Jean Murray's Blog, page 15
August 19, 2012
Hero Highlights: At the Heart of a Hero
What is at the heart of a hero?
As a race, we strive to define who and what we are everyday of our lives. We recognize our accomplishments in many different ways– financially, spiritually, morally. When times are tough, we seek inspiration from ideologies and values that we define as acceptable or create it when it is absent. Whether we are conscious of this or not, it has become our lexicon of humanity. The idea that heroes exist. As writers, we strive to define the perfect hero.
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary (2012) defines a hero, as an individual to be admired; a mythological/legendary character or warrior with extraordinary power and strength with noble achievements.
We can look around and see various types of heroes in our everyday lives. I’m sure you can think of a few now.
What makes someone a hero?
As I write, I try to define my hero or heroine. What will he or she look like? How will they react? Where do they come from? What are their goals and motivations? These can vary greatly and most often will not be that pretty little package that we uphold heroes to be. As we know, heroes can be born or they can rise to the occasion when you least expect it and from the most unlikely source. Although we try to draw a picture of what a hero looks like, I think it is very difficult to define it by physical features, gender, or profession for that matter.
No, I think it’s much deeper than that.
I draw from my own experience in an attempt to capture this allusive core of a true hero. What makes an individual risk their life to save others? To sacrifice without a thought of their own safety. So I went on a little search to find shining examples of heroes and how they defined themselves.
Fire Department: SERVICE — BRAVERY — SAFETY — HONOR — DEDICATION — PREPAREDNESS
The Department of the Navy (Sailors & Marines): HONOR — COURAGE — COMMITMENT
Police Department: HONOR — SERVICE — INTEGRITY – RESPECT — TRUST — COURAGE — DUTY
Notice these values don’t mention height, weight or physical characteristics. These values are taught and enveloped into ones moral center and core. A belief and an ideal waiting to be acted upon, discovered or lived by. Yes, handsome and pretty superheroes are more popular than ever (Superman, Spiderman, The Avengers–my favorite THOR), but if you strip away the suit and the great hair you will find the same values mentioned above somewhere beneath that impenetrable and sometimes obnoxious shell—
The heart of a hero.
I think if we look past the more usual sources of heroes, you will find others that carry these values and express their hero inside to varying degrees. In my research to define a heroes’ traits, I came across this website: My Hero: Celebrate the Best of Humanity . It highlights everyday heroes at work in the world trying to make a difference in people’s’ lives.
We, as a society, celebrate the ideals and characteristics of heroes through role-playing in movies (make-believe) and by recognizing those who have sacrificed through medals of valor and words of thanks (real). I can guarantee you one thing– If you ask the person being recognized, if they are a hero they will deny it. Humility seems to be at their core, as well.
So, do perfect heroes really exist? If so, why?
Filed under: Heroes Tagged: hero highlights, heroes, heroines, honor courage commitment, military hero
August 10, 2012
Hero Highlights: Man of Steel 2013
Couldn’t help but share… I’m a sucker for a great hero.
Are you ready for this?
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: hero, man of steel, man of steel 2013, movie trailer, superman
August 7, 2012
New Release ~ Practically Dreaming by Jennifer Wells
In a Zodiac-based world, finding a mate is easy. Falling in love is the hard part.
Astrology influences almost everything, from career choice to where people live. Even romantic matches are based solely on astrological compatibility and determined by the infallible Council of Venus.
Animal psychic Tierra has every reason to trust the Council—save one. Her match with fellow Virgo, Evander, works better on paper than in person. But she stubbornly hangs on, believing their relationship will grow and develop, all the while trying to rationalize her feelings for Lachlan.
Veterinarian and Reiki master, Lachlan, hides a secret, which has kept him single for more than two years. This Pisces dreams of a happily ever after with Tierra, but believes it’s impossible for him.
Tierra and Lachlan must confront their doubts, differences, and society’s belief in the Council. Will they defy the odds and choose each other? Does astrological certainty eclipse the chance to fall in love?
About the Author:
Jennifer has been writing since she was in middle school. When she discovered romance novels in junior high, she knew she wanted to write them someday. Her writing remained a hobby while she studied biology and forensic DNA science.
She worked as a molecular biologist and published cancer research before finally leaving the lab and taking up her laptop full time.
She currently lives in Northern Virginia with John, her husband of sixteen years. John is a professional tarot card reader and astrologer. John and Jen have three children who happen to be cats: Josephine, Morgana Madison, and
Luna. Jo is a beautiful black Siamese mix who rules the house. MoMo is a possessive Scottish Fold who loves to knead Jen’s hair. Luna is the baby, an affectionate Scottish Fold who thinks her name is “Cute.”
