Karen Swart's Blog, page 64

June 3, 2014

Series Blast & Giveaway: The WindKeepers Series by @AnnaHackett

Wind Kissed, Fire Bound

The WindKeepers, #1

For centuries, she has felt nothing…

As Keeper of the Winds, Livia Cavalli needed to focus her power on keeping the evil Tempest Winds trapped in their island prison. What she doesn’t need is to be distracted by sexy horse trainer Rafe Donovan. Three hundred years ago, Livia became an immortal Keeper to numb her emotions, but Rafe arouses her in a way she hasn’t felt for centuries.

For Rafe, Livia is a challenge he longs to solve—and take to bed. Once she’s in his arms, their desire is overwhelming. But when his own powers reveal Livia’s secret pain, he realizes taking her body isn’t enough—he wants to heal her soul, too…

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Kissed-Fire-Bound-ebook/dp/B002LZNB1M

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wind-kissed-fire-bound-anna-hackett/1017533930?ean=9781426839870

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/wind-kissed-fire-bound-1

ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-windkissedfirebound-361428-143.html

The sight that greeted Livia had her limbs turning liquid and warmth rising to burn away the coolness inside her.

The horse was stunning. And the man riding him even more eye-catching.

Man and beast moved like one through the cobbled street. The big chocolate-colored stallion tossed his head, willful and wanting his own way. Full of fire.

But the man controlled the horse with ease, and despite her best efforts to fight it, Livia’s eyes were drawn to him. To the powerful, jean-clad thighs gripping the horse, the muscular shoulders filling out the white T-shirt. The thin tattoo of flames banding one strong bicep, the fascinating face—all angles with a jagged scar on the jaw. The dark hair, not long, not short, teased by the morning breeze.

The smoke-gray eyes locked on her. Heat tore through her, washing away her composure. Her fingers curled into her palms. No, she wanted the numbness. She forced herself to stay still, her face blank.

How? she despaired. How did he make her feel like this?

Taken by the South Wind

The WindKeepers, # 2

The deadly Tempest Winds have escaped…

Now, four brothers gifted with the power of the winds must recapture the Venti Tempesta before they can unleash their evil on the world…

WindKeeper Dante Venti, Keeper of the South Wind, is in Rome on a mission to entrap the Southwest wind and its holder before it can infect humanity with the vice of pride. Dante already feels pride seducing him…but the real temptation is alluring assassin Samia Hassan.

Samia has been sent to kill Dante, but her body is irresistibly drawn to him, his power and presence enveloping her. And if she’s not careful, she will be entrapped by Dante, body and soul…

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Taken-South-Wind-ebook/dp/B002PKBKRA

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/taken-by-the-south-wind-anna-hackett/1017839071?ean=9781426841798

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/taken-by-the-south-wind-1

ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-takenbythesouthwind-555567-143.html

The hunt had begun.

Dante Venti stood at the top of the Spanish Steps, Rome spread out before him. The wind swirled around his body, carrying the noises and scents of the Eternal City.

He lifted one hand and waved toward the night-shrouded buildings. The wind hurried to obey his order, searching for any sign of the prey he hunted.

The wind was his to command. Like his father and grandfather before him, he was a WindKeeper, one of four brothers gifted with the power of the wind. Since the day he’d reached manhood and inherited his power, he’d been the Keeper of the South Wind.

His warm breeze brought back the blaring horns of the frantic Rome traffic, the laughter of late night diners, the exclamations of wandering tourists and the whispers of lovers.

It also brought him the taint of his foe.

Tempting the West Wind

The WindKeepers, # 3

The deadly Tempest Winds have escaped…

Now, four brothers gifted with the power of the winds must recapture the Venti Tempesta before they can unleash their evil on the world...

Antonio Venti, Keeper of the West Wind, wakes naked and chained, captured by the nemesis he hunts. The evil Northwest Wind is spreading the vice of lust across the city of Florence and Antonio feels his skin heating, his blood firing and his body wanting. He refuses to succumb, but then his cunning prey offers him his ultimate temptation—the woman he craves above all else.

Sophia Crane has given up on rich, cheating men. She’s come to Italy to focus on her art restoration and discover the truth about the legend of the WindKeepers, but then she wakes naked and locked in a room with her sexy boss. As Sophia and Antonio fight their scorching desire, Sophia learns the terrible truth about the power of the wind, and that she may either be Antonio’s salvation or his downfall.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tempting-West-Wind-The-WindKeepers-ebook/dp/B00JVUFASC

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-temptingthewestwind-1487058-153.html

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/431648

Antonio was at the very edge of his control.

