock. There was a click, a turning knob, and the door swung inward. Calista’s eyes went impossibly wide when she saw me standing there, locked inside her room full of precious gems. But then a wicked grin lit up her face. She licked her lips.“Theo,” she called, her voice dripping with sugar-coated disdain. Her eyes stayed locked on mine. One hand shot out and grabbed me by the wrist. “Our guest has returned.”She pulled me roughly to the wood paneled room I’d poked my head into earlier. Theo joined us a moment later. Taking me by both wrists, Calista murmured something in another language (Latin maybe? Or was it more sing-songy?) while forcing me into the lone chair in the center of the room. When she let go, my arms were stuck to the armrests. My feet felt like they’d been set in concrete on the floor.My stomach groused, roaring in protest. And I still had to pee.Calista’s ice-gray eyes gleamed as she stepped back to survey her handiwork. Oddly, she was dressed just like I’d pictured her: in another evening gown, silver this time. On the surface, she looked the same as she had the previous night, but the overall effect had changed. The straightness of her spine now seemed imposing, not sophisticated. The twist of her features was no longer elegant, but like a coiled up snake. I didn’t know if I was seeing her through new eyes or if she’d taken off some kind of mask.Her slender fingers came together in front of her. “Since you’re here, perhaps you’d like to explain why you and your friend left early last night? We were so looking forward to … receiving you in the morning.”I struggled in vain against the invisible force that held me bound to the chair. “Where’s Kate?” I demanded, ignoring her question and setting my jaw.“Sorry, dear, but you won’t be seeing your friend again.” Calista smirked at me. Her black dangly earrings brushed her collarbone as she spoke. “She is, shall we say, no more.”“What did you do to her? Kate’s family will call the police, you know. Piper knew we were here last night.”Calista chuckled and clucked her tongue, making me feel like a two-year-old insisting on having dessert before dinner.“Ah, child. Such passion. You don’t seem to understand, though. Your friend no longer exists. Which means, nobody remembers her and nobody will come looking for her.” She cocked her head. “Except for you, apparently. Tell me, how did you escape last night?”“Escape?” My voice rose. “I thought we were guests, not prisoners.”Her eyebrows shot up and she laughed, genuinely amused. “Yes, perhaps I should have made that more clear. You were not guests. You were trespassers. Naturally, I neglected to specify the terms of your overnight stay. If I had, you never would have agreed to it. But no matter. We’ll try again tonight.”