Jen’s website, blog, and contact information can be found at www.jennifer-wells.com.
Filed under: Cover Reveal Tagged: jennifer wells, new release, practically dreaming, zodiac
August 2, 2012
Ye Olde Inkwell ~ The next books in the Key to the Cursed series…
I want to thank Author Michelle Miles for inviting me to her blog today to discuss paranormal romance and my upcoming books. I would love the company! Come join us at the Ye Olde Inkwell.
Filed under: Uncategorized
July 29, 2012
Wicked Romance ~ Gets a Face Lift!
Over a year ago Wicked Romance was launched….
At first it was a means of getting information to readers about my new release, but it has grown since then to include author interviews, craft discussions, giveaways, guest posts, blog hops and author promotions (not just mine). I love to promote other authors and Author Open MIC has been a huge success. It was dire time Wicked Romance had a well deserved face lift, so my husband and I got to work on a banner and a new look for the site– one authors and bloggers would be proud to be featured on and I think we may have accomplished it.
We even made a button for the site to be grabbed by others. It is on the menu bar on the right. And while you’re at it, grab your self a virtual drink at our bar. Take a sip of whatever you are drinking and help us celebrate our new look.
I would love to hear your feedback. I have 5 Wicked Romance Tote Bags to giveaway to commentors (US/Canada). Bring a guest and if they subscribe to Wicked Romance your name and theirs will be entered twice into the drawing. Please have your guest notate your name or call sign in their comment post. All subscription will be verified.
Additional Entries can be obtained below:
Follow me on Twitter- +1 entry. @wickedromance
Friend me on Goodreads- +1 entry
Like me on Facebook- +1 entry
Post my Button on your site – +2
So lots of ways to win!! My website also received a face lift for my one year anniversary. If you haven’t had a chance, check it out HERE!
I couldn’t have done this without the support of my fellow bloggers, authors, readers and subscribers. Thank you!
Filed under: Events, Giveaway Tagged: anniversary celebration, Face lift, fantasy romance, Jean Murray, new blog banner, new look, paranormal romance, promotion, romance, romance blog, soul reborn, wicked romance
July 23, 2012
Author Open MIC Welcomes ~ Shannon Eckrich
I am excited to introduce Shannon Eckrich to Wicked Romance. Her novel Other Side of Forever just released in January. The story has gotten great reviews and I can’t wait to read it. For a reader and writer of paranormal romance, it wasn’t until this last year I started to delve into Young Adult stories. Now? My TBR is 50/50. The genre captures something that seems pure and real. I think all of us can relate on some level. Heck, we lived through those years and probably have our own story to tell.
Born and raised in Delaware, Shannon Eckrich lives with her husband, two children, and chocolate lab, Chewy. She has always had an interest in the paranormal. Ghosts, angels, vampires, aliens, it doesn’t matter, she loves it all. When she’s not writing, you can find her consuming young adult novels. When she discovers an awesome book, one that has a huge impact on her, she has a hard time letting it go, even to lend it to a friend.
Along with reading and writing, she enjoys planting flowers with her daughter, going to the beach, or just hanging out with her family.
So, let’s get started.
Host: Welcome, Shannon. Tell us a little about yourself and what inspires/motivates you to write YA. Why do you think it is so popular?
Shannon: Hi, Jean. Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog today. It’s such a pleasure to be here.
I guess I could start out by saying I’m a bookaholic. I absolutely love to read. And it really doesn’t have to be YA. I’m just as content reading my daughter first chapter books as I am reading YA and adult novels. When I’m not reading or writing, I’m volunteering at the firehouse with my husband and my son, spending time with the family, or helping serve lunch to a room full of high school students through the school year.
Yup, I work in a school cafeteria. And it’s the greatest job I ever had besides writing. Watching how the students interact with each other really helps me out when I’m writing, and the teens I come in contact with are pretty amazing.
I enjoy writing YA because it takes me back to my younger years. My husband and I were actually high school sweethearts. We’ve been together since we were fifteen years old, and there’s nothing I love more than reminiscing the mixed emotions I felt the first time our eyes met or the first time we kissed. It was a time of innocence back then, and truly romantic. I think that’s why it’s so popular today with adults. I also think young adults enjoy these novels because they can easily relate to the characters, their emotions, and their problems. Not to mention that a majority of the male characters in YA novels are so freaking hot.
Host: What are the challenges that young adults face these days? How do you capture that in your writing? Are there limitations to what you can or cannot write?
