Nicky Peacock's Blog, page 38

Interview with Tommy Smith

Tell us about your publishing journey.

The writing journey was longer than the publishing journey. Writing was something I’ve always wondered in and out of, but I actively began seeking publication around 2005. The next year saw my first short story sales rolling in.

One of my short stories published in 2007, “Living Poison,” provided an opening for a potential revisiting. In 2008 I set to writing more material revolving around the phenomenon introduced in that story, and this became the novella Poisonous.

The book contains graphic violence, which many publishers prohibit in their submission guidelines. Since the story is a novella, length was also an issue for some. My list of potential publishers was limited, but in 2011, I found a home for it with the newly-solidifying Rainstorm Press. The book was released in late 2012.

What part of being a writer do you love most?

Writing. I’ve heard some writers say that this is their least favorite part. I suppose everyone’s different. Although I enjoy the creative process, it isn’t always about having fun doing it; I don’t think “fun” is always the correct term in my case. It’s a different form and level of enjoyment. Am I making much sense?

I do hope my work can stimulate others and that people can appreciate it for what it is. It captures things which are real to me in some fashion but fictional in another, since it does happen to be fiction.

Which part do you hate most?

As with many things, the political side that occasionally rears its grotesque head. I’ve seen it and I don’t find it sexy. Stay in the swamp, swamp-beast. You’re not why I’m here.

What life advice have you been given, that you wished someone had given you sooner?

“Don’t listen to bad advice!”

That isn’t actually life advice as much as it is life experience. There are situations that would have turned out better if I had trusted my own judgment instead of taking some others’ misleading advice. Conviction doesn’t equal wisdom or experience.

If you could be a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?

A bulletproof, fire-resistant flying tarantula that can see in all directions at once.

Which paranormal creature scares you most and why?

None of them, really. I’m sorry. I did have some fear of that nature in my childhood, but most people don’t seem to have heard of the creatures that inhabited my world then.

What was your inspiration for Poisonous? 

Classic slasher horror movies were an inspiration. I also reached into some personal darkness for aspects of it.

Who are your favourite authors and why?

I have a lot of favorites. That would be a very long list. Lately I’ve been thinking of the old epics: The Odyssey(Homer), The Divine Comedy(Dante Alighieri), The Kalevala, and one of my favorites, The Epic of Gilgamesh. I just read Joyland by Stephen King and I’m looking forward to reading Doctor Sleep once I have the opportunity. Giving only a second’s glance, I have Washington Irving, Douglas Adams, Robert E. Howard, and Dan Simmons on my bookshelf. A variety.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m writing a story based in St. Charles, the city visited in Poisonous, but it’s a different story set in an earlier time period. Poisonous was a somewhat in-your-face approach, though not entirely, but this one is more of a sabotaging-your-brake-lines-and-watching-you-drive-into-the-river approach.

Where can fans find you online?

My author website is at http://www.tommybsmith.com. I can also be found on Facebook at my new Facebook author page at http://www.facebook.com/authortommybsmith

Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: horror, Horror author interview, Poisonious, Rainstorm Press, Stephen King, Tommy Smith, writing advice

Book Review: Penton Legacy Series by Susannah Sandlin

Synopsis:

REDEMPTION -  Book One Penton Legacy series

Following a worldwide pandemic whose vaccine left human blood deadly to vampires, the vampire community is on the verge of starvation and panic. Some have fanned into rural areas, where the vaccine was less prevalent, and are taking unsuspecting humans as blood slaves. Others are simply starving, which for a vampire is worse than death—a raging hunger in a creature too weak to feed.

Immune to these struggles—at first—is Penton, a tiny community in rural Chambers County, Alabama, an abandoned cotton mill town that has been repopulated by charismatic vampire Aidan Murphy, his scathe of 50 vampires, and their willingly bonded humans. Aidan has recruited his people carefully, believing in a peaceful community where the humans are respected and the vampires retain a bit of their humanity.

But an unresolved family feud and the paranoia of the Vampire Tribunal descend on Penton in the form of Aidan’s brother, Owen Murphy. Owen has been issued a death warrant that can only be commuted if he destroys Penton—and Aidan, against whom he’s held a grudge since both were turned vampire in 17th-century Ireland.  Owen begins a systematic attack on the town, first killing its doctor, then attacking one of Aidan’s own human familiars

To protect his people, Aidan is forced to go against his principles and kidnap an unvaccinated human doctor—and finds himself falling in love for the first time since the death of his wife in Ireland centuries ago.

Dr. Krystal Harris, forced into a world she never knew existed, must face up to her own abusive past to learn if the feelings she’s developing for her kidnapper are real—or just a warped, supernatural kind of Stockholm Syndrome in which she’s allowing herself to become a victim yet again.

Susannah Sandlin’s REDEMPTION is the first in the Penton Legacy series. Book two, ABSOLUTION, will be out September 18, and book three, OMEGA, on December 18.

Amazon      Barnes and Noble     Book Depository

Synopsis:

ABSOLUTION -  The Penton Legacy, Book 2 

With the vampire world on the brink of civil war over the scarcity of untainted human blood, battle lines are being drawn between the once peaceful vampire and human enclave of Penton, Alabama, and the powerful Vampire Tribunal.

