Allison M. Cosgrove's Blog, page 23

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!! Coming Soon!

I am excited to announce that the next installment to the Stan Brookshire series will be out soon! It is currently in the wonderful gentle hands of my editor, Joni Lynn over at Blue Harvest Creative.

Before that however you will get to see the stunning new cover made by Miranda Stork over at Moon Rose Publishing.

In the meantime I will be having giveaways and fun contests on the Facebook page! So make sure you join in the fun!

Blog Highlight: Fae Books Blogger

Another from across the pond! Welcome Sarah!  She blogs about all things indie, interviews, giveaways, reviews and all sorts of other fun things!

 

A wee bit about Sarah:

“I’m 24 years old, a Military Wife (Army) and living in North Yorkshire, England, UK with my husband and full time carer.

I spend my days in the bedroom mostly, due to my health, just too ill the majority of the time to do anything other than lie down, it’s awful, honestly, and I don’t go out because I’m Agoraphobic. I pass my time by reading, blogging and watching programs or movies on my phone (though I tend to read more often than watch things). I like to watch documentaries, about all sorts, and I love CSI & True Blood, I also watch Vampire Diaries. A huge part of my life are my dogs and cats, I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have their company, they offer a love regardless of what day it is, or how I’m feeling, it really is lovely and only pet lovers will understand this.

When I do leave the house, it’s only ever for a Doctor Appointment (when they can’t do something over the phone), or Hospital either for an appointment or via ambulance, and even having to attend any of those is a nightmare for me due to the Agoraphobia and Anxiety issues I have. I used to be in hospial every day via ambulance, so since getting on the right medication that helps, it’s improved and I manage to stay at home the majority of the time now.I sometimes venture downstairs, when I feel like I can, but I’m never down there for long before I need to be back upstairs to lie down, get pain relief or just get back into my safe haven which is my bedroom.”

You can find Sarahs blog here —–>http://www.princesssarahg.blogspot.co.uk

Blog Highlight: Book Crazy

This blog is hosted by a young lady from across the ocean! Welcome Kendall! She reviews and interviews, blogs about signings and giveaways!

A bit about Kendall (her words)

Hi! My name is Kendall, I’m 17 and I am from Scotland. I am a Reader, Reviewer and Blogger. Yep, that about sums it up

You can find the lovely Kendalls blog here —–>http://bookcrazy123.blogspot.co.uk

Q & A with Paige Matthews

Next up this week we have Paige Matthews! Please give her a warm welcome!

*****

What would your bio say?

Paige Matthews grew up in rural New England, and as a child dreamed of being a writer. Okay…not so much. I wanted to be a teacher, lawyer, writer, and journalist and after changing my degree four times, I settled on literature and then pursued a Master’s degree in Professional Writing. I now find myself a mother of two, a wife and a self-published author who still holds a full-time job completely out of the realm of my degrees I enjoy writing, reading and spending time with my family and friends, watching hockey (avid fan) and enjoying life. When I am not spending time doing all of the things listed above, I am reviewing, promoting and networking with a great bunch of authors, bloggers and friends.

When did you start writing and why?

I guess I have always written throughout my life. It started out more as journal entries and then progressed into creative writing during my Master’s degree program. I have always had an appreciation for reading and the written word.

If you are a parent how does being a parent affect your writing and writing habits? Or does it?

I think it being a parent affects my writing. I would love to be able to lock myself away in a room and write all day, but being a full-time mom to a 4 year old and a 2 year old, I find myself writing primarily after they go to bed. Being a parent just requires us to shift our schedules to meet the demands of our families. I wouldn’t have it any other way

Who is your favorite author and why?

Favorite author…I am a student of literature, I can’t pick just one I enjoy literary names such as Thomas Hardy, William Faulkner, Toni Morrison, Ibsen, Shaw, The Brontes, Twain and contemporary writers such as Tiffany Reisz, Maya Banks, James Patterson. So to say my tastes are wide and varied-they are. As long as a story appeals to me, I usually enjoy it.

What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?

Honestly, I already have accomplished what I wanted to with my writing. I published a book. I made a dream come true. But in other words, I want to share my worlds with others and hopefully entertain and teach others along the way.

Traditional or Self publishing? Why?

I chose self-publishing. I like the creative control that I have over my own writing and my process. Both industries have their own pros and cons, and I enjoy creating and reading many self-published authors.

Talk about your journey into the wide world of publishing

It’s not that thrilling. I began writing my novel for NaNoWriMo and decided after seeing the success of other self-published authors that I could put out something that was worth reading, at least in my opinion. I wrote Devour Me within the month and then spent three months re-writing, editing and working with my beta readers to produce something that ended up being entirely different than the original. The journey has been eye opening to say the least. Negative ratings, e-book returns and the whole eighty different ways of formatting for each site…my documents folder looks like a zoo.

