Jami Gray's Blog, page 24
February 12, 2014
It’s all about NYT, USA Today Best Selling Rom Suspense Authoress, @KayleaCross! #romsusp #giveaway
Keep your voices down, there may be a few…ummm…men in greasepaint armed with some serious weapons looking for her. We promised she’d return unharmed, but they’re a cautious bunch.
Kaylea has some seriously exciting series out there–two of my favs, Titanium Security Series and Bagram Special Ops Series, only because I haven’t picked up the others yet. If you like Maya Banks, Christy Reece and Cindy Gerard, you have to add Kaylea to your reading list.
And to help with that, Kaylea has agreed to give one lucky commenter a free e-copy of IGNITED, the first book in the Titanium Security Series. Just share some of your favorite Romantic Suspense authors in the comments. Don’t forget to include your email with your comment.
Okay, since Eerie’s signaling me frantically, we’ll get this show on the road.
My fellow conspirators, I give you Kaylea…
As children we tend to have an idea of what we want to be by the time we’re ten. Before you decided to pursue the artistic dream of being a writer, what did you want to be and why?
Always an author. Always. For my 5th birthday I ask for and received an old-fashioned typewriter. I vividly remember sitting down and hacking away at the keys on a story that night. I didn’t start my first novel until much, much later though!
–Me too, well, and a judge and a vet, and a journalist…My typewriter sat at the kitchen table. My parents were pretty great about the fact it took up a permanent residence. I have 250 pages of a YA fantasy under lock and key. It’s been banished.
We all have favorite characters, either main or secondary, and there are always bits and pieces of them we don’t share with our readers, but keep close to our hearts. Choose your favorite from your cast of characters and tell us a couple of things that you haven’t shared in your books/writing.
Oh, hands down that’s Luke Hutchinson, from my first suspense series. He’s the love of my writing life and no hero will ever match him (I’m loyal like that). I guess the biggest thing I didn’t really dwell on for him is that there’s still a lot of darkness inside him that he struggles with.
Personally, I tend to be a bit on the introverted side so the thought of being in the actual presence of one of my favorite writers makes my heart race, my knees shake and tangles my tongue (yes classic fan girl behavior). Who could reduce you to such a level and how do you imagine your initial meeting?
I’d have to say JR Ward or Suzanne Brockmann, because I absolutely adore their writing and their characters. Though I will admit I’m pretty shy and my knees were wobbling pretty good when I attended an air show to interview some flight crews two summers ago. There I was, surrounded by a wall of men wearing flight suits as I went through my list of questions with them. I did NOT tell them I was researching a romance novel, however, since in my experience that’s the kiss of death as far as credibility is concerned. (Hey, it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it!)
–I’m with you on JR and Suzanne. They’re awesome character creators. Kudos to you on the flight crew interviews, I’m not sure I could have done anything remotely similar without stuttering (all hail the blogverse, where I can type without stumbling over my words!)
Many writers have that first novel which will never see the light of day. Out of curiosity, do you have one stashed somewhere? Inquiring minds want to know: what was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?
Well, this year I managed to publish the first book I ever wrote (a Civil War romance called The Vacant Chair), BUT, I had to rewrite it a couple of times and then I hired a freelance editor to go through it with a fine-tooth comb. It definitely is near and dear to my heart, though it’s far outside of the romantic suspense genre I’m known for.
–A historical? Wow, I’m thoroughly impressed. Historical’s scare me because of how accurate you have to be on your world building.
What is the best advice you can share with others?
Don’t give up, and don’t compare yourself/your work to others. Your process and voice will be unique to everyone else’s. Find what works for you and stick to that.
–Hear, hear!
Share if you dare, one of your favorite research experiences. Did you join a ghost hunters group? Did you step outside your comfort zone and into the wild world of your characters?
Aww, only one? Okay. I’m absolutely freaking terrified of flying (it’s a long story with a good reason behind it!), but for my Bagram Special Ops series I interviewed several helicopter pilots, flight instructors and even a Navy vet who survived a crash so I could get the details right. Then I went up in a helo five times to get the feel for the aircraft and the basics of the controls/mechanics. Best part was, I lived to tell the tale!
–It was well worth it, because I love that series. Your world building was awesome. I’m not much of a flyer either, but it’s more a heights thing than flying…
Now for our fun bullet list. Ready? Aim. Fire…
Blades, guns, fists or feet?
Guns! All my heroes are adept with firearms of all sorts.
Favorite Fairy Tale of all time?
Beauty and the Beast. I love that theme of redemption, and seeing past the physical to what’s inside.
–Love Beauty…even before Disney made a movie out of it =0)
Three titles and their authors sitting on your nightstand/bookcase/table/floor waiting to be read?
