Karen Swart's Blog, page 30

February 23, 2015

Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: An Opportunity Seized by @donnag63

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An Opportunity Seized -  Haven Security Series # 1 by Donna Gallagher
Audience: Adult/ Erotic - Genre: Thriller and Suspense, Rubenesque - Formats: E-book -  Publisher: Totally Bound - Cover by: Posh Gosh – Totally Bound Publishing - Editor: Sarah Smeaton – Totally Bound Publishing - Pages: 140 pages (50K) - ASIN: can be send later - Date Published: 13th February 2015   blurb

Book one in the Haven Security series
Two unforeseen moments in time— One brings them together—the other is a danger so real it could tear them apart.
Antoinette ‘Toni’ Grimaldi prefers to keep out of the spotlight, blend in with the crowd and experience life the same as the bulk of the population. Being a mining magnate’s daughter is a difficult persona for her to uphold. She just doesn’t fit in with high society standards, always managing to say something inappropriate or trip over her own feet at the worst possible moment, resulting in that look of disappointment and embarrassment her parents inevitably wear whenever she’s around.
Meeting a handsome stranger who comes to her rescue and asks her out on a date is so much more than Toni could have ever hoped for on her dream holiday—one she is surprised her parents have even permitted her to take alone. Her fairy-tale moment is short-lived, though, when Toni discovers the stranger has been hired by her family to follow her every move—under the guise of keeping her safe.
Jason finds he is drawn to Antoinette. She is nothing at all like the socialite he was expecting to shadow around London’s nightclubs. After an awkward first meeting, he convinces Toni that there is more to his interest in her than just as her bodyguard. To his surprise, his attraction for the soft-spoken, thoughtful woman grows, despite his usual reluctance to commit to any kind of relationship.
Then a disaster at one of the family-owned mines and a string of death threats force Toni to return home, and her need for a bodyguard becomes a life and death reality.

book links Goodreads / Amazon goodreads Amazon   excerpt

This thing with Toni—whatever it was—was different. Jason wanted more than just a quick romp in the sack. He wanted to hold her in his arms as they fell asleep, after a round or two of some mind-blowing sex, of course. Jason wanted Toni something bad, wanted to feel his cock push between the folds of her pussy. He wanted to hear Toni call his name as he licked and sucked her clit and drove her wild, until the resulting orgasm left her body quivering with satisfaction. Then he would enter her slowly, savouring every new sensation as his cock found space between those slick, wet walls of her cunt.
Even though he wanted this nearly more than he wanted his next breath, Jason had walked Toni to her door, and, after organising a time for them to meet in the morning, he had kissed her lips gently then walked away. It had taken every ounce of his self-control to leave her there with her eyes burning a hole in his back as she’d watched him go.
As a result, Jason now sat in his room, calling himself every name under the sun for being such an idiot and not taking what he’d wanted—Toni naked and lying stretched out on his bed. All the while he ruthlessly pumped his hand up and down his cock to try to give his balls some relief.
He needed to clear his head so he could email the daily report of Toni’s movements to Nathan. Well, as detailed as he could without giving away the fact that he’d blown his cover and was now lying in bed imagining all the ways he wanted to pleasure the daughter of the firm’s biggest client. Yep, Nathan really did not need to read about any of that—his mate would go ballistic.
* * * *
Toni couldn’t sleep. Looking at the clock again and finding out that only a few minutes had passed, she kicked the sheets off her legs with exasperation. Her body was on fire, the sheets too heavy against her skin. She’d flung off her nightie twenty minutes ago as the fabric had abraded her sensitive nipples—nipples that had remained hard and wanting—or, more precisely, wanting Jason ever since he had left her at her door. This is ridiculous. I should just go bang on his door until he lets me in and gives me an orgasm so I can bloody sleep. What’s the point of knowing he’s next door if I can’t take advantage of it? It had been a bit of a shock at first when Jason had admitted to being in the room next to hers all along. Toni was convinced she had just invented a new form of torture.
She wanted to feel Jason’s hands on her body so badly it hurt. As she unconsciously ground her pelvis against the mattress, imagining how it would feel to have his lips around her nipples with his hard body, heavy and warm, over hers, she’d been close to orgasm. It had taken Toni a few seconds to realise what she was doing. She’d been so busy imagining what it would feel like to have Jason touching her, she had lost control.
“Aaargh,” Toni groaned again as she punched the pillow repeatedly with her clenched fist. I’m going to look delightful in the morning, bags on bags, a bloody set of luggage under my eyes if I don’t get some sleep.
The bed linen felt like it was lined with barbed wire and ultimately won the war declared on her sexually frustrated and sensitised skin. She had suffered enough. Toni got up from the bed, then shook her head as she looked at the tangle of twisted sheets she’d left behind. She found her dressing gown and slipped her arms through the sleeve openings. The light and delicate fabric of her luxurious covering might as well have been a sheet of sandpaper rubbing against her body.
After tucking her room key into the pocket, she quietly opened her door, just enough to poke her head outside and check that the corridor was clear. Finding it empty and not hearing any sound of approaching footsteps, Toni pulled the door closed behind her until the sound of the lock clicked into place—a sound that in the still of the corridor seemed like the boom of a bass drum being struck.
She took the three steps that separated her room from Jason’s and, summoning up all the bravado she could muster, Toni knocked on the door. It was really more like a brush of her fingertips against the two inch thick wood, but it was the best she could manage, given that she was already trying to quell the sound of her heart pumping so loudly that it was probably making enough noise to wake the entire hotel.
For one short moment Toni imagined a squad of firemen, fully suited up, with hoses and axes at the ready, racing down the hallway searching for the source of the loud thumping horn that sounded like an alarm but was in fact her heart beating. If he doesn’t open the door by the time I count to ten, I’m going back to my room and will just have to deal with the sexual tension I’m feeling myself… One… Two…

Author Interview

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

 No. I’ve always loved to read, the voices in my head only made themselves known a few years ago.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

 I still find it foreign calling myself that. When I attend conferences, I’m usually busy being a fan girl, gushing over (stalking) my favorite authors. I still get a bit of a shock when someone asks for an autograph.

How long did it take to get your first book published?

 I was very lucky and hit gold on my first submission. I submitted my manuscript to Totally Bound Publishing and was picked up by my first editor, Amy Parker. With her help we polished up my writing enough to be offered a contract. Then Totally Bound contracted all the books in my League of Love series, so I’ve stuck with them.

Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?

Yes, I do boring admin work. Luckily I can work from home and one of the bosses is my hubby ;)

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

An Opportunity Seized. Reluctant heiress gets a good dose of reality and some mind-blowing sex with the help of her sexy, ex-soldier bodyguard.

Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?

 I’m published by Totally Bound Publishing – they’re awesome.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

Before I went through my first official editing, I could pump out a book in about two weeks. Now it takes me a lot longer, my muse is fickle and doesn’t like to hang around when I’m doing promotional work or not fully focused on him/her. It’s one of the things I find the most difficult, trying to keep up with all the promotional aspects of releasing a book. And the time differences, Australia is asleep when everything happens. I also find that I’m getting distracted trying to create a manuscript that won’t need lengthy editing. So far, I’m not really going so well with that, my edits are always extensive.

What can we expect from you in the future?  ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

 I’ve started book 3 in my Haven Security series and I’d like to do another footy book to round out that series. I really enjoy reading paranormal books and would love to give that a go at some stage.

What genre would you place your books into?

An Opportunity Seized is a Contemporary Erotic Suspense story.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

 After writing seven books in my sports genre, League of Love series I really wanted to try something else. I love reading ex-soldier turned bodyguard books, so thought I’d give it ago. My heroes are all Aussies.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

 I have a soft spot for JT (Mandy’s He-man) he is always chatting away in my head making smart-ass comments about the other heroes. For my new Haven Security series I think Chris Winters is going to be a favorite. I’m writing his story now. Well I should be but he is missing in action at the moment!

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?

 I’ve been writing since 2010 and my first book was published in 2012. It took me a long time to work up the courage to submit the manuscript. So glad I did. It wasn’t so much I was inspired to write, it was more if I didn’t, the voices were going to keep chattering away at me. I wrote to get some peace and quiet.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

 I’m an avid sports fan – the Aussie footy rugby league is my sport of choice but I will watch anything. So, Foxtel sports channel is usually on when I’m at my writing spot. My work desk is in an alcove just off the living area – we call it a lounge-room, ‘cause you know it has a lounge/sofa in it, and it’s where the family congregates to watch television. The house is empty during the day, just me and my furbaby.

 Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?

I really shouldn’t but I do. I’ve been lucky most of my reviews have been very positive.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

The title usually appears as I’m writing the story.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

 This will sound strange but the voices in my head tell me their names. It’s usually the hero that talks to me but sometimes the heroine chimes in as well. Laura, from Laura’s Light (book 3 in my League of Love series) has been the only heroine that has taken control of a story.

Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")

Yes, there does seem to be a reason for each book. I’ve written about coping with depression, single motherhood, low self-esteem, marriage problems due to lack of communication and PTSD.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

 I only read ebooks these days. I have my library downloaded onto my phone and iPad, so all my lovely books and authors are with me wherever I go. My husband rues the day he gave me my first smartphone ;)

What is your favorite book and Why?  Have you read it more than once?

