Lisa Olsen's Blog, page 8

A taste of Mercy for the Fallen

Hey guys, I’ve been so wrapped up in plotting the next Forged Bloodlines book, I sort of forgot to post some of the usual things I do for a new book out, in this case Mercy for the Fallen. It’s out on Smashwords now, as well as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and we’re working on getting the print copy formatted today, so I thought I’d share an excerpt for those of you who haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy yet.

This scene takes place in the middle of the night, right after Mercy’s had a very vivid dream about Adam.

“Merceline.”

The sound of my name had me sitting bolt upright in bed. All at once I knew it’d been that voice pulling me from the intense dream. And it wasn’t Adam’s voice at all, it was Gabriel’s. The voice only I could hear as Clarion.

“What is it?” Parker murmured, his head lifting from the pillow when I swung my legs out of bed.

“I have work to do.”

“Now? It’s the middle of the night.”

“Somehow I don’t think that matters to them.” I pointed skyward.

“Oh, that work.” He sank back against the pillow, his arm falling across his forehead. I knew he didn’t like it when I went off on these things. I’m not sure what he thought went on, but it was mostly like being an errand girl. I had to relay a message to someone. Usually another angel, but sometimes to a human and I got to play angel myself. That was kind of fun, I admit. But mostly it was boring, especially when it was for a gathering of angels and I had to act as translator for Gabriel.

“I’m sorry. Hopefully it won’t take that long.”

“Can’t you go in the morning?”

“I have to think it’s pretty important or he wouldn’t be calling me before the crack of dawn.”

“Merceline.” The call came again.

“I have to go, he’s waiting for me.” I wished I had time for a shower. I still felt tingly after that dream, and it was a little weird going to meet an archangel in my current state. I tugged on a pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt, looking around for a scrunchie to pull back my tangle of hair.

“It’s just Gabriel though, right?”

“I don’t know. It might be a meeting, or it’s anyone’s guess.”

“But no Adam?”

So that’s what was bothering him. Ordinarily I might be a little annoyed, but the tail end of that dream still had my guilt kicked into high gear. I sat down on his side of the bed, my fingers brushing across the rasp of his cheek. “I highly doubt it. The Fallen are persona non grata at these things.”

Parker grabbed my hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “Promise me you’ll be careful?”

“Always,” I smiled, cupping his cheek. “I love you.”

“Love you too, darlin’,” he smiled back, eyes closing with exhaustion. I sat there for long moments watching him sleep until I heard Gabriel’s call again and snuck out of there, shoes in hand.

I had no idea where to find Gabriel, but as I stepped out onto my back porch and unfurled my wings, I let instinct take over, trusting it to lead me in the right direction. Right off the bat I could tell he was in the city proper, not the park where I first saw him, or up in Heaven. Could I even hear him if he called me from Heaven?

“Merceline…”

The call sharpened my sense of direction, leading me to Smith Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the city. At that hour of the night the place was deserted, and it was easy to spot his golden glow on the observation deck on the thirty-fifth floor. The archangel Gabriel looked out over the slumbering city, a melancholy cast to his shoulders. Or maybe that was me reading my own emotions into it.

I came to a soft landing beside him, tucking away my wings so they wouldn’t get in the way. “Hey, Gabe, how’s it going?” I called out.

“It goes well, Merceline. Thank you for coming.” When he looked up at me, there was a smile of genuine pleasure on his lips, and no sadness lingered in his bright blue eyes. As with all angels, Gabriel was a good looking guy, with dark, wavy hair and broad shoulders, but there was always an air of gravity about him. It was nice to see him bust out a smile every now and then, and I worked hard to keep it there.

“And how’s the Big Kahuna?” I raised my eyes skyward, gratified to hear his deep chuckle.

“We would all feel it should He fare poorly.”

That was a scary thought. Was that where earthquakes came from? Did an upset stomach turn into volcanoes? Would an emotional funk send us rain for forty days and forty nights?

“So, what’s up? Who are we going to visit tonight? Is it a solo gig or another angel jamboree?” It’d been at least six months since the last one.