Uncommon Pleasure, by Anne Calhoun
American Sniper, by the late Chris Kyle
SEAL Team Six, by Harold Wasdin
–I’ve got Wasdin’s and Kyle’s on my TBR too. They’re compelling reads.
Greatest one liner of all time?
“Nothing like a good piece of ass.” (From Steel Magnolias)
–*snort*
Sarcastic witticism, Southern sweetness or Geeky disdain?
Southern sweetness all the way!
Strangest item currently taking up space in your writing cave?
My late 18 ½ year old cat’s ashes and a little Ziploc of his fur. *sniffle*
((hugs))
Favorite supernatural creature?
Dragons.
—Oooohhhh, Snarky’s going to love you!
Big, huge Thank You to Kaylea for making time to drop in. Before we let her go, don’t forget to share with us your favorite Romantic Suspense author (with your email) for a chance to win an e-copy of IGNITED:
When her father is murdered by a Taliban cell in the tribal regions of Pakistan, Khalia Patterson reluctantly steps into his shoes to carry on the legacy of Fair Start Foundation, a non-profit group dedicated to furthering the education of girls. There she meets Hunter Phillips, the ex-SEAL and head of her Titanium security team, and quickly learns that coming to Pakistan might prove to be a deadly decision.
Battling demons of his own, Hunter grudgingly leads Khalia’s protective detail as a favor to his boss. From their first meeting it’s clear she’s going to be trouble, and that the cell that killed her father is hell bent on taking her out as well. Keeping her alive is one of the toughest assignments he’s ever faced, yet through one harrowing situation after another she continually impresses him with her strength and inner courage. Even though he fights his feelings for her, it’s a losing battle. And when the job is over, he doesn’t know how he’ll let her go.
Buy Links:
Amazon US (Kindle)
Amazon UK (Kindle)
Amaozn CA (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (Nook)
Kobo
iBooks
Come find Kaylea Cross…
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Kaylea Cross writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense. Her work has won many awards and has been nominated for both the Daphne du Maurier and the National Readers’ Choice Awards. A Registered Massage Therapist by trade, Kaylea is also an avid gardener, artist, Civil War buff, Special Ops aficionado, belly dance enthusiast and former nationally-carded softball pitcher. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her family. You can find Kaylea through her website, Twitter, Facebook,and her blog.
February 5, 2014
Visit the Wildly, Wonderful Mind of Julia Joseph in the paranormal worlds of THE BROKEN #giveaway #paranormal #supernatural #suspense
Welcome, my lovelies. It so nice to have you all back for another inquisition. I almost feel like I should be twirling a waxed mustache at this point.
So today’s guest is the lovely and talented wrangler of words, Julia Joseph. Her debut novel, THE BROKEN, is available now, which means you don’t have to wait when you’re finished here to get more of Julia.
We feel Julia should feel right at home in the Swamp as the voices in her head blend rather well with ours.
She’s even going to give one lucky commenter a copy of her novel, all you have to do is share the one spot in the world you’ve always wanted to go and your email, and it could be you!
Don’t believe me? Fine, then we’ll just let Julia have the stage and you can form your own opinions….
If your character(s) came with a warning label, what would it say?
Rose would be Denial with a side of Neurotic and a helping of Powerful. Ouriel could be called Strength with a large dose of Cranky. Miriam is Kick Ass Soldier mixed with Perfection. Genevieve, bless her heart, would have to be Beauty Overwhelmed by Her Own Power.
–Perhaps they should be handled with care? Or maybe lead line gloves? Sounds as if the side effects could be…errr…rather messy…
If you turned your laptop/computer/pen/typewriter (yes, some of still use these!) over to your character(s), how would they describe you?
OMG! This woman is a nutcase and WE ARE TRAPPED IN HER HEAD. Someone—dear God, ANYONE—get us out of here. Please! (Actually, this chick is totally okay. Sort of. But, if we’re all that crap she said about us up there, then she’s Brains smothered in Crazy sauce. Just sayin’.
–Eerie assures me that Crazy Sauce it actually quite delicious….
We all have favorite characters, either main or secondary, and there are always bits and pieces of them we don’t share with our readers, but keep close to our hearts. Choose your favorite from your cast of characters and tell us a couple of things that you haven’t shared in your books/writing.
Ishmael, everybody’s favorite ancient Warrior-slash-kinda-sorta-angel-slash-father-figure-guy is actually the girls’ great (times 20) grandfather. He was married to Joan of Arc, they had a daughter, and the sisters are their great-grand-progeny. To save myself a lot of verbal and genetic tap dancing, I leave this bit out. (When you read the book, you’ll understand why.)
–*spreading out really long family tree chart* I think I’ve got that…
Personally, I tend to be a bit on the introverted side so the thought of being in the actual presence of one of my favorite writers makes my heart race, my knees shake and tangles my tongue (yes classic fan girl behavior). Who could reduce you to such a level and how do you imagine your initial meeting?