 The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke by N.j. Walters. I love this book and when I feel a little down I re-read it. I’m not sure why this book, in a fabulous series, sticks out for me but it does. I love that Shamus didn’t judge Cindy by her past mistakes, even if it caused him trouble with his family.

Your favorite singer/group is?

 Toss-up between Evanescence and Good Charlotte at the moment but I have many favorites.

Your favorite color is?

Black – Yes, I know it’s not really a color!

Your favorite Author is?

 N.j. Walters.

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about the author
image A few years ago when the sensual, male voices in Australian-born Donna Gallagher’s head became too loud to ignore there were only two options available – check herself into a mental hospital or put pen to paper and write.
A voracious reader and avid sports fan it was no surprise that her first seven books were based around her beloved sport of rugby league. A former WAG Donna had plenty of personal experience to fall back on as she created her fictional team of hunky Aussie sports heroes and the women that won their hearts.
A double finalist in the Australian Romance Readers Awards 2013 for Favourite Erotic Romance with her books Emily’s Cowboy and Sarah’s Soldier, Donna was also thrilled to be named a finalist for ARRA’s Favourite Australian Romance Author and Favourite Continuing Romance Series.
While sports romances will always hold a special place in her heart Donna has now expanded her genres to include romantic suspense with her soon to be released Haven Security series and a sexy, short, contemporary erotic story A Fruitful Intimacy set on a tropical island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Her years as a WAG may not have lived up to the happy-ever-after she creates in her books but a second shot at love has proven a winner. Donna is now happily married to her very own hero. She lives a ten minute drive from Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House with her three grown sons, two turtles and a very spoilt mini dachshund called Toni.

media links
Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Pinterest / Google + / Totally Bound wordpress Amazon facebook goodreads google Pinterest Twitter   follow the tour
Tour Schedule - One Week Blog Tour for An Opportunity Seized by Donna Gallagher from Feb 16 to 24, 2015. Feb 16 Rustys Reading http://www.rustysreading.blogspot.com The Avid Reader http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom http://bookyramblingsofaneuroticmom.blogspot.co.uk/ Feb 17 Indy Book Fairy http://paranormalbookfairy.blogspot.com/ Eclipse Reviews http://eclipsereviews.weebly.com Feb 18 Sweet Treat Reading Reviews http://strreviews.blogspot.com/ Pick a Genre Already  http://pickagenrealready.blogspot.ca Archaeolibrarian - I dig good books! http://archaeolibrarianologist.blogspot.de/ Feb 19 Bound 2 Escape http://www.bound2escape.com Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog http://fictionalrendezvousbookblog.blogspot.com/ One Last Page Book Blog Http://onelastpagebookblog.blogspot.com Feb 20 Deal Sharing Aunt http://www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com Deborah's Blog of Book Reviews, Spotlights and More http://deborahfavoritebooks.blogspot.com/ Room With Books http://roomwithbooks.com Feb 23 Angels with Attitude Book Reviews http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-joelle.blogspot.com A Little Bit of R&R http://alittlebitofrnr.com/ Feb 24 Tailorereads http://tailoredreads.blogspot.com Hooked on Books http://hookedonbooksforever.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1&zx=8f0628a04d78920 Portals to New Worlds http://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com
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Published on February 23, 2015 23:30

Book blast, Giveaway & Interview: A Lost Love Returns by Thomas Briar

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Book Blast

 

clip_image002_thumb[1]A Lost Love Returns

Thomas Briar

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Publisher: MuseItHOT Publishing

Date of Publication: August 28, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-77127-572-9

Number of pages: 22

Word Count: 4793 words

Cover Artist: Celairen

Book Trailer: None

Book Description:

Three years after her boyfriend's mysterious disappearance, Clarissa has finally recovered enough to move on with her life. She's graduated from college, found a good job, and is engaged to someone else now. She is happy once again.

So why has Jake, her long lost first love, suddenly turned back up in Key West, Florida at their favorite sidewalk café? Where had he been and what had he been doing during his absence?

But most important of all, what could he possibly want from her after all this time?

Available at Amazon

Excerpt

Clarissa looked up from her espresso to suffer a shock of disbelief. She blinked several times, thinking her eyes must be deceiving her. It couldn't be him. It just couldn't be.

Yet, there he sat three tables away from her—the lost love of her life—having returned to Key West and their favorite sidewalk café from…? She honestly couldn’t say because she didn't know where he'd disappeared to or the reason behind his sudden abandonment of her three years ago.

She trembled in the warm morning air as a plethora of emotions assaulted her beleaguered mind in quick succession: anxiety, intrigue, longing, regret, anguish, love, sorrow, and finally…indignation.

With every passing second that she resisted the tremendous urge to get up from her seat and walk over to make her presence known, the more equilibrium she regained. She could not, would not, go to him. At twenty-five years of age, with more life experience than most women her age, she knew all about the virtues of having patience.

To help sustain her resolve, she looked up at the clear blue sky, the other patrons enjoying their morning coffee, a lone car coming down the street, the group of retirees huffing along the sidewalk for exercise, everywhere except at him.

When she couldn't take the suspense any longer, her gaze returned to her former lover. He remained sitting there all alone, head tilted down as he texted on his cellphone. He looked pretty much the same as she remembered.

In fact, he still parted his dark, wavy hair on the left side, although it was now cut short. He was very tan and his clean shaven, angular face still matched his lean muscular body perfectly. The board shorts, T-shirt, and sneakers he wore lent an impression of youthful vitality. Yeah, his early thirties looked really good on him.

In comparison, she hadn't changed much either, although she now colored her curly blond hair a soft light brown. She'd also grown it out to mid-way her back but still kept it cut around her oval face. She thought this hairdo best suited her voluptuous, hourglass figure. And the pants suit with heels she wore today fit her better than the tank tops, cut-off shorts, and flip-flops ever had.

As she continued staring at him and obsessing over his reappearance, she couldn’t help remembering how safe she'd felt within his strong embrace…how lucky she'd believed she had been at finally having met a man to share her whole heart with…how well their bodies had fit together…and lastly, of how much soul-connecting lovemaking they'd indulged in. What had gone so wrong for him to abandon her without an explanation? And why had he suddenly turned up again?

Under her patient gaze, it became inevitable that he would eventually look up and see her. The moment it happened, his blue eyes widened, his face went slack, and then he mouthed her name in silent recognition. She only stared back at his stunned expression, trying her best to hide her own inner turmoil.

He promptly got up and came over. In a deeply masculine voice, he said, "Hello, Clarissa. I was hoping I'd run into you here. May I sit with you?"

She stared up into his pale blue eyes, melting a little on inside. But still, she somehow held onto enough of her composure to say, "I don't know, Jake. You'll probably disappear on me if I turn my back for a second. So maybe you shouldn't."

"I have a very good explanation for my disappearance." He pulled out the patio chair across from her and sat without permission.

"Men always do, don't they?" She'd looked across the street at an elderly couple walking along holding hands. An old scar burst open inside her heart. She'd once envisioned Jake and her growing old together.

"I went away because—"

"Don't care to hear it." She cut him off, wanting to hurt him like he'd hurt her. She kept looking at the old couple while absently twisting her coffee cup around and around. "Besides, I'm getting along just fine without you. In fact, have you heard the news? I'm getting married in three weeks."

"Yeah, I read about it in the paper a few weeks ago."

"So you get the paper delivered to wherever you've been." She smiled at the old woman giggling at something the old man had said. Underneath the terrible pain searing her heart, she added, "And I saw you with a cellphone. You were texting, I believe. So you're obvious up to date with the modern technology of our times."

"I read the local paper online. And yes, I have a cellphone. I get it—you think I should have already contacted you."

"Yes, I do."

"I always thought I'd get back to you and Key West sooner."

"Oh yeah?" She shrugged her shoulders, keeping her gaze on the old couple. "I thought that too, right up until I decided you were either dead, or wasn't ever coming back."

"I almost did die, several times," he stated. Then, in exasperation, "Won't you at least look at me? I can explain what happened."

"Why should I let you? As I remember it, you received a mysterious phone call in the middle of the night, and then you got really agitated before leaving without a word of explanation."

"I—"

"Not your turn to talk, Jake!" Clarissa cut him off again, still refusing to look at him. "I think it's time we play a little game of who-knows-what. I'll start it off. You can jump in whenever I ask a question."

Character Interview

Character Name: Clarissa, heroine of A Lost Love Returns

Character Bio: Clarissa is twenty-five years old, a successful lawyer in Key West, Florida where she grew up. Some might call her beautiful, but she'd rather be known for having a beautiful mind. So you might better keep an eye on her, because she believes cleverness is a virtue. *wink*

 

Describe your worst and best quality?

It's one and the same--my determination. I never give up when it comes to going after what I want. But it's been known to get me into trouble because it can be both a blessing and a curse.

What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?

I’ve got a heart of gold.

What is your biggest secret something that no one knows about?