“I won’t be accompanying you tonight, and this is a… solo gig. You have only to pass along a message.” Once again I was struck by the sound of his voice, deep and even as though he spoke all the time. It was weird to think I was the only one who could hear him, even among angels.

“Okay, lay it on me. What’s the message?”

“You are to search out the Fallen and instruct him that his petition has been heard on high.”

That sounded interesting. “Which Fallen?”

“Samael.”

“Sam sent a petition to Heaven? What for?”

“That is not for you to know. Simply instruct him thus – he is to begin his quest and speak of it to no man. Only God may judge when it has been completed, and only God will judge if he is worthy.”

“That’s it? That’s all you want me to say?”

“That is all. Do you accept the charge?”

“Sure, of course. No problem. I’m the man for the job.” I hadn’t once considered saying no to playing messenger of God. It might get old after a century or two, but for the moment, I still found it interesting. “I don’t suppose you know where he is though? He’s been sort of remote lately.”

“He lies within the Garden of Eden.”

“Ah… that explains it.” I supposed it was as good a place as any to get over a broken heart. Hadn’t Adam said he liked to go there and think sometimes? I couldn’t imagine a more peaceful place. “Alrighty then, I’ll pop over there and deliver the message. Anything else? Any other advice from on high?”

“That is all.” He smiled softly, his eyes turning skyward and I placed a hand on his arm before he could take off.

“Hey, before you go. I had this weird guy hanging outside my house. He said he’d been visited by an angel of the Lord. Is there any way to find out who talked to him, or if he’s a nutbar?”

“There have been no visitations from our side, I would have authorized it.”

“That’s what I thought. At this point I’m kind of thinking it came from the other place.” I pointed downward.

“It’s possible. He has appeared to many over the years to forward his own agenda.”

“This agenda involves recruiting an army to keep Eve safe.”

“That is most curious,” he frowned. “I shall take this under advisement.”

“What should I do in the meantime?”

“Try not to worry,” he smiled, giving me a kindly pat on the shoulder. There is nothing in prophecy to indicate she will come to any harm while she remains a child.”

“Whoa, back up a sec – but not when she grows up?”

A pained look flit across his face. “I must go.”

“Wait… I’d like to hear these prophecies that have to do with my daughter.”

“Fear not, Merceline. The future remains uncertain.” With that he launched himself into the air, moving so fast he disappeared from sight within the space of a few seconds.

The future remains uncertain. Swell. Why didn’t that inspire confidence? I did feel better about the chance to see Sam again, only now I had to figure out how to get to Eden. I had a way to get there, of course, but it’d been three years since my one and only trip there, and I wasn’t sure I knew exactly how to get back there again.

Of course there was one person who knew the way. One person who probably wouldn’t mind if I called him at zero dark hundred either.

I wasn’t using this as an excuse to call Adam.

Nope.

I had a legitimate need. At least that’s what I told myself as I pulled the scrunchie out of my hair and finger combed my dark tresses. Instead of calling for Adam into the air, I tried the old fashioned way, with my cell. I didn’t want to give him the impression it was an emergency and that way if he was busy, I wouldn’t be disturbing him.

He answered after the first ring though. “Late night taco run? I’m in.”

“Do you always answer the phone that way?”

“At this time of night? Yes, tacos are always the right answer.”

“I do have a job for you, but it’s a touch farther than Taco Bell.”

“Keep talking.” I could hear the interest in his voice.

“How do you feel about playing tour guide?”

“Where are we headed?”

“To Eden.”

“I’m on my way.”

“Wait, I’m not at home.”

“Even better. Where are you?”

“At the top of Smith Tower.”

If he was surprised by my location, he gave no sign of it. “That’s a good a place as any to watch the sun come up. I’ll be right there.”

“I’ll be waiting. Oh, hey, Adam?”

“Yeah?”

“Bring some tacos with you, okay?”

“That’s my girl.”

And the winner is…

Laveda Kasch!

Thanks to everyone who entered, I loved reading your conmments! Laveda, I’ll be sending you a questionnaire via email to talk more about your character in Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down. I’m hard at work on the outline, working out all the ins and outs. Probably start writing it in the next week or so.