Tell us about your book (s)

Devour Me started as an idea that I had jotted down somewhere during my graduate degree and as said before was written during last year’s NaNoWriMo as a challenge to myself. The book focuses on a young PhD student and her “journey” away from an abusive boyfriend and into a world that she had left hidden deep within herself. The novel does focus on BDSM and a D/s relationship, as I try and educate my readers about the inner workings of the emotional aspects and desires within us. It is the first book in a three book (as of now) series focusing on different members of a club.

What inspired you to write these books (or in this genre)?

I wanted to explore the unspoken desires and curiosity that is within us all, even if we don’t want to believe it. The main stream culture has turned to the genre after FSoG, but the purpose of my novels is to show the emotional connections between the individuals with these relationships, and a few good smuttier scenes always help 

Tell us why we should love or hate your main character?

I think she overcomes her fears and throws caution to the wind in making herself happy. Whether you love or hate her, she overcomes her own issues and fears to accept what she wants and who she is. My beta readers were split on liking the male main character, although one beta reader actually loves a secondary character who I focus on in the second novel, Consume Me.

Do(es) your book(s) have a soundtrack?

Devour Me does have a small soundtrack and Consume Me is shaping up to be a pretty kick butt album.

*****

Thanks so much Paige for joining us today! You can follow Paige on her website! Her books can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords & Createspace

Blog Highlight: Free Ebooks and Those Responsible for Them

This weeks blog highlight is great blog run by the fabulous Ms. Nicole Kuhn and it is a great place to find that next great read for free!

 

A little about Ms. Nicole’s blog:

“I will put out daily lists, different genres of free Kindle and Nook books. If there is a genre you like, let me know. I’ll find them.

Authors, you can post your free promotions. Offer free copies in exchange for reviews, and post about giveaways, contests and other reading related blogs, topics, whatever! Share my links with your friends so they may also take part in free books! The more the merrier. Share my links with other authors! !”

 

You can find this blog and its freebies here —–>http://nkuhnebooks.blogspot.ca

 

Q & A with Samantha Anderson

This week we have the lovely Samantha Anderson up on the chopping block

*****

What would your bio say?

Why is this always such a hard question to answer? I can write books but when it comes to telling about me, I clam up. I would like to think that it would say I was not afraid of facing obstacles. That I never give up on the things I believe in, and that I love recklessly and whole-heartedly. It would probably also say that I’m an obsessive fan-girl over vampire shows on TV.

When did you start writing and why?

I actually started writing when I was younger. I was raised in an overly religious home and my creativity was stifled by parents that thought what I wrote about was too taboo. I didn’t actively start pursuing a writing career until I was in my early twenties and it was because I got bored of reading. I would put a book down and 90% of the time think that I could do better. I wanted to write the stories that I wanted to be reading.

If you are a parent how does being a parent affect your writing and writing habits? Or does it?

It hasn’t affected my writing style in the least. I have two daughters who are 12 and 9 and they know that there are certain things in my writing that they are not old enough to read. My oldest has taken an avid interest in writing so we collaborate on short stories a lot. As far as habits though, nights are my writing time. After the girls are in bed, I put in headphones and start creating. It’s difficult to focus during the day because of constant interruptions.

 Who is your favorite author and why?

I cannot say I have an overall favorite. My reading tastes have changed as I’ve grown older. There is a piece of me that loves Sherrilyn Kenyon and Lori Foster for the best semi-trashy novels they write, but I also love J.K Rowling and Michael Crichton for the way they suck you in to a story. The first author that comes mind when asked this is George R. R. Martin for the Game of Thrones series. I was only able to get through book 3 simply because I was so emotionally and mentally drained by the time I finished, I couldn’t pick up another one. That’s the kind of writer I want to be. The one that makes you feel something, makes you so invested in a story that you physically ache over it.

What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?

Before I started writing, books were my escape. Coming from a less-than-perfect childhood, they helped transport me out of whatever I was in, into a new world full of possibilities. The same has happened with several stories I’ve read in my adult years. That’s what I want. To meet someone someday that says that my stories helped them in some way. Helped them cope, pulled them away from the harshness of reality.

Traditional or Self publishing? Why?