I'm the cleverest of girls. Yeah, that's probably it.

What are you most afraid of?

Becoming a victim of circumstance.

What do you want out of life?

Most of all, I want to reconnect with my former boyfriend, Jake. Once I get him back, everything else will fall into place.

What is your relationship status?

I'm supposed to be getting married in three weeks to a wonderful man. But now Jake has shown back up out of the blue. Decisions…decisions… No worries though. I've already gotten it all figured out where I'll get my happily ever after and no one will get hurt in the process.

How would you describe your sense of fashion?

It used to be tank tops, cut-off shorts, and flip-flops in college. These days its pant suits and business skirts with heels. Ah, the joys of transitioning into the responsibilities of adulthood…right?

How much of a free-thinker are you?

I'm always thinking outside of the box. And I'm sure I always will.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Official answer: landing a great job after graduating college. Unofficial answer: haven't accomplished it yet. But I'm going to real soon. His name is Jake and he's six feet of lean masculinity, has the most beautiful pale blue eyes that you've ever seen, and a confident demeanor that I find irresistible. He's also the one that got away.

What is your idea of happiness?

Sandy beaches, warm sunshine, chilled margaritas, and basking in Jake's love.

What is your current state of mind?

Certain.

What is your most treasured possession?

It wouldn't be polite to say. However, I will give you a hint…Jake's mistakenly believes it belongs to him.

What is your most admirable characteristic?

Right this moment I'd say that it's my unwavering resolve to see this stage of my life through to its inevitable happy ending. Yeah, that's probably as good an answer as any.

What is it that you, most dislike?

Hopelessness and helplessness. I've found that both of those awful emotions walk hand in hand. In fact, I think of them as siblings that feed off one another to gain strength.

Which living person or persons do you most despise?

Complainers. Just can't stand listening to them whining about their problems when they could easily take some initiative and fix whatever it is. But just so you don't think I'm too critical of others without just cause, I'll readily admit that I fell into despair after Jake left me. And yes, I moped around for months on end feeling sorry for myself. It didn't bring him back. So I got a new, can-do attitude to survive the breakup.

What is your greatest regret?

Letting Jake walk out of my life three years ago. That mistake still haunts me to this day. I should have found a way to stop him, or at the very least, convinced him to take me with him.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

That depends on the man. But in the particular man I'm after, it's his confidence. Never met another one so sure of himself and how his emotions will manipulate mine.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Loyalty.

Who is your favorite heroine in fiction?

Too many to count. But I like the clever ones best. You know the kind that understands doing nothing to fulfill their romantic aspirations gets them nowhere. Yeah, those are my absolute favorites.

Which living person would you like to change lives with?

I've never wanted anyone else's life. It's much too interesting living out my own.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Answering that would be like a dog chasing its own tail. It never gets you anywhere. I've found the trick is to do everything in your power to enhance what you've already been blessed with.

What is your motto?

Never give up.

 

Giveaway

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About The Author

Edgy and provocative in his writings, Thomas Briar strives to exalt the virtues of love and lust in every erotic story he creates. To date, he's garnered eleven publishing contracts with three different publishers and has seven published books in the marketplace.

When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, spending time with his wife, taking long walks, and people watching. Yeah, he's always wondering what makes people do the things they do. He knows it's usually something hidden in plain sight. He just has to figure out what it is, much like the motivations of the characters in his stories.

http://thomasbriar.com/

Amazon Author Page

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Briar/e/B00K34T4SW/

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Published on February 23, 2015 00:00

February 22, 2015

Book Blast, Giveaway & Top Ten: Interference by Dakota Madison @karenmbryson

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Interference by  Dakota Madison
Audience: New Adult - Genre: Sports Romance - Formats: E-book and Paperback- Publisher: Short on Time Books - Cover by: No Sweat Graphics - Editor: Shirley Pearson - Pages: 215 pages - ASIN: B00STMCY00 - Date Published: February 9, 2015   blurb

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Dakota Madison returns with another spicy sports romance. This story set in the world of college basketball.

Neuroscience student SEDONA MILLER is perfectly imperfect. She’s slightly nerdy and slightly eccentric, but completely brilliant.

When an unfortunate accident leaves Sedona with an injured arm and she’s fired from her part-time job shelving books at the university library she has to find a new gig fast.

The only job available mid-semester is working as a tutor for the athletic academic center. And the notorious bad boy of the university’s basketball team, JESSE WALKER, is the one and only guy on the new tutor’s roster.

But when SEDONA discovers a secret that could ruin the school’s winning basketball team doing the right thing could mean destroying the only guy she’s ever loved.

book links Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Itunes clip_image004 clip_image006 clip_image008 clip_image010   excerpt When I finally hit the last room in a long row of rooms I see a guy sitting there looking bored and staring at two fast food containers in front of him on the table. He glances up at me when I enter. The first thing I notice is his piercing green eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes that green on a human being that weren’t Photoshopped The second thing I notice is his messy, light brown hair. It doesn’t look like it’s been combed it in a week. It makes me wonder if it’s some new hair trend or if he just doesn’t bother to style it. Not that I have too much room to talk when it comes to hair. My curly red mop has been the bane of my existence since I was a kid. About the only thing I can ever do with it is pull it back into a pony tail. “Sedona?” I nod. “Have a seat.” He points to the chair right next to him. I remember Lewis’s warning and take a seat across the table instead. I want to be as close to the door as possible. The guy is big and muscular and much more intimidating than I imagined he’d be. My heart is thumping in my chest because his size and rough demeanor are making me nervous. When he pushes one of the fast food containers in my direction I cringe. I rarely eat fast food and when I do it’s from Just Veggies, an organic vegetarian place near campus. He doesn’t hesitate to open his container and take a bite of the messy burger that’s dripping some kind of white sauce all over his pile of fries. My stomach turns in response. “I bought you a burger.” He points to the second container he’s pushed in my direction. “Ambrose scheduled our sessions during lunch.” I make a point of pushing the container back over to him. “No thank you.” He frowns. “It’s from Frankie’s. Everybody loves Frankie’s burgers.” “Clearly not everyone.” His brows knit like he can’t believe I refused the food he bought. “You don’t want it?” He actually sounds hurt. “No, I don’t.” “Why?” I lift my book bag from the ground and point to one of the many political cause buttons I have covering the knitted tote my mom made for me. He barely acknowledges it. “What is that supposed to mean?” Now I’m the one who’s frowning. “Meat is murder. It’s a slogan. It means that I don’t eat animal flesh.” “You’re one of those vegans?” He doesn’t bother hiding the condescension in his voice. “Technically I’m a vegetarian. I eat free range, organic dairy products.” “Fine. I’ll eat the burger.” He glares at me as he opens the second container and takes a huge bite of the burger. I’m appalled until I notice that he slyly pushes both containers away and doesn’t take another bite of either burger. “I guess I should have brought an apple for the teacher.” “Only if it’s organic. And I’m not actually a teacher. I’m a tutor.” We both stare at each other for a long moment. Awkward does not even begin to describe our pairing. We’re like two people from different planets trying to communicate when we don’t speak each other’s languages. I remove a slip of paper from my bag. “Mr. Ambrose gave me your schedule of classes for the semester. You’re taking Film Appreciation, The History of Jazz, Advanced Yoga and Stress Management. What’s your major?” He shrugs. “Undeclared right now. But I’ll probably go with Sports Management.” “So these are Gen Ed classes?” He cocks his head and looks confused. “General Education classes,” I clarify. “Elective classes you need to take to fulfill requirements that aren’t directly related to your major.” “I guess so.” I’m a little disturbed by his lackadaisical attitude, but I let it go for the moment. We’re clearly not going to be able to develop much of a rapport so maybe it’s best just to get down to business. “We’re just handed a class schedule,” he clarifies. “Assigned classes. We don’t pick them ourselves.” “And they assigned you the History of Jazz? That’s the class that you’re having trouble with?” “The dude who was supposed to teach the class croaked and they got this new chick who apparently doesn’t like basketball.” There is so much wrong with his statement I don’t even know where to begin. “Might I suggest that you call your professors either professor or doctor and not chick.” I bristle at my own use of the derogatory word, but I continue, “And what does her not liking basketball have to do with your performance in the class.” At this he gives me a sly smile. “Let’s just say she’s not willing to play ball the way the other professors are.” I’m not sure exactly what he means by that, but there seems to be some kind of sports reference that is lost on me. “So you’re saying your other classes are going well and you’re just having trouble with the one class, History of Jazz?” He leans back in his chair and eyes me for a few seconds before he nods. I don’t like when he looks at me like that. It’s like he’s examining some weird, new specimen and trying to make sense of it. “All of my other teachers are huge basketball fans and they know I’m the in the starting lineup. I’m not sure what the jazz goddess’s problem is.” I take in a deep breath before I say something that’s sure to get me fired. “Why don’t we start by calling her Dr. Fisher? I think that might help. And why do you think she has a problem?” “She doesn’t like basketball. That’s not normal. Everybody loves basketball. This entire campus lives and breathes the sport.” “I don’t love basketball. I don’t even like it. Not even a little bit.” He actually looks stunned for a moment. Like I slapped him. Then he regains his cocky composure. “You’re one weird chick,” he mutters almost to himself, but still loud enough that I can hear him. “Excuse me?” I say even though I heard him. I just didn’t like having an insult hurled at me by someone I don’t even know. “You. Are. One. Weird. Chick.” His words are slower and louder as if I didn’t hear him the first time. “I actually heard what you said. I just didn’t like it.” A smug smirk appears on his face that I would love to slap right off if I could. I continue. “In case you haven’t noticed I’m not a bird I’m a human being. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t refer to me as a chick.” He bites his bottom lip as if he’s actually giving it some thought. Then he says, “You’re one weird woman. Is that better?” “I’m not sure why you have to bring gender into the equation at all. Why not just call me a weird person?” That makes him laugh. “You don’t care that I think you’re weird. You just don’t want me to call you a chick?” “I’ve been weird my whole life. I’m used to it.” “At least you’re willing to own it.” “So did you bring your textbook with you or are you just going to spend the next ninety minutes taunting me?” “I kind of like taunting you.”   soundtrack   Top Ten  

