Nicky Peacock's Blog, page 44
September 11, 2013
Book Review: The Satyrs Curse by Alexandrea Weis
Welcome to my 100th blog post!!!
Synopsis:
Gruesome murders shock New Orleans. But Jazzmyn Livaudais is too busy running her restaurant to pay attention to the sensational headlines. And when the charismatic Julian Devereau enters Jazzmyn’s life, she becomes even more distracted by the handsome stranger.
Seduced by Julian’s charm, Jazzmyn is swept up in a passionate romance. Then she learns the horrific truth about Julian and the murders. Cursed to an unending life where no woman can satisfy his lust and no wine can quench his thirst, Julian needs Jazzmyn’s love to free him from his torment.
But Jazzmyn is in love with someone else. And Julian isn’t very happy about it. He vows to keep on killing until Jazzmyn submits to his will. For Jazzmyn Livaudais the nightmare is just beginning.
About the Author:
Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Her first novel, To My Senses, introduced readers to the world of Nicci Beauvoir and garnered numerous awards and rave reviews. Her popular second Nicci Beauvoir novel, Recovery, won the Gold Medal for best romantic suspense from The Reader’s Favorite Book Awards 2011, and was named best Romantic Suspense novel by the Spring 2011 NABE Pinnacle Book Awards.
Her fourth novel, Broken Wings, won best Contemporary Romance by the NABE Pinnacle Book Awards in 2012, was a Silver Medal winner in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards for Romance, as well as a finalist in the USA Book Awards for Romance in 2012, and a finalist in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards for Contemporary Romance for 2012.
Diary of a One-Night Stand, was released in August 2012 and was named a Paranormal Romance Guild’s Best Reviewed of 2012. Her last novel, Acadian Waltz was a Readers’ Favorite Book Awards finalist for Best Contemporary Romance and Best Southern Fiction.
A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans.
http://alexandreaweiscom.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/To-My-Senses/113609858681394
https://twitter.com/alexandreaweis
http://www.alexandreaweis.com/index.html
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1211671.Alexandrea_Weis
My Review:
I must admit that the premise of this book really intrigued me. There are soooo many supernatural creatures that are ‘go to’s in paranormal romance and I hadn’t read anything with a Satyr. So first off, congratulations to the author for stepping out of the paranormal norm to find a character for her book.
I did find it hard to get into at first – there was a lot of repetition that could have been easily edited out. However as the book moves on it opens out into something pretty sinister and dark. The main character, Jazzmyn was very likeable, although her actions toward the middle of the book weakened her somewhat in my eyes (I can’t say anymore for fear of ruining the story) There are lots of plot twists that come thick and fast and I really enjoyed the setting of New Orleans.
I did a post recently on villains and bad boys and Julian, the male lead, really falls into that category – a real sexy bad boy. I’m assuming its him on the front cover so need I say more? The front cover does miss a trick for the background, if they would have had the restaurant behind him and maybe Jazzmyn on there too – it would have been amazing.
Overall I’d give the book 3 out of 5 stars – it lost two stars for me because I found it hard to get into at first and Jazzmyn could have done with a stronger back bone. Definitely worth a read if you’re hankering for a different paranormal romance.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Alexandrea Weis, Bewitching book tours, fireside reads, paranormal romance, The Satyrs Curse review 
September 10, 2013
Book Review: Pure and Sinful by Killian Mcrae
Synopsis:
When it turns out your ex was actually a sexy demon sent by the devil to seduce you to evil, you’d think the next guy, no matter what he’s like, couldn’t be a worse decision. Enter Father Marc Angeletti, a smooth talking piece of forbidden fruit with onyx eyes and a razor wit, and Riona Dade may as well start packing her luggage for damnation now. But come Hell or… well, Hell, Marc, Riona, and demigod Dee Zitka have a mission: serve as a Pure Soul and vanquish Lucifer’s minion scum from the face of the Earth to protect humanity from evil.
Oh, and don’t get seduced into sin yourself, because a fallen Pure Soul is one of Lucifer’s biggest thrills. As long as Riona and Marc can keep things professional and north of the sheets, no problem, right?
Yeah, that worked out great in the Thornbirds, too…
About the Author:
Killian McRae would tell you that she is a rather boring lass, an authoress whose characters’ lives are so much more exciting than her own. She would be right. Sadly, this sarcastic lexophile leads a rather mundane existence in the San Francisco Bay Area. 