Can you insert a nervous chuckle here? When I wrote my first novel I went with self-publishing because all I wanted was to have a tangible copy of my book in my hands. I wanted to put it on my mantle and say “Yea I did that!” However, when I self-published, I about gave up when it came to formatting because I was solely on my own. I have always said that most indie authors are one 6-figure check away from selling out. I love the control of self-publishing. I like being able to say how and when etc. but I have no time for marketing. I had thought that if I went through a traditional publisher that I wouldn’t have to do anything but write. I quickly learned that wasn’t the case. I have no clear-cut choice when it comes to publishing. I will continue to self-publish because it works for me currently. However I know if I was approached by a traditional company and could reasonably make a living from writing, I would go that route as well.

 Talk about your journey into the wide world of publishing.

I wrote fan-fiction online for years. I honestly thought that it would be all that ever came of my creativity. It was a hobby and that was all, even though it wasn’t. I lived and breathed writing. I gave all the excuses of not being able to do a novel etc., and then a fellow fan-fiction writer named Mike, published his first novel. I was so happy for him, but to be honest, a bit peeved too. I then started the task of questioning Mike incessantly about the process and found out an average novel was only about 60,000 words. I totaled up all the fan-fiction pieces of short stories I’d written in three years and had almost 300,000 written words about one character. 60k didn’t seem that daunting after that. The writing that had seemed daunting was the easy part when I got to formatting for print and e-book. I spent weeks trying to get everything lined up right and managed to meet a few people through Twitter who recommended wiping all existing formatting and starting from the beginning. It was a breeze after that. I used Createspace because I had Mike to hound for help if needed. Smashwords proved to be more daunting as they were pickier about formatting to get into their premium catalog. My second novel though, once I’d gone through all the headaches with the first, only took about a week to push through CreateSpace and Smashwords because of everything I learned the first time.

Tell us about your book (s)

The first novel is The Devil’s Angel and chronicles the life of vampire Devrynne Kaine. It is told as a series of flashbacks, brought on as she is being blackmailed in present day for killing the vampire who turned her. She is owned by Lucifer, controlled only by him and trying to balance the task of being the vampire she now is and not losing the humanity she once had.

My second novel is the sequel to that called The Devil’s Apprentice. This is a continuation of Devrynne’s life as she is put to the test again, more choices, new battles faced. You know, all the things a good sequel is supposed to be!

I am in the writing process for the conclusion of Devrynne’s trilogy which is The Devil’s Downfall. I won’t give anything about that one except that nothing is what it seems. Characters you think you know from the first two novels will surprise you and show you even more facets of their personalities.

What inspired you to write these books (or in this genre)?

Devrynne’s character has always been the easiest for me to write, ever. It started from a photo of Kate Winslet and has fit like a glove ever since. I wanted to write a story where your main character wasn’t your typical “good” person. She’s not a hero and yet you find yourself rooting for her. I also enjoy writing the many faces of the devil. I have always been fascinated with the WHY are people good or bad. Being told as a child that the devil is bad wasn’t enough for me, I wanted to know why. Simply being told he disobeyed wasn’t enough for me either. I wanted to put a personality with it, an understanding of why he is that way. It was only after I’d published The Devil’s Angel that I realized the sub-context of things in the book that paralleled in my own personal life and realized that it was more about the lengths a woman would be willing to go to get the life she wants, to get rid of the toxic people in her life and stay loyal to the ones that have loved her even if in unconventional ways.

 Tell us why we should love or hate your main character?

I think there are pieces of Devrynne that everyone can relate to. I think we don’t generally want pity and she knows that her life is a mess because she made it that way. She owns the fact that all of her decisions have led her to where she is. That alone is the reason why I love her. I think the audience will appreciate that but also hate her because like any true woman, when it comes to love, we don’t always learn from our mistakes.

 Do(es) your book(s) have a soundtrack? 

They do! For The Devil’s Angel it would be as follows: Rev 22:20 by Puscifer, Like Suicide by Seether, Pain by Three Days Grace, Dance With The Devil by Breaking Benjamin, Lucifer’s Angel by Rasmus, Broken Dreams by Shaman’s Harvest, Not Meant To Be by Theory of a Deadman and Get Stoned by Hinder.

For The Devil’s Apprentice it would be as follows: Innocence by Halestorm, You Stupid Girl by Framing Hanley, Almost Told You That I Loved You by Papa Roach, Curly Sue by Takida, Seven Devils by Florence + the Machine, This Is War by 30 Seconds To Mars, Fix Me by 10 Years, Blurry by Puddle of Mudd and Control by Garbage.

These are all songs that fit with the story in some way if you really listen to the lyrics, or are songs that inspired certain scenes or tones for the novels. I have not completely comprised a soundtrack for the final book of this series, but have written a great deal of The Devil’s Downfall while listening to Requiem for a Tower by Clint Mansell on repeat.

*****

Thanks so much for joining us Samantha! You can follow Samantha on her website and find the links to where her books are sold here.