Top Ten Favorite Actors

1) Ryan Gosling

2) Chris Hemsworth

3) Jason Statham

4) Jai Courtney

5) Tom Hardy

6) Dwayne Johnson

7) Jared Leto

8) Colin Farrell

9) Timothy Olyphant

10) Vin Diesel         giveaway   a Rafflecopter giveaway     about the authorclip_image012
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Mueller Bryson writes romance novels under four pen names: Dakota Madison, Savannah Young, Sierra Avalon and Ren Monterrey. She lives in a small town outside of Phoenix, AZ with her husband and their bloodhounds.

media links Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Pinterest / TSU clip_image014clip_image016clip_image018clip_image019clip_image020clip_image022  follow the tour

Tour Schedule – One Week Blog Tour for INTERFERENCE by Dakota Madison from February 23 – March 3, 2015. February 23 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! - Promo http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com Angels with Attitude Book Reviews – Promo, Book Soundtrack & Author Interview http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-joelle.blogspot.com Portals to New Worlds - Promo, Book Soundtrack & Top Ten http://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com February 24 Cajun Book Lover - Promo http://www.cajunbooklover.blogspot.com The Avid Reader – Promo,  Book Soundtrack & Author Interview http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com February 25 Rustys Reading - Promo http://www.rustysreading.blogspot.com Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom – Promo & Top Ten http://bookyramblingsofaneuroticmom.blogspot.co.uk/ Imagine a World - Promo & Review http://thegoldenruleof666.blogspot.com/ February 26 Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog - Promo http://fictionalrendezvousbookblog.blogspot.com/ The Idle Musings of a Writer's Mind – Promo & Author Interview http://theidlemusingsofawritersmind.blogspot.com February 27 Archaeolibrarian - I dig good books! - Promo http://archeolibrarianologist.blogspot.de/ Room With Books - Promo & Book Soundtrack http://roomwithbooks.com Indy Book Fairy - Promo http://paranormalbookfairy.blogspot.com/ A Little Bit of R&R  -  Promo & Book Soundtrack http://alittlebitofrnr.com/ March 2 Book Freak –Promo & Review http://reviewsofabookmaniac.blogspot.com Books, Authors, Blogs - Promo http://therightbook4u.blogspot.com What Shall We Blog About Today? – Promo & Book Soundtrack http://kenowinsky.blogspot.com March 3 The Phantom Paragrapher –Promo & Review www.thephantomparagrapher.blogspot.com Deal Sharing Aunt - Promo www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com Eclipse Reviews -  Promo, Book Soundtrack & Top Ten http://eclipsereviews.weebly.com

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Published on February 22, 2015 23:00

Book Blast: Accepting Fate by @brandylrivers

Accepting Fate - Blitz Banner BOOK INFORMATION TITLE – Accepting Fate SERIES – Others of Seattle: Book 3 AUTHOR – Brandy L Rivers GENRE – Adult Paranormal Romance PUBLICATION DATE – 2-23-2015 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – around 70ish k PUBLISHER – Brandy L Rivers COVER ARTIST – Brandy L Rivers Accepting Fate - Book Cover BOOK SYNOPSIS Accept fate, or it destroys you... Michael Nights hides his true nature. To protect his first love, his magic broke free, terrifying Amanda so badly she left. That day convinced him he was the monster she claimed. Horrified by the damage he could cause, he’s vowed to keep his power locked away. Gwen Fate meets Mike at a party. One look and she’s captivated. Inherently curious, she wants to discover all of his secrets. What she learns compels her to help, whether or not he wants to embrace what he is. Amanda deLuna has changed, but was it for the better? She arrives back in Seattle and offers Mike what he always wanted. After finally learning to control his power, Mike will have to choose. The life he wished for? Or his fate? Accepting Fate - Book Wrap BUY & TBR LINKS Amazon - Barnes & Nobles - iTunes - Googleplay - Kobo - Goodreads AUTHOR BIO Brandy L Rivers is the author of the Others of Edenton and Others of Seattle series. There are more Others of Edenton and Others of Seattle books in the works. As an avid reader, Brandy has always loved writing. She became serious about it as a stay-at-home-mother. She has a file full of manuscripts she plans to edit and put out there eventually. She lives in Western Washington with her husband and three kids, where she is already working on future stories in each of the series and several other projects. AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGEWEBSITE / BLOGFACEBOOKTWITTERGOOGLE+ - PINTERESTTUMBLR GOODREADS

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Published on February 22, 2015 22:30

February 21, 2015

Book Blast & Giveaway: Sex. Coffee. Time Travel by @tymslyder

Romance / Adventure / Suspense

Date Published: Jan 20, 2015

(Time Frame Series Book Two)

In Book Two, Adventure-Romance author Lesley Meryn has her 'second date', a little bit of Time Travel, with the volatile yet seductive scientist Miles Sherwood. She wakes up to a spring day in 1765 Yorkshire. Miles should be there, waiting for her, but he's nowhere to be found.

Circumstances spin rapidly out of control. Someone keeps trying to kill her new Eighteenth Century companion and self-appointed protector, Mick Kenning, a handsome and hunky stableman at the New Inn. Lesley helps him to foil these clumsy, but persistent and mysterious attempts on his life.  

As the days pass, Miles remains missing. The clock is literally ticking down the days. She has less than two weeks to find him or she may be trapped in the past. Has Miles fallen victim to the very real dangers of an earlier time?

Complications multiply with the appearance of an elusive, badass, Highwayman. With a hefty price on his head, agents of the Crown have arrived at the New Inn to track him down. For Mick it's personal, he despises the Highwayman. The Highwayman, not satisfied with jewelry, and coins, stole away the woman Mick once loved.

Will Lesley find Miles in time? What has happened to him? Will Mick ever find out who wants him dead? Will he ever find outwhy?

Balancing between high adventure, sword fighting, fisticuffs, pistols, and daggers, Lesley must use her wits, imagination, and every trick from her own books to find Miles, survive the Eighteenth Century, and return to her own time.

Buy Links

Amazon - http://amzn.to/1CDdzt2

Excerpt

Tha be alone, then?" he asked softly.

She could only stare back at him.

"Ah mean you no harm, lass, " he commented, his voice low as he gestured with the hand that held the dagger.

She licked her lips, thinking, and willing herself to speak. She tightened her grip on the dirk in her hands.

"Put down your knife," she managed to croak through teeth clenched against the pain, and her burning throat, making a slight move with the hand that held her own knife. "Then we'll talk about it."

The man tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. He regarded her again with that thoughtful gaze; then he glanced away, the corner of his mouth quirking up. He pinched the end of the blade and expertly tossed the dagger in the clearing where the knife neatly embedded itself into the ground less than a yard in front of her. Lesley swallowed and slowly lowered the dirk in her hand into the folds of her ruined gown. She looked up to him, waiting. She felt dizzy. She wondered if she could even stand.

He came forward and crouched down in front of her giving her a close look at his face. His nose would have been straight and aquiline had it not a white healed bump -- evidence it had been broken some time in the past. Full lips pressed into a line that curved slightly at the corners giving him an expression of faint amusement. Most of his long hair had pulled free of a slip of frayed black leather thong, and hung brushing his shoulders. Even in the rapidly darkening light she could see the shimmer of red and gold that highlighted his mostly chestnut hair. A three day's growth of beard stubbled his high angled cheeks. His eyes, dark amber brown, narrowed at her under arched brows. Partially hidden by a loosely tied neck cloth, a jagged, puckered scar marred the smooth line of his throat.

"Tha be a rather odd one, lass" he mused over her in a soft, hoarse voice, "Yer should not be here alone, with no escort... no one around... no coach about... Where are yer people?"

She shuddered, her body suddenly feeling cold, despite the heat of her injuries. He reached down to draw the backs of his fingers slowly, and surprisingly gently, along her paling cheeks. He pulled back as a rumble of thunder rolled over them. He glanced upward then back to her again.

"I...I..." she began, but any other words died in her throat.