**What was the hardest part of this book to write? Can you share an excerpt from that part?Probably the hardest part to write was also one of the most fun parts. It was hard to write because I wanted to make sure I had all the details correct, but it was fun because I was taking all the wacky stuff I’d imagined and putting it into concrete, explainable terms. I am definitely not an expert in Chemistry. But Garon is, and that’s how he does his magic. (As a side note, one of my writing critique partners is a Chemistry expert as well, and I made sure she approved of what I’d written on the subject.) Here’s the bit where Garon is teaching Maggie about how he uses chemistry to do magic:
Garon interrupted my internal rambling. “Okay, it’s time to talk. You’d better pull over.”My inner monologue screeched to a halt and I looked at him for longer than I should have, considering I was behind the wheel going seventy miles an hour. This sounded serious. I pulled off the two-lane highway that connected my hometown to civilization, parking in the shady corner of a mostly empty grocery store parking lot.Once we were safely immobile, he swiveled in his seat, calming me once again with his hot-cocoa eyes. “Okay, first I’m going to teach you a little trick. So you’ll understand what I was saying earlier about accessing magic through a knowledge of science. This is the first bit of so-called magic I ever learned. And it’s how Olivian was created.I perked up. He was going to show me how the magical emerald that held my friend captive was created? I cut the engine and set my keys into the cup holder.Garon reached into his pocket and pulled out his Washington DC souvenir keychain. He worked on it for a moment, separating the decorative part from the chain and ring part. He set the chain and ring aside and held up the part stamped with the White House. “See this? Most metal keychains, this one included, are made out of stainless steel because it holds up well against the elements and is rust-resistant. Stainless steel is a metal alloy made up of iron, chromium, nickel, and manganese.”I tried to keep up, frantically searching my brain for the stuff I’d crammed into it in Chem class last year.Garon pressed the disk into his palm, where it fit nicely, and closed his fingers around it. The lines of his face became serious, but his eyes danced with obvious excitement. “Now, before doing anything else, we have to visualize the elements that make this metal. I must see them in my mind’s eye. So clearly I could trace them.” He reached out with a finger and drew on the fogging up window.He drew a row of circles. Underneath it, he drew another row, starting slightly to the right of where the first one began. He drew a third, and then a fourth. Each row began slightly to the right of the one above it, so together they formed a diamond shape. No … a parallelogram. (SAT points in geometry now!)Garon pointed to the circles. “These are iron atoms.” Then he drew tiny circles in the spaces between the larger circles, and finally, lines linking everything together. “There’s a carbon atom inside each cube of iron, and bonds hold it all together.”I stared at the diagram, my head swimming. I hadn’t had enough sleep for this.He continued. “When you can see the atomic structure in your head, as clearly as if it were suspended in midair before you, you can change it at will by reaching in with your mind. For example, you could exchange the elements, one at a time, until you’ve turned the metal into something else entirely. In our case, we only want to weaken the atomic structure, not change it. So we just need to add entropy until the bonds become malleable.”I raised an eyebrow.“In other words, we have to spread apart the atoms by making them move around.” Garon poked the diagram he’d drawn on the windshield. The glass didn’t give way, obviously, but I understood what he meant. If he nudged them, they would knock into each other and spread apart.“Here, I’ll show you.” Garon closed his eyes again and focused on his fist, squeezing tightly. His brow furrowed and his lips tightened. He stayed that way for what felt like several minutes. I spent the time studying his face, his hair, his lips, his hands. He had good hands.Soon his face relaxed and his fingers opened. A shimmery, bendy, silver thing rested in his palm. It wiggled. He held it up and I saw that it was the keychain, only, it wasn’t. It now looked like a silver disk of Jell-O.Oh, wow. Wow! I peered closer, my heart beating way too fast. How had he done that? Okay, technically he’d just told me how but still, how? I reached out a shaky finger to touch the silver mass in his palm. It gave way where my finger pressed into it, then bounced back when I pulled away.“See?” He grinned at me. “All you need to do is prod the atoms a bit, in your minds’ eye, of course, and they’ll move around. That weakens the structure and makes the metal pliable. You try. Oh, just make sure to prod gently or the structure will fall apart completely.”I laughed. Hard. “Yeah, right! I barely understood a word you just said! I can’t do it! There’s no way.”He shrugged, squeezing his fist again and opening it to reveal the keychain, hardened once again. “With enough practice you could.” He stuffed the disk back into his pocket and glanced at me sideways, his eyebrows raised as if in challenge.I didn’t think I could do it, but my curiosity was piqued. And I couldn’t back down from the subtle dare. I fished out my own keychain from my pocket and held it in my fist like he had. His diagrams were still on the window, but fading. He refreshed them with his finger so I could study them. Then I closed my eyes, focusing on the disk in my palm. I pictured it, saw the elements, and drew the diagram in my mind. When I was sure all the details were right, I poked, gently, just as he’d said to, to get the atoms moving. In my minds’ eye, I saw them jiggle. Then they jumped, crashing into each other with increasing intensity. I visualized the metal turning to putty in my hands. Smiling, I opened my eyes and relaxed my fingers.A hard, metal keychain rested on my palm. It hadn’t changed at all. A twinge of disappointment tickled my chest. I sniffed, jutting out my chin when Garon peeked into my hand. “See? I can’t do it.”“Well, now you have something to practice.”