Authors like Julie Garwood, Nora Roberts, J. K. Rowling, and Jim Butcher would melt me into a stuttering mess. (I’m kind of embarrassed that list isn’t more scholarly. I have a degree in English Lit, for goodness’ sake!) The encounter would only be worth relating because of the probable loss of control over my bodily functions. Really. It wouldn’t be pretty. At the very least, I’d develop diarrhea of the mouth as I did when I met Aaron Douglas (the actor who played Chief Tyrol in Syfy’s Battlestar Galactica) and threaten to kiss them (again, as I did—never mind). On a side note, I recently met Darynda Jones and Deanna Raybourn. I had no idea who they were, so I behaved in a completely appropriate manner. (I’m so ashamed.
–Well, I can tell you from personal experience, Jim Butcher is quite understanding of drool and gibberish. Nora Roberts may back up a little, but she’s rather polite about not getting spit on her shoes. Years ago, I got to attend one of Nora Roberts’ signings in Oregon and she was quite nice, even as I stuttered out my name while my hubby had to pry the book she was signing out of my hands. Got luck enough to meet Jim at a signing in Scottsdale a few years back and he was hilarious, so far out of my funny league, I could only stand there in silent adoration.
Whether we’re plotters or pantsers (outlines not needed), creating our stories takes us on very memorable journeys. Sometimes we may be part way through before we realize some major aspect of our story is just not working (plot, character, setting). Have you ever hit this sharp, pointy snag and if so, how did you escape? We’re you battered and bruised or a bloody mess?
Agh! I’d almost finished The Broken when a good friend (and critique-er) of mine told me that it moved too quickly in the beginning. My characters fell in love way too fast. I hadn’t planned it that way but skipped ahead of my own brief outline because it’d seemed the thing to do at the time. I knew she was right, but I hated going back and rewriting. I ended up putting in three extra chapters and hated every moment of it. Those 15,000 words took me three years to write. (I do NOT pout. Seriously, I don’t. Okay, maybe I do. A little.
–So I guess if I complain about rewriting the first third of HUNTED BY THE PAST, three separate times in four months, you’d just kick me uh?
What’s the one genre you won’t ever try and why?
Murder mysteries. Ugh. I can’t imagine how organized a person must be to keep all those little clues lined up and in order for an entire book. I can’t even find my car keys half the time
–We have car keys? Where? There’s a car that goes with them? Seriously? How did I miss that?
Share if you dare, one of your favorite research experiences. Did you join a ghost hunters group? Did you step outside your comfort zone and into the wild world of your characters?
My favorite research experience was traveling to the Middle East on a biblical history tour. I didn’t know I was going to use that knowledge in my writing yet, but it grabbed hold of me and didn’t let go. But the best part of the entire experience was getting to walk the land of my mother’s family. The moment I stepped foot in Lebanon, it was as if all the voices of my ancestors rushed to greet me. The warm wind blowing in from the Mediterranean became their sweet spirits wrapping me in a welcoming embrace. I felt them in my bones, and it was divine. (The memory totally just gave me goosebumps!)
—Ooooohhh, I’m kind of jealous….but love the pic…
Okay, Julia, time for our bullet list. Is your vest on? Face shield down? Good…here we go….
Blades, guns, fists or feet?
All of the above. I take Tae Kwon Do, and I’ve got my own Ruger 9mm.
–I bring forth the Krav Maga, and am currently shopping Sig and Ruger.
Favorite Fairy Tale of all time?
Disney? I’ve abandoned my early ‘90s love affairs and switched allegiances to Brave and Frozen.
–We’ll accept Brave….
Three titles and their authors sitting on your nightstand/bookcase/table/floor waiting to be read?
First Grave on the Left—Darynda Jones
Biblical Literacy—Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
Ender’s Game—Orson Scott Card
Greatest one liner of all time?
Mine? “Yeah, sure…then again, I’m confused by my own shoelaces, so don’t quote me.”
Film? “It’s a banded, bulbous, snarflatt.”
–*snort*
Sarcastic witticism, Southern sweetness or Geeky disdain?
Geeky disdain. (Always go for the geek!)
Strangest item currently taking up space in your writing cave?
A movie poster I ordered my m-i-l for Christmas. It was supposed to be the DVD. (I’m a smart person, I swear!)
Favorite supernatural creature?
Angels.
–Those wings tend to help offset the horns, I found…
Much love and thanks go to Julia for spending time with and indulging our curiosity. Time to turn our spotlight on you, our lovely audience. I want to know, if you could go anywhere in the world, where would we find you? Leave your answer and email in the comments below and one of you could be lucky enough to get a copy of Julia’s THE BROKEN.
Can’t wait? Then, go check out THE BROKEN.