The door opened again and he tensed.

A large man backed in carrying something in his arms. He didn’t look at Antonio, just dumped his cargo on the blood red bedcover and left.

Antonio stared. Every muscle in his body tightened, so hard it was painful. His gaze traced the naked curve of the unconscious woman’s body. Slim limbs, curvy hips, beautiful full breasts topped with cherry pink nipples. Her dark hair fell over her face, hiding her features.

Oh, no. He didn’t need to see her face. Her scent teased him. Like a spring meadow in full bloom.

Defying the North Wind

The WindKeepers, # 4

The deadly Tempest Winds have escaped…

Now, four brothers gifted with the power of the winds must recapture the Venti Tempesta before they can unleash their evil on the world...

Billionaire Luca Venti is head of Venti Enterprises and the Keeper of the volatile North Wind. He prides himself on his control and as he battles the deadly Northeast Wind in the heart of Venice, he refuses all help. But the vice of rage beats within him and when he discovers his new personal assistant is hiding more than just dangerous curves under her suit, his fury wants to be unleashed.

Rayne Santini was sent to spy on Luca, not to get involved with him and his explosive temper. She knows all about angry men who like to hurt others, but as she watches Luca struggle against his vice, she refuses to stand by and do nothing. But when their enemy entraps them, Luca’s control begins to crumble and the only thing standing between him and his rage is Rayne.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Defying-North-Wind-The-WindKeepers-ebook/dp/B00K1FQF1C

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-defyingthenorthwind-1491104-153.html

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/433959

“Out.” Luca watched as looks of shock were quickly smothered. Folders were closers, papers shuffled, then they filed out.

All except one.

Steady, cool green eyes watched him. Her stylus was poised over her tablet. “Is there anything else you require today, Signor Venti?”

Even his new personal assistant’s voice was cool with the faintest tinge of an English accent. His fingers curled. Damn, Pietro for falling ill. Luca didn’t want to break in a new personal assistant. Especially one who inflamed his already stretched temper. He had enough problems without also wanting to mess up her sleek swing of chin-length red hair. Or to get some sort of reaction out of her. Any reaction.

He’d yelled at her plenty this week and she’d barely blinked.

Si, something about Rayne Santini rubbed him the wrong way. Although during the last six weeks everything had rubbed him the wrong way.

Rayne crossed her long legs, the movement catching Luca’s attention. Her gray suit was stylish but hardly provocative. Still, it fired something in his blood. Something he knew he didn’t have time for right now.

Claiming the East Wind

The WindKeepers, #5

The deadly Tempest Winds have escaped…

Now, four brothers gifted with the power of the winds must recapture the Venti Tempesta before they can unleash their evil on the world...

Skye Santini has lived her life in the shadows, hiding from the horrors of her past. Tired of always being afraid, she vows that now is her chance to make a difference. She will be the virgin sacrifice to appease Soren Venti, the Keeper of the East Wind, who has succumbed to his vice of greed.

Locked away in his villa on Lake Como, Soren has no memory of his identity. He is driven only by the whispers of greed to take, own and possess, but then one fragile woman enters his domain. Soren wants Skye above all else…but he wants her willing, not as a duty-bound lover. As they are drawn together, their dangerous enemy, the Southeast Wind bears down on them. He wants Soren to join him and rule the world…and he knows that Skye is the only thing stopping him.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Claiming-East-Wind-The-WindKeepers-ebook/dp/B00K6FEF9G

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-claimingtheeastwind-1501254-153.html

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/436074

She was the virgin sacrifice for a greedy wind god.

Skye Santini clasped her hands together and tried to wrestle her nerves into some sort of submission.

She was failing. Big time.

Swallowing hard, she stared up at the beautiful villa. A cool, brisk wind blew in from Lake Como and tossed her hair around her face. She scraped it back. She could do this. She wanted to do this. Besides, she wasn’t exactly a virgin and the male locked inside wasn’t exactly a god. He was a man. A man who usually ran the finances for the successful company he and his brothers had built, Venti Enterprises.

Oh, and he was a WindKeeper on the verge destroying the entire world.

“This is insane. Skye, you can’t do this!”

Skye turned and watched her sister storm up to her. Rayne never held back from saying what was on her mind. She was also a trained Aurae warrior and the best big sister in the world.