A Scottish gallowglass warrior turned vampire in the early 17th century, Mirren Kincaid once served the Tribunal as its most creative and ruthless executioner—a time when he was known as the Slayer. But when assigned a killing he found questionable, Mirren abandoned the Tribunal’s political machinations and disappeared—only to resurface two centuries later as the protector and second-in-command of Penton. Now the Tribunal wants him back on their side—or dead.

To break their rogue agent, they capture Glory Cummings, the descendant of a shaman, and send her to restore Mirren’s bloodthirsty nature. But instead of a monster, Glory sees a man burdened by the weight of his past. Could her magic touch—meant by the tribunal to bring out a violent killer—actually help Mirren break his bonds and discover the love he doesn’t believe he deserves?

It’s a town under siege, a powerful warrior in a battle with his past, and one woman who can make the earth move—literally—as the Penton Legacy continues.

 Amazon    Barnes & Noble   Book Depository

Synopsis:

Omega -  Penton Vampire Legacy, Book 3

The bloody war between the Vampire Tribunal and the defiant scathe of Penton, Alabama, rages on, forcing its residents and their bonded humans to retreat into the underground fortress of last resort: Omega. There, Will Ludlam is charged with the care of Penton’s humans, though he longs to fight alongside his vampire brethren. He knows the risks: as the renegade son of the Tribunal’s vicious leader, Will’s capture could doom the resistance.

Yet he is determined to prove his worth to his adopted scathe, to his vengeful father and to former US Army officer Randa Thomas, his beautiful, reluctant partner. Randa has little faith that a former member of the vampire elite has what it takes to fight a war. But as their enemies descend upon Omega, Will’s polished charm and Randa’s guarded heart finally give way to the warrior within.

Fans of Susannah Sandlin’s Penton Legacy are sure to devour this long-awaited third installment of the steamy paranormal series.

     Amazon        Barnes & Noble        Book Depository

About the Author:

Susannah Sandlin is the author of paranormal romance set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night. A journalist by day, Susannah grew up in Alabama reading the gothic novels of Susan Howatch and the horror fantasy of Stephen King. (Um…it is fantasy, right?) The combination of Howatch and King probably explains a lot. Currently a resident of Auburn, Alabama, Susannah has also lived in Illinois, Texas, California, and Louisiana.

Website: http://www.susannahsandlin.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susannahsandlin

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susannahsandlin

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828129.Susannah_Sandlin

Indie Bound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781612183541

My Review:

Although this series is a trilogy, for the tour I read the first book (I like to keep books in order – mostly) Redemption nicely sets out the world its based in – it’s an interesting concept of having vampires and humans working together and the whole ethos behind the scene setting is very good indeed.

I must admit though, I did find it hard to read third person from a male point of view, and I found it very hard to get to grips with the main male lead, Aiden. The female protagonist, Krystal was a bit weak for my liking. They seemed to come together without much build up and I’m not much of a fan of the whole ‘suddenly they’re in love’ plot line. Also, Aiden is meant to have never been attracted to a woman in 400 years (since his wife died) This to me is even more fanciful than the thought of vampires themselves! A red blooded gorgeous vampire is going to have some fun.

From a writer’s perspective, it takes a bit of time for the plot to really get going and Aiden’s actions toward Krystal certainly do not make him attractive to me personally. One of the most important facets of writing romance is that the male lead is someone the reader wants to spend time with – bad boys are fine, as long as they secretly have a heart of gold. The heroine should also be a strong lead and give as good as she gets, and this really doesn’t happen here. The sex scenes, however, are very tastefully done and could have easily been tawdry, so I can’t fault the author’s writing skills.

The front cover doesn’t give much away and does reflect that Aiden is the main focus of the book – so a good job by the designer.

Overall I’d give Redemption 3 out of 5 stars – an interesting idea to get your teeth into.

Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Bewitching book tours, paranormal romance, Penton Legacy Series, romance, supernatural fiction, Susannah Sandlin, Urban Fantasy, vampire fiction

Interview with with Lindsey Fairleigh & Lindsey Pogue

Tell us about your publishing journey…

LF: It’s been a pretty intense (and intensive) learning process for us. We decided to go indie from the start, thinking that way we would have more control over our work and be able to publish more quickly and frequently than if we’d gone the traditional route. We published our first book, After The Ending, in February of this year, and released its sequel, Into The Fire, in November. Nine months between books sounds like a long time, but it’s really not on our end! I also released the first book in my solo series, Echo Prophecy, in August. Three books in one year for a first time author-publisher is pretty crazy. I’m definitely proud of what we’ve accomplished.

LP: Agreed! And I have to say that I’m not sure we would have come as far as we have or as quickly and successfully without LF’s metaphorical blood, sweat, and tears. I can’t be as involved in the publishing process as either of us would like me to be, so the fact that we’re doing so well for first time authors is a testament to her dedication and drive for us to succeed.

What do you love about being an author?

LF: Nothing is better than hearing from a perfect stranger how much they loved something I authored. It doesn’t matter if it’s a review or just a “Hey, I loved your book” email. It’s such a high!