She once dreamed of being the female Indiana Jones, and to that end she earned a degree in Middle Eastern History from the University of Michigan. However, when she learned that real archaeologist spend more time lovingly removing dust with toothbrushes from shards of pottery than outrunning intriguing villains with exotic accents, she decided to become a writer instead. She writes across many genres, including science fiction, fantasy, romance, and historical fiction.
facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/authorkillianmcrae
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15845662-pure-sinful
twitter: @killianmcrae
website: www.killianmcrae.com
google+: https://plus.google.com/107071172289770407340/posts
youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/killianmcrae
My Review:
It’s always great to find a new author you want to read. Pure & Sinful gives readers a fun supernatural ride. Riona is a cool character that makes you want to read on. The story line was twisty and it was nice to finally find a book that surprised me.
From a writer’s perspective there is a lot of humor in there, which can be an added bonus in any book, however I personally felt there was a bit too much in places. Action scenes can be diluted if the main character is throwing out more jokes than punches and it certainly alters the ebb and flow of certain scenes. I think it would have been better if the jokes and puns had been reined in slightly in certain places – therefore making the remaining ones count more.
The book was definitely left on a cliff-hanger – but fortunately this tour kindly gave us the second book, so at least I don’t have to wait to find out what comes next.
The front cover doesn’t give much away, apart from an amazing idea of how beautiful the main character is. It perhaps could have done with a few more hints on the cover as to the main themes of the book: good VS evil etc.
I’d give Pure & Sinful 4 out of 5 stars and would say that if you liked Laurell K Hamilton and Keri Arthur then you should definitely pick up some Killian Mcrae.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Bewitching book tours, Demons, fireside reads, Killian Mcrae, paranormal romance, Pure & Sinful, supernatural novels, Urban Fantasy
September 9, 2013
Book Spotlight: Darke London by Coleen Kwan
Synopsis:
The only way to save her life is to resurrect the dead…
Julian Darke was only a newborn when he was abandoned on the doorstep of a gentleman doctor. Though raised with love, he is driven to discover his true origins.
Convinced Sir Thaddeus Ormond knows something, Julian shadows him one night—and is shocked to see a young woman thrown from Ormond’s carriage and accosted by a thug. Julian manages to save her life, but not her face and hands from horrific injuries.
Nellie Barchester doesn’t recognize the scarred, disfigured stranger in the mirror. Though the gifted doctor and engineer has done his best to repair the damage, scars ravage her body, and chill her soul with the realization that her own husband may have plotted her death.
Julian’s tenderness is a balm to her soul, and Nellie is drawn to the edge of passion by a man not repelled by her deformities. But as their pursuit of the truth draws them into London’s underbelly, they cross the path of a ruthless enemy who will stop at nothing to fulfill his schemes.
Warning: Can a brilliant but troubled doctor find happiness with a woman scarred both inside and out? A hint of the supernatural plus a night of passion spice up this Uncanny Chronicle.
About the Author:
Coleen Kwan has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject, but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of programming, she wondered what else there was in life — and discovered writing. She loves writing contemporary romance and steampunk romance.
Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching The Office.
Website: www.coleenkwan.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ColeenKwan
Facebook: www.facebook.com/coleenkwan.authorpage
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5210210.Coleen_Kwan
Darke London by Coleen Kwan
Excerpt 4
Copyright © 2013 by Coleen Kwan
The man she was tailing paused outside a mean little gin shop. Nellie stopped behind a tottering pile of crates filled with rotting cabbages. Now she was nearer she could make out the man’s fair curls peeping below the brim of his fashionable top hat. He dithered on the threshold of the shop, then plunged in and emerged a minute later, shuddering and wiping his mouth after his quick dram. His Savile Row suit and polished boots attracted a few sidelong glances and mutters, but he appeared not to notice as he hurried down a side street.
Nellie skulked after him. This secondary road was darker, quieter, the cacophony of the night market gradually subsiding to a low hubbub. Fog wreathed the dwellings and dulled her ears. The heels of her boots clicked on the cobblestones. From an alleyway, a cat yowled. Up ahead, the man dipped past a hazy pool of gaslight from a lone streetlamp.