Mercy for the Fallen is here!

My new book is out! Mercy for the Fallen is now available for sale on Amazon and Barnes and Noble! It’s out as an e-book for $3.99 but you don’t have to have a Kindle or Nook to read it, they have free downloadable apps so you can read it on your PC, or even your phone. It’ll be available in print as well in a few weeks through Amazon. It’s been three years since Child of Mercy takes place, I can’t wait for you all to read what comes next for Mercy and her friends and family. Here is the blurb:

“This isn’t going to just go away, no matter what you tell yourself. The next time you’re with Parker you’re going to be thinking about that kiss.” Adam’s voice dropped, low and intimate; it caressed me as surely as any touch on my skin. “I’ll go now, but this isn’t over, not by a long shot.”

In Book V of The Fallen, three years have passed since Mercy chose a stable life with Parker instead of fallen angel, Adamiel. Only the supernatural community isn’t done with Mercy and Eve, not by a long shot. Lucifer’s made it no secret that he has designs on the Child of Light, and is tired of waiting in the shadows for Eve to come of age. His interference brings Adam back to Mercy’s doorstep and into her life, whether she wants him there or not. The arrival of Archangel Michael both simplifies and complicates things as we learn how many are drawn to Eve’s Grace. As circumstances force Mercy to rely more and more on Adam, she wonders if people can change, even the Fallen. But even if she could admit to the long buried feelings bubbling to the surface again, can she trust Adam to learn what it is to love someone more than himself for a change?

Next up… Book 6 of the Forged Bloodlines series: Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down – don’t forget to check out my contest and enter for the chance to become a character in the next book!

Q&A for Mercy for the Fallen

Super really close to being done with Mercy for the Fallen and I thought I’d devote a post here to any questions you might have about the series. It’s been nearly a year since Child of Mercy came out and three years have elapsed between the two books in Mercy’s world. I might be persuaded to divulge a spoiler or two before the book comes out, or address any lingering questions that don’t make it into this one. Either comment below or drop me a personal contact message and I’ll be addressing questions in the next blog post.

Join the world of Forged Bloodlines!

Have you ever wanted to get frisked by Bishop? Snarked at by Bridget? Tackled by Rob? Then enter to become a character in Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down, the sixth book in the Forged Bloodlines Series!

Wait, what? No, really! I’m having a contest to let one of you into Anja’s world.

The winner gets a character named after you, or a name of your choosing. BUT, if you pick something like Boobies McGee it’s probably going to be a stripper character, so keep that in mind.

This is designed to be a bit part. It could be anything from a new waitress at the Bleeding Hart to one of the unseen Order members, to the quirky guy who delivers blood from the local blood bank. I may end up killing you off, unless I get truly inspired. In which case, I could end up keeping you around for a while.

Here’s the nitty gritty:

The winner must be available by either email or on DM on Facebook to talk about your name, description and personality traits (I have a quiz to send you). The more communicative you are, the more time I have to work you into my outline and the better the role will be. In addition to getting a character named after you, the winner also gets an advanced copy of Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down, as well as a shout out on the acknowledgements page.

This sounds shiny and all, you say, but how do I enter?

All you have to do to enter is to comment on this blog post.

But to make things more interesting, here are ways to get bonus entries:

* Leave a comment on this blog post (+ 1 point)

* Follow me on Twitter (+ 1 point) (https://twitter.com/Mystewitch)

* Tweet about the contest with a link to this blog (+ 1 point)

* Join my mailing list/newsletter (+1 point) (http://eepurl.com/vP9aT)

* Like my author page on Facebook (+ 1 point) (www.facebook.com/lisaolsenrobotbrain)

* Mention the contest on Facebook with a link to this blog (+ 1 point)

* Leave a review for one of my books on Amazon (+1 point)

* Mention the contest on your blog (+ 1 point)

* Secret Option #9 – Include one reason why you’d make a great character (+1 point)

Already left a review for one of my books? Cool, you can count that. Already following me on Facebook? Invite a friend to like the page, both you and your friend will get a point if you both mention it in your comment.

