Elizabeth Hunter's Blog, page 43

We have a winner! Contest for ARC of The Force of Wind

So, all in all, I received fifty-five nominations for the "dream cast" of A Hidden Fire. WOW! You guys blew me away with your amazing suggestions. I'm going to spend the next week picking the three that come closest to how I see the characters and then next week, I'll be putting up a poll and you get to vote for the winners. Again, thank you to everyone who participated. It was truly fun and very enlightening to hear who you see when you read my books. Love it!

So, the carrot dangling at the end of this stick has been an advanced reader's copy of the third book, The Force of Wind. It doesn't come out until March 6, but I decided that not one, but TWO amazing readers would get an advanced copy. Everyone who offered a nomination was entered once in the drawing for each character they nominated for (some of you had six entries!) In the end, the two winners were…

Linda Larsson (nominated Liam Neeson for Caspar)

and…

Morgan (nominated Paul Bettany for Carwyn)

Thank you both for entering! Both of you offered multiple nominations, so thanks for all your great ideas. Please e-mail me your contact information, and I will send you an ARC of Book Three. My e-mail address is: ElizabethHunterWrites@gmail.com

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the "casting" of the book! And many congratulations to our winners.

Thanks for reading!

Elizabeth

FAQ (wherein I answer all of your burning questions…kind of)

So, because I actually have been at this long enough that I do have "frequently asked questions" (which is weird) I have posted a frequently asked questions page on the website here. Read it. Don't. There's ninja pictures, if that tempts you at all (which it should) and I give you all the dirty secrets about me, the series, and the piles of gold stacked in my hall closet. (Just kidding of course, I keep the gold stacked in the bedroom closet.)

Hope you are having a great week! The drawing for the ARC of The Force of Wind is TOMORROW!!!

Ta-ta for now,

Elizabeth

Final Dream Cast—Lorenzo

Lorenzo by elizabethhunter featuring antique jewelry

Yeah, he's a baddie, but he's got great taste in real estate! Lorenzo is smooth, cultured, and he likes the good life. Especially if that good life involves him getting exactly what he wants, when he wants it. He's a water vampire, so he loves the open ocean and prefers sea air. He's got classic (and expensive) tastes.
Here's a little snippet from A Hidden Fire:

She had finished reading the letter for the third time, taking notes in her quickly expanding notebook when she heard the door push open.  Beatrice looked up, immediately aware of the hiss of energy that filled the room.  She glanced toward the door to see an attractive man in his mid-thirties approach the reference desk with a smirk on his face.

Something about him gave her pause and as he approached the desk, she knew what it was.

This was definitely another vampire.

A distinct tremor ran down her spine.  He was more than handsome, with his pale curling hair, soft blue eyes, and almost feminine features.  He reminded Beatrice of a Botticelli painting she had seen during her recent research on the Italian Renaissance.  However, the light behind his smiling eyes was cold, and she looked at Giovanni to reassure herself.

 Yep, that Lorenzo is handsome, smart…every girl's dream, right? Um…maybe not. So, let's hear it! Last chance to offer a nomination and another entry into the drawing for the ARC of The Force of Wind. Drawing will be a week from today!


Thanks for your nominations!

Elizabeth

Official release date for The Force of Wind and a teaser!

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I've left you for a couple weeks with no peek ahead at the third book, which I'm happy to say, will be officially released on March 6, 2012! Just about one month from today. On Thursday, we'll have the last nominations for the "dream cast" that you all have been so amazing to help me with. Your nominations have been stellar. After that, I'll allow a one week for final nominations before I do the drawing for The Force of Wind ARC for one lucky reader!

I've had a few snippets of review love back from advanced readers and so far, it's being very well received. Here is the profile on GoodReads if you want to add it. I just can't wait to hear what you all think of it. In the meantime, here's your teaser from the third book featuring a little scene between Gio and Baojia:

The longer he watched her, the faster his heart beat.

She was astonishing.

A vision of her transformed assaulted him.  Lithe grace turned into preternatural strength and speed.  Fangs gleaming in her mouth as she pierced his skin.  Her smooth, pale skin crackling with energy when she touched him.

Imagining Beatrice as an immortal was undeniably alluring.  Yet, it still filled him with guilt.

"She'll be stunning when she turns," Baojia murmured next to him.

Giovanni glared at him, irritated that his thoughts had been so closely mirrored by the other vampire.

"She's stunning now."

Baojia just cocked an amused eyebrow at him.