COVER REVEAL!! (And Contest!): For Everly

COVER REVEAL POLL + GIVEAWAY!

 

For Everly

A New Adult Contemporary Romance

by

Raine Thomas

Raine Thomas is so excited to share the new cover of her upcoming New Adult novel, For Everly. There’s only one problem: she can’t decide which it will be!

After commissioning two talented cover designers, Tonya Dsigns and Allie B Designs, to send her concepts, Raine fell in love with their different styles. Now, she wants readers to decide which she’ll use as the final cover.

In a fun spin on Ye Olde Cover Reveal, Raine has set up a poll so readers can vote on the cover. The winning design will be announced on Monday, May 6th. All voters can enter to win a signed paperback of For Everly after its release on May 27th using the Rafflecopter form below.

First, check out the book blurb and the beautiful covers (shown in no particular order). Then cast your vote and enter the giveaway. May the best cover win!

Blurb

Determined to overcome a dark and tragic past, college student Everly Wallace is only months away from earning her degree in physical therapy. She’s consumed with school, caring for her ailing grandfather, and figuring out how to pay the next bill. The last thing she wants is a relationship, but it just might be the one thing she needs.

Major League pitcher Cole Parker hasn’t fought for anything in his life. He went from a privileged upbringing to a multimillion dollar All-Star career. But when his pitching shoulder starts to give him trouble at only twenty-four years old, he faces the possibility of his injury becoming public knowledge and costing him everything.

In a desperate bid to save his career, Cole decides to hire someone to treat his injury, someone who will keep things off the record and out of the media. He finds the perfect solution in Everly. As mysterious as she is beautiful, she provides an enticing distraction from his pain. Soon, physical therapy is the last thing on his mind.

When an act of betrayal brings the truths they both fear to light, Cole will have to fight for the first time in his life…not just for his career, but for Everly’s love.

 

Coming May 27, 2013 by Iambe Books, LLC

Add it to your to-read list on Goodreads !

COVER #1

COVER #2

 

 

CAST YOUR VOTE!

Due to a technical difficulty I cannot get the poll to work here on the blog however you can hop on over to Raines blog and cast your vote there! Thanks so much for understanding!

Author bio: Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of a series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane, including the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and the Firstborn trilogy. Her upcoming release, For Everly, is a New Adult Contemporary Romance. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer’s Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing or glued to social networking sites, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Ways readers can connect with Raine:

Twitter (http://twitter/Raine_Thomas)

Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/rainethomas)

Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5053436.Raine_Thomas)

Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/raine_thomas/)

Linkedin (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/raine-thomas/53/111/bb3)

Website (http://rainethomas.com)

Blog (http://RaineThomas.com/blog/)

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

From the Shadows (from The Shadow Chronicles) BLOG TOUR!!

 

 

Synopsis:

Shapeshifter Juliette Singleton left her home to escape the oppressive concern of her family…and the memory of being raped. She finds little solace, however, as her sleep is plagued with nightmares, forcing her to re-live the brutal assault over and over again.

Race Covington, a chimaera, thought he was the only one of his kind. Then he reunited with Juliette, whom he had known as a child, and discovered to his delight that he was not alone after all—and the both of them discovered that they were destined to be together.

Meeting her mate leads Juliette to open up about the attack and begin the healing process, while Race believes meeting his means it is definitely time to escape the employ of a dangerous and vindictive vampire. They decide it is time to start their lives over again—together—but going home proves to be harder than they expected when they are forced to confront a dangerous foe neither could have ever imagined.

 

Excerpt:

I must have been more tired than I thought, either from my virtually sleepless nights or from having to expend so much energy to stay a dog, because I fell asleep soon after he turned the TV to a football game. I wasn’t much into watching the game when I’d rather be playing it, so I’d closed my eyes thinking I’d get up and sneak out when I heard him go to the bathroom.

Next time I opened them, however, the TV was off and I was alone in the room, the only light coming from the parking lot lights shining

through the blinds on his windows. Thankful that my energy hadn’t run out while I slept and caused me to automatically revert to my human form (as I knew sometimes happened to an exhausted shifter), I raised my head and looked at the clock on his cable box, noting that it was just after midnight. Shit, I thought sourly. None of the busses would be running at this hour and I had no money for a cab—how the hell was I going to get back to my hotel room?

Obviously I had no choice but to walk, but if I did so as a dog I chanced being picked up and taken to the pound, which was definitely not a situation I wanted to end up in. My only other option, as I saw it, was to go in human form…and to do that, I was going to have to steal some clothes. I felt bad about having to turn thief on someone who had only been nice to me, but there was nothing else for me to do. Stepping down off the couch and stretching, I then walked down the little hall and into the bedroom. On the wall directly in front of me was a closet, to my right the bathroom, and to my left was a large area with a bed and a desk. I didn’t see a dresser so it appeared that all his clothes were in the closet.