Footsteps sounded behind her. She glanced over her shoulder. Nothing but wraiths of mist. It must have been those rats rooting through a rubbish heap she’d heard. She pushed on. A moment later the footsteps behind her resumed. This time she spun round, the hairs on her nape standing on end as she scanned the length of road she’d just crossed. Through the gathering fog, she could make out nothing. Then, from one of the nearby houses, an enormously fat crone meandered out, bunched up her skirts and squatted in the gutter to relieve herself.
Nellie expelled a deep breath and turned around just in time to see the object of her pursuit enter the last house of a row of terraces. Well, she’d suspected this was his destination as soon as she’d realised he was heading for Aldgate. This would be the third visit she’d witnessed; who knew how many times he’d come before? She edged her way to the shadow of a high, blank wall opposite the house and settled down to wait. A few minutes ticked by. On the upper floor of the house, the light shining from the windows faded and remained dim for a further five minutes. Slowly the windows brightened, and moments later the young man clattered out of the house.
As he approached her, Nellie’s heart beat faster. He was so close! She had just to step out of the shadows and call out his name. Pip. It was so easy, so tempting. Pip, I’m still alive. I’m not dead.
I’ll be reviewing Darke London in the next couple of months, so watch this space…
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Bewitching book tours, book spotlight, Coleen Kwan, Darke London, paranormal reads, Uncanny Chronicles
September 8, 2013
Book Review: Slumber by Tamara Blake
Synopsis:Once upon a time, Ruby believed in magic…
When Ruby volunteers to take her mother’s housecleaning shift at the gothic Cottingley Heights mansion, she thinks it’s going to be business as usual. Clean out the fridge, scrub toilets, nothing too unusual. But nothing could prepare her for the decadent squalor she finds within. Rich people with more money than sense trashing their beautiful clothes and home just because they can. After the handsome Tam discovers her cleaning up after him and his rich friends, Ruby has never felt more like a character from her sister’s book of fairy tales.Tam sees beyond Ruby’s job and ratty clothes, and sweeps her off her feet, treating her like a real princess, but Ruby is sure this beautiful boy is too good to be true. And as one tragedy after another befalls Ruby and her family, Ruby painfully learns that magic is all too real, and it always comes with a price.
About the Author:
Kathleen Bolton is a professional writer and editor. Currently, she is a contracted writer to Working Partners, Ltd. Her projects include Confessions of a First Daughter, a YA series about the misadventures of the U.S. President’s teen-aged daughter, and Secrets of a First Daughter , both published by HarperCollins Teen, under the pen name Cassidy Calloway. Her current project, Slumber , under the pen name Tamara Blake, released July of 2013 and is a dark suspense fantasy novel for teens. She is the co-founder of Writer Unboxed, one of the foremost online communities for writers of fiction.
Kathleen lives with her husband and daughter in upstate New York.
Visit her AuthorTracker webpage at HarperCollins Publishing, or Goodreads for more.
My Review:
I always know when I’ve loved a book – it doesn’t last more than 3 days and Slumber was one of those books. I thoroughly enjoyed it and really liked the Cinderella style character of Scarlet. I can’t say too much about the plot for fear of ruining the twists, but it really does keep you hooked.
From a writer’s perspective, it was clearly well written. The whole thing effortlessly flowed and it had the perfect mix for YA – not too adult but also not too patronizingly child-like either. It tackles some pretty evil issues and there is one scene in particular that is darkly disturbing – needless to say, I loved it!
The front cover is beautiful and it gives you a good idea of what Scarlet looks like. It’s kind of an odd visual – but when you read the book, this makes perfect sense – just weird enough to be interesting.
I’m so glad I read this book and would give it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to an older YA audience and adults alike.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18161417-slumber
Excerpt: http://www.scribd.com/doc/153240896/Slumber
Diversion Books: http://www.diversionbooks.com/ebooks/slumber
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: book review slumber by tamara blake, Diversion books, fairytale style books, fairytales, fireside reads, slumber, Tamara Blake, YA fiction
September 6, 2013
Interview with Monique Snyman
Tell us about your publishing journey.