Born into a family of Guardians—extraordinarily gifted humans who fight demons to protect mortal souls—seventeen year old Rose Kazin shows no signs of being blessed with the supernatural talents her family has used for generations to fight demons. When she and her father figure, an age old celestial Warrior, are horribly wounded in an ambush, Rose awakens to find a younger Warrior, Ouriel, has volunteered to stand in as her protector. She rails against his presence, but Ouriel seems interested in only one thing—teaching Rose how to protect herself from the demons she was never supposed to fight.
Get yours: AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE
Julia Joseph taught Theatre for nine years in Texas middle and high schools, where she wrote and produced three original plays for her students. In 2011, Julia left teaching to devote all of her energy to her own children and to writing a novel. She earned her B. A. in English Literature and Language with a focus in Drama from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.
Julia spends most of her free time reading, writing, and chauffeuring her kids between activities. She lives happily with her husband and two children wherever the Army happens to station them.
You can find me at:
http://www.juliajosephauthor.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/juliajosephauthor
January 29, 2014
Ch..ch..changes…
Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.
–Bob Dylan
So here’s the deal. The morning I signed my second publishing contract with Muse It Up Publishing for HUNTED BY THE PAST (coming Summer 2014) and danced my way into my dearest Starbucks to embark upon my writing day for SHADOW’S CURSE, I got a phone call.
Not the kind of phone call I expected while I was riding high from signing my name to a brand, spankin’ new contract. Nope, this phone call was all about how my life can change in the time it takes a cell phone to ring.
The Knight and I decided to rent our little shack when the Garden Gnomes came to live with us. It’s been great. Unfortunately our Giant landlords have decided they would like to reinvent themselves, sell our shack and continue on another path.
I’ve got nothing against that, go forth and do what’s best for you and yours. No harm, no foul.
However, now me and mine have three months to relocate. Umm, yeah, if I had any inkling this was coming, I could have prepared better. Instead, I’m now asking sleep to take an extended vacation while I figure out exactly what the Knight and I need to do to get this new adventure under way.
While we had planned on making a shack our own someday, we hadn’t quite thought we’d be doing it RIGHT FRICKIN’ NOW.
I’m not a great change person. Change and I argue over things. So for the last couple of days, we’ve been having a hell of an argument.
*Sigh* But I know how it goes, so I’m pulling up my big girl panties, making plans, altering others, and determined to hit deadlines, even if it means mainlining caffeine.
Guess life was just getting a little too quiet, or I tempted fate once too many times about being able to plan things.
Time to rock-n-roll.
*heading for the door to scour the neighboring abodes*
January 22, 2014
Melissa Groeling’s New Release LIGHTS OUT sheds a harsh light on tough topics #Suspense #Occult #mystery #thriller
Today we have the pleasure of visiting with our friend, Melissa Groeling. Of course, catching her was a bit of a challenge. She kept muttering something about a new release as she dashed about the blogverse. When she finally fell into our trap stopped, we managed to interrogate ask her a few insightful questions.
If you feel the need to assist in keeping her calm, don’t forget to pick up your copy of LIGHTS OUT, her second book, and watch your back as you travel through Paul Holten’s dark and disturbing world.
For now, I give you Melissa!
*aside to Eerie* Why don’t you go check on your free range Zombie herd, you might be down a few head…
Jami! Hey there! *pauses to catch breath* Just barely made it past those shambling hordes you mentioned down at the end of your driveway. Persistent little buggers, aren’t they? So hey, you know it’s good to be here…in one piece too. Thanks so much for having me once again! I considered babbling through my own post for this second go-round but I was reading these questions you sent me and well, some of them were just too good to pass up. So if I may…
If your character(s) came with a warning label, what would it say?
Paul Holten, my main character from Lights Out, who I tormented relentlessly, has so many issues he’s a lot like those old cars with ten thousand bumper stickers slapped on the back end. With all the edges overlapping, the pictures faded and blackened with exhaust smoke. But the one warning that would be clear would say something like, “Beware: Unstable Ground Ahead.” Now Aaron who is Paul’s boss, would have a warning label in a neon sign over his head. I imagine it would say something like, “Dangerous Curve Ahead.”
Yeah. These two guys are not really conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
–We all know “healthy” isn’t as much fun as “demented”.
If you turned your laptop/computer/pen/typewriter (yes, some of still use these!) over to your character(s), how would they describe you?
I guarantee that every single one of my characters would describe me as confused and slightly unhinged. They would demand to know why I’m putting them through so much crap. They would probably scream at me to give them something to smile about and I try! I really do but…*sighs* I just can’t. They would call me mean, heartless but I’m trying my best to get them through their issues! Believe me, it’s hard work getting them to see things my way.
–Tell ‘em to pull up their big boy pants cuz there’s no such thing as great art without a little pain and suffering. (Yeah, tried that with Raine, have the scars to show how well that went over…)
What is some of the best advice you were ever given?