Shannon: Young adults face just as many challenges as we did when we were at that age. Well . . . at least as many challenges as I did in school. They still have the bullies, the peer pressure, and the need to fit in, to be accepted. They’re at that point in their life where they are trying to define who they are and what their purpose is. It can be confusing to them. And I think I captured a majority of these issues when I created Allie in Other Side of Forever. I know we don’t have any special powers (even though it would be super awesome if we did) but that’s what set Allie apart from everyone else. Her powers made her different even though she wanted to be normal. And normal to her was being exactly like everyone else. But as the story progressed we realized that being different isn’t such a bad thing. You know, since she really kicked some major butt in the end. And that’s the message I’m trying to send out to young adults. Be different. Be true to yourself, and just be happy with who you are.
Another way I captured some of these issues is with Becca. Becca is the mean girl, the bully we all had to deal with in school. And even today we’re still dealing with bullies. You see commercials on TV about it and schools claiming to put a stop to it. But the truth is, instead of dealing with it, some schools tend to look away and find it better to ignore the subject. I know this first hand, because my daughter was dealing with it in kindergarten and first grade. Yes, it’s hard to believe, but they start out that young. And even though most bullies won’t go to the extent Becca did, they still make us feel like crap.
Unfortunately, there are some limitations on what I can write. Parents aren’t happy if they find that their child is reading material which contains drugs, alcohol, or any kind of sexual content, so I veered away from that subject as I wrote Other Side of Forever, even though these are some major issues concerning young adults. I wanted this novel to portray the innocence of falling in love for the first time, that first kiss, the excitement and anticipation you feel just by being near that perfect someone, taking in their scent, the electric charge in the air . . .
Oops, sorry. I guess I got a little carried away.
Host: What are the challenges to writing YA compared to Adult? Any words of advice for other YA writers?
Shannon: The only challenge I had writing Other Side of Forever versus After the Rain (my adult paranormal short story available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble) is that I had to change my way of thinking. In Other Side of Forever, I had to think like a young adult and ask myself how I would have reacted if I were in the same situation as Allie. After the Rain was fairly easy for me. The story is about a mother, Janie, who runs to the store in the middle of the night and leaves her son with her sister. When she returns, her house is engulfed in flames and her son is trapped inside. Sadly, the story is inspired by a true event, but when writing that piece, I went through all the emotions I would feel, as a mother, if I were to face the same problem as Janie.
I guess the only advice I can give YA writers is to make sure the pacing of their story is fast. And that they end and start a chapter with some kind of action taking place. Young adults are busy these days with cell phones and video games, so it’s our job to keep them reading. And the only way to do that is to give them a reason to keep turning the page.
And to those of you who are aspiring YA authors, my advice to you is to never give up.
Host: How do you reach out to your audience? How many of your readers do you think are adults?
Shannon: The fastest and easiest way for me to reach my audience has been the internet. I’m a member of many writing groups and websites and a few critique groups. I also have a Facebook author page and I do have a website. I’ve also been featured in the local paper, attended a book signing at my local library, and shared my novel with the schools.
I think a majority of my readers are adults. There are so many problems in the economy right now that I think adults are looking for a way to escape their everyday problems, and the best way to do that is to be taken back to our youth. Teens and tweens can’t seem to grow up fast enough to their standards. But adults, we want to go back to where we didn’t have to worry about whether or not we might go into work and lose our jobs, deal with those annoying bill collectors, or even worry about whether we bring in enough income to put food onto the table for our families.
It’s really hard out there right now, so we need something to take us away from reality. Even if it’s only temporary.
Host: What do your kids think of their mom, the author? Did they help you develop the characters? What about Chewy? 
Shannon: My daughter, who’s only seven, thinks it’s great. She made sure she told all of her first grade teachers, and I had to set up the computer so she could begin her own story. It’s actually pretty cute watching her type and think about what she wants to write. My son, on the other, could care less. He’s eighteen, so he’s out doing his own thing.
I actually developed the characters myself, but I did run the names by my daughter for approval.
Of course, Chewy helped me, too. I do a majority of my writing on my laptop while I sit in our recliner, and Chewy, who is about 65 to 70lbs and feels he should be a lap dog, jumps up and squeezes in next to me. He gives me that extra burst of inspiration, if you know what I mean.
Host: Your cover is so powerful. Can you tell us what the orb signifies?
Shannon: Thank you, Jean. I think CMP and Taria Reed did such an amazing job bringing Allie to life on the cover of my novel. The orb Allie is holding in her hand is her energy and the energy around her. Once she learns how to control her powers, she can draw in energy and form it into the shape of a ball. It’s really powerful stuff.