**Did you have any special rhythm or quirks while writing this?
I have to write in complete silence. Or, in the absence of silence, white noise works as well (and by “white noise” I mean the clamor of my house when all five of my kids are home). I have a really hard time writing to music or with the TV on. Or even in Starbucks since I can usually overhear conversations going on around me. That environment is great for picking up new ideas but horrible for executing the ones I already have.
**Is this a stand-alone book or is it part of a series?  If so, we want to hear about it and what’s next in the series.  If not a series, what comes next to be released?
I’m not a fan of cliff-hangers at the end of books, so I made sure to tie everything up in the end of Emerald Bound. But I also wanted the opportunity to delve further into the world, so I did leave an opening for myself to do that. I’m planning to have two more books follow Emerald Bound, and each will take another little-known fairy tale and turn it on its head. Gemstones will definitely be involved. Both books have been plotted out, but that’s about as far as I’ve taken them. Right now I’m working on finishing a YA contemporary suspense novel called Windfall that I started when I began querying Emerald Bound.
*   *   *   *   * Emerald BoundTeresa RichardsFantasy, Romance, SuspenseEvernight Teen Publishing ~ 83,000 words
Editor's Pick
A princess, a pea, and a tower of mattresses. This is the sliver that survives of a story more nightmare than fairytale...
  Maggie Rhodes, high school junior and semi-reformed stalker, learns the tale’s true roots after a spying attempt goes awry and her best friend Kate ends up as the victim of an ancient curse. At the center of the curse lies an enchanted emerald that has been residing quietly in a museum for the past fifty years. 
Admirers of the gem have no idea that it feeds on life. Or that it’s found its next victim in Kate. 
 Enter Lindy, a school acquaintance who knows more than she’s letting on, and Garon, a handsome stranger claiming he knows how to help, and Maggie is left wondering who to trust and how to save her best friend before it’s too late. If only Maggie knew her connection to the fairy tale was rooted far deeper than an endangered best friend. 

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Excerpt: A part of me died long ago.It was the part of me that feels, and it was Calista’s fault.What happened tonight was nothing new—innocent victims welcomed into our home, not knowing they would never leave. I learned long ago I could not help them, so I stopped trying.
But this time something was different. This time I was awake, burning with a gut-wrenching guilt, as the next victims slept downstairs. This time I knew the victims. And they didn’t deserve what was coming.
It had always been hard for me to make friends. I’d been called loner, loser, outcast, and freak. Even still, I remembered Maggie offering to show me around when I first transferred to their school. Through her, I met Kate and Piper. The three of them were always nice to me, while other kids kept their distance and spread rumors behind my back. I told myself I didn’t care—I wasn’t like them.But being a loner was lonely.
So tonight when I saw Maggie and her friends here, something inside me snapped. Or, perhaps it was the dead piece of me coming back to life. Now I cared desperately about what was happening in the room below mine.But there was still nothing I could do.
Calista usually lured in victims from out of town to avoid arousing suspicion. Pregnant ones were a particular favorite—easy prey, she called them. But Maggie and her friends came here all on their own. The opportunity was too good for Calista to pass up.
Everyone thought Calista was my mother, but she wasn’t.
Back in my day, almost four centuries ago, Calista had an alternate method of luring in victims. She and her husband, Theodore, advertised for hired help with their inn. The number of parents willing to sell their daughters into a life of servitude in exchange for a forgiven debt or a clean slate was staggering.
My father was one of them.
By the time my mother found out what he’d done, it was too late. There was no escape. I was bound.
My story was well known in this land, whispered as a bedtime tale to ease children into sleep. But, just like any other story passed down through time by rumors and idle gossip, the fragment that survived was woefully incomplete. It began something like this:
There is rumored to have been (once upon a time, of course) a princess, a pea, and a tower of mattresses.
That much was true, though in actuality it was only one mattress, not twenty. The pea was also real, though most would call it a precious stone—an emerald, to be precise.
The gem that sealed my fate was now in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. Calista was furious when she found it missing. She thought I’d stolen it until she remembered my limits. The identity of the true thief remains unknown.
Even though the emerald is no longer in our possession, we are still bound to it, as it is bound to us. Admirers of the opulent necklace where it rests don’t understand it. Like me, the gem is a prisoner, struggling against its fate.
Even now, centuries later, I don’t understand all the details of what happened to me that night. But it began with a troubled slumber on a bed of enchanted emeralds.


About the Author:Teresa Richards writes YA, but loves anything that can be given a unique twist. Her zombie stories 'Are You My Mombie?' and 'The Zombie Code' can be found in Z Tales: Stories from the Zombieverse by The Fairfield Scribes. When Teresa’s not writing, she can be found either chasing after one of her five kids, or hiding someplace in the house with a treat her children overlooked. Emerald Bound is her debut novel. You can connect with her on twitter @BYUtm33 or at authorteresarichards.com.


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Book Blitz: Pre-order the Alaskan Tigers Boxed Set Volume One by Marissa Dobson

Alaskan TigersBoxed Set Volume OneMarissa Dobson 

  The future of the Alaskan Tigers is in the hands of one woman in Tiger Time. Tabitha Leigh is unaware of her path, and Ty Reynolds, Alpha of the Alaskan Tigers, must convince her of the truth. If he fails, Ty will not only lose his soul mate, but the Tigers will lose their chance for salvation.