I’ve always been a writer, but I only took the plunge to become a full-time author in 2009. I was in my third year of university, still searching for a vocation that would ultimately become my life, when my younger sister suggested I write a novel. She didn’t intend for me to quit school, but I did, and “Charming Incantations: Enticed” was born. I was only twenty at the time, I was incredibly naïve, and I will admit that I had no idea what I was getting into. Then again, I don’t regret my decision. My book was picked up a couple of times by publishers. The first publisher accepted the novel in 2010, but I pulled the manuscript before they could work on it – I didn’t feel comfortable there – and the second publisher actually published “Charming Incantations: Enticed” in 2012. Unfortunately they went out of business, so I needed to find someone else to publish the whole series, and Rainstorm Press came to my rescue early this year.
What part of being a writer do you love most?
I’m not a megalomaniac under normal circumstances, but whenever I open a document affiliated with my writing, I turn into a vengeful goddess ready to strike fear into the hearts of my characters. Other than that, I’m also a dreamer, and throughout my life I’ve seen things differently. By writing, I’m able to create a whole new world with words. Besides that though, I love to wake up in the morning and realise that my office is everywhere and nowhere… Of course, that’s just some of the perks of being a writer.
Which part do you hate most?
The money obviously sucks. I’m a full-time author, so I rely on my book sales. I also hate reading some of my older pieces, because I’ve grown as a writer and as a person, and it just makes me cringe.
What life advice have you been given, that you wished someone had given you sooner?
“You are who you are, so embrace life and screw the rest.”
If you could be a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
Hmmm. Well, maybe this sounds a little sadistic (or perhaps even morbid), but I’d love nothing more than to be the Grim Reaper. Being Death is like being a writer without having to edit yourself the whole time. Although, I’m sure George R.R. Martin would be the first pick if that position becomes available, so I’m not holding my breath. *giggles*
Which paranormal creature scares you most and why?
Demons. You really don’t want to know why…
Twilight Saga – loved it, or hated it?
The Twilight Saga was published during my teens, but although I read all four books, I found the writing terrible, and Bella to be a very bad example for girls.
If you could have dinner with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you eat?
*grins* Milosh Moore is the Vampire Representative in the “Charming Incantations” series, and I suppose dinner with him would mean I’m on the menu (honestly, I don’t care, he’s sarcastic and sexy enough to make me do anything).
Who are your favourite authors and why?
I suppose I’ll sound old-school, but my favourite authors are Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchet and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I’m also enjoying Kim Newman, as well as George R.R. Martin. The list goes on though.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m almost done with the first book in my new supernatural series, called “Mocking the Raven”. It’s a part of the “Project Anonymous” series.
Synopsis: “There are no exceptions. There are no quitters. There is no turning back.
The Project Anonymous initiative was created by the government in the 1940’s to protect the world from the wicked and inexplicable things that threaten mankind’s existence. Unknown to the public, these soldiers are highly trained to defend and save us all from the clutches of evil and the best place to begin a career like this is by applying to Fairview Military Academy…
Bodies are piling up and the cause is somewhat unknown. The people of the small town on the outskirts of East Tennessee are confused when the healthy, young residents start dying from what seems to be middle-aged illnesses. Heart attacks, cerebral aneurysms and strokes are undeniably some of the more questionable deaths, but when a grown man of twenty-three dies of pneumonia on a warm summer’s night, it is clear that something odd is at work. An unlikely duo of Project Anonymous soldiers is paired up for the case. Enemies of sorts, Isla and Lucien are forced to set their differences aside in order to solve the mystery. But while they hunt the creature, there’s still a good chance that these misfits will kill one another in the process, or worse, actually come to a mutual agreement that they have more in common than they like to admit.”
When I’m done with this book, I’m starting work on the third book for “Charming Incantations”.
Where can fans find you online?
*laughs* I’m everywhere, but here are some links to help you in your search:
About Charming Incantations: Enticed 
When Lisa Richards’ parents died, she never thought her life would change as drastically as it did. Now she has to take over her father’s seat on a secret supernatural council, lead troops into battle against the ferocious Goblin Lord, and try not to get herself killed in the process.
To make matters worse, Lisa thinks she may be falling in love with the socialite werewolf who was simply supposed protect her.
Whoever said growing up was easy, clearly didn’t have to save the world every other week
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: charming incantations, Enticed, fireside reads, interview with author, Monique Snyman, paranormal, Rainstorm Press, supernatural
September 5, 2013
Interview with Isaiyan Morrison
Tell us about your publishing journey.
The first time I was published was back in 2008 I believe in an online magazine, Twisted Dreams.