"Surely tha hast someone coming f'tha?" he inquired of her. She nodded slowly, staring at him, trying to accept that this was real. All of it. He returned her frank stare, but then his eyes dipped to her exposed breasts.

Belatedly, painfully, her hand stole up to clutch the torn bodice fabric closed. She kept the other tightly around the hilt of the dirk hidden in the folds of her dress. Lesley shivered again. She could not stop trembling. She closed her eyes. Her throat burned where the other man had choked her.

"There be an inn not far off," he remarked softly. "Best to leave this place. Them two might still be lurking about. Don't reckon taking them on again if it's all t'same to tha, miss."

Another rumble of thunder rolled over them. The sky darkened even further. Lesley's mind worked slowly now. She shouldn't leave but she couldn't very well stay. Then, she realized that Miles would be following the homing transmitter which was at that moment scarpering around God only knew where in that drunken bastard's shirt.

Then she remembered something else. She moved her hand to her left ear. The sub-vocal was gone as well. She might as well have been stripped naked and left completely defenseless. Well, actually, she was.

"I c-can't! Gone..." she gasped out, nearly incoherent, gesturing haplessly in the direction the two had disappeared. She closed her eyes, gritting her teeth as much in frustration as against the pain she felt.

"Well, Ah can't very well be leaving tha here now can Ah? Tha be half naked, prob'ly hungry if Ah know t'look of it..."

He rose to his feet, and stood over her, shaking his head. He took her in, shivering and wet in the freezing north wind that swept down across the moors. Her full lips going blue but pressed together in a line of determined stubbornness. "Mad. it's mad Ah must be. Ach, do what tha will..."

But he didn't walk off. As though torn by indecision, he turned to regard her once again, oblivious to the first cold drops of rain that became a torrent within seconds.

"Please..." she managed in a croaking whisper. She struggled, trying to find her feet, swayed a few moments, but fell again onto her knees. Closing her eyes, Lesley tried again, dragging herself out of the deepening mud, against the force of the hard rain. This time, strong arms held her up and steadied her. Astonished at the touch, her eyes flew open to meet his only inches away. It gave her the queerest feeling. So he was real after all. This was all real. Too, too real.

He balanced her deftly, with a hand to her back. Lesley whimpered slightly at the pressure. He suddenly pulled back the hand at her back and held it out. A bright smear of red slashed across it, almost immediately rinsed clean by the torrent of rain. He flexed the hand, and then swept her up into his arms.

"Ah'm thinking there's more than food tha will be needing." She heard him whisper quietly into her ear, just before the dirk fell from her limp fingers, and she lost consciousness.

 

Giveaway

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Elle Brookes

Elle Brookes grew up in Los Angeles, California, but lived in Jamaica for three years when she was a Peace Corps Volunteer. She moved to San Francisco and studied at the California Culinary Academy, and went on to become a private chef to a well-known L.A. based television production company.

From an early age Elle was a voracious reader of adventure stories and from elementary school through high school, she started writing her own stories of places foreign and exotic.  She studied Art History and continued writing in college, focusing on short stories. 

A dedicated and passionate traveler, Elle has explored river caves in Jamaica and Costa Rica, hiked glaciers in New Zealand and Iceland, and done dogsledding in Greenland and Iceland. She's danced a fa'a Samoan haka and slept in a fale on the island of Savai'i in Samoa, hiked in the northern mountains of Thailand along the border with Myanmar in the Golden Triangle, and in Haiti, she witnessed a white goat ceremonially sacrificed to Erzuli Freda by a powerful Houngan. For a time she did Performance Driving in Southern California, and has years of study and experience dedicated to fencing, theatrical combat, archery, and horsemanship.

Elle currently lives in the central highlands of Costa Rica with her dog Pixie, and her hedgehog, Quiller.Website:  www.tymslyder.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tymslyder?ref=br_tf

Twitter:  @tymslyder

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Published on February 21, 2015 01:07

February 19, 2015

Cover Reveal: My Favorite Second Chance by Author Rue @ItsNotMyFavorit

                                                                          Presented by: Sparkle book Tours My Favorite Second Chance -  The Lake Effect Series # 2by Author - Rue Audience: NA and Adult - Genre: Romance/Contemporary; LGBT - Formats: E-book and Paperback - Publisher: Sittin’ On A Goldmine Productions - Cover by : Regina Wamba, Mae I Design - Editor : Jazmine Hale - Pages : 328 pages - ISBN-13: 978-0-9860627-3-5 (Paperback) - ISBN-13: 978-0-9860627-2-8 (eBook) -Date Published - 10 March 2015 Have you ever wished for a second chance? The Hutchinson sisters are out of the frying pan and into the fire—just like their mother always threatened! Gwenn is floating in the dreamy, fragile glow of her new relationship with wealthy artist, Daniel Gregory, when a blast from her past makes a triumphant return. Sure he ran out on her over a decade ago, but can she turn her back on a war hero? Rachel is on the brink of having everything she ever dreamed of, but that’s not how things work out for Hutchinson girls. Her rock-star girlfriend is leaving for a lengthy tour and something is afoot at the bakery. The righteous hand of her mother, Shirley, can orchestrate tribulations from halfway across town. The sisters think they can run away from their troubles on a quick trip to the heart of Mexico, when an unexpected phone call shatters that illusion. Filled with intriguing characters, plenty of steamy romance and lovely plots twists, MY FAVORITE SECOND CHANCE will have you flushed with anticipation, blinking back tears, laughing out loud and cheering for your favorite characters. Add to your Goodreads here Rue graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, with a degree in Journalism. Her intimate knowledge of the Midwestern United States, the inordinate amount of time she spent in its churches’ pews and her unique parentage make her an expert on life after religion. Having moved 17 times by the time she graduated from high school Rue has seen more than her share of the Great Plains. She never stayed in one place long enough to make lasting human friends. Her best friends were all characters from her beloved books; and the love of reading led to a lifelong passion for writing. Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Pinterest / Instagram / Tsu  
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Published on February 19, 2015 22:30

On Sale Now – Dead Girl Walking by @writeawaybliss just #99c

9781620155776_cov.indd

Dead Girl Walking (Royal Reaper) by Ruth Silver

Published: November 25, 2014

Publisher: Booktrope

  Forget everything you know about grim reapers. Princess Ophelia Dacre sneaks out of the castle to visit her boyfriend in secret. A perfect night cut short when she’s brutally murdered. Ophelia is given the rare chance to become a grim reaper. She must become Leila Bele, cut ties with her old life, and follow the rules of the reapers. Her greatest adventure begins with death.   Now includes the prequel Ashes to Ashes as a bonus story in the Booktrope edition. Available in eBook & Paperback. Add to Goodreads [caption id="attachment_10213" align="aligncenter" width="200"]Dead Girl Walking Licensed to Ruth Silver[/caption] ON SALE FOR JUST 99 cents!!! Available on Amazon | Barnes & Noble Excerpt  “Listen, kid, I don’t care what you believe in. It’s not for me to say what’s true and untrue, real or unreal. My assignment was you. You get to be one of us, if you want it. Otherwise, you move on, life is over, kaput.” Ophelia backed away from the stranger. For the first time, she realized she didn’t feel cold and wasn’t shivering. Is this what being dead was like? “One of you?” “A grim reaper.” He held out his hand to properly introduce himself. “Edon Montgomery, head reaper and old soul.”   [caption id="attachment_10212" align="aligncenter" width="541"]Dead Girl Walking (Royal Reaper) Licensed to Ruth Silver[/caption]   Author InterviewDo you have any plans to write a spin-off for Aberrant? Yes! I am currently working on an untitled project that is a prequel, spin-off. I haven't spoken much about it, but I will say there is plenty of action and a world to explore that we've barely touched in the Aberrant trilogy. What are you currently working on? I've got several writing projects underway. Forget Me Knot (Royal Reaper 2) is in edits right now with an expected Spring 2015 release. I'm also writing steamy adult fiction under the name Ravyn Rayne, which will be available this year as well. You can find those projects on Ravyn Rayne Reads. Do you have a full-time job? Writing and marketing my own novels is my full-time job. It involves far more than 40 hours a week, but I love it, so I don't mind.   About the Author

1 lo res

Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of the Aberrant trilogy. With a passion for writing and a love of story-telling, Ruth is actively writing two series: Royal Reaper and Orenda. Her interests also include traveling, reading, and photography. Her favorite vacation destination is Australia. Ruth currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois. She can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and her book blog Write Away Bliss.
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Published on February 19, 2015 22:30

Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: Troubled Spirits by @TeriLee_author

Troubled Spirits Banner 851 x 315

Book Blast

 

clip_image002Troubled Spirits

Teri Lee

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Black Rose Writing

Date of Publication: August 21, 2014

ISBN: 1612964028

ASIN: B00NJ523TE

Number of pages: 220

Word Count: 64,000

Book Description:

Annie Waters hates birthdays. At least she hates her birthdays. Because every year her mother told the story of her grandmother's ghostly appearance in the delivery room. But the worst birthday was her sixteenth--the day she killed her dad.