LP: I definitely get giddy when a reader tells us they enjoyed our book so much that they’re hubs had to fend for themselves for dinner, that the cleaning didn’t get done, and that there was little sleep involved as they devoured page after page, only wanting more in the end. What greater compliment could two budding authors ask for?

What part do you dislike about being an author?

LF: The need to develop a thick skin. Negative reviews can be difficult to swallow, especially at first, but they’re necessary and unavoidable. There’s never been, nor never will there be a book written that is universally loved. Slowly but surely, my skin is toughening up.

LP: As LF knows, I don’t do well with negative reviews either, especially when they’re unnecessarily harsh, but I too am getting better at not internalizing them as much. My greatest struggle though is grammar. It is not a skill that comes naturally to me, and I strongly dislike having to worry about it. It’s an incessant nagging that distracts me as I’m trying to get my creativity down to paper.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

LF: I have no idea who said this to me, but it’s a little gem I used to pass on to my students back when I was a history teacher: you may try and not succeed, but the only way to ensure failure is to never even try.

LP: “If you write a hundred short stories and they’re all bad, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. You fail only if you stop writing” ~ Ray Bradbury. This is a quote I came across that deeply resonates with me. I’ve always been afraid of failure. In fact, it’s why I never attempted to published anything prior to The Ending Series. I’m finally beginning to realize that failure looks different for everyone and if I take the “leap,” regardless of the outcome, I can never truly fail and because of that belief I’m doing something I always dreamed of doing. 

If you could have dinner with a literary character – who would it be and what would you eat?

LF: Such a good question! I love food! And characters! Hmmm…tempted as I am to pick some super-hot alpha male, I think I would be too intimidated to enjoy either the meal or the conversation, so I won’t go that route. Today, I think I’ll choose Charley from Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson series, just because I know I’d laugh a lot. And we could eat whatever Reyes wants to cook for us, just so long as he personally delivers the food to our table.

LP:  Haha, this is fun to think about. Oh, the choices! I would have to say that I would love to have dinner with Blaylock and Quinn, two of my favorite characters from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. As most of her fans know, they are inseparable, so it would have to be a dinner with both of them, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just watching them interact would be entertainment enough for me.

Zombies are everywhere! What do you do first?

LF: Get a shotgun—then it doesn’t matter if you have bad aim!

LP: Assuming the bullets of a gun will eventually run out, I would start off with outfitting myself with some sort of body armor—I don’t care if it’s foam mattress pads to wrap around my body or full plated armor from the 1600s. If zombies can’t bite me, I have a chance of survival.

What was the last book you read and what were your thoughts on it?

LF: Darkness Rising by Keri Arthur. It’s the second book in her Dark Angels series, and I loved it. I adore that each book of this series contains a solid plot line along with some great steamy bits.

LP: Dare To Love by Carly Phillips. It was raw and felt real and gritty. The characters were likeable and complex…those are things I don’t often find in romance novels, and she truly delivered. I just finished Susanna Kearsley’s The Rose Garden and loved that as well. Very different sort of romance, but it’s enthralling all the same.

What’s the one question you’d dread on an interview?

LF: None that I’ve come across yet.

LP: If I had to cast the characters of our book, who would I choose.

You have a time machine, which era do you go back to and why?

LF: The end of the 6th Dynasty (around 2100 BCE) in Old Kingdom Egypt. It was the time of the collapse of one of the first great civilizations in the world—ever—and nobody really knows why it all fell apart. Plus, so little remains from that part of Egypt’s history—it would be amazing to see what those ancient people’s lives were really like.

LP: I love a good proper romance, but I also know as “proper” as the Regency and Victorian eras were, everyone was still human. I’d like to see what life was really like back then—to see the way people in love interacted when it was considered improper to touch, show ankles, and speak your mind. It’s what happened behind closed doors that has always intrigued me. 

If you were to cast your book, who would play the leads?

LF: I write both Dani’s and Mase’s POVs in After The Ending and Into The Fire, so I’ll cast the leads from their perspectives. Dani is a mystery to me—I’ve never come across an actress who really fits how I see her in my head. Jason, however, has always been as clear as day to me—I’d cast Jensen Ackles as Jason Cartwright in a heartbeat. Like with Dani, I don’t have a perfect actor to play Mase, but for Camille I would cast a teenage Kristen Kruek.

LP: Ahhhh! The dreaded question. I never have a good answer for this one. Zoe has always been a conundrum to me. Part of me sees a young Jennifer Connelly in there somewhere. Jake is also a mystery. When I first started writing him, I pictured someone like Sam Worthington, but he’s sort of evolved into someone else, a character all of his own. Harper has always been the flirtatious and charismatic Shemar Moore in my mind, with his dancing eyebrows and wickedly delicious grin.

You free a Genie from a lamp, after wishing away all those zombies from the previous question, you have 2 wishes left, what are they?

LF: I think my first wish would be for the ability to dive into and leave fictional worlds at will. There are so many worlds, so many characters, so many conflicts—it would be amazing to be able to experience them in person. The second would be to be able to talk to animals, just like Dani. That would be so damn awesome!