Raja Harrison, Lieutenant of the Alaskan Tigers, feels his job is much too dangerous to involve a mate in The Tiger’s Heart. But when he rescues Bethany Thompson from kidnappers and a rogue shifter, Raja discovers she is his mate, and he must put aside his fears to protect his future—and the future of the Alaskan Tigers.

Kallie has been in hiding for a long time, running from her past. In Tigress for Two, she finds comfort with Taber, a member of the Kodiak bears. Though Taber has met his mate, he’s surprised to discover she’s a tiger. And when his brother Thorben offers to help, they discover Kallie is not just Taber’s mate, but also Thorben’s. Will they overcome their differences to find love?

A rogue shifter murders Robin Zimmer’s husband, sending her running in Night with a Tiger. When she meets Adam Merks, she must decide whether she can trust him, and in doing so accept mating with a tiger and living in a shifter clan. Will it be more than she can handle?

Harmony Kirk discovers she is destined to be mated to Felix Grady, the twin brother of the very man who’d tortured and abused her for years in Trusting a Tiger. Will she be able to let go of the past and accept Felix into her future?


Pre-order for only $0.99 *Limited Time*Amazon ~ iBooks ~ Barnes & Noble ~ All Romance Ebooks ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords

About the Author:Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Marissa Dobson now resides about an hour from Washington, D.C. She’s a lady who likes to keep busy, and is always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, she believes you are never done learning.Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave her the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read she has always had her nose in a book. It wasn’t until she was a teenager that she started writing down the stories she came up with.Marissa is blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He’s her other half and allows her to stay home and pursue her writing. He puts up with all her quirks and listens to her brainstorm in the middle of the night.Her writing buddy Cameron (a cocker spaniel) is always around to listen to her bounce ideas off him. He might not be able to answer, but he's helpful in his own ways.She love to hear from readers so send her an email at marissa@marissadobson.com or visit her online at http://www.marissadobson.com.

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Book Blitz: Over The Ivy Wall by Rosa Sophia

 



Over The Ivy WallA Clearwater Novel
Rosa Sophia

Clara Pendleton is a prisoner in her home. Always searching for new places to hide from her uncle, whose drunken attention terrifies and confuses her, she finds a tiny clearing in the back of the property near a disintegrating section of the ivy-covered wall that surrounds the estate.

Gaven Bridge has been sent to Clearwater to live with his Uncle Daniel. Never fitting in, he doesn’t believe he’ll ever meet anyone who understands him. But when he goes out for a walk in the woods, he happens upon a young lady sleeping soundly on a patch of moss.

A deep bond is fostered between them, helping Clara find the courage to change her life. When she finally decides to climb over the ivy wall and out into the world, there is no going back. Will Clara escape her horrible past, or will it destroy the love she and Gaven share?


Only $0.99 for a limited time, or read for free on Kindle Unlimited. Buy/Read here

Excerpt:Tears brimmed in her eyes as she wrapped her arm around him. He tucked her close to his body, holding her. “You’re making me feel good right now,” she whispered. “Touching me like this. Don’t you see?”When he said nothing, she leaned up to look at him. “Gaven, you’re the reason I got away from there. You talked me into climbing over that wall. I wouldn’t have done it without you. After we met, I couldn’t get you out of my head. I wanted to be with you, and I still do. Thank you. Thank you so much for helping me out of there, for talking me into it. I’d still be there if it weren’t for you.”“Clara, you’re strong, stronger than you realize.” With a gentle touch, he caressed her cheek, gazing into her eyes. “You could’ve done it without me. If—”“No, don’t say if. I don’t want to think about that. I just want to be with you.”His brow crinkled, his eyes betraying his amazement. “How can you want me?”She smiled through her sorrow, tears rolling down her cheeks. “How can I not?” Leaning forward, she pressed her lips against his, the saltiness of her tears mixing with the sweet taste of his kiss. “I love you, Gaven.”


About the Author:Rosa Sophia is the author of multiple romance novels including When I Dream of You, Meet Me in the Garden, and Over the Ivy Wall. She is also the author of The House Guest, a mystery, and A Siren for the Dead, her first science fiction novel. Later in 2015, Sunshine Press will be releasing her next installment in the Clearwater Romance series, entitled Orion Cross My Sky. When she finds the time, she enjoys writing about automotive topics and history. Click here to visit her personal blog, The Backwords Writer. Rosa currently resides in South Florida, where she lives in a cottage by the sea and spends a lot of time staring at palm trees and dreaming. She is also a crazy cat lady in training.