In 2010 a novel I wrote was accepted for publication but the publishing company folded before my novel was released. Since then until now I continued to write until Rainstorm Press accepted my novel, Deamhan, early this year.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride.
What part of being a writer do you love most?
I like creating worlds and inviting people to explore them. My favorite part of writing is creating character profiles. I feel like I’m playing God. I have control over them (at times)
Which part do you hate most?
Editing can be a hassle. I also hate writer’s block, especially when you’re trying to meet a deadline.
What life advice have you been given, that you wished someone had given you sooner?
To follow your dreams and to not hesitate. During my youth I was told that I couldn’t do what I wanted to do and that if I tried, I wouldn’t be successful. It was hard not having the support back then that I have now.
If you could be a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be any supernatural creature. If I had to pick, I’d probably say a vampire. Living forever sounds exciting. I wouldn’t want to be a romantic vampire at all.
Which paranormal creature scares you most and why?
When I was younger I was scared of Bloody Mary. I’m not sure if you’ve heard about that tale. Apparently if you turn off the lights and stare into a mirror and say the phrase “Bloody Mary” three times (it changes depending) she’ll appear and come out of the mirror to scratch you or she’ll try to kill you.
I don’t know the origin of the story but it always scared me. I used to have a fascinating with pocket mirrors in elementary school. I didn’t go anywhere without one.
Do you feel that vampires should be monsters or romantic heroes?
I prefer vampires to be monsters than romantics. I understand the need for these creatures to be romantic but in my opinion that overshadows their true nature. In my novel, Deamhan, they aren’t romantic. They’re total different from sanguine(blood) vampires because they’re psychic vampires. Their main focus is survival and if they have to kill anyone in their way to survive, they do.
I believe there is room for romance but it shouldn’t be the main point in a vampire novel.
Who are your favourite authors and why?
I’m a huge fan of Jack Kerouac, Anne Rice, and Toni Morrison.
I read a lot of Jack Kerouac in high school and I fell in love with the beatnik environment. There was something about exploring the world through people and their problems. He was able to make these characters come to life. My favorite novel of all time was written by him, Tristessa.
I also read a lot of Anne Rice in high school and I liked how she incorporated history and beauty into her vampires without tarnishing their evil reputation.
Toni Morrison’s novels spoke to me in such a way that no other author could. Her novels brought me back to reality and they made me not forget the harshness that’s life when it comes to people of color.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on the third novel in the Deamhan Chronicles. I’m also writing short stories involving certain characters from the main storyline. I plan on making those exclusive to those who’ve signed up for my newsletter.
Where can fans find you online?
I’m all over the net!
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/isaiyanmorrison
Website http://isaiyanmorrison.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/isaiyanmorrison
Novel Website http://deamhan.com
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/isaiyan/
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: advice to writers, Deamhan, fireside reads, horror, interview with author, Isaiyan Morrison, Rainstorm Press, vampires
September 4, 2013
Interview with Erin Britt
Tell us about your journey as a writer.
My first attempt at writing was in a class for gifted children when I was 12. I fell in love with manipulating language to get my meaning across. I’ve been hooked ever since. I didn’t start writing fiction until about two years ago. Now, I’ve received my BA in English-Creative Writing and I’m starting on my MA in English with a creative writing focus.
Who are your favourite authors and why?
Some of my favorites include Sidney Sheldon, Clive Cussler, and J.D. Robb, but this is a huge list that spans several different genres. I mainly look for authors who can get me invested in their characters. I need to care about them in some way, whether it is wanting them to succeed or to take a devastating fall. There also needs to be consistency within the author’s world because any deviation will throw me out of that “zone” and it ruins the whole experience.
What genres tempt you at the moment? From both a reading and writing perspective.
I love fantasy but I’ve always been too intimidated by it to really write anything. It’s something that I will do someday, though!
What do you find is the hardest part of writing?
Finding the quiet I need to work. I have the attention span of a gnat, and I’ve found that when I have a lot going on around me, I’m busy paying attention to it and not to whatever I’m supposed to be working on. I write best when I have quiet and people are leaving me alone.
What advice would you give to other writers?
Never stop reading. If I ask you what the last book you read is, and you can’t tell me, I’m going to walk away from you and end the conversation. Read everything. Read things you love. Read things you hate. Read the classics. Read for your own pleasure, but read as an author, too. See the craft behind the words and use it to make your own craft better.