Forced to move to Shady Cove, Maine, Annie is drawn deep into the world of the supernatural by her new friend, Harmony. Now, tormented by an angry spirit, Annie has only nine days to unravel the secrets of the Caldwell School or join the spirit world herself

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/2fr-K7A9Bog

Available at Amazon AmazonUK BN Smashwords

Google Play Kobo

Excerpt

As they turned onto the school road, Harmony finally spoke.

“I think the ghost knew your grandmother. And…” Excitement crept into her voice, “He sensed your grandmother’s presence when we went into the Caldwell School. He might even think you are your grandmother!”

Harmony looked out the window. They were almost to the school. “I don’t think he can tell the difference. Which means, he thinks you’re Annie Mae Brown. And that scares him!”

Something came over Annie—a force so powerful that she couldn’t resist called her from the Caldwell School. She cranked the wheel, whipping the car into the school lot, then slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop in front of the old school. She jumped out of the car and ran toward the building.

“Annie, what are you doing?” Harmony yelled.

Annie stopped. She didn’t know why she was doing it, but she knew she had to. “I am Annie Mae Brown!” she screamed.

“And I’m going to make sure the whole world knows your secret!”

The ground trembled. And with a deafening boom, the school windows shattered. Shards of glass flew toward her.

Behind her, Harmony screamed.

And suddenly Drew was there, knocking her to the ground, shielding her with his body as glass pelted the ground around her.

The storm of glass stopped and Annie looked up into Drew’s eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked, getting to his feet.

Annie pushed herself up into a sitting position. “I think so.”

“Stay here,” Drew said, then dashed into the old school building.

“Annie…” Harmony’s voice was weak.

Annie scrambled to her feet. Harmony was standing in front of the car, a piece of glass sticking out of her chest. Annie ran.

Her feet moved, but Harmony seemed to be getting farther away. And then she watched in horror as Harmony looked down at the glass.

“Don’t!” Annie screamed—too late. Harmony reached up.

Her fingers wrapped around the glass and she pulled. She looked down at the glass in her hand as if wondering where it had come from. A dark red blotch spread across her bright green hoodie. The evil-looking shard slipped from her hand and shattered on the pavement. Harmony dropped to her knees. Her eyes met Annie’s for a brief second before she toppled forward.

Annie reached her friend in time to catch her and lower her to the ground. “Somebody, help me,” she screamed. In the distance she heard voices. “Help!” she yelled again.

Her fingers felt thick as she worked the zipper down and pulled Harmony’s sweatshirt open. Blood flowed from a deep gash just below Harmony’s left shoulder. Annie yanked her own sweatshirt off and pressed it against the wound. Harmony’s face was white. Her eyes were closed. “Talk to me,” Annie cried.

Harmony’s eyelids fluttered open. “You okay?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

Annie nodded. Tears streamed down her face.

“I saw…” Harmony’s voice faded and her eyes closed.

“Open your eyes!” Annie sobbed. “Please open your eyes.”

Harmony didn’t move. The blood soaked through Annie’s sweatshirt.

“Please don’t die,” Annie whispered. She pressed harder on the wound. She could feel the ghost behind her. She looked back at the old school building, expecting to see the swirling dark shadow. Empty windows stared back at her.

She needed to get help, but she couldn’t let up on the pressure. Harmony would die!

Where was Drew? Why wasn’t he helping her?

“Drew! Anybody! Help! Please help,” she screamed.

A door slammed across the street. Footsteps pounded on the pavement, growing closer. She looked back at Harmony.

“Someone’s coming. Hang on.”

The bleeding seemed to have slowed and Annie leaned closer to her friend. “See, it’s slowing down. You’re going to be okay.” And then an awful thought crept into her mind. The worst thought ever. What if the bleeding had slowed because Harmony’s heart had stopped beating? What if Harmony was-she couldn’t think the word.

Character Interview

Character Name: Harmony Allwood

Character Bio: Annie’s best friend. Supernatural expert.

 

clip_image002[1]

Describe yourself what is your worst and vest quality?

I’m sixteen and a Junior at Caldwell School in Shady Cove, Maine. I have a fantastical connection with the supernatural and I never miss an episode of Ghost Adventures! I love purple!  It’s a power color, you know? Sometimes I just jump right into things without thinking. But I’m working on that. You know, the thinking things through part.

What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?

That all I want is for every living creature to live in harmony. (Not me, Harmony. That would be awkward)

What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?

 I miss my dad. I know, I let everyone think I can’t stand him. You know, because of the way he took off on me and Mom. But sometimes I close my eyes and try to reach out to him with my mind so that he’ll call me. But I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me. And if Mom knew how sad it makes me, then I know it would make her sad too. And I just can’t let that happen.

What are you most afraid of?

Losing my friends. Making a connection with the wrong spirit can be dangerous. More dangerous than I ever expected. 

What do you want more than anything?

 I would just die if I could meet Zak Bagans from Ghost Adventures!

What is your relationship status?

Well, I am kind of talking to this boy. His name’s Logan. We’ve got a connection, you know—I think we’re kindred spirits.

How would you describe your sense of fashion?

 I make my own fashion. I love purple. I especially love purple with green!  I have lots of scarves, my favorite one is a purple feather scarf.

How much of a rebel are you?

I guess some people might call me a rebel. It’s not like a break rules. Well, I guess sneaking into the Caldwell School building was kind of breaking the rules, but I just knew that we could meet a spirit! So that doesn’t really count. Anyways, I’m kind of unique. I don’t care much about what’s popular.

What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?

Every time I can help a spirit cross over, I feel like it’s my newest greatest achievement.

What is your idea of happiness?

Harmony. Not my name, Harmony, but being in harmony with other people, the trees, all the little creatures and the big ones, too. It’s so peaceful.

What is your current state of mind?

I’m a pretty positive person. I meditate every morning so that all the negativity just flows away from me.

What is your most treasured possession?

 My spiritual stones.  I don’t go anyplace without them.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Most people say it’s my red hair. It’s crazy bright red.

What is it that you, most dislike?

My freckles. Don’t tell anyone, but I do wear a little make up to cover them up.

Which living person do you, most despise?

 I don’t know. I try really hard to like everyone. Even if they’re monstrous.

What is your greatest regret? 

That I couldn’t get my dad to stay.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

He has to be sensitive. But not just to feelings. He needs to be sensitive to all living things.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Honesty. I just can’t stand it when someone talks behind your back.

Who is your favorite hero in fiction?

 Legolas.

Which living person do you most admire?

Um, Zak Bagans!

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

 No freckles!

What is your motto?

To always be aware of the physical and supernatural world around me

 

  Giveaway

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About The Author

clip_image004Teri Lee is the author of Troubled Spirits, a YA paranormal novel. Growing up in Maine, Teri spent hours exploring in the woods with her friends dreaming up places like ‘Land of the Lost’, ‘Trouble Hill’, and ‘Paradise’. If she wasn’t in the woods, you’d find her lost in a book. And today not much has changed. She’s still dreaming up imaginary places, getting lost in a book, and sometimes lost in the woods. When she’s not writing you’ll find her saving lives and rescuing splinters in the ER.

Blog: www.Terileeliving.com

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/terilee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.TeriLee

Website: http://www.teri-lee-author.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23116240-troubled-spirits

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeriLee_author

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Published on February 19, 2015 00:00

February 17, 2015

Book blast & Giveaway: Bitten by a Hellcat by @felicityheaton

Felicity Heaton's Bitten by a Hellcat Blog Barrage






Bitten by a Hellcat, the sixth book in New York Times best-seller Felicity Heaton’s hot paranormal romance series, Eternal Mates, is now available in ebook and paperback. To celebrate the release, she’s holding a FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY at her website and sharing sneak peeks of the book. This book works as a standalone, so it’s perfect for those new to the series too.

Find out how to enter the Bitten by a Hellcat international giveaway (ends March 1st) and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website, where you can also download a 5 chapter sample of the novel: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/bitten-by-a-hellcat-paranormal-romance-novel.php

Here’s more about Bitten by a Hellcat, including an excerpt from this paranormal romance book.












Bitten by a Hellcat

The sole remaining member of the most famous shifter hunter family in history, Owen Nightingale is a mercenary and a man with a secret held in his closely guarded heart, but when a beautiful rare shifter catches his eye and offers him a job, he has the feeling he’ll be the one paying for helping her—with his heart.

Cait is in a spot of trouble with a capital T. A male hellcat has set his sights on claiming her and she’s one kitty who doesn’t want a collar. When she meets a dark, alluring and mysterious hunter, she sees a chance to rid herself of the male, but the price Owen sets and the fierce passion that burns white-hot between them lures her dangerously under his seductive spell.

Can Owen discover the true intent of the male hellcat and stop Cait from falling into his hands? And can Cait retain control as the heat of desire burns between her and Owen, or will a reckless moment seal both of their fates forever?