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Join us in Romancing the Military Man !!!

 Romancing the Military Man  Ten Hot Military Heroes
What Makes a hot military hero?

Meet these Great Authors... New York Times, USA Today & National Best Selling
Sharon Hamilton    Caridad Pineiro     Toni AndersonKaren Fenech    Kathy Kulig Jan Springer   Lisa HugheyDenise A. Agnew    Adrienne Bell    Monique Dubois

Release Date:  Tuesday, September 29ASIN: B010OV9ETWPRE-ORDER NOW $0.99:Barnes & Noble | Kindle US | Kindle UK  | Apple| Kobo


Sharon Hamilton
SEAL’s Promise
He makes a deathbed promise to care for his best friend’s wife and baby. She wants nothing to do with anything that reminds her of her fallen SEAL husband, until fate steps in to show her she is still connected, and needs the love of the flawed warrior who shares her grief.Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter

Caridad Pineiro
Stay The NightSexy Navy SEAL Rafe Castillo is home after months of separation. Will Rafe stay the night with his wife Elena so they can rekindle the love they once shared?Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter 

Toni Anderson
The Killing GameA snow leopard biologist becomes prey when Cold War secrets threaten to expose a modern-day spy ring, and an elite British soldier is forced to choose between his country and his heart.Website | Newsletter | Facebook | FB Author Page  | Twitter   

Karen Fenech
CaughtWhen Elle Jameson is caught by a human trafficker, she doesn't dare believe the man's claims that all is not as it seems and that he will see her safely home, not even when she finds herself softening toward him, because trusting him, believing him, may cost Elle her life.Website | Newsletter| Facebook | Twitter   

Kathy Kulig
Red Tape Protector, FLC series book 2 (stand-alone)Black-ops agent is hired to train a secret White House society member to be an assassin or be eliminated.Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter   

Jan SpringerChristmas Lovers, Kidnap Fantasies seriesNurse Tania Sparks has always been purely professional with her injured soldiers…until sinfully sexy Connor Jordan enters her hospital.Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter 

Lisa Hughey 
Still The One (Family Stone #4 Jack)Jack Stone never got over Bliss Lee…but he can he convince her she’s still the one?Website | Newsletter  | Facebook | Twitter

Denise A. AgnewSaved By The MarineExplosive danger creates a whirlwind of heat between a marine and the woman he’s just met when they’re trapped in a terrifying situation.Website | Newsletter | Facebook |Twitter

Adrienne BellCarter: The Sinner Saints #1Sometimes a bad boy is the best man for the job.Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter 

Monique Dubois
Romance: Quickies (Encounter 9)In QUICKIES (Encounter 9), Malia is introduced to the world of BDSM by a mysterious army ranger. He captivates her body and senses, but does he have a secret side that leads her into danger?Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter  



Sign up for the Romancing the Military Man Facebook party (September 29)and get a chance to win a Kindle: Romancing The Military Man Facebook Party Event

Spotlight on: Dark Heart by Elyzabeth M. Valey

Bad Alpha: A Multi-Author Anthology by 

J.R. GrayKhloe WrenMoira CallahanApril Zyon Elyzabeth M. ValeyLynn BurkeJocelyn DexAshlynn MonroeHarper Shaddock

Bad Alpha features a select collection of stories with shifters so ruthless they will stop at nothing to protect their pack. These aren't sugar-and-spice heroes. Our alphas are feared, inked, and don’t ask questions first. They take what they want, never give in to their enemies, and think love is for the weak—until they meet their mate. Are you ready to learn how to tame a savage heart?

Dark Heart by Elyzabeth M. VaLey
The world is changing. Vampires are coming out and they’re not remotely similar to the sensual Hollywood portrait made of them. Little by little, Shifters are being unmasked and integration is waning. Panic is spreading. The government is losing control. Private agencies, such as SOA struggle to find a solution, but as the darkness grows, can one even exist? Ten years ago, Daryl Jones lost his pack to a group of demon vampires. Since then, he not only lost his will to battle for good, his life has become a spiral of drinking, fighting and fucking anything in sight. In his opinion, a pretty perfect existence. Until, he meets the new SOA representative sent to convince him to go back to the lab. With mile long legs, a tight little ass and a smile to kill for, when she offers him a bargain, how can he possibly refuse? Silvia Adams, has one mission: convince Daryl Jones to work for SOA again. The agency needs him to get back into the lab and help develop a serum to neutralize the growing number of vampires. She knew it wouldn’t be easy task, but with her job on the line, she’ll do anything it takes, including, bargaining with the shifter and surrendering to her deepest desires. Only problem is, she might have bartered for more than she can handle. 