I am going to say the most cliché line ever but man, is it the truth: don’t give up. If you give up, you’re only going to regret it later. Then you’ll have nothing but resentment and you’ll end up taking it out on your wife, your husband, your parents, anyone because you didn’t follow through. If you want something bad enough, you go after it and you keep going after it until you get it. Plain and simple.
–Amen, sister!
Share if you dare, one of your favorite research experiences. Did you join a ghost hunters group? Did you step outside your comfort zone and into the wild world of your characters?
Okay, so this wasn’t really research, per say but when I was writing my first book, Beauty Marks, my main protagonist had been splashed with something…and I’m not going to tell you what because that would give it away. *winks* As a result of being splashed, she was left with some brutal-looking scars. So my job was to find out just where the scars would fall given the distance and the amount of the stuff that was thrown at her. Does that make sense? I hope so. So this was in the middle of February and it was at least 20 degrees outside. I stood on the deck, outside (there was no way I was going to do this indoors—what a mess!) and my dad stood about three feet away from me and tossed a glass of water at me. I jotted down where the water marks were on my T-shirt. Then I changed my shirt, had my dad stand about six feet back and he tossed another glass of water at me. I was laughing so hard I think I ended up snorting half the water up my nose when it hit me. My dad of course was having a field day and my mom was taking pictures. It was insane so apparently I will risk hypothermia for a book!
–Love it! The sacrifices we make for our writing.
We’ve lost Melissa again (Eerie, I told to hold that rope tighter!), but we did get the following bullet list out of her before her disappearing act…
Blades, guns, fists or feet?
Blades
–The bestest things ever!
Favorite Fairy Tale of all time?
Beauty and the Beast
–I’m amazed at how many writers love this one (including me).
Three titles and their authors sitting on your nightstand/bookcase/table/floor waiting to be read?
White Fire by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Grim Reaper—End of Days by Steve Alten
–mmmm, variety, the spice of life…
Greatest one liner of all time?
See ya in the funny pages!
Sarcastic witticism, Southern sweetness or Geeky disdain?
Sarcastic witticism
–Of course!
Strangest item currently taking up space in your writing cave?
A plush laughing skull that no longer laughs
–What does it say about us that we have skulls on our desk? Mine has some lovely tribal artwork…
Favorite supernatural creature?
Hmmmm….Shape-shifter
Ready to find out just how tough it can get for an assassin? Then pick up your copy of LIGHTS OUT by Melissa Groeling. Shoo *waving hands* go forth, my faithful Swamp followers. Just make sure you keep the lights on!
Even when the lights are out, he can still see you…
Paul Holten’s profession doesn’t leave much room for doubt or conscience but he’s reaching his breaking point. The nightmares are getting worse, the jobs are getting harder to finish and the volatile relationship with his boss, Aaron, is falling apart. Now faced with the possibility of an impending death sentence, Paul makes the fatal decision to run. Drawn into one hellish situation after another, he’s forced to confront his dark past—and wonder if perhaps dying isn’t the better option.
Available NOW:
AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE SMASHWORDS ARe GOODREADS
Melissa Groeling graduated from Bloomsburg University with a degree in English. She lives, reads and writes in the Philadelphia region and wherever else life happens to send her. She is a hardcore New York Giants fan and loves chocolate. Lights Out is her second novel to date.
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January 21, 2014
January 15, 2014
@JadeKerrion has a new release–ETERNAL NIGHT #newrelease #pnr #newread
So check out the awesome excerpt below, then grab your copy of ETERNAL NIGHT!
“What makes Kerrion’s writing so compelling is the beautifully flawed characters that find themselves in unexpected relationships…these kind of character level conflicts make Kerrion’s writing so deliciously addictive.”—Noor A Jahangir, Author of The Changeling King
“Everything you want in a great story. Love, intrigue, action, betrayal, and understanding.”—Ch’kara Silverwolf, Author of Daughter of Light and Dark
Alone for a millennium, since a human murdered her beloved consort, Ashra, the immortal icrathari queen, rules over Aeternae Noctis, the domed city of eternal night. Her loneliness appears to be at an end when her consort’s soul is reborn in a human, Jaden Hunter, but their reunion will not be easy.
Icrathari are born, not made. If Ashra infuses Jaden with her immortal blood, he will be a vampire, a lesser creature of the night, a blood-drinker rather than a soul-drinker.
Furthermore, Jaden is sworn to protect his half-sister, five-year-old Khiarra. She is the child of prophecy, destined to end the eternal night and the dominion of the Night Terrors—the icrathari and the vampires.
As Ashra struggles to sustain her crumbling kingdom in the face of enemies without and treachery within, Jaden fights to defend his sister and unravel a greater mystery: what is the city of eternal night, and how did it come to be?