LP: The first would be that I could see my grandpa one last time, tell him that I’m following my dreams to become a writer, and that I wouldn’t be doing it without his curiosity and nudges growing up. The second wish would be that I could afford to stop working a day job so that I could write full-time.

What’s your favourite TV show, and why?

LF: Currently, Supernatural and Game of Thrones because they’re AWESOME!!! My all-time favorite show however, is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I think I fell in love with it as a young teenager because I felt like I could relate. It has a lot of themes about being an outcast and just wanting to belong, and I think those are feelings pretty much every teen struggles with. Buffy was sort of an outlet for me.

LP: I too enjoy watching Supernatural because the Winchesters are hot and I love their banter. I LOVE Game of Thrones because it’s like a constant mind f@!*k. Plus the characters are written beautifully. I also have to confess I like watching Tosh.0. I don’t mean to, but every time my fiancé has it on, I can’t help but watch it…like a car crash, you know? Same with Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I love to hate that show, but can’t look away no matter how hard I try.

Where can fans find you online?

The Ending Series website:  http://www.theendingseries.com/

Lindsey Fairleigh’s website:  http://www.lindseyfairleigh.com/

Lindsey Pogue’s website:  http://www.lindseypogue.com/

Facebook (The Ending Series):  https://www.facebook.com/AfterTheEnding

Facebook (Lindsey Fairleigh):  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lindsey-Fairleigh/220345161400603

Facebook (Lindsey Pogue):  https://www.facebook.com/lindseypogueauthor

Twitter (@TheEndingSeries):  https://twitter.com/TheEndingSeries

Twitter (@LindsFairleigh):  https://twitter.com/LindsFairleigh

Twitter (@LindseyPogue):  https://twitter.com/LindseyRPogue

Goodreads (The Ending Series):  https://www.goodreads.com/series/99139-the-ending

Goodreads (Lindsey Fairleigh):  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6551703.Lindsey_Fairleigh

Goodreads (Lindsey Pogue):  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6551704.Lindsey_Pogue

Blog (The Ending Series):  http://aftertheending-ae.blogspot.com/

Blog (Lindsey Fairleigh):  http://lindseyfairleigh.blogspot.com/

Blog (Lindsey Pogue):  http://lindseypogue.blogspot.com/

Pinterest (Lindsey Fairleigh):  http://www.pinterest.com/lindsfairleigh/

Pinterest (Lindsey Pogue):  http://www.pinterest.com/lindseypogue/

Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: after the ending series, author interview, dystopia, two authors working together, with Lindsey Fairleigh & Lindsey Pogue, writing advice, YA fiction

Book Review: In Love with a Wicked Man by Liz Carlyle

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Liz Carlyle has created a breathtaking new romance about a man without scruples and the lady who brings him to his knees.

What does it matter if Kate, Lady d’Allenay, has absolutely no marriage prospects?

She has a castle to tend, an estate to run, and a sister to watch over, which means she is never, ever reckless. Until an accident brings a handsome, virile stranger to Bellecombe Castle, and Kate finds herself tempted to surrender to her houseguest’s wicked kisses.

Disowned by his aristocratic family, Lord Edward Quartermaine has turned his gifted mind to ruthless survival. Feared and vilified as proprietor of London’s most notorious gaming salon, he now struggles to regain his memory, certain of only one thing: he wants all Kate is offering—and more.

But when Edward’s memory returns, he and Kate realize how much they have wagered on a scandalous passion that could be her ruin, but perhaps his salvation.

About the Author: 

A lifelong Anglophile, Liz Carlyle started reading Gothic novels under the bed covers by flashlight. She is the author of sixteen historical romances, including several New York Times bestsellers. Liz travels incessantly, ever in search of the perfect setting for her next book. Along with her genuine romance-hero husband and four very fine felines, she makes her home in North Carolina.

Website: http://www.lizcarlyle.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liz.carlyle

Twitter: @lizcarlyle

My Review:

I’m quite new to the historical romance genre and tend to read more paranormal led novels, so found the plot a little slow to get going. With the hero losing his memory, it kind of reminded me of the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse book that sees Eric (lovely, lovely Eric) losing his memory and Sookie’s feelings for him begin to grow.

The theme was kind of ‘love conquers all’ as there were a mountain of metaphorical fences that the main characters had to jump over before they could effectively let go enough to be in love. Edward does have a secret, that you need to read the book to find out what it is, but I must admit I was a bit disappointed with it in the end. There was a lot of build-up, and in the end it was nothing as bad as I had imagined. Although, in saying that, part of me had him as Jack The Ripper killing off rich, but ultimately stupid, debutantes with a hatchet hand-crafted by the Devil himself. That’s what happens when you have a mind as dark as mine! LOL

From a writer’s perspective, the romance was sweet and the build-up was good. Although the amount of romantic clichés made my mind boogle, it was a lovely read. In a world that has lost most of its romance, it’s nice to curl up in a duvet with a box of choccies and a mug of warm milk and let that nasty grey reality slip away for a few hours, at least.