“Rayne, I’ll be fine—”

“Fine?” Rayne gestured wildly. “The man has succumbed to his vice. He has no memory of who he is, no idea of his power, and no clue about the danger lurking close by.”

Skye looked again at the building. Vines climbed up the side of the cream-colored villa. Windows overlooked the manicured gardens that reached down to the lake. It was beautiful and she imagined, on most days, peaceful.

Today it was nothing of the sort.

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I’m Anna Hackett and I write action romance stories to thrill you, excite you and leave you inspired. I write about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals to inspire you with the truth that the possibility exists for all of us to do the same. I love car chases, explosions and spaceships…and of course when the boy wins the girl. Oh, and I’m a sucker for that moment when the team is walking in slow motion, shoulder-to-shoulder heading off into battle. After reading or writing an awesome action romance story, I’m left energized and feeling like anything is possible. I aim to give the same to my readers.

Website: http://annahackettbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaHackettAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnaHackett

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2983829.Anna_Hackett

Newsletter: http://annahackettbooks.com/newsletter/

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Published on June 03, 2014 00:25

June 2, 2014

Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: Angel Kin by @AuthorTrish

Angel Kin

An Angel Assassins Novel

Tricia Skinner

Genre: Paranormal Romance with Urban Fantasy elements

Publisher: Entangled Publishing – Edge Imprint

Date of Publication: April 28, 2014

ISBN-13: 9781622664931

ASIN: B00JI09FIG

Number of pages: 268

Amazon BN iBooks Kobo

Tagline: The thief will steal his heart...

Book Description:

While channeling Robin Hood’s “steal from the rich and give to the poor” attitude at a local politician’s house, ex-con Katie Logan witnesses a forced suicide. Dirty or not, supernatural or not, he didn’t deserve to die, especially not by his own hand. But with her record, stepping forward as a witness isn’t an option. On the run from the police and the murderer, she turns to The Bound Ones for help.

When a beautiful woman comes to The Bound Ones, half-angel assassin Cain is immediately drawn to her. But when she fingers him as the killer, he can come to only one conclusion. The twin he thought was dead is very much alive…and trying to send him a message. Unfortunately, that message is: “You’re next.”

It’s a race against time as Cain fights to save the woman he’s falling in love with before his brother Abel destroys them both.

First, Cain checked the room’s double window and the flimsy front door, then threw the motel blanket on the brown carpet. He smoothed his hands across the sheets and lifted the mattress. He let it go and unrolled his blanket, tucking the corners. 

“Should be fine now.” 

Her mind felt miles away. “Will it be? Fine?” 

He removed his jacket and pulled one of his guns from the holster. The magazine shot into his hand before he slammed it back. “As soon as I find Abel your life will go back to normal.”

Katie huffed a half laugh. Normal sounded like a dream. “I—”

Cain paused his movements. “You what?” 

“I wish I knew how to help you.” 

“Well you can’t.” 

She snapped her gaze to his stony face. “Would it hurt to pretend I just showed some compassion for you? You could at least act like you’d considered my words.”

“Let’s analyze your sweet wish, little burglar. I’m an assassin, which translates to I kill people.” The half angel folded his arms and left no doubt about the arrogance on his face. “Sorry if the facts sting, but you can’t fight like I can. You can’t do what needs to be done.”

Infuriating, arrogant, and stubborn was not a good look on him. Katie mimicked his posture and crossed her arms. “Tell me, Mr. Super Assassin, are you sure those legendary fighting skills you claim to have will work when you’re face-to-face with Abel?”

“You think I’ll run from the fight?” A growl slipped through his gritted teeth.

“That’s not what I meant. I want to know if you can”— she raised her fingers in air quotes— “do what needs to be done, when your opponent is your own brother?”

Cain pressed his lips together, and she dove into the void left by his hesitation.

“Family is about love, but it’s also about a shitload of pain.” Katie expelled a slow breath. “When you face off with your twin, the end result will stay with you.”

“Abel’s my blood, but he’s done wrong. I’ll deal.”

Katie tossed her hands up. “Say you’re standing near Abel and he’s got a gun pointed at some poor schmuck’s head. What are you going to do? You’d have to decide whether or not your brother is more important, or that innocent life.”

He clawed his fingers through his hair. “I’d never allow him to harm a soul in my presence. I will stop my brother, but don’t tell me my only option is to kill him.”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that.” Exhausted, she sank onto the edge of the mattress. “I truly do.”

“Ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath.

She shot up from the bed, ready to tell him exactly where he could shove his tough act, but Cain’s hand caught her wrist. They stared into each other’s eyes, but the emotions passing over his face cranked her heartbeat.

“Let. Go.” She jerked her arm, but his grip held.

“You should thank me for my honesty. An angel, even an impure abomination like me, could kill you before you could react. No more wishing you could help me. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

“So we’re clear, if I wasn’t dealing with mind-controlling giants, I could hold my own in a fight,” she said.

Cain’s expression darkened. “Could you? I wonder.”

The Nephilim brought her crashing down onto the mattress, and Katie yelped. She thrashed under his heavy weight.

“Overpowered by a body, not mind control,” he said as his breath fanned her skin. “Your nonassassin skills are sadly lacking.”

He pinned her wrists above her head, leaving her body flush against his. Katie wiggled and tugged, but Cain had the advantage of position and strength. She stopped her frantic movements. Only one option left—surprise.

She molded her lips over his, the pressure so heavy and intense she could only moan breathlessly into his mouth. The warmth of her tongue touched his, drawing her nerves guitar-string tight.

The grip on her wrists loosened, and Katie raised her hands until her fingers slid into the thickness of his hair. She arched her body and his wide palm cupped her back. Distracting Cain to throw him off took a back seat, replaced by instinctual need pounding deep within her belly and ricocheting between her legs.

Cain’s tongue continued a slow exploration of her mouth, lapping the depths, erotic as hell. Her trembling fingers brushed the expanse of his shoulders, his firm muscles jolting the tips as they passed over. Filled with untethered boldness, she ran light touches down the ridges of his firm pectorals. When her thumb flicked a pebble-hard nipple, her bodyguard growled.

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

I wanted to be a newspaper reporter, which is exactly what I became once I went to college. I spent four years as an intern at The Detroit News before they hired me just before graduation as a full-time reporter.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

I was 19 or 20 when I first wrote something that made it into the newspaper. Talk about thrilling. My mom still keeps a "shrine" of my news clippings. She's very proud.

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

Hmm. I studied novel writing for about two years. My first contract was signed November 2012 and that book was published February 2013.

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

My day job is in higher education. Nice and vague, huh? ;)

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

Angel Kin is about a former thief who's forced to trust a half-angel assassin to protect her from his evil twin.

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

Entangled Publishing. I'm an author for the Edge imprint and I adore everyone there. It's a supportive, energetic and positive place to be. I don't currently self publish, but one day I will.

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

The process takes me about four months. I'm including time to get my critique partners to look at it, one or two beta readers, and then my agent.

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

In August, Angel Lover is scheduled for release. New hero and heroine, and it can be read as a stand alone. I've other projects I'm working on, one in the same genre and one that's not. I like stretching myself a bit.

What genre would you place your books into?

Urban fantasy romance is the best description. The difference with that and paranormal romance is the romance is not driving the story. The hero and heroine in Angel Kin are not focused on their relationship. He's trying to save her life and she's trying to stay alive. The sexual tension develops from that.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

I love angels and Nephilim (half-angel/half-human) stories. Urban fantasy allows the most freedom, in my opinion, to explore supernatural beings.

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

Tanis is the mentor of The Bound Ones, the team of Nephilim who are forced to serve Heaven as assassin. He was supposed to kill them as children, but he argued for their lives and won. Tanis is fully angel, but his wings are horribly scarred and he's emotionally not as cold as most angels. I love that he's complicated in many ways.

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

Not so much. If I'm told a blog review is coming, I'll check it out. I like to understand what a reader saw as a strength or weakness because it does help me get better. However, I don't seek out reviews or watch Goodreads or Amazon for new reviews. Those often don't have a review, only a rating, which makes it impossible to know what they loved or hated the book.

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

My Angel Assassins series is set in my old hometown of Detroit so I tend to use names of actual places I remember. Character names usually come from people I know. Katie Logan, the heroine in Angel Kin, is named for my sister-in-law Katie and her gorgeous little son Logan. Nestaron, one of the Nephilim, is the nickname of my good friend Jason. So if I know you and I like your name, you've been warned.

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. I tell the story in my head, but I don't focus on sticking hidden messages in it. A lot of readers, for example, dislike angel stories because they're preachy and religious. That hurts writers like me who never go that route. Angel Kin isn't religious in any sense.