"She plans on it.  Why else would she practice as she does?"  He folded his legs and hands in a meditative pose.  "I think it was in the back of her mind even before you came back."

"Oh?"

"I remember the first martial arts class she took.  Introductory tai chi.  Ernesto was very pleased.  Beatrice says Tenzin suggested it.  Very forward thinking of your old partner; it will help immeasurably with physical control."

Giovanni wanted the water vampire to shut up.  He disliked being reminded of the years where Baojia had watched over Beatrice, and he had not.  He decided to change the subject.

Hmmm. Intrigue and unexpected turns are in store for all the players on the mysterious Penglai Island. And before I go, here's another look at a song from the playlist for this book. I listen to a lot of instrumental music when I'm writing. Classical. Soundtracks. Here's another traditional Chinese instrumental piece from the very cool Twelve Girls Band called, Clouds of the Sky:

Thanks for reading!

Elizabeth

Elemental Mysteries "dream cast"—Caspar

Sorry I've been MIA this week! Lots going on in the family and I sent Advanced Reading Copies out to reviewers. Time for another nomination and a chance to win an ARC of Book Three! Drawing will be two weeks from today.

Now, when we first meet Caspar Davidson, a reader might think that he's just another loyal butler/servant/Alfred to Gio's Batman kind of guy. I hope by the end of the book, you'll have figured out that there's a lot more to this character than just a stock persona. Caspar's a fascinating guy, and maybe someday, I'll write down a little more of his backstory for you all. (Incidentally, I've had more questions about Caspar's name than any other character. Feel free to look it up. It was chosen for a reason.) Needless to say, he's not your typical butler. He's also…well, a bit of a charmer, but you've probably figured that out.

I don't give a lot of physical description for Cas. He grew up in England, mostly. He's sixty-three at the beginning of the series, and I think you can tell from his interests (cars, wine, gourmet cooking…horror movies?) that he's kind of a debonair guy. As charming as Giovanni can be taciturn, Caspar's definitely his own character. Here's just a bit from A Hidden Fire:

When he reached [the car], he saw the slight flare of the cigarette as Caspar leaned against the black Mercedes sedan.

"A good evening, Gio?"

Giovanni frowned at his old friend, flicking the cigarette out of Caspar's mouth as he approached the door. He stood in front of the man, looking down on him as he spoke. "I don't like the cigarettes. I thought you had given them up."

Caspar looked up with a mischievous grin. "If I'm only living for eighty years or so, I'm going to enjoy them."

Cas also…well, he does love the ladies.

Caspar shrugged. "Fine, very little traffic this morning. We made it to the university with plenty of time before her first class. Parking on that campus is absolutely hideous first thing in the morning."

"So?"

"She's lovely, by the way. Surveillance photos never really do a woman justice. She has the most lovely skin, and that hair—"

"Caspar, you know what I'm asking, please don't make me kill you."

A frown settled onto Caspar's face and he cleared his throat. "She was a bit…discomfited. I suppose it's understandable. She asked that I give you a message."

"What was the message?"

"Don't call me; I'll call you."

You can see the Polyvore set I put together for our favorite butler at the top of the post. Give me your ideas, dear readers! I can't wait to see what you think. I was blown away by the amazing suggestions for Carwyn and Tenzin the last couple of weeks. Just one more after this, and it's our baddie, Lorenzo!

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

Help me "cast" the Elemental Mysteries: Tenzin

Happy Thursday, my dear readers! I loved all your nominations for Carwyn last week. That priest gets a lot of love, but now it's time to nominate one of the more intriguing members of our Elementals family. She's mysterious. She's ancient. And you'll learn a lot more about her in the upcoming third book, The Force of Wind. Here's a few snippets about Tenzin:

[Giovanni] heard a chirp from the low hanging magnolia tree and glanced up to see the small vampire perched on a branch, her legs dangling and her feet bare.  She appeared to be no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, and her glossy black hair fell in two sheets that framed her face.  Her eyes were a clouded grey and beautifully tilted by an ancient hand, but when the girl smiled, vicious fangs curled behind her lips like the talons of some primeval bird of prey.

A strange calm settled over him.

"Hello, Tenzin."

And here's a bit of Tenzin in action:

She was perched on the edge of the cliff, darting over and around her attackers as she ripped at them with her talon-like fangs and tiny hands.  She moved so quickly he could barely track her, but she paused in midair to meet his eyes.