The cover is beautiful and, looking at the author’s other books, all run along a similar theme, which cleverly brands them together and makes them easy to spot.

Overall I’d give ‘To Love a Wicked Man’ 3 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it as a bit of escapism and really isn’t that what reading is all about?

Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Bewitching book tours, Historical Romance, In Love with A Wicked Man, Liz Carlyle, Rakes and Rogues, Romantic fiction

Book Review: Divinity by Patricia Leever

Synopsis

Demons.

They’re everywhere, hiding in plain sight. Chances are, you’ve interacted with one or two of them in your lifetime without even realizing it…

Demon hunter Evelyn Brighton saves unsuspecting humans from the malevolent creatures masquerading around them every day. Working under the Lebriga Corporation’s direction, she never fails to bring her A-game with her keen skill, fiercely independent spirit, and the best weapon in her arsenal: the Divinity blade.

Evelyn’s world is turned on its ear, however, when she is ordered to train cocky new recruit Daniel Summers. They both feel an instinctive pull drawing them to one another, the ancient spells tattooed into their skin illuminating whenever the two hunters come into contact. But with evil looming over the city of Los Angeles, Evelyn and Daniel’s mutual competitiveness and sense of duty to Lebriga and all humankind forces them to hold back their desires. Will their restraint be enough to keep them focused and save southern California, or will the dark forces prevail?

Set in modern-day Los Angeles, Divinity is an action-filled, fast-paced marriage of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Edgy, witty, and sexy, it will bind you in its spell.

Add to Goodreads

About the Author: 

Patricia Leever is a wife, stay-at-home mom of four and owner of one dog and one little black cat. On the average school day she runs about town like a lunatic picking-up and dropping off kids and trying to find a moment of quiet to write down a word or two. She’s a sci-fi geek that loves to dress up like a zombie and participate in the local zombie march down Main St. and laugh as much as possible; laughter frees the mind and heals the soul.

http://patricialeever.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaLeever

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5051193.Patricia_Leever

My Review:

There are a lot of Urban Fantasies around right now, and the demon/angel theme is proving very popular. Divinity falls into this category, yet does prove to be one of the best in the bunch. There’s a kick-ass heroine, a believable romance (with an interesting dynamic of the lady being the boss) and carefully thought out world that’s introduced with precision and ease.

The hardest thing to do with Urban Fantasy is the world building. Choosing the right bricks and when and where to place them is crucial to ensure that the reader is swept along with it. Not just flooded with info dumps and useless scene setting that has no impact on the actual story line. Fortunately Divinity manages this very well and unfolds neatly as and when it needs to, without forcing knowledge on the reader that would serve no other purpose than to pad out the book.

From a writer’s perspective, some of the prose was a little heavy handed and there were a few classic ‘show don’t tell’ moments, especially when it came to the romance part. The dialogue was a little irritating at times, but hey that kind of makes it  more real, after all, not everything people say in reality is either useful or interesting!

The front cover is lovely and I adored the idea of the tattooed spells – I have seen the cover of another book which is almost identical (I think it’s another novella in the same series) and personally think that this is a massive mistake in the marketing. As a reader, I almost passed it by online, thinking I’d already read it!

Overall I’d give Divinity 4 out of 5 stars. Urban Fantasy with a kick.

Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Demons, Divinity by Patricia Leever, kick ass, liberati book tours, paranormal romance, patricia Leever, Urban Fantasy

Interview with Aileen Erin

Tell us about your publishing journey…

It’s no secret that the past few years the publishing industry has faced some massive changes. I’ve been watching it go down for years as I worked on my MFA in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University. When I graduated, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my manuscript. Should I send it out? If I did, the chance of it getting picked up since it was an urban fantasy (a genre that I was a big fangirl of for twenty years) with werewovles and vampires, and a young adult novel to boot, were pretty damned slim. If I did manage to score a deal, it would most likely be a small one, and I’d have to do all the marketing myself. But self-publishing seemed like a lot of work.

Then, Christina Bauer came along and brought up the idea of starting Ink Monster, LLC—an independent publisher that focused on the Geek Girl market—of which both of us are members. ;) We talked about it, and for the past year, have been building our business model. We’re super excited about both the launch of our company and our books. I’m glad Becoming Alpha is getting out there to readers, and hope fans of the genre will love it.

What do you love about being an author?

I absolutely love revising. I know this sounds totally crazy, but my undergrad degree is in Radio-TV-Film. I moved to Los Angeles to be a film editor, but after working in that industry for a few years, realized it wasn’t a fantastic fit. But I still love editing. I love seeing what’s there, and moving it around, changing it, and making it shine. I don’t mind reworking plots or throwing out scenes. If there is a better way to get from plot point b to plot point g, I want to find it.

What part do you dislike about being an author?

Writing that first draft. Sometimes it comes easily, but more often than not, it’s a bit of a slog. Once I have a draft, I switch into revising mode and have a blast. But that first draft…painful.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Write what you love. It’s something that one of my professors said. Usually people say, “write what you know,” but that’s not always best. You have to have a heaping load of love for what you’re writing. It’s passion for the topic that will get you through that first draft. That second draft. The seventh draft. The good news is that if you don’t know something, then you can research it. We live in the age of information. So, no point in sticking with something you know. That can get tedious pretty quickly. But writing what you love, now that’s fantastic advice.