What inspired you to write Celia?
Celia comes from of my own life experiences. It was a story I needed to write. I took an advanced fiction writing class and knew this was the story I should use for it. The class structure and strict deadlines helped keep me focused and gave me clear goals to reach. It also helped to break it down into chapters because it kept me from getting overwhelmed.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
Jaenelle Angelline from the Black Jewels books by Anne Bishop. Since she’s witch I will eat whatever she gives me and be glad to have it.
What are you working on at the moment?
Right now, I’m in the middle of my new novel, Enraptured. It’s the story of a small church community where the pastor has told his congregation that he was told when the Rapture would occur. The community prepares for it and one little girl goes missing. But was she Raptured?
Where can fans find you online?
I have a Facebook page www.facebook.com/erinrbrittofficial, a Twitter feed http://twitter.com/erinrbritt , a website http://erinrbritt.wix.com/erinrbritt , a blog www.wordpress.com/erinrbritt, Amazon Author page http://www.amazon.com/Erin-Britt/e/B00A9VOVL4/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0, and Goodreads author page http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6570513.
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: author interview, Celia, Erin Britt, Rainstorm Press
September 2, 2013
Book Spotlight: Fairies in my Fireplace by R.L Naquin
Synopsis
Sometimes it’s the monsters who need to be saved…
A migration of mythical creatures has begun, and more and more of them are landing on Zoey Donovan’s doorstep. As the only Aegis left in the country, it falls to her to protect the Hidden and keep them safe—and her house has become a sanctuary for water sprites, goblins, harpies, djinn and more.
Keeping track of her boarders is a full-time job, and Zoey’s already got her hands full trying to run her wedding planning business. Good thing she has a resident closet monster to keep her organized, and a hot Reaper boyfriend to help her relax every once in a while.
But she can’t keep up monster-triage indefinitely, and as more Hidden arrive, it becomes clear that someone—or something—is hunting them. In the midst of planning an event for a notoriously difficult client, Zoey’s got to figure out who’s behind the hunt…and she’s got to stop them before there are no Hidden left.
About the Author:
Rachel’s head is packed with an outrageous amount of useless Disney trivia. She is terrified of thunder, but not of lightning, and tends to recite the Disneyland dedication speech during storms to keep herself calm. She finds it appalling that nobody from Disney has called yet with her castle move-in date.
Originally from Northern California, she has a tendency to move every few years, resulting in a total of seven different states and a six-year stint in England. Currently, she’s planning her next grand adventure. Rachel has one heroic husband, two genius kids, a crazy-cat-lady starter kit, and an imaginary dog named Waffles. She doesn’t have time for a real dog.
https://www.facebook.com/rlnaquin
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5323230.R_L_Naquin
This is the third book of a series and I am going to be reviewing all three later this year.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Bewitching book tours, Faeries in the Fireplace, R L Naquin
Book Review and Interview: Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson
Synopsis:
As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ’s boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.
Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters. While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering soldiers sent to help the city recover.
To make it worse, Gerald St. Simon has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and the killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter roux.
About the Author:
On Aug. 28, 2005, Suzanne Johnson loaded two dogs, a cat, a friend, and her mom into a car and fled New Orleans in the hours before Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
Four years later, she began weaving her experiences and love for her city into the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, beginning with Royal Street (2012), continuing with River Road (2012), and now with Elysian Fields (August 2013).
She grew up in rural Alabama, halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis’ birthplace, and lived in New Orleans for fifteen years—which means she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of SEC football and fried gator on a stick.
She can be found online at her website or her daily blog, Preternatura. As Susannah Sandlin, she writes the best-selling Penton Vampire Legacy paranormal romance series and the recent standalone, Storm Force.
Website Blog Twitter Facebook Goodreads
Interview:
Tell us about yourself.
By day I’m a (mostly) mild-mannered magazine editor working in higher ed; by night I write about hot guys and cool women, only a few of whom are actually human and none of whom, I must say, work at universities. University politics has influenced my work, however—it’s brutal! I’ve lived in five states, mostly in Texas and Louisiana, and currently live in Alabama. I have two geriatric furkids and…that’s about it. I’m pretty boring!