E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords
Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository
READ AN EXCERPT
With Tera beside her, Ashra strode forward. A wall of vampires parted to reveal the other two icrathari, Siri and Elsker. A dark-haired human slumped at Elsker’s feet, his wrists cuffed behind his back. Ashra stifled a chuckle. Surely Tera was overreacting; the human was by far the weakest creature in the chamber.
Tera knelt down, wrapped her fingers into the human’s hair, and pulled his head back. The human’s face was handsome enough—the slash of his cheekbones accentuated his perfectly proportioned, sculptured features—but taken as a whole, he was not compelling enough to justify the fuss.
Ashra shrugged. “You’re wasting my time, Tera.”
Apparently undeterred, the icrathari warlord shook the human hard. His eyes flashed open. They were brilliant green, the exact color of the emerald ring Ashra wore on the index finger of her right hand. His gaze was unfocused, and the reflexive narrowing of his eyes matched the clenching of his jaw, hinting of wrenching pain.
Tera looked up and met Ashra’s gaze. “Taste his soul.”
Ashra recoiled, her upper lip curling in disgust. She had no desire to taste a human’s soul. Over the centuries, humans had grown weak, their small lives consumed by superstition and fear. It was better to live on the edge of perpetual starvation than fill her hunger with the pitiful excuse humans called a soul.
“Go deep,” Tera said.
But why? Ashra’s brow furrowed. She glanced at Siri and Elsker, but the two icrathari shrugged, apparently no more clued in than she was. She looked back at Tera. The icrathari warlord known as Ashra’s Blade was the epitome of calm understatement. If she was so insistent, she must have had a reason.
Ashra knelt beside the human. Without flinching, she placed her hand against his muscled abdomen. It was bloody, his flesh ripped by a vampire’s talons.
The man tensed at her touch, and his eyes flared wide with agony when her soul-sucking powers leeched into him. His breath came hard and fast, his chest heaving with the effort as he twisted in Tera’s unyielding grip, trying to break free.
Ashra’s eyes narrowed. The human was weakened—tapped into his life source, she waded through his dazed thoughts and shivered from the echo of each spasm of pain that wracked his body—but still, he fought Tera on the physical plane and Ashra on the psychic dimension, denying her access to his memories and to his soul.
She frowned and slammed her will against his, tearing an anguished scream from his throat, but still, his will did not crumble.
Askance, Ashra looked at Tera. “Did you taste him?”
Tera nodded. “It wasn’t hard the first time; he didn’t know what to expect, but apparently, he does now and is doing a fine job of fighting back.”
Was that grudging respect she heard in Tera’s voice? “Does his soul really matter?”
The icrathari nodded again.
Ashra’s shoulders shifted with the motion of a silent sigh. His resistance left her with little choice. She leaned forward and glided her lips over his in a whisper of a kiss.
Human myths spoke of succubi and incubi—demons that, with a touch, could stir lust in their unwilling victims. All myths were based in reality. The maddening beauty and soul-sucking powers of the icrathari had spawned the legends of succubi and incubi. With a touch, the icrathari could lure their victims into a state of sexual ecstasy, bending the will and baring the soul.
The human tensed against Ashra, resisting the intimate contact. She almost recoiled. Had the centuries dulled her innate powers? Surely she had not forgotten how to lure a man.
She closed her eyes and remembered love.
As always, Rohkeus’s fine-featured face—those beautiful gold-flecked green eyes, so unusual for an icrathari, and teasing smile—came to the fore. With a dreamy half-smile, she deepened the kiss, driving the memory of love before her like a sharpened stake.
At last, the man relaxed, succumbing to the kiss. She leaned into him, heedless of his crimson blood staining her white gown. He was warm, feverish even. Just skimming over six feet, he had more than twelve inches on her, but his physical strength, compared to hers, was puny. She was well aged; over four millennia old, she was the oldest of the icrathari and the strongest. She could have broken his neck with as little effort as a human child snapping a twig.
Her hand trailed across his muscled torso. He made it easy for her to be gentle. His body trembled as if he longed for her. His mouth was hungry for her kiss. He arched up against her, as if craving more. His need was like a living creature, wild and aching for her touch.
Eyes closed, Ashra shivered. Only one other person had desired her as much.
And he was dead.
She forced her way through the memories of pale bodies tangled upon cool silk sheets. When her soul-sucking power leeched out, it found no opposition. Images of the human’s life rewound in a blaze of vivid sights, sounds, and sensations.
Ashra looked up at Tera, her smile little more than a barely perceptible curve of her lips. “He fancies himself the protector of the child of prophecy. Was she among those taken tonight?”
Tera nodded.
Ashra chuckled, the sound without humor. “It’s a pity her genetic heritage wasn’t sufficiently superior to prevent her from being culled.”
“There’s more. Go deep.”