Bitten by a Hellcat is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Also available in paperback. Find the links to your preferred retailer at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/bitten-by-a-hellcat-paranormal-romance-novel.php









Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B00SOS5Y0G

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00SOS5Y0G

Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00SOS5Y0G

Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00SOS5Y0G

Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00SOS5Y0G



iBooks US: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781909306653?at=1l3voM2

iBooks UK: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/isbn9781909306653?at=1l3voM2

iBooks AU: http://itunes.apple.com/au/book/isbn9781909306653?at=1l3voM2

iBooks CA: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/isbn9781909306653?at=1l3voM2

iBooks NZ: http://itunes.apple.com/nz/book/isbn9781909306653?at=1l3voM2



B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bitten-by-a-hellcat-felicity-heaton/1121224542



Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/bitten-by-a-hellcat-eternal-mates-romance-series-book-6



ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bittenbyahellcateternalmatesromanceseries6-1732749-143.html



Google Play: http://play.google.com/store/books/details/Felicity_Heaton_Bitten_by_a_Hellcat?id=-v9kBgAAQBAJ




Excerpt



Would he take her job?

Owen looked back towards the person she had surreptitiously pointed out, a huge dark-haired man loitering in one of the many corners of the crowded club but not completely swathed in shadows.

His blood began a slow boil at the thought that the man had ambushed Cait just two hours ago, making her have to fight to escape and injuring her in the process. The shifter was exactly the sort of mark he had gone after countless times—a male who thought that females could be subjugated and were put on this planet for their pleasure, created to be at their beck and call.

Little more than a slave.

He narrowed his eyes on the male as the immense shifter looked at him, holding his steady gaze and showing him that he might have Cait running, but he wouldn’t get the same reaction out of him.

Owen had put down plenty of his kind.

This male would be just another misogynistic bastard to add to his tally.

He dragged his gaze back to Cait where she sat opposite him, all of her confidence gone, leaving behind a woman who looked smaller and vulnerable to him.

In need of his protection.

He had only just met her, but he didn’t like seeing her this way, the light disappeared from her eyes and all of the brightness gone from her face as she waited to hear what he would say.

“I’ll take it.” Owen offered his hand and she slipped hers into it, her palm soft against his and sending a warm thrill chasing up his arm.

He shook her hand and then released her, leaned down and swiped his black satchel from the floor. Cait’s blue eyes followed his every move and widened slightly when he removed his tablet device from his bag and flipped the cover open. He set his bag down on his lap, and the tablet on top of it, and tapped the icon that would start up the database he had created.

The basic program filled the bright screen and he tapped on the search function and selected cat shifters from the list of species. There were so many cat shifter species that he had given them their own category separate from other shifters.

While it loaded all of the shifters he had documented, Owen flagged Sherry down. If he was going to deal with jumping straight into another job, one that might be beyond his skill level, he was going to need another drink.

Sherry bounced along the length of the bar to him, her blonde ponytail swaying with each step.

“Hellfire?” she said with a smile and he grimaced and shook his head.

“Something a little less liable to kill me this time. Two vodkas, on ice. Make it the good stuff.”

Sherry nodded and left to make his drinks. The screen on his tablet changed, snagging his attention. He swiped up the screen, scrolling through all the cat shifters he had documented, pausing only long enough to pay Sherry when she returned. She set the drinks down, took his money, and disappeared along the bar.

Owen pushed one of the glasses across to Cait. Her eyes were glued to his tablet, the screen lighting her face as she leaned across, closer to him, her head at an angle.

“These are all shifters you’ve met?” She ran her gaze over the pictures he had managed to snap of the shifters in secret from a safe distance and hooked her long dark hair behind her ears, pulling it away from her face. “It says two thousand three hundred and twelve results.”

He nodded. “That’s how many cat shifters I’ve come across. Not all of them are alive now.”

She leaned away from him, a frown marring her brow. “You think he’s in there?”

Owen shrugged. “He sounds like the type who might have a rep. I might have come across him before. There’s something familiar about him.”

He swigged his vodka and altered the parameters of the search to male and height in the six-foot-three to six-foot-six range.

The results came back quicker this time, down to only eight hundred and twenty two.

Cait looked impressed and scanned the page as he scrolled. He was almost at the bottom of the list when she jammed her finger against an entry.

“That’s him.” Her touch brought the record up and she snatched her hand back and blinked at the screen.

Owen had the impression that she didn’t get out of Hell much. “Never seen a tablet before?”

“I have,” she said, a hint of indignation in her tone. “I just haven’t touched one. I wasn’t expecting it to do that.”

He smiled as she peered closer to the device, her gaze flitting around the screen.

“You’re certain this Marius fellow is him?” Owen waited for her to nod before going back to work.

“Marius,” she murmured, still staring at the photograph on the screen. “I think I remember someone shouting that at him once.”

He double-tapped the part of the entry where it had the male down as a panther shifter and corrected it. The notes on the sources of information mentioned that eyewitnesses in a Nepal village high in the mountains in snow leopard territory had described him as a black cat. Owen had presumed he was a black panther. He probably hadn’t even considered the male could be a hellcat.

“I don’t have much on him.” But what he did have was enough to ring some warning bells in his head.

The male followed similar patterns to other fae he had tracked, travelling from one prime location for rare species to another. Nepal. Brazil. Northern India. Siberia. All places with rare cat shifters.

Owen studied Cait as she stared at the tablet.

He had a feeling she might be in serious danger but he didn’t want to spook her by telling her that the male after her probably dealt in the black market. They were both hellcats. There was an equal chance that Cait was right and Marius wanted her as a mate.

Until he had investigated the male further and had more information on him, Owen would keep his suspicions to himself.

He closed the cover of his tablet device and put it back in his bag.

“I don’t go into things blind. I need more information. I think we should go somewhere quieter to discuss the job and so you can fill me in on everything you know… maybe away from your admirer.” Owen took his drink and smiled at her, raising the glass at the same time, hoping the male was still watching them.

If luck was with him, Marius wouldn’t know who he was and would think he was just another mortal in the bar flirting with Cait. A harmless male looking for a good time.

He instantly hardened in his black jeans, his body issuing a painful reminder that it wasn’t wholly a lie. He was looking for a good time with Cait. Her flirting had revved him up, filling his head with thoughts of finding a dark corner and making out with her.

Okay, making out was a little too innocent sounding for what he had in mind, but it had been a while since he had been as attracted to someone as he was to her. Heck, he wasn’t sure he had ever been this attracted to anyone. He had always kept his dalliances short and sweet, a periodic scratching of a biological itch, but something about Cait had him firing on all cylinders and thinking in terms longer than a single hot and heavy moment.

He was thinking in terms longer than multiple hot and heavy moments. Nights were involved. Many of them. As many as she would give him.

More than they might have together when working on her job.

He emptied his glass to kill that thought with the alcohol and set it back down on the bar.

“Where do you want to go?” She sipped her drink, a genuine smile playing on her lips and the fire back in her eyes. It sent a bolt of hot lust through him again and he grimaced and shifted on his seat, trying to get more comfortable as his jeans pinched his groin.

“My place.” It came out a little harder and more demanding, and definitely more hungry than he had intended.





Bitten by a Hellcat is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Also available in paperback.

Find all the links, a fantastic 4 chapter downloadable sample of the book, and also how to enter the giveaway and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/bitten-by-a-hellcat-paranormal-romance-novel.php

Books in the Eternal Mates paranormal romance series:


Book 1: Kissed by a Dark Prince
Book 2: Claimed by a Demon King
Book 3: Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Book 4: Hunted by a Jaguar
Book 5: Craved by an Alpha
Book 6: Bitten by a Hellcat
Book 7: Taken by a Dragon – Coming March 10th 2015




Author Bio



Felicity Heaton
Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:


FelicityHeaton.co.uk | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | GoodReads | Amazon






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Published on February 17, 2015 23:00

Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: Blue Words by @_Matt_Edwards_

Blue Words Banner 851 x 315

Book Blast

 

clip_image002Blue Words

MC Edwards

Genre: Contemporary/Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Warpath Print

Date of Publication: 30/11/14

ISBN: Paperback - 978-0994172303

ISBN: e-book - 9780994172310

ASIN: B00PWIW1ZC

Number of pages: 334

Word Count: 110,000

Cover Artist: Geoff Craig

Book Description:

Common threads have always woven through the world's mythology and folklore, strings which seem to link cultures divided by the vastness of oceans and time.

Have you ever wondered why? What if I told you that they all stem from a single origin.....the Varth-lokkr. Within this ancient creature's blood, stirs the power to save or enslave the world as we know it, a power ignited by a simple word. But which does it truly desire?

This dark urban fantasy follows one of these creatures through its emergence into 21st century Australia. It chronicles the rise of those who oppose it, those who ally themselves with it and those who are unwillingly drawn into its wake.

Shed the blood. Speak the words. Change the world.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/9Ez7jHeFp2U

Available for Purchase at Warpath Print

Amazon Smashwords

Excerpt

"Don't move or we'll fire," ordered one of the guards, his voice shook and his trigger finger twitched. Gudrik glared at him and swiftly shot towards George, who was now leaning over the stainless steel top rail, still scouring for an escape which didn't exist. The guards began to fire wildly at him. They may not have seemed overly competent, but they could shoot. Several projectiles tore through Gudrik's flesh as he moved, spattering blue onto the grass. Startled by the gunshots, George spun just in time to see the scruffy relic hurtling towards her. A bullet buried into Gudrik's knee. He stumbled. Before she had a chance to react, Gudrik crashed into George. His momentum forced her backwards, toppling them both indigently over the safety railing in a tangled mess of arms and legs.