Available at: AmazonUSAmazon UKEvernightAll Romance eBooksBookstrand


Excerpt Silvia had never seen a man's face transform so fast. He'd gone from hungry predator to angry wolf in a millisecond.  She kept her eyes locked on him as he swiveled in his chair and took a swig from his bottle. She fought the urge to snort. Really? He was giving her the cold shoulder? One minute he'd been staring at her mouth like he was going to kiss her and the next he was drinking tequila like it was water.  “Mr. Jones." "Get out of here, sweetheart. Whatever your purpose is, you're not going to accomplish it, so I suggest you get out before I finish this bottle and become the sadistic monster I truly am." Silvia swallowed. The bitterness in his tone was almost painful to hear, but she wasn't here to pity him or—she slightly shifted her weight, trying to eliminate the pressure in her panties— fuck him. She was here to get him to cooperate with the agency, and by all that was dear to her she'd do it.  "Whiskey on the rocks, please." She called to the waiter and settled in the barstool next to Daryl. Patiently, she waited for her drink. He ignored her or pretended to ignore her. From what she knew about him and his kind, Daryl Jones was always aware of what was going on around him.  When her drink arrived, she took a sip, crossed her legs and turned to stare at him. He didn't budge, and it was for the best. Her heart was beating at a ridiculous rate, and she knew it was much more than nerves. When she accepted this task she'd anticipated it'd be hard. After all, others had tried to talk Daryl into returning to the agency, but she hadn't foreseen just how hard it was going to be. Daryl Jones was incredibly handsome. He was the type of man women went weak in the knees for. Most men in their forties didn't look anything like he did. To begin with, they did not dress in jeans and cutoff black t-shirts. Nor did they have every inch of their arms tattooed. If it was rare to find a young man with long hair, it was even stranger to meet one at Daryl's age. His hair hung below his shoulders, with a few wisps of silver that only added to his mysterious and badass air. He had his wrinkles, of course, but they only added to his appeal. And then, there was the matter of his eyes. In this dim light she couldn't tell if they were a light blue or altogether silver.  Silvia took another sip of her drink. His build was impressive, too, and she couldn't help wondering how much of it was gym work and how much genetics. Not that it mattered, had she met him elsewhere with another mission in mind, she would have gladly fucked him. But today was not that day. Today she had to get him to help them. She uncrossed her legs and shifted in her seat again. Not that her traitorous body was being any help. Her damn pussy was wet just from looking at him. Her nipples felt tight and sensitive against the material of her bra. And that jawline, barely dusted with a five o'clock beard, had her imagining what it would be like to press her lips to it. "You gonna sit there staring at me all day?" 

About Elyzabeth M. VaLeyConsidered weird by normal standards – what is normal anyway?- Elyzabeth M. VaLey enjoys making up songs about mundane things, doodling stars and flowers on any blank sheet of paper, talking to her Lab whenever he feigns interest and coming up with love stories to make readers dream.
From contemporary to historical or fantasy, she enjoys writing stories about good and evil, love and passion and all that comes in between happy ever after.

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Cover Reveal: The Rift by S.D. Wasley @SDWasleyAuthor

The Rift by S.D. Wasley

“I longed for normality. Even our own, off-the-wall brand of normality.”
She’s finally got things together. Mimi’s dating a hot guy and has a place in the school’s Gifted Program with her awesome friends. Yes, she still attracts the dead. But there’s only one ghost these days, and he doesn’t seem to have an awful lot to say.
Just when Mimi’s life is looking pretty good for the first time in years, the unthinkable happens ... one of the seven gifted teens is torn from their close-knit group. The unity of their circle shattered, things begin to go terribly wrong. It’s ruining their focus—and with the threat of the Astarion cult growing stronger each day, the gifted seven need all the focus they can muster.
In The Seventh, Mimi found her place in a circle of seven extraordinary teenagers. In The Rift, she must face what happens when the circle of seven is broken.
Releases: November 2015Add on Goodreads


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Character Interview from Black Apocalypse, Book 4 of the Vulcan Legacies series by @SashaHibbs

Thanks for visiting with us today!  We're thrilled to have an appearance from Sasha Hibbs as she interviews her character Laurel, the Angel of Faith from the Vulcan Legacies series.