Glancing in the direction of the bed, I listened for a brief moment to the sound of the stranger’s steady breathing. He was sound asleep. I phased back into my human form and stepped to the closet, sliding the left-hand door open as soundlessly as I could. I grabbed an OSU hoodie off its hanger and quickly pulled it over my head. Now I needed pants. A second’s glance told me that the side I had opened was all shirts, so I slid the door closed and stepped over to the right. Opening that door, I found the matching bottom and took them off the hanger. After sliding the door closed again, I stepped into the sweatpants as quickly as I could, tightened the drawstring and knotted it so they wouldn’t fall down, then turned and walked cautiously out of the bedroom.

I paused when I reached the front door, wishing I could have thanked the man for being so nice to me. But it was impossible, I thought with a sigh, and reached up to turn the deadbolt.

“Were you really going to leave without even saying goodbye?”

******

Are the characters in your book based on people you know?

Only Juliette’s animal form, which is based on a dog I used to have.

 

What books have influenced your writing?

There are so many different books, I don’t think I could name just one. However, different genres have certainly influenced my writing. Obviously paranormal romance is one of them—I love to read all the romances. Mysteries and thrillers are also among my favorites and they’ve influenced me as well.

 

Do you have a critique group/beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I self-edit as I am writing, but I do also send the book out to a few betas to get other opinions on it. I’ve also discussed certain scenes with my author friends and every now and then I’ll post an excerpt on my Facebook author page or my blog to see what readers think.

 

Would you be willing to have one of your books made into a movie? Which one?

Though I would love to have any of my books made into a movie, of the three I’ve written so far, I honestly think Fire Born would be the best cand

idate. And while the big screen would be the ultimate dream come true, it could be a made-for-TV or made-for-cable movie and I’d still be satisfied.

 

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?

There was a time in my life that I was determined to become a police officer. It was my dream. Then declining health issues (I’m asthmatic) forced me to admit that actual police work just wasn’t going to work out for me. So I thought I’d be a lawyer, but frankly couldn’t afford to go to college for four years, let alone eight, and wasn’t about to put myself in debt for life by taking out insanely large student loans. In the end I chose to set my sights on writing about law and order, because through all of those other dreams, writing had always stayed with me.

 

Will you have a new book coming out soon?

Not very soon, but I am making notes and planning my next project.

 

Do you prefer chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate, hands do

wn.

 

Pepsi or Coke?

Actually I prefer Code Red Mountain Dew, but if my only choices are Pepsi or Coke, then I go with Coke.

 

Are you a cat person or a dog person?

Both. Right now I own four dogs, but I enjoy cats too. My dogs—two Siberian Huskies and two Chihuahuas—are the only children I have at the moment, so they get spoiled.

 

If you gave your characters an opportunity to speak for themselves, what would they say?

Some of them are probably wondering when it’s going to be their turn to be featured in a story. Some may also whisper in your ear that I’m just a little bit crazy, given all the ideas that pop into my head.

 

About the author:

Christina Moore proved she had a talent for writing fiction in grade school when a story about a dinosaur so interested her teacher that it was brought to the principal’s attention, and she was highly praised for her creativity. Although she doesn’t recall the details of that childhood tale, the feeling of accomplishment stayed with her throughout her life. Deciding in her teens to indulge in her passion for storytelling, Christina delved first into fan fiction, which she has written off and on for several years. Her mother said to her when she was just 14 that she “could write this stuff,” and a long-time friend once told her she had the talent to be a professional writer; so after procrastinating a lot longer than she should have, she put her mind to writing something she could sell.

 

After working on her first novel during NaNoWriMo 2010 and editing and revising the story throughout the next year, Christina made her professional debut in January of 2012 with the paranormal romance Chasing Shadows, followed by an erotic short story entitled The Beauty in the Black Room and the romantic suspense novel Fire Born, both also published in 2012. Currently she resides in Ohio, where she has lived all her life.

 

When not allowing the characters in her imagination use her to tell their stories, she enjoys a great movie, good times with family and friends, and being “hu-mom” to two Chihuahuas and two Siberian Huskies. Christina always keeps a notebook handy to jot down ideas for future stories and is currently working on her fourth novel.

 

Links:

Blog: http://diaryofanindieauthor.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaMoore.Author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Writergirl79

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Christina-Moore/e/B008MMNRZ8

Lucius tour ~ Interveiw with Tara S. Wood

Welcome to this stop on the Lucius tour! Today you get to have your very own Q & A session with the lovely Tara!