Tell us about your publishing journey:
I’ve worked as a journalist since finishing college, including a stint as a crime reporter for a daily newspaper, ambulance-chasing (well I never LITERALLY chased an ambulance, but I did roust the county coroner out of the shower once…not in person…ew). Writing novels was something I never really expected to do, but after I went through Hurricane Katrina as a longtime New Orleans resident, I decided to write a journal, which became a short story, and eventually ended up being an urban fantasy. I’ve gone the traditional route. I was fortunate to get a great agent, and she in turn has been able to sell my books both as Suzanne Johnson (urban fantasy) and Susannah Sandlin (paranormal romance and romantic thrillers).
When did you discover you wanted to be a writer?
I was actually on a pre-med track in high school because I liked both math and science, but I got involved in founding a literary magazine for our school (it’s still being produced, which amazes me) and by the time I started college went straight to English and journalism. So I’ve always written nonfiction. Writing fiction just sort of happened, and now I wish I’d pursued it sooner.
If you could be any supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
Well, it would depend on what the supernatural world was like. If it were the world of my Sentinels of New Orleans series, I’d want to be a wizard. They have some pretty cool skills and mainstream with humans well. It’s too hot in NOLA to sprout fur at the full moon, and I’m too fond of having legs to go the merwoman route (don’t call them mermaids—they’re quite liberated and don’t like it).
What are you reading at the moment?
Actually, I’m drafting a novel, and for me that means not reading in my normal paranormal. So I’m reading a genre I usually don’t read at all—contemporary romance. It’s a book by Jennifer Crusie that I’m going to use as a textbook for a plotting course I’m teaching in October, and I have to admit, it has made me laugh out loud several times. Shhh…don’t tell anyone. The other thing I’m reading is a nonfiction book about British operatives recruited by Churchill during World War II—research for the book I’m working on.
Who are the authors that inspire you?
I wish I had more time to read! In romance, I love JR Ward, although (and I can’t believe I’m admitting this), I’m two books behind with the Black Dagger Brotherhood—that’s proof that my schedule has been insane this past year! I also always tip my hat to Stephen King, whose books I grew up reading. My favorite urban fantasy author is Jim Butcher.
What’s your least favourite part of being an author?
Writing the first draft. It’s downright painful. The words don’t flow easily, and I always swear I’m not going to make it through to the end. There’s always a point—usually around the 35-40,000-word mark, where I just think “this is all crap.” But I plow through, and it somehow works.
What’s your favourite part?
I like revisions. Revisions let me play with words and layer in emotion and description and humor. It’s a good thing for me to have deadlines because, left to my own devices, I’d revise the same manuscript over and over until one of us—either me or the manuscript—was dead.
If you didn’t write Urban Fantasy – what would you write?
I also write paranormal romance under the name Susannah Sandlin, and am working on my first romantic thriller—it remains to be seen if I can actually write a book without at least one paranormal species in it! I’d like to dip my foot into writing historical fantasy at some point down the road. One of the things I most enjoy about the Sentinels series is that I have the “historical undead,” famous humans given immortality through the magic of human memory. So I get to research and bring to life characters like the pirate Jean Lafitte, jazz great Louis Armstrong, and voodoo queen Marie Laveau.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m drafting the fourth book in my Penton Vampire Legacy series as Susannah Sandlin, tentatively titled Deliverance, and plotting the fourth book in the Sentinels series so I’ll be ready to dive into that one as soon as the Penton book is done. I also have three more books due in the next nine or ten months, so it’s shaping up to be another busy year…which is a good thing!
Thanks for having me here today, Nicky! - It’s a pleasure Suzanne, drop by anytime!
My Review:
I loved the idea of this book series and to set it against the back drop of a natural disaster was pure genius. I liked DJ as the main character – but there were a few aspects of her personality which fall into the cliché urban fantasy heroine. She was more powerful than she thought. Sexier than she could ever imagined. Had serious family issues. Was forced to work with a sexy monotone lush mountain-like man. I’m not saying that this was necessarily a bad thing – but it does feel very samey to a number of other books in that genre.
From a writer’s perspective the flow was perfect and the turns of phrase evocative. Suzanne is a great writer and this is what sets the Sentinels of New Orleans apart from other very similar themed novels. I must admit, that I was curious about other reviews for this book and so scoped a few out on Good Reads. It would seem that they range from excellent to couldn’t finish and I think I can answer why that is. It depends on how often you read this genre. Someone new to it would think it was amazing. A reader whose main genre is urban fantasy and paranormal romance might feel it lacks lustre and gives us a cookie-cutter style protagonist.