She pushed past the blackness at the start of his memories, expecting deeper darkness. Instead, the colors shifted into shades of ochre and gray. Memories, older than his body, resided in his soul; memories of an Earth long since lost to them—a planet surrounded and nourished by water; images of tall buildings glistening beneath a benevolent sun, and of thriving cities filled with the bustle of humans; memories of quiet and intimate conversations beneath a silver moon, the same silver moon that now graced Malum Turris with its light, though a thousand years older and viewed only from beneath the protection of the dome.
She saw herself as he must have seen her, a much-younger icrathari, still hopeful for the future, never realizing that the Earth they had all known and loved was irretrievably lost. Had she ever looked that vulnerable? Had her smile ever been so beautiful, so filled with love as she looked upon—
“Rohkeus?” Oh, blessed Creator, was that stricken whisper her voice?
~*~
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January 8, 2014
2014–It’s going to be a BIG ONE! #newreleases #pnr #romance #goals #coverreveal
Before we get into the swing of 2014, here at the Swamp we do the annual creation and review of writerly goals for the Evil 7 (or 8). This means we’re trying to hold ourselves accountable while grasping for our writer dream.
For me, the last few months have been a hectic whirlwind.
My NaNo attempt fell short (hit 39K out of 50K)
My EDJ (Evil Day Job–a nifty new term I’ve learned and come to adore) has been undergoing a flux like the Time Vortex under the stunning gaze of our endearing Time Lords (yes, most of my holidays were spent with the Prankster Duo and a marathon of The Legendary Dr. Who),
Black Opal’s THINGS THAT GO BUMP FOR THE HOLIDAYS came out in December, including my Kyn short: WRAPPED FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Having all those great authors come visit was fun, but now I have to clean up the place.
The shack has become Grand Central Station during the end of year celebrations.
I had multiple offers for my new Paranormal Romantic Suspense series and after whirling like a dervish, I finally, FINALLY got to put my name to paper with an awesome house… (insert name here), so now I can officially say I’m multi-published.
Which means 2014 will be mad, I tell you, absolutely MAD, because:
SHADOW’S MOON, the third book of the Kyn Kronicles will be out in Spring/Summer 2014 by Black Opal Books. And here is the COVER:
In May the Knight and I are joining Might Dwarf at the 2014 Romantic Times Reader Convention in New Orleans. ((mad dancing abounds)). For those who don’t know about this conference, it’s like a Red Carpet event for writers and readers. Since I can technically claim both statuses, and it’s in a city that’s on my bucket list to see, I’M EXCITED!
Then we come home, and, if my current contract negotiations go well, HUNTED BY THE PAST, the first book in my Paranormal Romantic Suspense, Psy-IV Teams series will release in Summer 2014. Once the ink is dried on the contract, I’ll tell you who I’m lucky to be publishing with, so stay tuned.
Then, then, as if that was not enough for any writer to giggle manically about, my fourth Kyn book is coming in Fall 2014 from Black Opal, SHADOW’S CURSE.
So because I have so much going on, I decided it is time to create a….NEWSLETTER.
See that nifty link over there in the upper right corner, you can click there and sign up. I’m hoping to have my first one out in Feb/March. It may only come out a couple of times a year, but still, I wanted a way to reach out to my awesome audience.
Don’t worry, I don’t share your emails with anyone, not even under threat of death, so you’re safe.
I’ve got a couple other events throughout the year planned, but I’ll keep you posted as they come up.
Now, last year we had some of the most fabulous author interviews, and this year is looking just as exciting. Check out the Where Am I? Who’s Here? tab. Kaylea Cross, Deborah Cooke, Martha Bourke, Melissa Groeling, Mona Karel, Pamela Cross, Cynthia Eden and OH SO MANY MORE! (think Despicable Me “It’s so fluffy!” voice).
((big gasp of air))
And all of this would not have been possible without all of YOU! Thank you, all of you, sincerely, for following my blog and continuing to follow–through the interviews, rambling, chaotic writer posts, and blog hops.
Here’s to a rousing 2014!
January 1, 2014
Coming soon–SHADOW’S MOON…come get hooked! #MRFWhooks #bookhooks #PNR #shifters
I don’t have my cover yet (that too shall be coming), but I wanted to share anyway!
SHADOW’S MOON, the third installment of the Kyn Kronicles…
As the Northwest Alpha wolf, compromise isn’t in Warrick Vidis’s vocabulary, but when his reluctant mate, Xander Cade, refuses to leave off the hunt for the one threatening their pack, will he be able to bend before they both break?
A blonde, a brunette and a monster walk into a bar and all hell breaks loose.