Back Cover Blurb
What if your life finally seemed to make sense? But, what if–in an instant–everything is taken away? How far would you go to get your life back?
Seventeen-year-old Allie Anderson’s telekinetic powers are anything but useful–she can’t bring her father back, can’t stop her mother’s downward spiral into alcohol, and can’t keep her from falling in love with Ethan Bradley. Loving Ethan is easy, but it comes with a hefty price: Ethan is prohibited by his people from interacting with mortals–because he isn’t mortal himself.
When Allie and Ethan’s love is discovered, there’s someone who will do anything to keep them apart. If Allie can’t learn to control her powers and fight to save Ethan, this dark entity will make every attempt to stop her beating heart. And if that happens, not even the energy of an immortal can bring her back.
Host: There is nothing I love more than forbidden love. Tell us about the world you created in Other Side of Forever and how does it affect Allie and Ethan.
Shannon: The world I created in Other Side of Forever affects Ethan and Allie in several ways. They’re in the mortal dimension, so if a mortal happens to find out about Ethan, this could be potentially dangerous for him. He has powers that heal, powers that can manipulate objects, and powers that could actually kill a human instantly if he really wanted to. The scientific community would love to get their hands on someone like him. And he knows this, which is one of the reasons why he has to be secretive about his life. Of course, this is one of the things that really bugs Allie.
It’s bad enough she’s confused about the emotions sweeping through her every time Ethan is near, but to have him wanting to be with her one minute, and then completely pushing her away the next, gets pretty overwhelming for her. Ethan knows this, but he’s caught in a fine line. He views Allie as fragile, since she’s a mortal and can die so much easier than he can. And this frightens him. He’s afraid of not only what the other immortals would do to her if they found out about their relationship, but he also fears that the Darkness, or dark entity, the immortals have warned him about will discover Allie and harm her.
Allie, on the other hand, could care less about her safety. She’s used to taking care of herself, and she sometimes gets a little bothered when Ethan just pops up out of nowhere and saves the day, giving her some lame excuse as to how he managed to get there so fast. When she finally discovers what and who Ethan really is, she goes to every extent to protect his identity, including lying to her friends. This eventually leads to a few confrontations, but Allie and Ethan are determined to be together, no matter what the consequences may be.
Host: What do you love most about Allie? About Ethan? Is there a Hollywood couple that would best represent them?
Shannon: Allie is strong and hardheaded, and I think that’s what I love the most about her. She’s been through a lot; being abandoned by her father, taking care of her alcoholic mother, putting up with Becca, and dealing with these strange powers that she can’t seem to control. But through all of this she continues chugging along. And I think pairing her with a sometimes overly protective immortal really highlighted these traits.
Ethan values Allie’s life over his and he will go to any extreme to make sure nothing happens to her, physically or emotionally. I know that’s definitely a plus on my list. Especially, since he’s so darn good looking.
As of right now I can’t think of a Hollywood couple that would be best to represent them. If something big comes up (which would be so freaking awesome) I would probably leave the casting to the professionals.
Host: Your blurb makes me curious, (without spilling any secrets) what is the dark entity?
Shannon: Ooh, the dark entity. This is definitely going to be tricky to explain without spilling any secrets. All immortals, or Asterians, have come to believe that a Darkness, or dark entity, is roaming through the mortal world. And that this entity is the cause for war, pollution, and everything else that causes people or mortals, to lose their humanity. The Asterians were so terrified that this entity would make it into their world that they completely closed off the portals to the mortal dimension. The Asterians believe that the dark entity has the ability to jump from mind to mind, leaving nothing but death and destruction in its aftermath, and that it constantly searches for a way into the immortal realm. The only way for it to make it into the immortal realm, however, is for it to attach itself to a mortal who is close to an immortal, and use that mortal as a host to take it through the portal once an Asterian reopens it.
Sorry, guys, but that’s about all I can reveal about the dark entity without spilling any secrets.
Host: Where can readers find you?
Shannon: I’m normally always online. My readers can find me on facebook, on my website (which I really need to update soon) shannoneckrich.weebly.com, or they can email me at shannoneckrich@gmail.com.
Host: Where can they buy your book?
Shannon: Other Side of Forever is available at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and at crescentmoonpress.com.