Do all of the above and you’ll end up with a total of 9 possible points. Just mention in your blog comment the number of points you earned and how you earned them. The winner’s points must be verifiable. I’ll be reaching out to the winner via email.

By entering this contest, you are agreeing to let me use your name/description/personality in my book at my sole discretion. Yes, I will chat with you about your character and will take suggestions as to where you would like to enter into the book, but at the end of the day, I’ll end up writing it how I think it best fits in with the plot. So, that means if you don’t like what I do with the character, you can’t sue me for eleventy million dollars or anything.

Here is a sample comment:

Ooh, pick me, Shirley McGirlyson! I have a total of 7 points because I follow you on twitter, your author page on facebook, I left you a review for Wake Me as Shirlygirlreads, I tweeted about your contest as @shirleygirl, I shared it on Facebook, I am commenting here and secret option#9, I would make a great character because I am double jointed!

This contest is open until November 10th and the winner will be announced on November 11th, so I can start writing as soon as possible.

So, get working on those points and comment below. The winner will be drawn at random (the more points you have, the more entries you’ll get).

Cover reveal for Mercy for the Fallen

We went back and forth on this one, trying to decide if we should try a sexy guy on the cover or not. In the end, we decided to go with the same model who’s on the Angel of Mercy cover instead since the story centers around Mercy more than any of the men in her life. What do you think?

Editing is going very well. I’m going to tentatively guess we’re looking at around November 9th for when this one is ready to go.

New Cover for Angel of Mercy

Mercy for the Fallen is chugging along through the editing process, and it’s time to start looking at cover ideas. This got us to thinking about a redesign for Angel of Mercy, something we’ve been toying with for a long time. This is what James came up with. What do you guys think?

I’ve been a bad, bad girl

Okay, now I have Fiona Apple music running through my head, which is not the worst thing ever on a lazy Sunday morning. I just took a peek at my website and noticed it’s been a while since I last updated. (now I’ve switched to that song from Staind.) My excuse? I’ve been up to my eyeballs in fallen angels, sexy and dangerous alike – which is also not the worst thing ever. I just hit the 90K mark on Mercy for the Fallen and I can start to see the end. I figure I’ve got maybe another 10K to go before it’s wrapped up and on to the editing process. I can’t wait for you guys to read this one, it’s been a lot of fun to get back into Mercy’s head and catch up with what’s been going on with Sam, Daphne, Parker, and of course, Adam.

In my down time while I’m waiting on my editing team to tackle the new book, I’ll be working on something a little different instead of taking some time off. I’ve decided to delve into Maggie’s backstory from the Forged Bloodlines series. We’ll get to see some bits of her childhood, how she first met Jasper and some of the hell he put her through. We’ll also see more about her relationship with Tucker. If it takes off, I might be exploring more from Maggie’s POV in “current day” that you don’t normally get to see from Anja’s POV. This will be released chapter by chapter to those of you who are signed up to my mailing list only. I’ll have to think about how often to release the chapters. After all, I don’t want to be spamming you guys too much, especially for those of you who might not be interested in her story. I’ll have to talk to my technical expert (James) to see how to best go about it, but I’m thinking that an email will go out to the list with a link and a password. Only those people with the password can access a special page on the website, where you can read the story. That way, people who join in late can still go back and read from the beginning. I’ve still got some bugs to work out with it, but I’ll be starting to write the story itself in November. So if you haven’t signed up for the mailing list yet, now would be a great time to make sure you don’t miss out on this free story.

Dreamcasting for Follow Me When the Sun Goes Down

It’s time for a new dream casting post since I have a new Forged Bloodlines book out. As you know, I ALWAYS cast these suckers in my head when I’m in the process of writing, so I thought I’d share my picks for how I see the characters in my head. I’ll include Bishop, Rob and Anja as a refresher, but you can see the rest of the cast from my last dreamcasting posts here:

Wake Me When the Sun Goes Down

Find Me When the Sun Goes Down

Miss Me When the Sun Goes Down

Anja Evans: Teresa Palmer – So I hadn’t cast a female lead as a blonde before, but since it went with the Viking ancestry link for this series, I decided to try something new. I like Teresa Palmer because she can play innocence well, but you get the feeling like she could seriously kick a little ass once she comes into her own. (see her with a shotgun in Warm Bodies)

Rob: Jason Statham – Rob is a character I borrowed from my True Blood fanfic, and I pictured him as Handsome Rob from The Italian Job at the time and the name just stuck. He looks like he could hold his own against a vampire and I just love his voice with the accent.