Q: (Me) It’s my understanding that you’ve been, um, dead throughout this whole ordeal. How does it feel to finally be heard? *I watch the blonde-haired Seraph take on a knowing look. I’ve been forewarned that she has the gift of foresight*
A: (Laurel) It’s been a long road. You can only imagine what it was like to see into the future and know if I didn’t somehow alter the course of things, my daughter, Ally, would ultimately lead to the destruction of the world. 

Q: (Me) Yeah… I honestly couldn’t imagine. So, it’s my understanding that you had to sacrifice-- *she cuts me off*
A: (Laurel) Sacrifice? What have I given up that any other mother wouldn’t for the opportunity to see their child live? My soul mate? My life? My chance to reenter the Gates? You forget, that I am also the Seraph of Faith. And faith is something I’ve never had to sacrifice. It’s the one thing that I’ve always had. I knew everything would work out in the end, I was only powerless to be there physically to see it done. 

Q: (Me) So you really had your work cut out for you prior to your, um, death? *I cough nervously. Who wants to point out that someone is dead?* 
A: (Laurel) In a way, but the Apocalypse is something that I knew was coming for a millennia so I honestly had plenty of time to lay the groundwork to save all those I loved. 

Q: (Me) It must’ve been hard to know those you loved doubted you, thought you were a traitor. How did you cope with it? You know… seeing all but being powerless to defend yourself? 
A: (Laurel) It was hard, but I had time to brace myself for the hard times. You know, the times when those you loved most doubted you. It was hard to watch my daughter go through her trials and tribulations. One of the hardest parts was knowing that Michael Blackwell had to die in order to restore the balance. 

Q: (Me) Yes, I heard about that. Wow… so before we go, I want to thank you for your time. I know it’s borrowed now only through the courtesy of the Authority. But I wanted to ask you… Now that the Apocalypse is over, what does the future hold? *Laurel smiles at me, and it’s warm and genuine. She knows (of course) that I am aware of her ability to see into the future.*
A: (Laurel) The Apocalypse is over, but there were so many aftermaths. People lost their lives, families were left to grieve. Some of us had to say goodbye knowing that it would be a lifetime before we would rejoin those we loved and lost. But for those that remain, let’s say someone like Vulcan, the journey isn’t over. It’s just beginning. 

*I watch her in a flash of what looks like lightening simply disappear*


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Black ApocalypseThe Vulcan Legacies, 4Sasha Hibbs                                                                                         51,000 wordsYA Paranormal RomanceEvernight Teen Publishing
Resurrected from the dead, Michael Blackwell is enraged and heartbroken to find Ally—the girl he loved—in the arms of the very man that killed him as a human. In Michael’s eyes, Ally’s betrayal is absolute. But there is more than meets the eye when it comes to the man who killed Michael, and even more with the girl he thought he knew. 

Black Apocalypse is a journey full of heartache and redemption where the past weaves an uncertain future. Can Michael forgive Ally for her betrayal? Can Ally finally embrace who she is destined to become to save them both? 

Who is the elusive Seraph, Laurel? Who was the Devourer before his colossal fall from grace? What decisions did they make together that altered the course of history? Shocking revelations, prophecies fulfilled, a war where not everyone will make it out alive...the final installment in the Vulcan Legacies will leave you breathless.  14+ due to adult situations
Buy Links:   Evernight Teen     Amazon    