I personally think it’s a great book. The world built for this series is well thought out and interesting – I just loved the Historical Dead. I have a squishy soft spot for first person narrative and, the more I read, the more I liked DJ – hey I think we all undervalue ourselves on the beauty stakes and probably even the talent stakes too.
The front cover is magical and gives you a clear image of what DJ looks like – I hate getting halfway through a book to be faced with a description of a character that doesn’t match your imagination.
Overall I’d give Royal Street 4 out of 5 stars and, with there being two more books on offer, it’s a real treat to get your paranormal teeth into.
Filed under: Book Review, Interviews with other authors Tagged: Bewitching book tours, book review, fireside reads, Nicky Peacock, royal street, sentinels of new orleans, suzanne Johnson, Urban Fantasy
September 1, 2013
Interview with Sakina Murdock
Tell us about your publishing journey
My journey started when I was a kid, constantly self-publishing longer and longer stories, using an ancient typewriter, and drawing all the pictures. Even a front cover on one. The pressures of education took over, and having thought that the only writing avenue I could go down was journalism, I gave up on the whole idea when I realised I didn’t want to be a journalist. Video and film production took me over, and all publishing was abandoned (apart from the occasional attempt at a screenplay).
A few years later, after a big change, and a move back to Cumbria, I realised that if I was going to write a novel, it was going to have to be then – no children, not even a boyfriend at the time to steal my time. My ambition was (and still is) to make a living writing, and be able to have a dog. I now have a dog, and I’m making my first foray into making a living writing, although the jury’s out as to whether either was a good idea!
My novel, Autotherapy was rejected (very kindly) by six of the UK’s thriller/action specialist agents, so I decided to send it personally to online publishers. The first kindly (again! I have been so lucky!) rejected it, and suggested some fixes for issues in the first 5 pages. The second was Rainstorm Press, and the rest is history (although believe me, I fixed the issues that the first company mentioned!)
I’m now regularly writing in the online copywriting trade, which is scary but exciting, and keeps the dog food in the bowl, and this is a whole different side of publishing.
What part of being a writer do you love most?
I love being locked in the flow. When the words just keep coming and there’s nothing to distract you. I see pictures and I love that. I’ve been revisiting some of the places I included in my book – I haven’t been there since I wrote about them in some cases, and it’s interesting to compare the images in my head to the real life places.
Which part do you hate most?
It sounds stupid, but it’s the writing I hate the most. I find it frustrating, partly because I block the main of the story out to begin with, so I feel as if I’ve already written those bits. I resent it a little when I feel like that. I love the editing stage, when someone has given some amazing and helpful feedback, and you can just feel the whole piece getting better. I love to cut things out (paragraphs, words, snowflakes) because I get a cathartic thrill, and the writing just gets better.
If you could be a supernatural creature – what would you be?
I would be a sorceress with a special connection to dragons. Don’t ask.
What life advice have you been given, that you wished someone had given you sooner?
Oh man, I struggle with this question. Everything I know has been worked out, read about, or hard won; my mum used to say that you can’t tell me anything (as if I’m gobby or something), and I think it’s because I evaluate what I’m told by what I know of the person, and then stomp off to make my own mistakes (thinking ‘I’m different, I don’t see it like that’).
The best advice ever IMO is ‘learn to take criticism easily’. But you need to understand the intentions of the criticism.
What inspired you to write Autotherapy?
My inspirations were the dark hills of northern Cumbria, the legends about the town where I live, and the desire to write something, no matter what.
Who are your favourite authors and why?
I have no favourite authors, just those whose books I enjoyed very much. I go through fads, although I think it’s down more to my laziness as a reader than just liking those particular writers. Lazy as in ‘I know its easy to enjoy that, so that’s what I’ll read’. The one who has totally stood my test of time is Terry Pratchett, but again, it might just be a 20 year fad.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on a website idea at the moment, but a sequel to my first novel is looking fairly likely. There have been a few requests for one (not just from my mum), and there are hundreds of story possibilities that I could go with. At present, I’m just getting used to my new life, learning to copywrite, and making a living.
Where can fans find you online?
Blog Food and farming orientated, with the occasional rant.
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Autotherapy, horror, interview with author, Rainstorm Press, Sakina Murdock