Other Side of Forever
by Shannon Eckrich
Purchase e-Book
Purchase Print
Genre: Paranormal
ISBN-10: 1937254372
ISBN-13: 978-1937254377
Length: Novel
Publication Date: January 23, 2012
Cover art by Taria Reed
Seventeen-year-old Allie Anderson’s telekinetic powers are anything but useful–she can’t bring her father back, can’t stop her mother’s downward spiral into alcohol, and can’t keep her from falling in love with Ethan Bradley. Loving Ethan is easy, but it comes with a hefty price: Ethan is prohibited by his people from interacting with mortals–because he isn’t mortal himself.
When Allie and Ethan’s love is discovered, there’s someone who will do anything to keep them apart. If Allie can’t learn to control her powers and fight to save Ethan, this dark entity will make every attempt to stop her beating heart. And if that happens, not even the energy of an immortal can bring her back.
Prologue Excerpt
“There’s always a beginning and an end, Allie,” my mother told me, the poison slurring her words as it wrapped around her tongue. “Nothing lasts forever; not life, not even love.” She slammed her glass of vodka down on the table, venom sloshing up and raining down, beading into small puddles on the linoleum floor. “It all fades away in the end. That perfect little world everyone always dreams about—it never happens.”
Mom spooned this crap to me all the time after Dad left. Big heaping mounds of it. I never knew what it meant because at ten years old, everything seemed to go on forever. The ocean, rainbows, the sky—they never ended to me. They always went on and on with no end in sight.
I mean, really, has anyone ever found that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? I think not. And I already had my perfect world I’d made with my best friend Jeremy, a world constructed out of branches, logs, leaves, and anything else we could forage from the forest floor.
But as I grew older, I found meaning in her words. Mom wasn’t talking about what goes on inside a child’s head, inside that world they create where fire-breathing dragons are around every corner and fairy princesses wave their wands to tuck you into bed each night. She was referring to what it was we blossomed into when we reached adulthood. The stuff I would have to prepare myself for, even though some of them would never pertain to me. Marriage (which would never happen), divorce (can’t get ditched if you don’t get hitched), bills (well, yeah), the repo man (her problem, not mine). That kind of stuff.
But more than that, Mom was talking about love (yeah, okay, not a chance). An emotion that turned to dust and got sucked up into our vacuum cleaner a long time ago.
I hated my life. I hated Dad for abandoning me, hated Mom for drinking all the time, hated the fact Jeremy had to move away and leave me.
But most of all, I hated the fact that God had cursed me.
Share with us your thoughts: Why do you think ADULTS read and/or write YA?
Have questions for Shannon? Please post below!
Filed under: Author Open Mic Tagged: crescent moon press, new release, other side of forever, paranormal, romance, shannon eckrich, YA, young adult
July 18, 2012
New Release $0.99 ~ Freed by Kinley Baker
99 cents on Amazon
After mortal invaders slay a Shadow Shifter woman, Queen Ella knows there is more blood on the horizon. As the most powerful Sensitive in the village, Ella has always known she’s destined to save the kingdom. But her task seems impossible. She must move the Well of Souls to a new realm to save her people or risk failing the Ancestor gods.
The woman King Falon loves will never love him back, despite a binding marriage built on regal decorum. Falon’s first duty is to his people, and he only wants to provide the Shadow Shifters with a safe future. He must assert his power to gain the respect of the warriors.
Harder still, King Falon must accept the salvation of his people lies with his own Queen Ella, a woman who speaks madness… a woman he’s always loved, but hardly knows.
********************
Kinley Baker
Kinley read her first romance novel at the age of thirteen and immediately fell in love with the hero. After focusing on nonfiction in high school and college, earning her a degree in creative writing, she returned to her first love and devoured hundreds of romance novels. When they stopped ending the way she wanted, she took the plunge into fiction.
Fantasizing about other men didn’t sit well with her after meeting her husband, so Kinley now writes happily-ever-afters for others. She lives with her husband and her dog, Joker, in the gloriously rainy Pacific Northwest. As a firm supporter of all supernatural lifestyles, she writes fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy.
You can find Kinley at www.kinleybaker.com or on her fantasy and urban fantasy group blog www.castlesandguns.com.
Filed under: Events Tagged: a shadowed love story, amazon, books for $0.99, crescent moon press, freed, kinley baker, little moon, new release, paranormal romance
July 15, 2012
Anniversary Celebration ~ Ends Tonight
I’m sorry to see my celebration come to a close, but tonight is the night 
Soul Reborn’s sale will cease as of midnight tonight, so if you haven’t gotten your copy yet, now is the time. This was a one time only sale for this price. I do have a signed print copy to give away, so leave a comment on any of the posts, and your name will be entered to win. Links here:
A Year in Review: How it all began…. @Crescent Moon Press
This post, of course
So I had my contract > I painstakingly edited my book > Release day arrived >My nail-biting first reviews…
So what comes next in an author’s life you ask, besides the massive amounts of blog promotions, giveaways, interviews etc… It’s conference TIME!!