"Go!  Find him," she yelled before grasping two vampires by the necks and swinging them around until their bodies detached and sailed into the sea.

Tenzin, to be frank, is a badass. I can't imagine she pays too much attention to her clothes, but here's a Polyvore set I put together for you.

So, let's hear what you think. Who would you nominate to play a 5000 year old wind vampire who likes to rip throats? And remember, all nominations enter you to win a contest for the ARC of Book Three, The Force of Wind.

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

Tuesday Teaser and Drumming Song

by BabelStone

I've been so gratified about the response to the beautiful cover for the new book, and I'm happy to say that I have another small teaser for you today from The Force of Wind, along with another peek at the playlist. I'm at the point where the book is ready for the final edit and advanced reading copies are starting to leave the gates, so it's always a nervous time as I wait to see how the book is received. It means so much to know that all of you are looking forward to it with me.

First, your teaser. I had a great time writing more action in book three. I don't think it'll give anything away to say this book is full of martial arts, weapons, and battles. Challenging and fun to write, but how will our favorite hero react to seeing his librarian with a few bruises? Hmmm…

"Tesoro," Giovanni whispered into Beatrice's ear the following evening, trailing a hand from her knee, over the curve of her hip, and slipping it around her waist as he pulled her back to his chest. He had woken before her, which was unusual. She must have been overwhelmed from the night before.

"Beatrice," he whispered again.

"Hmm?"

"Time to wake up."

"Okay." He felt her shift into his chest as she stretched. "Can you rub my legs?"

"Of course." He sat up and pulled back the sheet. "Were you practic—what the hell?" His mouth dropped open as saw the bruises on her legs. There was one particularly large one near her hip. He let loose with a string of old curses she probably didn't understand.

"I was sparring with Tenzin today," she said in a sleepy voice. "You know, Gemma has nothing on Tenzin. Tenzin's mean." Beatrice chuckled a little. "And did you know she doesn't have to sleep hardly at all? She never mentioned that when she visited me in L.A."

He was still speechless as he examined her. There were fat bruises along her torso and arms, though none so severe that they could cause internal injuries. He continued muttering in Italian, and he felt his skin heat up.

She must have sensed his anger, because she turned and narrowed her eyes. "Don't do the thing again. And calm down, you're getting hot."

Hope you like the peek ahead, and here's another look at the playlist. I've told you I like Florence + the Machine, right? Yeah, I thought so. Playlist peek this Tuesday is: Drumming Song. Check out the lyrics and the video:

There's a drumming noise inside my head

That starts when you're around

I swear that you could hear it

It makes such an all mighty sound

There's a drumming noise inside my head

That throws me to the ground

I swear that you should hear it

It makes such an all mighty sound

Louder than sirens

Louder than bells

Sweeter than heaven

And hotter than hell

Thanks for reading, folks. And come Thursday, I'll be taking nominations for Tenzin. Catch you later,

Elizabeth

"Dream Cast" the Elemental Mysteries: Carwyn!

It's the moment you Carwyn fans have been waiting for. Gio? Who needs Gio when you have a crazy redheaded jokester with a big personality and a bigger grin? Today is the day I take nominations for our favorite, and most unconventional, priest. Now, I don't get very specific about his looks, so feel free to go wild, folks. With Carwyn, it's all about that sense of humor shining through. I cannot wait to see who you nominate.

Here's a few bits from A Hidden Fire when you first meet him, and the Polyvore set above is how I envision his wardrobe.

The new vampire almost tripped up the landing, his wild auburn hair flying and a grin overtaking his face as he peeked at Beatrice, who was still hiding behind Caspar.

"Now, Cas, tell her I won't bite, will you?" Carwyn grinned and shot a wink at her. Beatrice stepped out from Caspar's shadow to examine Giovanni's friend more carefully.

Carwyn stuck out a hand. "Father Carwyn ap Bryn, my dear."

And another bit…

[Beatrice] grinned when she thought of Carwyn. Since their meeting, the unusual priest had charmed her, although she didn't know what to make of him at first. He looked like he had been turned in his thirties, but had the personality and humor of a teenager. He wore the ugliest Hawaiian shirts she had ever seen, but still seemed to attract more than his share of female attention when he and Giovanni had visited the library together.

That's it. Go wild.

Remember, all readers who offer nominations are entered into the contest for the ARC of Book Three, The Force of Wind. You'll get it weeks before the book is released, so if you haven't offered a nomination for Beatrice or Gio, go ahead and scroll back! Those nominations are not closed.