If you could have dinner with a literary character – who would it be and what would you eat?

Kahlan Amnell from Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series. She’s such a strong female character. She kicks some major ass, and usually in a dress. Impressive!

As for what we’d eat, I have no idea. I’m not a picky eater at all. So, I’d be happy spending the time with her and eating whatever it is she wanted to eat.

Zombies are everywhere! What do you do first?

Grab my shotgun. I’ve been preparing for this because I kind of think it might happen.

And then realize I’m not in LA, and my shotgun is half a world away. (I’m living in London for the next 9 months.) I don’t even have a car here, so I can’t head to the country…

:::pauses to think:::

Grab my backpack and pack it with what food I can and anything that could be used as a weapon, and then steal a car. Hey, everything is in chaos. Who’s going to bother arresting me? Right? Getting out of the city as fast as possible is the key to surviving.

What was the last book you read and what were your thoughts on it?

Forgiving Lies by Molly McAdams. Loooooved it. Read it in one sitting. My only complaint was that there was a cliffhanger ending. Why?! I guess I’m just going to have to wait to see what happens next. Luckily, pre-orders are already up for book 2. So, I don’t have to worry about checking on it or mark my calendar. I love it when authors do that!

What’s the one question you’d dread on an interview?

I’m not sure it’s a question per se, but I dread sounding boring. I’m a shy, quiet, nerd, and proud of it. But I’m not entirely certain that I make for a good interview subject. ;)

You have a time machine, which era do you go back to and why?

Oh, man…this is a toughie. I love a bunch of different eras. I’m assuming I’d be just visiting, and so I’ll say I’d love to go back to the 1920’s. But that might be because I’m watching too much Downton Abbey. However, I wouldn’t want to stay there. I happen to like my modern rights as women, and modern medicine, a little too much.

If you were to cast your book, who would play the leads?

This is a hard question, too! Maybe it’s because I’m too close to the film industry, but a lot goes into casting a movie. Maybe for Tessa: Victoria Justice. She’s a young and upcoming Hispanic actress. Maybe for Dastien: Sam Claftin. He’s got that tough, rugged look, but when he smiles…whoa.

You free a Genie from a lamp, after wishing away all those zombies from the previous question, you have 2 wishes left, what are they?

I think I’d probably wish for peace, and then for an assload of money. Not for me, but so that I could donate to all the millions of charities and people in need. Money can’t buy you happiness, but it can buy a whole lot of starving children food, give shelter them, keep them safe and healthy, and educate them. I feel like all of that would take more than one wish, but money could let me accomplish a lot of that all with one.

What’s your favourite TV show, and why?

It’s a tie right now between Homeland and Downton Abbey. The writing is fantastic on both shows. They really know how to build tension and drama so well. It’s totally different tension, but the way that they structure it is similar. As soon as one episode ends, I want the next one. They’re both well acted and the production level is really high on both. They’re phenomenal shows.

Where can fans find you online?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aelatcham

Twitter: @aileen_erin

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/aileen_erin

Blog: http://inkmonster.net/blog/category/aileen

Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Aileen Erin, author interview, Becoming Alpha, paranormal reads, paranormal romance, Urban Fantasy

Interview with Christina Bauer

Tell us about your publishing journey…

I took Angelbound to traditional publishers and agents and was told ‘nice, but paranormal romance is dead.’ And I was like, WTF? That’s not how we romance readers work. We choose a genre (personally, I would read anything with fairies) and pretty much stick with it for the rest of our freaking lives. There are romance sub-genres that focus only on firefighters, hospital workers, navy seals, you get the idea.

So no, I didn’t think paranormal romance was dead, not by a long shot. In fact, I saw a huge untapped opportunity for fantasy/romance stories with heroines who kick ass. Girls make up half of all gamers, more than half of Comic-Con attendees, and one-third of all tech workers. They aren’t getting a lot of entertainment with heroines who look and act like them. So I knew I was moving forward no matter what, the question was how best to do it.

At that point, I was super-fortunate to get introduced to Aileen Latcham, who felt the exact same way I did. One thing led to another, and we opened up Ink Monster LLC. Cue happy music. Huzzah!

What do you love about being an author?

I adore world-building. Lately, I’ve used Pinterest to create boards for different characters and realms, which is crazy-ass fun. I also love being in the ‘writing zone’, where the words flow and I feel like I’m taking dictation from someone else. That’s a natural high.

What part do you dislike about being an author?

Me. I throw out four perfectly good chapters for every one I keep. Top reasons: the world-building is off and/or the scene doesn’t feel like it spontaneously came out of the characters. Long story short, I write a buttload of words to hit my already-high word counts. So sometimes, my business self would like to take my writer-self out back and kick my own ass.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

“Great personalities are forged on the anvil of adversity.” –Abigail Adams.

If you could have dinner with a literary character – who would it be and what would you eat?

Aragorn. Him.

Zombies are everywhere! What do you do first?