Some of you are aware of Authors After Dark. The fabulous Stella Price started these conferences back in 2009. The first hosted by Jacquelyn Frank, who amazingly intruded me the paranormal romance genre. Noah was the first book that swept me away and I haven’t looked back. I attended that conference as a writer/reader and had the wonderful opportunity to meet the author that changed my life. Truly! I love the genre so much I started to write it.
What better conference to attend now that I was an author. AAD Philly 2011 – My first conference as an author: My first panels; My first as a featured author at the Mythos Ball; and My first Book Signing. I was so grateful to meet authors and bloggers that I have an amazing amount of admiration. Yes, I was able to meet Lara Adrian. One of my favorite! Here are some of the pictures from the conference.
Click to view slideshow.
The conference went off without a hitch. Well, that’s not entirely true. At the Mythos Ball, I had handed out cute little pink change purses with a key ring. Each purse had a key or prize inside. I painstakingly put keys on about 100 purses. Only one had the magic silver key. Yes, I promise it was out there, but for the life of everyone– we couldn’t find that key. We scoured every pink bag in the place and no one came forward to collect their Egyptian Treasure Chest – Kindle, Egyptian Tarot Cards, Print Copy of Soul Reborn. I came home without a winner, so I reposted the giveaway on my blog and thankfully was able to give my prize to one lucky ADD winner. Oh, well. I might just have to try it out again in 2013.
Another lesson I learned this past year is that promotion is just as hard as editing. It is constant. If you stop, no one buys your book. Start promotion before your book is released. I made the mistake of waiting for that fateful day. I had to do a lot of catch up in those first few months. I have met some wonderful people on this journey– bloggers, readers, and fellow authors/writers. Some that I can honestly call friends even though I’ve never met them in person.
So, now what. During those months of promotion, I was writing the next book. Soul Awakened is into the publisher and awaiting edits. The journey starts all over again and I can’t wait. I’ve learned from my mistakes, look forward to the new challenges, and will continue to write that “next story.”
Thank you for following my journey and look forward to introducing you to the Key to the Cursed Series:
Soul Reborn
THE HUMAN REALM, HIS BATTLEFIELD
Asar, the Egyptian God of the Underworld, has been tortured and left soulless by a malevolent goddess, relegating him to consume the very thing he was commissioned to protect. Human souls. Now an empty shell of hatred, Asar vows to kill the goddess and anyone involved in her release, but fate crosses his path with a beautiful blonde huntress who has a soul too sweet to ignore.
DEADLY SECRETS BETTER LEFT UNEARTHED
Lilly, fearless commander of the Nehebkau huntresses, is the only thing standing in the way of the goddess’ undead army unleashing hell on earth. But Lilly has a secret—one she is willing to sell her soul to keep. If the Underworld god discovers her role in the dig that released the goddess, she will lose everything, including his heart.
Soul Awakened
Coming Soon from Crescent Moon Press
LOVE FOR BLOOD OR HONOR
Kendra, a young Egyptian Archeologist and demi-god in waiting, is the key to unlocking Bakari, the Egyptian death god, from his cursed eternal sleep, but by doing so she inadvertently binds herself to him. Her life forever changed, she may have to sacrifice her innocence and possibly her soul to save him before he becomes his family’s worst enemy.
SINS OF THE PAST BECOME SINS OF THE FUTURE
Bakari awakens to a world at war and a woman who has tethered his soul to hers. The god who awakens is not the same after years of torture by his enemies. Kendra is his only hope at salvation, but the question is, does he want it? The only thing standing in his way is Bomani, Legion Commander, who vows to keep him from the one thing he craves—his parvana. His butterfly.
Soul Unleashed
Coming soon from Crescent Moon Press
FIGHTING FATE HAS CONSEQUENCES
Kit, a Nehebkau huntress, wants nothing to do with her heritage as a god, when it has only caused her suffering and pain. Not to mention her nanny is a foreboding and dangerous God of the Underworld, who tests her conviction.
WHEN CONTROLLING TEMPTATION IS NOT ENOUGH
Kamen has sworn to protect the Mother Goddess’ offspring, but Kit is a handful. Her insistence on thwarting him tests his control. She doesn’t know what she’s playing with— a beast that hungers for her soul. One taste, and her fate is sealed.
*********************
Don’t forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway and also the SALE ENDS TONIGHT 7/15/12.
Also, check out my new website: www.jean-murray.com
Click on the banner to see book trailers!!