Bishop: Chris Evans – Before I even nailed down this character I had Chris Evans in mind, as he looks in the movie Push, which is a little rough around the edges, but definitely formidable. He’s got that ability to play tough, but with a vulnerability that makes him relatable. Plus, he’s so damn pretty to look at.

Jennike Vendal: Famke Janssen – She’s beautiful, but there’s a hardness to her that could easily portray the ambitious Elder of the East.

Aubrey Cantrell: Joseph Morgan – I think he could play Bishop’s charming but opportunistic brother very easily. Plus, despite how cruel and heartless he can play, he conveys a sense of vulnerability behind it very well.

Macallister James: Josh Holloway – My favorite cowboy. This guy could swindle you out of your shoes and make you feel like you’re coming out on top of the deal. Also, I’m a sucker for his dimples any day.

Rein Faust: Michael Fassbender – I can totally see him as the charismatic leader of the Belonoc. Focused, the type of man to go after what he wants, and eager to bring his House into the new Millenium.

Jean Pierre Severine: Dougray Scott – I think he brings a sympathetic, brooding cast to the role of the Elder of Toulac. Every time I look at his picture, I just want to give him a hug.

Volkov: Daniel Gillies – I wanted someone for the role who didn’t look particularly threatening at first glance, but who can definitely step up the menace with a single look – without losing his cool.

After just a week of sales, Follow Me When the Sun Goes Down is currently #4 in Hot New Releases for Occult and #8 in Hot New Releases for Horror!

This places my current Amazon Author Rank at:

#23 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Horror

#90 in Books > Romance > Fantasy & Futuristic

Thanks to everyone for their amazing support. I couldn’t do it without you!

Also, if anyone is in the Vancouver/Portland area, I’ll be doing a book signing for the local Red Cross at the Books & Blood drive this Thursday the 19th.

http://events.kgw.com/Books_and_Blood/289047536.html

Follow Me When the Sun Goes Down is out!

My new book is out! Follow Me When the Sun Goes Down is now available for sale on Amazon and Barnes and Noble! It’s out as an e-book for $3.99 but you don’t have to have a Kindle or Nook to read it, they have free downloadable apps so you can read it on your PC, or even your phone. It’ll be available in print as well in a few weeks through Amazon. I can’t wait for you all to read how Anja tackles her new position as Elder of the West. Check out the website for a little taste to whet your appetite. Here is the blurb:

“Me, Anja Evans, the new Elder of the West? Had I slid into an alternate dimension? What else was wonky here? Would someone bust in and announce a tornado full of sharks on the horizon in the next instant?”

Anja maintains her steady rise to power as she asserts herself as the newest vamp on the block in the world of political intrigue. Returning to England, this time as Elder of the West, to attend the first vampire Gathering held in over fifty years, she can’t wait to see friends and foes alike. Not everyone’s happy to see Anja again, but strangely enough, old enemy Simon Corley is the one who welcomes her with open arms. Will Anja find a new ally in the Warden of Vetis, or should she stop and count her fillings? Convinced she’s over Bishop, will her resolve hold once she actually sees him, or will any hope of rekindling their love fizzle as soon as he opens his mouth? And what about Rob – can he truly keep those deep feelings bottled up inside, or will they spill out, especially when Anja’s life is in danger?

Thanks to everyone who voted for the ‘Who Would You Choose?’ poll. Looks like Team Rob is definitely in the lead! I’ll be revealing some fun Forged Bloodlines merchandise soon, so keep an eye peeled for that.

Next up… Book 5 of The Fallen series: Mercy for the Fallen

It’s been three years since we last left Mercy in domestic bliss with Parker and Bunny. Can it last? Or will a certain blue-eyed angel complicate things?