I question the underlying assumption that it would suck to be a zombie. You’re immortal, you don’t have to work, and you can hang with your buds all day. Sure, you eat brains, but I’m not sure that bothers you too much in your zombie state. So, in the zombie apocalypse, my first step would be to get bitten and find a cool group of zombies to shamble around with.

What was the last book you read and what were your thoughts on it?

Just checked my Kindle and it was a romance by Cara McKenna called After Hours. Normally, I don’t buy books with chesty guys on the cover (or at least admit to doing so in public) but this one was awesome.

What’s the one question you’d dread on an interview?

I have this irrational fear that an interviewer will find some lame paper I wrote from the fourth grade and be like: “Why didn’t you try harder in Sister Virginia’s class? Look at this grammar!” What can I say? I spent too many years in Catholic school. That shizz stays with you.

You have a time machine, which era do you go back to and why?

My top two choices for time travel: ancient Egypt during the reign of the female pharaoh Maat-ka-re; and my hometown of Buffalo, NY in its heyday (aka some time around 1900). The Erie Canal was in full swing and Buffalo had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the US.

If you were to cast your book, who would play the leads?

If I were fortunate enough to have Angelbound on stage or screen, I’d love the cast to be talented unknowns. It’s hard to have big names play main characters in fantasy, the star can easily overwhelm the source material. That said, there are folks out there who know a lot more about this stuff than I do! I’m a big believer in attracting top talent, giving them a goal, and getting the fuck out of their way.

You free a Genie from a lamp, after wishing away all those zombies from the previous question, you have 2 wishes left, what are they?

World peace and whirled peas. Because it’d be fun to confuse the crap out of the Genie.

What’s your favourite TV show, and why?

Right now, I’d have to say the BBC’s Sherlock. I was going to say Dr. Who, but I’m feeling very conflicted about the new Doctor. Another old white guy? Really?

Where can fans find you online?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorBauer

Twitter: @CB_Bauer

Blog: http://inkmonster.net/cbauer

Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Angelbound, author interview, Christina Bauer, paranormal reads, Urban Fantasy

Interview with Raymond Benson

Tell us about your publishing journey

My publishing journey was quite unorthodox. I didn’t start out to be a writer. I was a theatre major with emphasis on directing, so the first decade or so after college I spent in New York City doing the off-off- and off-Broadway thing. In the early 1980s, on a fluke, I began to write a “labor of love” non-fiction book about one of my favorite subjects-James Bond and Ian Fleming. (I like to tell the joke that there was no money in theatre so I became a writer, ha ha.) During the three year process of writing it, I went to England for research, met members of Ian Fleming’s family and his business people, and we got along well. This book became “The James Bond Bedside Companion,” published in 1984, and that veered my career off the chosen path. Then, ten years later, the Ian Fleming people called me out of the blue and asked if I’d be interested in writing official James Bond novels. So, in short, my fiction career was handed to me on a silver platter. I was very lucky.

What part of being a writer do you love most?

I suppose that would be the freedom of not working for anyone but myself. I work at home, freelance, and that is indeed a luxury. At times I accept work-for-hire jobs and then I’m writing for an employer, of course, but it’s still not the same thing as working a nine to five job in an office.

Which part do you hate most?

The fact that, like all the arts, publishing is a difficult, crazy, unpredictable, risky business that no one in his/her right mind would want to do.

What life advice have you been given, that you wished someone had given you sooner?

Believe it or not, most of my “life advice” I learned in college while studying theatre. I had a directing professor who became a mentor. It’s been said that anyone with a theatre degree is prepared to tackle just about any other kind of job because it teaches you organization, analysis, how to work collaboratively, how to deal with deadlines and budgets, and how to perform constructive criticism. I received all this at the right time in my life.

If you had a time machine, what period would you go back to and why?

I was born in the 50s, grew up in the 60s, and became an adult in the 70s. I’d love to go back to the 70s. Everyone fantasies about reliving the period of their lives in which we were in our twenties. And the world was much less complicated then. No cell phones, no home computers, no Internet, no airport security hassles, and less political division. Yes, we did survive then without all the technical crap we have today, and it was kind of nice.

If you could be a supernatural creature – what would you be and why?

I hear elves have a pretty good existence.

What inspired you to write  The Black Stiletto? 

My mother-in-law was an Alzheimer’s victim, and that experience made me think of an idea in which a grown son, who is taking care of his Alzheimer’s-inflicted mother, discovers some dark secret in her past. I didn’t know what that was at first. Then, my literary manager suggested to me that I needed to write a novel that would appeal to women, because more women buy books than men. I facetiously said, “How about a female superhero?” We laughed, and then he got serious and said, “That’s not a bad idea.” So I went home and thought about it, and I combined the two ideas. The grown son discovers that his mother was a famous masked vigilante who went into hiding. Voila.

If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?

James Bond has excellent taste in food and drink, so dining with him would certainly be a nice culinary experience, although I doubt the conversation would be very interesting. I’d like to go to one of Gatsby’s parties and eat from his buffet, which I’m sure was stocked well.

Who are your favourite authors and why?