The pair rocketed towards the ground. George screamed profanities so coarse that they blistered the very air around her. She scrambled and flailed as if trying to climb back up Gudrik's body. He wrapped himself tightly around her. "Earvictius groot," he bellowed.

His bullet wounds glowed, and the tender flesh surrounding them began to transform into cold, speckled granite. The stone rapidly spread along his limbs and across his abdomen, searing with pain as it went. He cringed and grated his teeth. As it spread across his chest and onto George she began to scream as though he were slashing chunks of flesh from her. Thankfully, the agony did not linger and in the blink of an eye, stone had completely swallowed both of them. No matter how hard she tried George could not move. It was both claustrophobic and frightening.

The living statues whistled closer and closer to the ground. Until......SMASH! They crashed unhindered onto the roof of a parked car. Glass and shrapnel exploded from the vehicle as they tore through the chassis and into the road beneath.

Just as painfully as it had spread, the rock retreated returning the flesh to its vulnerable state, leaving it sensitive and speckled with sweat. Both lay for a moment of recovery. Their chests heaved deeply as they came to terms with what had just happened. Gudrik crawled out of the mangled wreck and climbed to his feet. "Are you harmed?" he grunted, lifting George to her feet.

She was pale and disheveled with blank shock clouding her eyes. Time was of the essence. Gudrik slapped her across the cheek. Fire filled her blank eyes. She swung a punch, which he avoided. He grabbed her shoulders and repeated his question, "Are you harmed?"

"I-I'm confused as hell," she responded, panicked, but glad to be alive. "But fine. I think. Yes fine. Definitely ok," she stammered nervously, quickly checking her body over for injuries and pulling her dress down to cover the lacy black panties on show to the world. Her hand quickly went to her locket, checking it was still there. "Was I made of stone then?” Gudrik ignored her question. His attention was otherwise occupied. By that stage, a huge crowd of onlookers and good Samaritans had gathered around their impact point.

"We must keep moving."

He dragged his hand along a twisted shard of the car's metal shell and spoke, "Unjallius.”

Gudrik groaned as huge, white wings tore from the flesh of his back in a puff of loose feathers and a splatter of blue. They stretched to a massive, elegant span and quivered in the sun. The suit jacket and shirt were left torn and tattered, spattered, stained and hanging in shreds from Gudrik's muscled shoulders. The stunned onlookers stepped back in awe. He grasped the confused woman tightly and with a few powerful beats of his mighty wings launched the two of them into the sky.

George clung tightly as they whipped and glided through the city. They weaved between the highrise buildings, slowly gaining altitude and suddenly plunging toward the ground as Gudrik negotiated the unpredictable up-drafts above the busy city streets. George was not as terrified as her brain insisted she should be. She loved the speed, she loved the wind and she loved the gaping faces of the populous below. It all exhilarated her. Gudrik's grasp was gentle and caring, but still so firm and reliable that there was no fear of falling.

Finally, Gudrik surged up and breached the top of the sky scrapers. The onlookers below were now nothing more than ants. George released her grip on Gudrik and shielded her eyes. The sun was much fiercer up there without the buildings' protection. She swivelled and squirmed as she gathered bearings. "Land on those cliffs over there," George said pointing at a small lookout point above the river.

Gudrik dived and swooped in, gently putting the two of them down on the grass in a rapid flutter of tiny wing beats. "Gratitude," Gudrik grunted as the wings collapsed into a sprinkling of blood.

Author Interview

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

The first job I remember envisioning for myself was an astronaut (like 90% of all seven year old boys).  I then progressed through a fairly standard string of visions for the future, from a soldier through to a guitarist in a rock band.  I began writing in high school, but soon became distracted by......well, no point trying to sugar coat it, beer.  It wasn’t until my late twenties I rediscovered my love for writing.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

As far as I’m concerned anyone who puts their blood, sweat and tears into creating a written piece is a writer, of course levels of success vary from there.  But, I remember thinking I was a writer during my high school years.

Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?

I’m a primary school teacher J Keeps me busy, but gives me school holidays to write.  It's a really rewarding job when it's at its best and it's the mental equivalent to slamming your hand in a car door when it's not.  I get to run a writing club with the kids and teach them how to publish their own books, so it's really rewarding when we open the box of freshly printed books at the end of the year.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

Well my latest book is called Blue Words and if I was to describe it in twenty words I would say…..

Blue Words is a dark reimagining of magic thrust into the modern world.  One ancient being will change everything we believe. 

(a doesn’t count as a word right???)

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

That depends on so many factors, what’s happening with my family, how busy I am at work, how solid my writer’s block is and many, many more.  Blue Words has taken just over two years to bring from concept to published product.

What can we expect from you in the future?  ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

Well I am currently working on a follow up to Blue Words, which I am enjoying.  I get really excited when I am starting something new.  I also have a few side projects which I tinker with when I run into a block on my main work, they are mostly sci fi.

What genre would you place your books into?

I write sci-fi and fantasy with a tendency towards the low and urban fantasy.  Blue Words is definitely urban fantasy, but with a just a tinge of darkness to it.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

I didn't exactly set out to write it as an urban fantasy, I just had an idea and as the story progressed it was pretty clear that’s what it was going to become.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

I have a soft spot for Brood.  He is a bit of a deviate, but I like his personality and sense of humour. 

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?

I have always enjoyed writing, but it was in high school that I really got into it.  I can't really say who or what exactly inspired me originally, but Tolkien was a big influence on me as a teenager.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

I don't really have a set routine; it tends to change based on where I am at, both mentally as well as in the book.  If I know exactly what I want to write and how I want it to happen, then I like silence and solitude to get it down.  If I am stuck I add music, or even pack up and write in busy, noisy places to see what sparks an idea.  I really enjoy writing setting descriptions immersed in in the type of environment I am describing too; helps bring all the senses into the piece.

Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?

Definitely.  Weather a review is positive or negative, you can usually take something constructive away from it, though sometimes it can be hard to read negative reviews.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

The book definitely comes first, the title changed a lot through the creation of the story, from Bleed for Me, to Blood of the Twelve, to The Twelve, to Blue Bloods, Blood Magic and Blood Words until it finally settled on Blue Words.  I think I kind of just got to that point and decided it fit.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

Anyway that works.  I grab names from people I know, some from personality traits, some from mythology and anywhere else that may inspire me.  Settings are usually inspired by somewhere I have been and enjoyed.  Sometimes I use the real setting name, other times it is a combination of real places with a fictional name.

Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?

When I start writing I generally just give the characters random names which spring to mind, to speed the initial process.  Sometimes I keep them, but usually they change as I become more familiar with the character.  Gudrik was named Roger for the first few months.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

A bit of both actually.  I always have a basic character profile when I start writing, but characters definitely develop other traits as the story grows.

Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")

Not really, different people take different things from books, that is something I love about them.  I just try to push that there is always more than one side to events.  It’s never as simple as just good and evil and I hope people grasp that from my story.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

I read a lot of ebooks, but there is no denying that I still prefer the smell and feel of print.  I was just opening a box of freshly printed paperbacks the other day and I had this awkward moment where I just hovered over the open box sniffing. The weight of a big, old hardback is pretty cool too.

What is your favorite book and Why?  Have you read it more than once?

I have lots of favourite books, it’s like being asked to choose your favourite child, but The Hobbit would be the one which I have read the most.

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?

I think they generally do.  The problem is that they are developed for a different audience.  We as book lovers have had the pleasure of enjoying the story in its original format which is in-depth and requires a lot of time to be invested.  When they are converted to film it is suddenly aimed at an audience which predominantly wants something two hours long and running at a quick pace.  A story inevitably loses some of its depth under the truncated duration, and we book lovers notice.

Your favorite food is?

That's another question like choosing my favourite child, I love food.  Pizza, sushi and curry are stable favourites, but the full list is really endless.  If I am at at a restaurant looking over a menu, I am most likely to order a meal I have never heard of before.

Your favorite Author is?

That is not an easy question to answer.  I like lots of different authors and I like different things about each of them.  The author which has had the greatest impact on my life would be Tolkien; he got me reading in the first place.  But, I also love the work of people like George RR Martin, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson and Anne Rice.

 

  Giveaway

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  About The Author

clip_image004

M.C. Edwards, or Eddie as he is known to his mates, grew up in a coastal town on the picturesque Central Queensland coast of Australia. He has travelled to many corners of the world and has a love of all things bizarre. He enjoys motorcycles, beards, comics, videogames and the taste of a fine single malt scotch. In his writing he crafts immersive worlds which mix reality and fantasy to create a strangely believable mix.

Facebook – www.facebook.com/mcedwardsworld

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/MCEdwards

Twitter – https://twitter.com/_Matt_Edwards_

Wattpad – http://www.wattpad.com/user/MCEdwards

Instagram – http://instagram.com/bluebloodedwarlock

Website – www.warpathprint.com

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Published on February 17, 2015 00:00