*****

What would your bio say?

Tara Wood divides her time between creating domestic bliss and creating hot paranormal romance with the occasional side of kink. When not playing June Cleaver for her hubby and daughter, she can be found at the local Starbucks slamming back Frappuccinos and plotting out her next idea. Or she’s watching the BBC. Tara resides with her wonderful and tolerant family in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. She is currently at work on several projects, one of them being the next book in her In Blood series.

 When did you start writing and why?

I really don’t know. It may have started with poetry in middle school, but I can’t remember NOT writing. The first time I sat down with a concrete book idea in mind was 2009. I wrote “Redemption in Blood” and never looked back. As for the why, I don’t think I have a choice. LOL. Writing to me is like breathing. I have to do it to live.

If you are a parent how does being a parent affect your writing and writing habits? Or does it?

I am a parent. And having a little one around pushed me into writing whenever I could. Being a mom keeps me busy, so I find myself jotting things down during swim lessons and gymnastics. In general, I do most of my writing at night, after bedtime.

Who is your favorite author and why?

That’s a tough question. I don’t think I could even begin to narrow the field. But I will tell you that my two favorite books are “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad and “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee.

What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?

The biggest thing I hope to do with my writing is to entertain people. I want to give readers a good time and great story. I want to makes them happy.

Traditional or Self publishing? Why?

BOTH!!! I love being self-published and the autonomy that brings, but I also love being part of a publishing family as well. Miranda Stork and Moon Rose Publishing have been amazing.

Talk about your journey into the wide world of publishing.

I made the jump into self-publishing because, frankly, I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to put my book into the hands of readers and let them decide if it was a track worth pursuing. I feel it was the right starter move for me, and don’t regret a moment.

Tell us about your book

This book is the first in The Fallen series.

Lucius, once revered at the side of God, fell to Earth with his brothers to pay penance and atone for his lapse in leadership. Wingless and forsaken, they have all paid a price for their complicity. Lucius’ hubris is now a curse, and he cannot rest until they carry out the last of The Almighty’s orders…and stop a war that has been millennia in the making.

Persephone Roberts is always in the right place at the right time, the serendipity allowing her to help people on her travels. When it leads her to cross paths with the band of hard-living fallen angels, she sets her sights on their leader, and is determined to restore Lucius’ faith in their quest. And in himself.

But the ancient evil the angels strive to fight has put Persephone in its crosshairs. It will be up to Lucius and his brothers to save her and destroy the minions of the dark. Can the amber-eyed beauty with her accepting heart heal wounds that cut soul deep, and force him to reclaim a glory he once tossed aside? Is he strong enough to realize the path back to Heaven begins with her, or will he be forever…fallen?

 What inspired you to write these books (or in this genre)?

I write in this genre because there are no rules. The story can take shape and become whatever it wants. The only limit is my imagination.

Tell us why we should love or hate your main character?

I think everyone should love Lucius. He’s so hard on himself, poor baby. He’s trying to keep it all together and soldier on, even when he’s not sure it’s making a difference. Somebody give him a hug. Awwww…..

Does your book have a soundtrack?

I work from a huge playlist of music. It’s impossible to pin down, because my tastes are all over the place. You would find some 80’s hair bands, pop, dance, classical, rock, and even a smidge of Finnish goth metal. Not your mother’s playlist.

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Lucius Information

Welcome to the release tour of Lucius; The Fallen! The first in a hotly-anticipated series, it follows the leader of a band of hard-living, hard-drinking angels after their fall to earth. The series will span six books, each one more enticing than the last! Keep reading to find out more, and check out our giveaway at the end……AND a special surprise if you’ve ever wanted to ask the authors a question!

Blurb

“Relish this moment in My favor. It is your last.”

Six angels once sat at the right hand of The Almighty, but an ill-fated decision cast them out of Heaven. Now they serve Him on Earth, slaying demons for their redemption. They are…The Fallen.

Lucius, once revered at the side of God, fell to Earth with his brothers to pay penance and atone for his lapse in leadership. Wingless and forsaken, they have all paid a price for their complicity. Lucius’ hubris is now a curse, and he cannot rest until they carry out the last of The Almighty’s orders…and stop a war that has been millennia in the making.

Persephone Roberts is always in the right place at the right time, the serendipity allowing her to help people on her travels. When it leads her to cross paths with the band of hard-living fallen angels, she sets her sights on their leader, and is determined to restore Lucius’ faith in their quest. And in himself.