Excerpt:He glanced at her silhouette. She stood beside him quietly, a tear streaking her pale face, one silver line visible against the cold wintery night.“Will you dance with me?” Abaddon said, turning her back to face him.Ally spoke with her body. She shivered as she turned to him, reaching out and lacing her fingers through his.Abaddon responded by pulling her close against him, removing his hands from hers so he could wrap them around her, holding her tight and praying for the courage to see his task through.The Seraph told him, told him what he must do. In his broken mind, the pieces lay jagged and strewn, but he was putting them together, regaining the memories he’d lost through the blinding rage of his illusion.But Ally was real. He was holding her in his arms, and she came to him with trust, with patience, while he tried to regain the memories from his human life, ones that would guide him on the path he was supposed to be on now.But as he held her in his arms, she felt so fragile, so breakable. He could hear the soft thrumming of her heart. The beat was uneven, a rhythm that reminded him of the last remnants of life.Ally was dying. She was his soulmate and the beat of her heart gave him all the courage he needed. He wasn’t going to kill her. He was going to save her.Abaddon slowly broke away from her, keeping her at arm’s length. Her light was dimming, but there was the faintest glimmer in her eyes that held hope for him. She would be strong enough to endure what he was getting ready to do to her. She had to be.  Abaddon brought his wrist up to his mouth, extended his canines and pierced his flesh. As blood rushed up to the surface, he gazed into her eyes.He parted his lips, ready to speak, to tell her it would be okay, but was silenced by Ally resting a single finger against his lips.“Shh,” Ally whispered.Her gaze told him that she knew what was happening. She wouldn’t fight him. He could see that she would trust him, blindly put all her faith in him, was truly ready to walk down an unknown path with him.He watched in awe as she circled her cold fingers around his wrist and brought it up to her lips. She locked gazes with him and he could feel her taking his essence into him. She ended by gently kissing his wrist where the wound was. She swept her hair to one side, exposing her neck up at him.Abaddon felt a warm tear run down his cheek.“It’s okay, Michael,” Ally said, her voice so little. “I’m ready.”He unfurled his wings, pulled her against him tightly, lowered his lips to hers, and in his mind he whispered the words from a song, a song from a long time ago that meant so much to him then and even more to him now.“I've waited such a long time for you,” he said. He softly caressed her lips with his, savoring the feel of her against him, the kiss he’d waited a lifetime and beyond for.He raised his gaze back to hers, brushing a wisp of hair away from her eyes, cupping her face. “A lifetime,” he said, as he brushed soft kisses along her temple, her cheek, her jawline, back to her trembling lips. Thinking back to that night long ago, he lived the words of that song, held nothing back for what he felt for her.Abaddon could see the tears standing in her eyes. He kissed them away, their salt lingering on his lips. He drew her closer into him so that he could feel she was real, she was in his arms, her life in his hands.And through her tears, he could see the relief, he could see the hope, he could see her love staring back at him. His heart hammered in his chest, that muscle giving way to a new life, a life that only love could give.He brushed his lips against hers again and again, whispering those lyrics so appropriate for them, for their life, their death, their love against a world that, like her essence, was fading fast. “You’ll always be mine.”With shaky hands, Abaddon pulled her down to the ground with him. Cradling her in his lap, he grazed his canines against her throat. “I need you,” Abaddon whispered, as Ally laced her fingers through his hair, pulling him down to her vein. She arched her back, pressed up against him, encouraged him to drink from her, to take her to where he’d been.Abaddon exhaled against her skin. With one hand holding her head and the other pressed firmly into the small of her back, he pierced her, sunk his teeth into the soft flesh at her neck. He took her into him, her blood coursing through him, sating a hunger for far more than sustenance. In her blood was the story of their life, the answers he sought, the lyrics to their own song.Abaddon could feel the life slowly fade from her, could hear her heartbeat slow. Removing his canines, he drew back from her. Her head lolled to the side, her pupils beginning to fix. He brought her lips back to his, kissed her gently.As Ally’s last breath escaped her body, Abaddon clutched her tightly to his chest, a crimson tear falling against her, he whispered into her ear, “Hurry back to me.”

About the Author:By age 5, Sasha Hibbs' favorite movie was Gone With the Wind. By age 12, she completed her 7th grade book report on the sequel, Scarlett. By 18, she met and married her very own Mr. Rhett Butler and as it turns out, she never had to worry about going back to Tara to win the love of her life back. Fortunately, he stuck with her.  With a love of all things paranormal, the ambiance of the South with its gigantic antebellum mansions and canopies of Spanish moss, and a love for her husband’s rich storytelling of blacksmiths and the mythology surrounding their origins, it wasn’t long until the world of her debut novel, Black Amaranth, was born.When not working her day job as a nurse, you can find Sasha dreaming of her next beach trip, reading the latest YA novel, and drinking more white chocolate mocha than she should.  Sasha lives in mountainous West Virginia with her husband, Tim, and their two daughters, Aeliza and Ava. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.   BLOG      WEBSITE