Filed under: Craft, Events, PROMO, Sales, Soul Reborn, Uncategorized Tagged: AAD, anniversary celebration, Authors After Dark 2011, giveaway, jacquelyn frank, Jean Murray, key to the cursed series, lara adrian, soul awakened, soul reborn, soul unleashed 
July 14, 2012
Author Open MIC ~ Welcomes Sasha Summers
It has been awhile since I handed over the MIC, but we are back online and I have a special guest today, Author Sasha Summers. She has not one book but two that release a month apart. Needless to say, she is furiously running the blog hop circuit. Her second book, Hollywood Ever After was featured yesterday here at Wicked Romance– check it out. I’m grateful to hand her the MIC, but first let me tell you a little about the author.
Sasha and I have an amazing amount in common. Balancing our family life, jobs and trying to fit in writing where ever we can. It is always a challenge and sometimes sleep wins out. I’m so happy to have her on the blog today, because we also share a common interest, the love of mythology and all things gods and goddesses. Sasha—Greek. Me—Egyptian. They have more similarities than you think, but the myths tell their tales in their own unique way.
Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books visit times past, set in places rich with legends and myth. Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ (original title, right?), was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.
It’s said love can change a person. Medusa wasn’t always a monster…
Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She’s no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves… and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.
Ariston goes to war with a full heart… and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.
Poseidon will use Greece’s war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.
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So, Sasha. Tell us a little bit about your new release, Medusa’s Love Story. I always felt bad for Medusa. Did she really deserve her fate? The Greek gods can be unforgiving at times. I would hate to be at their mercy and whim. What inspired you to write about her?
Sasha: Hi Jean. Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I’m delighted to visit with a fellow mythology fan! We need to stick together 
Medusa has always fascinated me – I’m a hopeless romance and tragedy addict and she seemed to represent both. I hadn’t planned to write about her. But I had a dream (I think this happens to a LOT of writer’s) that planted the seeds of my interpretation of Medusa’s story. Once I started writing, I could NOT stop. Not until the last page was done…
Is your book set in present day or the past? What were the challenges in writing your story?
Sasha: I kept it historical. I had a very clear vision of what I wanted and it was a blend of history and fantasy. The challenge was writing the story, keeping it somewhat historically accurate (somewhat J), and remaining as close to the ‘known’ Medusa myth as possible. I know it’s fantasy, but I wanted it to feel authentic – if that makes sense?
I have always believed you have to stay true to the myth but also exploit the areas that are not well established. What areas did you stay true to the mythological story? Which did you exploit?
Sasha: All of it. None of Medusa’s myth was changed. Ariston, the hero, is my addition – as well as most of the supporting characters – but Medusa’s fate remains the same. I tried to amp up the creep factor with the snakes, that even she was a victim to them. And I made her story about sacrifice versus revenge. In the end, Medusa is more human than most of the characters in the book… I think.
In your research did you find variations in the myth of Medusa or her curse?
Sasha: YES. There are bunches of different versions – everything from the region of her origin to whether or not she was always a monster to a lovely woman. But everything fell into place and I’m very proud of the story that emerged.
Tell me about Artiston? A warrior guard against Poseidon? Will he bargain with Hades? Does he have a chance?
Sasha: He’s an elite warrior for the Greek army – an Ekdromoi. With the Persian invasion an inevitability, the Greek Council decides to place extra safeguards at Athena’s temple. Ariston reluctantly becomes Medusa’s ‘security guard’. When circumstances spiral out of control, Ariston willingly bargains with Hades to return to Medusa. As for the last question – you’ll have to read the book
The Greek gods never play fair. What is in story for Ariston and Medusa?
Sasha: All I’ll say is this is a tragic love story. Ariston and Medusa are tested at every turn. But they never falter.
Do you have a theme in your story? If so, would you share?
Sasha: Yes. Love requires sacrifice… day-in and day-out. Not on this level of course…
Where can readers find more out about you and your book?
Sasha:
Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sasha-Summers/213036208773108
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5759214.Sasha_Summers
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sashasummers/
Twitter: @sashawrites
Webpage: http://www.sashasummers.com
What are readers saying about your book? Do have a review/s you are absolutely proud of? Yes, its okay to brag, if not I’ll do it for you
This will sound bad, but the greatest compliment I’ve heard is that I made someone cry. I don’t cry easily so, to me, that means they were affected by the book. What more could an author want? I mean, I don’t want to make anyone cry, but I can’t help but feel a little bit proud if Medusa A Love Story causes tears.
A couple of quotes I cherish:
“This book swept me away.”