But the ancient evil the angels strive to fight has put Persephone in its crosshairs. It will be up to Lucius and his brothers to save her and destroy the minions of the dark. Can the amber-eyed beauty with her accepting heart heal wounds that cut soul deep, and force him to reclaim a glory he once tossed aside? Is he strong enough to realize the path back to Heaven begins with her, or will he be forever…fallen?

Trailer

Excerpt (18+)

The subtle whoosh of air from the doorway ahead made all five angels turn as one.

“Is there another one?” Lucius muttered. Turning to Domniel, he said, “Can you smell another one?”

Domniel lifted his head and walked toward the doorway. “Hard to tell. That smell’s everywhere. I’ll follow it and see what I find.”

“Good. Elijah, go with him,” Lucius said as he bent toward the pool of goo to begin purifying the remains. From the corner of his eye, Lucius watched Elijah nod and jog off to catch up with Domniel.

Task finished, he placed the vial of holy water in his pocket, and called after the blind angel. “Dom?”

“Yeah, man, out here.”

He motioned to Jude and Mordecai, and they ran across the street to another parking lot. He paused as he realized Domniel and Elijah weren’t alone.

A woman stared at them from across the lot. She looked calm. A dark halo of thick curls was pulled back tight, emphasizing an oval face and high cheekbones. The assassin-chic ensemble she sported could not detract from the feminine perfection she represented.

She laid smoldering eyes on them and growled, her voice smoky and rich, “Figures I would find pigeons here. It is the gutter, after all.”

Domniel’s head tilted and Lucius knew he was trying to locate her. He caught a whiff of sand and something exotic and ancient. He knew the blind angel had found her when he turned, putting his shades on her.

“Where the fuck did you come from?” Domniel snarled.

She laughed, the sultry sound designed to stir men’s loins. “A higher plane of existence, you useless bird.”

His dark sunglasses looked her up and down. “No shit, you a Jersey girl? That explains a lot.”

She glared at him before bringing her arm forward to reveal a flaming scimitar. “You pigeons always have to crap on somebody else’s sidewalk, don’t you?”

Lucius stepped forward and laid a hand on Domniel’s shoulder, urging him to stand down. Apprehension collided with recognition like a shot to his gut, and he gave the deposed goddess a slow, tight smile, hoping that this encounter would leave them with all their limbs.

“Hello, Khemrhy.”

“Do you have any idea what you just screwed up?” Khemrhy laid the scimitar across her back, the fire dying and sword disappearing before she leaned against an old Chevy pickup, one foot planted squarely on the front bumper.

Before anyone could slap a hand over his mouth, Domniel spouted, “Could it be your hot date for this century?”

Khemrhy smiled and stood back up. “No, you fool. You messed with my hunt. He was leading me back to something important. Not that you could ever understand that.”

Always cautious in his dealings with Khemrhy, Lucius put a hand over Domniel’s mouth and said, “We think there’s a second one. Did you see anything?”

“Of course. The other one went that way,” she said, jerking a thumb over her shoulder to indicate the alley behind her. Something about it seemed too simple, but a gust of wind brought the stench of brimstone strong enough that they could all smell it.

As Lucius, Jude, and Mordecai began to head past Khemrhy, they instinctively gave her a wide berth. From behind them, Domniel said, “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on her. I still don’t trust the bitch.”

“Little hard to keep an eye on someone when you’re blind, pigeon,” she quipped. “Maybe you should get a dog.”

Lucius heard Domniel mouthing off in the distance and rolled his eyes, hoping she didn’t remove any limbs. This time.

“A dog, huh? You’ll do. Let me see if I can find a leash and a muzzle,” Domniel snapped back. “Though you might be a little front end heavy to be running around on hands and knees, fetching shit for me.”

As the wind picked up, Lucius could see Domniel’s head swivel as he struggled to locate Khemrhy’s dissipating scent. Elijah signed to him in a panic, the fluttering of his fingers reaching through to the blind angel.

“Shit! Shit! Shit! I lost her! Where is she? I don’t speak finger-fuck!”

Lucius whirled in a circle, hoping that even he could get a quick scent to target the goddess.

Ten feet in front of his sightless brother, Khemrhy growled, “I’ve got a front end for you.” And then the truck came crashing down on Domniel.

From his viewpoint behind Domniel, Lucius watched as Khemrhy planted her boot on the truck’s bumper and pushed down hard to lever it upward. When she started pushing down with her foot, Elijah began frantically signing the word, “Chevy” to no avail. As the truck stood on end, she reached down, grabbed the bumper, and swung the entire vehicle over her head.

The pickup came down in a barrage of creaking steel, slamming Domniel hard into the pavement. He gave a loud, anguished grunt as Elijah ran to his side. Twisted metal groaned as Elijah tried to maneuver chunks of the vehicle up off him.