Hope you have a great weekend. Next week? Tenzin!

Elizabeth

Cover reveal, muttering, a blog tour, and a hint of Hawaiian shirts…

I'm skipping the teaser this week (honestly, it's pretty hard to pick good ones without spoiling you folks!) and making a few announcements. For your amusement, I'll give you a rough idea of the conversation that C and I had about a month ago:

C: Hey, honey, so what's the title for the third book?

E: Um, The Force of Wind.

C: …

E: What?

C: Wind.

E: Yeah.

C: Wind?

E: Yes, The Force of Wind. It's one of the four elements.

C: So…you want me to make a cover—for your book— that is a visual representation of WIND and fits with the other book covers I've made for the series?

E: Yes.

C: (Walks away muttering under his breath.)

E: Thanks, honey! I love you!

C: (More muttering.)

I don't know what he was muttering about, because I think he did a great job. But give him a little love in the comments, why don't you?

If you've been hanging around twitter or "like" the Elemental Mysteries Facebook page, you've probably already seen it, but here's the official announcement on my site. I present to you…the cover for the third Elemental Mysteries book, The Force of Wind.

And here is the synopsis you can find here and on GoodReads:

How far would you go to protect the ones you love?

What would you sacrifice to kill the one you hate?

Join Giovanni Vecchio and Beatrice De Novo as they travel to a hidden island on the far edge of China to seek the help of an ancient immortal court. Can they weave their way through the tangled web of centuries-old alliances and ruthless feuds to find what they've been looking for? Friends will be revealed, enemies will find them, and a dangerous secret will come to light.

The third book in the Elemental Mysteries series will see Giovanni and Beatrice joined by a group of unlikely allies as they explore the history and myth of ancient China. Many have been stolen, but only one holds the key.

The Force of Wind is the third book in the four-part Elemental Mysteries series. It is the sequel to This Same Earth and is a paranormal mystery/romance for adult readers.

The other announcement I'm excited to make is that I'll be doing a blog tour for the Elemental Mysteries series hosted by the smart and savvy ladies of A Tale of Many Reviews book blog! Here is the banner for the blog tour:

I'm excited to be working with the book bloggers who have signed up. The tour will be only a week long, but I'm hoping to get the word out to new readers about the books. I'll be posting schedules of where I'll be on the tour closer to the date, but I'll try not to inundate you!

One more quick announcement: while you folks have been amazing about nominating candidates for Gio in the EM "Dream Cast"…Beatrice hasn't received as much love! I'm still looking for more ideas about who you see as Beatrice De Novo in the series, and I'd love to hear from you! Remember, you receive an entry into the drawing for the ARC of Book 3 for each character you nominate, so you could possibly have six entries into the contest if you get a nomination in for all of the characters. Thanks to all of you who have already offered your nominations!

Hope you have a great week and on Thursday, I'll be taking nominations for our favorite Hawaiian-shirt loving priest, so put your thinking caps on! I've put a Polyvore set together for Carwyn, which I'll post on the FB page today, and I'll post it again here on Thursday!

Thanks for reading,

Elizabeth

Dream Cast: Beatrice De Novo from A Hidden Fire

Okay folks. You did not disappoint with your nominations for the handsome Dr. Vecchio last week (which are still open and will remain so until the end of the contest, just letting you know) but now it's time for our favorite librarian. Here's a quick snippet from A Hidden Fire:

 Despite her rather common accent, the girl's voice held a faint quality which told him at least one of her parents was a native Spanish speaker.  Her thick, black hair was pulled into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck, and she was dressed in a black button-down shirt and slim skirt.  He smiled when he saw the tops of her tall Doc Marten boots almost touching her knees.

Hmm, more style than looks, you say? Well, here's a bit more:

[Giovanni] smirked at her obvious look of approval, noting the small ruby piercing in her nose that caught the florescent lights of the reading room.  Her eyes were lined in black, her skin was fair, and though she did not have classically beautiful features, he thought her dramatic looks would be eye-catching even from a distance.

Vague? Well, yes! I like to let readers create their own picture in their minds, so here's your chance. Tell me how you see Beatrice De Novo from A Hidden Fire. Remember, anyone who offers a nomination will be entered for the ARC of Elemental Mysteries # 3, The Force of Wind. And to give you a sense of her style, I included the Polyvore set I created for her, as well. Show me what you see, oh imaginative readers!