“The story stayed on my mind for days.”
“This is exactly how I felt about Medusa.”
“I have read a few articles of late from movie producers and they have said they are running out of movie ideas. This I don’t understand with so many great books out there, could you imagine Medusa turned into a movie? If they kept it to your book as is it would be amazing.” – I LOVE THIS one – I am such a movie groupie so this is like… WOW!
Do you have an excerpt to share with readers?
Excerpt:
“You asked for an audience, you have it. Now tell me, where do you belong?” Hades’ voice was deep, emotionless.
Ariston swallowed. “Athens.” He met Hades’ gaze, but the God revealed nothing to him.
“Why? You died with honor and glory. Is that not what every soldier wants?”
“My wife…” His voice wavered.
Hades brow lifted slightly. “Lives. You do not.”
“She is in danger.”
“Earthly danger. She is no longer your concern, Ariston.”
“The danger she faces is not earthly, but far from it…” Ariston’s voice was hoarse, his desperation mounting. He took a wavering breath before he began again. “She is everything to me. I am proud of my death, but it means nothing if she is in peril. I must know.” Ariston kneeled. “I beg you. I beg you to return me to Athens.”
Ariston waited, willing himself to be strong.
“Who is this wife?” Hades asked.
“Medusa of Athens.” He paused. “Now ofRhodes.”
Hades was silent, his dark blue eyes regarding him steadily.
“When I die—” Ariston began.
“You are dead,” Hades assured him.
“When I return…die again, I would serve as guardian to Tartarus. I am a skilled warrior, a skill I might offer you.” He spoke with confidence.
“You vex me,” Hades muttered, the slightest crease appearing between his eyes. “You offer this to me for a woman?”
Ariston nodded. “She is worthy.”
Hades was silent again, his eyes shifting to the blue-white flames in the massive
fireplace.
“My words do not…adequately express the love I have for this woman. But I cannot leave her. She is at risk. I must return.” The words came without thought. How could he justify such emotion to a God who reviled affection or companionship? “AsOlympushas my arm and sword, she has my heart – a mortal, and perhaps weak, heart.”
The room was silent for too long. He would have to fight his way out…
“It is a weakness not reserved for mortals alone, Ariston of Rhodes.” Hades’ words were so soft Ariston feared they’d not been spoken. But Hades continued, strong and clear. “I will return you to your ship so that you may lead your men to victory. Too many have fallen from this war and I would see it end. When that is done, you may go to your wife.” He paused then added, “When you return to my realm, I will have your fealty.”
The God of the Underworld, Lord of Death, gave him mercy? Mayhap there was one God he might serve with honor.
Ariston vowed, “You have it.”
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Purchase Links
Amazon Kindle (available in paperback as well) : http://www.amazon.com/Medusa-Story-Loves-Olympus-ebook/dp/B007WSV5JI/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
Barnes and Noble (available for NOOK as well): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/medusa-a-love-story-sasha-summers/1110296522?ean=9781937254513
Medusa Book trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90fH7xoZiCo
Filed under: Author Open Mic, Cover Reveal, Events Tagged: a love story, author open mic, best seller, fantasy romance, greek mythology, hollywood ever after, Jean Murray, kindle, medusa, paranormal, paranormal fiction, paranormal romance, promotion, romance, Sasha Summers
July 13, 2012
New Release ~ Hollywood Ever After by Sasha Summers
Book Blurb:
Happy Endings are for fairy tales. Or the movies. Not for real life. At least, not in Claire’s life. Even though she’s starting over, she knows better than to want too much this time. But when she falls, literally, into the strong arms of Hollywood’s ‘it’ boy Josh Wiley, Claire’s in for some surprises. Her plans for rest and relaxation are forgotten as one incredible night with Josh becomes two… And her heart begins to want him as much as her body. Will two kids, one bastard ex-husband, and Josh’s juggernaut career mean the end of their affair? Or can Claire find her happy ending after all?
InkSpell Link: http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/1/post/2012/03/hollywood-ever-after-cover-reveal.html
B&N Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hollywood-ever-after-sasha-summers/1110208518?ean=9780985148331
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Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books visit times past, set in places rich with legends and myth. Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ (original title, right?), was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.
To find out more about Sasha Summers stay tuned for her Author Open MIC interview here tomorrow at Wicked Romance!!
Learn about her other new release, Medusa, A Love Story.
Filed under: Cover Reveal, PROMO, Uncategorized Tagged: best seller, book release, cover art, cover reveal, ebook, fiction, hollywood ever after, interview, promotion, romance, Sasha Summers