“Get…off me… fucking bitch!” he gurgled. Khemrhy laughed as she made her way to a Triumph motorbike parked beneath one of the street lights.

Lucius and Jude ran to assist. “What the fuck happened? Dom?”

“Chevy half-ton pickup,” Elijah signed to Lucius.

Lucius winced, reaching for parts of the vehicle. “Ouch.”

The sound of the Triumph’s throttle rumbling got their attention and they turned. Khemrhy smiled back, flipping them her middle finger before roaring off down the street.

Domniel lay on his back, his chest caved in, laboring for enough breath to groan.

Lucius shook his head. “You know better than to piss her off. She could’ve killed you, dumbass.”

Domniel wheezed, turned his head and spat out two bloody teeth. “Get ‘Magic Fingers’ over here – good to go.”

Elijah tapped Lucius on the shoulder and gestured to Domniel.

“Yeah,” Lucius nodded. “Do your thing. And get him to walk. I’m not fucking carrying his wiseass back.”

They came forward and closed ranks, making a circle around him. Elijah knelt down next to the blind angel, stretched out his hands and cracked his knuckles.

“Just fucking get to it, mute. My balls are wedged up in my ribcage.” Domniel’s eyes fluttered closed in between gasps.

Jude snorted. “Why can’t you be the mute?”

Lucius held a hand up, silencing them.

Elijah rubbed his hands together and closed his eyes. The silent angel’s hands trembled for a moment and then glowed with a soft, white light. He placed both of them, palms down, on what was left of Domniel’s chest and took a deep breath.

Domniel lit up, his chest echoing the glow from Elijah’s hands, and he let out a deep, relaxing sigh. “Fuck, yeah. I bet the chicks love that shit.”

“Shut up,” Lucius warned.

Domniel sighed again and gave into the healing.

Author Bios

Tara Wood divides her time between creating domestic bliss and creating hot paranormal romance with the occasional side of kink. When not playing June Cleaver for her hubby and daughter, she can be found at the local Starbucks slamming back Frappuccinos and plotting out her next idea. Or she’s watching the BBC. Tara resides with her wonderful and tolerant family in the suburbs of Houston, Texas. She is currently at work on several projects, one of them being the next book in her In Blood series.

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Lorecia is a native Houstonian who did not escape in her adulthood. So she camps out in NW Houston concocting her own special variety of chaos but rarely finishes it without the continual prodding of best friend Tara. She loves to laugh, bead, write, eat and hug kitties. She also loves to have fun and can usually be found on any given Friday night off chatting her head off at Denny’s with her bestie.

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LIVE Question-and-Answer session with the authors!

And now for the giveaway—and that special surprise! As part of the tour, the author will be answering your questions about Lucius and writing LIVE on April 29th, via Google+ Hangouts! To take part, all you need to do is go to the event page here at  http://www.moonrosepublishing.com/#!author-questions–lucius-the-fallen/cfzv and post the question that you would like to be answered. The best ones will be chosen, and as many as possible answered within a 30 minute session. The address to watch and take part in the Hangout will be posted a week before, and you must follow Moon Rose Publishing on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/114000878667510243231/posts Have fun!

And….the awesome giveaway!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7adce34/”; rel=”nofollow”>a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can pick the book up from these places!

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Kobo

WHSmith

Barnes & Noble

Google Play

Moon Rose Publishing

And don’t forget to get your questions in for the 29th April! J

Blogging From A to Z — ‘Support’

Definition: To bear the weight of.

Now I have kept this topic the same as my other blog for today but I am altering this post almost entirely because there is a different twist on the whole spousal support thing when it comes to being a published author.

I for one am truly blessed when it comes to the support I receive from my husband in regards to my writing and becoming a full fledged published author. He has never doubted me ever. Always has stood beside me told me just how proud he is of me. Honestly there are days where that is everything I need to remember to keep on my writing path and when things are bogging me down.

That isn’t always the case. I had a friend once who was an amazing and gifted writer. Her stories were simply put amazing. They were colourful and brilliant. Honestly I envied her. Yet I have one of the last remaining copies of her first book. And it was on a whim that she had sent it over to me and even more amazing that I had been able to hang onto it for years. But more to the point is why I have one of the only copies and why she doesn’t. Her world came crashing down with one snippy comment from her husband who she had truly thought supported her through the years. It broke her heart and she hasn’t written in years as a result.

Support and love from our spouse or significant other is so vital to our health as a writer that its almost impossible for me to come up with a writer without any sort of a support system. We need the support not only of our readers but our families, friends, peers, mentors and so many others.

What does your spouse or significant other or even a friend do that you find to be an important part of your support system? Or is there something you with they did but they don’t?