My favorite living writer is Ruth Rendell, because she’s brilliant, writes very creepy psychological suspense tales, and has been at it for fifty years. I read everything she does. Ian Fleming, of course, is a favorite and was one of the first “adult” writers I discovered when I was a kid. These days I mostly read thrillers, and just off the top of my head, I think these folks are at the top of their game: Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Brian Freeman, Tess Gerritsen, Greg Iles, Thomas H. Cook…

What are you working on at the moment?

I just completed the manuscript of the fifth and final Black Stiletto book and turned it in to my publisher. I’m currently working on a work-for-hire memoir by a high level government person that I can’t really talk about at the moment. Suffice it to say that it’s a very interesting project!

Where can fans find you online?

My personal website is www.raymondbenson.com.  The Black Stiletto has a dedicated site with videos, a free short story, music, and more, at www.theblackstiletto.net.  I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, and Google+.

Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: author interview, elves, james bond, raymon benson, The Black Stiletto

Book Review: Dearhart Clan Series by Eri Nelson

Synopsis:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author:

Eri Nelson born Erica Walcott is a Indie Author and the youngest of three in a family of five. Erica became Eri (airy) from her mother who called her that for as long as she could remember. The short take on her name took on a more solid base with the love of her life and husband, Jeff Nelson.

Together they have been for the past twenty years. Within that time they were able to raise one daughter and endless amount of pets.

Eri Nelson is a nontraditional indie author who manages all areas of her fiction, fantasy, paranormal, action, adventure and sometimes-erotic writing. Eri handles all the groundwork of her books, even the editing. Because of this Eri strives to improve her abilities along with trying to explain to readers her far from traditional sentence structures. However, she will openly admit that typos follow her.

Writing is a passion for her and an abundance of never ending joy. Only one thing tops that for Eri… and that is when a reader enjoys the read……

Join Eri and her shadowy side of writing as she takes you along to explore new desire hunger filled worlds where your mind can share in the heat of the read.

http://www.dearharts.com/

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

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Eri-Nelson/119732781417072?sk=app_251458316228

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

https://twitter.com/Dearharts

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5040827.Eri_Nelson

http://pinterest.com/erinelson/

http://www.youtube.com/user/EriNelsonAuthor

http://www.twylah.com/Dearharts

http://about.me/erinelson

http://www.wattpad.com/user/EriNelson

 My Review (book 1):

The Call From Within was quite a short book and I read it really quickly. I really liked the use of werewolves and shifters together, as most of the time these separate supernatural beings are simply thrown in together as being one in the same. Being  short meant it was fast paced and there was plenty of naughty scenes and action to keep you hooked.

I must admit though that the kind of ‘imprinting’ mate thing was a bit annoying and did rob the reader of the romantic build-up between the two characters. Owen was literally in love with Kirsten from page one and part of why I like reading romance novels is to see how the relationship develops – and this is absent from the book.

From a writer’s perspective, it all felt a little rushed and perhaps would have been better to be slower and more thought out. By the end, I didn’t really feel that there was definite conclusion. The spicy scenes, however were some of the best I’ve read in a long time, so a more drawn-out plot and story line perhaps would have been the better hook to hang them on.

The front covers are very pretty, although the middle one is a bit boring for my taste, especially as the books themselves are erotic and fast paced.

Overall I’d give the first book of the series, 3 out of 5 stars. If you’re looking for a quick, heated paranormal romance, then do pick it up.

Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Bewitching book tours, Dearhart Clan Series, Eri Nelson, Erotic Romance, paranormal romance, Shifter romance, werewolf romance

Book Spotlight: Sleep Walker by Tanith Davenport

Synopsis:

Tally Haslam has too much to deal with. A herbalist and aromatherapist, her latest creation – an aphrodisiac potion – remains in unsaleable condition as she has nobody to test it with. And, much to her annoyance, she sleepwalks.

Hoping to get away from it all for a weekend, Tally travels to nearby Madigan Hall for their yearly Paranormal Evening—but on the first night she wakes up outside the bedroom of another guest: Kyle Hunter, who has chosen to pleasure himself with the door open. Tally escapes without being seen, but is unable to get Kyle out of her head—especially when she finds herself at the same table at him the following evening.

However, Tally’s world is turned upside down when, at the paranormal dinner, she encounters the ghost of the Blue Lady, who seems determined not to leave her alone—and shows a disturbing penchant, when Tally sleepwalks again, for leading her astray…

About the Author:

Tanith Davenport began writing erotica at the age of 27 by way of the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme. Her debut novel “The Hand He Dealt” was released by Total-e-Bound in June 2011 and was shortlisted for the Joan Hessayon Award for 2012.

Tanith has had short stories published by Naughty Nights Press and House of Erotica. She loves to travel and dreams of one day taking a driving tour of the United States, preferably in a classic 1950s pink Cadillac Eldorado.

Tanith’s idea of heaven is an Indian head massage with a Mojito at her side.

www.facebook.com/TanithDavenport

www.twitter.com/TanithDavenport

www.tanithdavenport.com

www.tanithdavenport.blogspot.com

Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Bewitching book tours, Sleep Walker, Tanith Davenport, Totally E Bound Publishing