It should have been the start of a bad joke, but days from a full moon Xander Cade, Tracker for the Northwest Motoki Pack, finds nothing funny about confronting an enraged Shifter in a crowded Portland nightclub filled with unsuspecting humans. The resulting carnage begins to fray the thin veil of secrecy shielding the supernatural Kyn community from public scrutiny. It also ensures there is no escaping the one man she’s been determined to avoid, her Alpha and mate, Warrick Vidis. Dominating, protective and compelling, Warrick threatens her individuality like no other.
Warrick Vidis has no qualms using whoever or whatever necessary to protect his Pack, or his very reluctant mate. A series of unusual deaths involving lone wolves and anonymous threats against him and his Pack jeopardizes his normal steely control. Add in Xander’s continual reluctance to fully accept their Soul bond, and the line between intellect and instinct begins to blur leaving him wondering if one woman’s love and acceptance will be enough to save both man and wolf.
As the danger escalates, threatening not just their Pack but those closest to them, Warrick and Xander must find a way to trust each other and accept their rare bond or risk losing everything-their pack, their friends and each other.
If you want to catch up before Spring, get your copies of SHADOW’S EDGE and SHADOW’S SOUL, available now!
AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE SMASHWORDS ARe BLACK OPAL BOOKS
AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE SMASHWORDS ARe BLACK OPAL BOOKS
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December 25, 2013
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
I want to wish all my loyal Swamp Followers, friends, family and anyone reading this a wonderful Christmas and an exciting New Year.
Thank you so much for sharing 2013 with me. Here’s to another year filled with joy and laughter!
And to ensure a grin, I have to share this lovely piece with you (however, I have to admit to stealing it from Ilona Andrews.)
December 20, 2013
Spotlight’s on Bonnie Vaughan’s contribution to THINGS THAT GO BUMP FOR THE HOLIDAYS! #paranormal #anthology @spacebornishere #SciFic
Available now: AMAZON or BLACK OPAL BOOKS
Jami, thanks for hosting me on your blog and for spreading the word about THINGS THAT GO BUMP FOR THE HOLIDAYS. It looks like the perfect extra gift. I’m signing copies and putting them under the tree for my children and grandchildren, but shh, don’t tell them before December 25.
“An Unexpected Blessing” has an ending that might tingle your spine. I can’t wait to read the other stories in the book. My husband, Lee Vaughan, says they’re very good.
The following excerpt is from SPACEBORN, my science fiction novel about a pregnant astrogeologist who discovers something strange on Mars, published by Black Opal Books this year.
Michelle drove Morgan, Randy, and Vlad to the site. The others emerged from the portable habitat in their spacesuits just as the new team joined them.
Jamese walked up to Morgan and blocked her progress. “Why did you come? We can do our jobs without you looking over our shoulders.”
Morgan stopped and waited, without speaking. Anything she said would give Jamese something to criticize. It would be best to let the others handle her.
“Please move aside,” Cass said.
“We didn’t say we needed her here,” Jamese said, not moving. “She doesn’t have to take credit for everything.”
Randy stepped between the women. “We should turn on the broadcast now, Jamese. Would you mind narrating again?”
“She shouldn’t even be outside,” Jamese said before she moved out of the way and started recording.
Morgan set her suit camera and radio for broadcast as she started walking uphill. She held back what she wanted to say to Jamese so that it wouldn’t reach Earth.
“The rest of the Pax crew came out to see the remains that the exploration team found this morning,” Jamese said for the distant audience. “This discovery might prove to be the most significant of all at the excavation site.”
“Over here,” Aiden said, motioning for them to hurry.
Morgan had never seen his eyes open so wide beneath his untamed forelock, which his comm-cap could not contain. She rushed to his side, put her helmet faceplate against his, and said, “Congratulations on your amazing find.”
He jumped up and down like a child who couldn’t wait to show his mother a new drawing. His boots kicked up sprays of dust each time he bounced off the red soil.
“Come see it.”
Morgan walked over to a shallow pit and looked down. Long, tubular objects lay at the bottom like scattered pipes. Could they be bones?
She knelt and leaned over for a closer look. Near the edge of the pit she saw a tiny spot of green. “Michelle, would you please bring me the tweezers?”
“Here.” Michelle handed her the foot-long instrument.
Morgan grasped the green object with her tongs and lifted it up in the pale light of the Martian afternoon. The end of the tongs held a ring.”
Bonnie Vaughan became fascinated with space travel when the first lunar lander took off from the moon, a feat she had thought was impossible. As the author of numerous newspaper and magazine articles, her most exciting interview was with Colonel Al Worden, pilot of the Apollo 15 command module, who told her how fragile the Earth looked from a distance. A journalism degree from San Jose State University landed her a job as an award-winning technical writer, including an Award of Distinguished Technical Communication from the Society for Technical Communication in 2013. She has authored many software books for Silicon Valley companies and writes her own science fiction stories on weekends, at home in San Jose, California.
Visit her website at www.bonniegvaughan.com.