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

I enjoy ebooks because I can get my hands on them quickly. I used to live in Barnes and Noble, but my life as a working woman, a wife and mother, and as an author makes trudging to the bookstore extremely difficult.

Your favorite food is?

Jamaican food.

Your favorite singer/group is?

Super tough question because I tend to prefer movie soundtracks or epic soundtracks (the stuff you hear in movie trailers). Those creators include Immediate Music and X-Ray Dog.

One $25 gift card to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes. Not open to international entries.

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Tricia Skinner writes urban fantasy with twist of passion. She’s a former journalist who discovered her inspiration to write fiction as an escape from “real life.” Her reading tastes include fantasy (and its subgenres), paranormal, sci-fi, and history.

When she’s not writing, Tricia is a newbie “green” practitioner, fitness procrastinator, and a technology geek. Her family includes a patient husband, a demigod son, and two Great Danes. She’s active in several writing communities and enjoys interacting with readers.

http://www.triciaskinner.com

https://twitter.com/AuthorTrish

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTriciaSkinner

https://www.goodreads.com/triciaskinner

http://www.pinterest.com/AuthorTricia/

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Published on June 02, 2014 01:00

Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: Return by @maxwmiller

Return

Egyptian Moon Series

Book 1

Max W. Miller

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Ironshield Marking LLC

ISBN: 9780985595562

ASIN: B00IX40TWO

Number of pages: 218 pages

Word Count: 67,000 words

Cover Artist: Kat Murphy

Book Description:

A young lady has to learn how to function on a college campus without the guidance of her parents while dealing with reincarnation. How will she fight and win the battle against the aggressive soul of an ancient Egyptian princess who is determined to RETURN.

Available at Amazon

Since my sophomore year of high school, my dad, Dr. Eli Christopher Smart III, a noted Professor of Neurological Surgery at Duke University—totally white, but born in Cairo, Egypt—had started creating his idea of the perfect pre-college family trip. He and I were scheduled to travel to Egypt to tour the ruins of ancient cities. Mom had refused to come with us.

******

I did know about the power of the pharaohs and how a few of them may have been women in disguise. I’d always thought of that as very interesting. Queen Nefertiti was my favorite ancient woman of power.

One part of ancient Egyptian lifestyle rang quite clear and it disgusted me. How gross was it for the pharaohs to marry their own children, and how gross to expect a sister to marry a brother—not cool at all. Eeeew.

******

It bothered me that this wide hall was dimly lit, with yellowish lights. I squinted, trying to see where the hall ended. It seemed to go on past forever. Even more distressing, my personal nemesis showed up—a quivering of my left eyelid, a telltale signal that something would come to change my life and not in a positive way.

“Damn,” I muttered and loosened my grip on Tyler’s arm to grab his hand tightly. The last time my left eye did this crazy quivering dance, we received the news of Papa’s death. Squeezing my eyes shut, I prayed silently, “Please, God, don’t let anything else happen to my family, please.”

******

“Stop it, Megan. You know I hate horror flicks. Why you want to talk about that while we’re walking down this creepy ass hall? Upstairs looks like a palace, but down here came right out the macabre, man. Reminds me too much of a neighborhood I used to live in, too much old dusty crap. This place just ain’t right, man. And I came all the way to New York for this—”

“Okay, Tyler, I get it.”

“A freaking nuclear holocaust, the land that time forgot. And I don’t believe they paid all the light bills, it’s too damn dark down here.”

I giggled as Tyler led me around a stack of old furniture.

Mom couldn’t resist letting her sage wisdom flow. She stepped backward then leaned to reach my ears. “He ought to be ashamed of himself, keeping this establishment in this condition. The nerve of him, bringing us down here to this dusty storage area for things they don’t want. Well, he can have our bills from the cleaners.”

The hard pounding inside my chest eased after teasing with Tyler and listening to Mom. Funny how opposites combined to lighten my anxiety—a disgruntled mom and a total hottie boyfriend gave me another chance to forget that I was supposed to be in Egypt.

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

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a tendency of wanting to put my own words on homemade cards and things of that nature. It wasn’t long before I became the residential expert on putting together, poems and speeches. From there, my love for words grew into becoming a reader.

Other than writing or some other form of creative expression, my career choices were income based. I found that even though I provided good service to my employers, peace came with my written expression, whether it was the joy of congratulating someone or the tension of getting out hurt feelings.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

I caught a glimpse of feeling like a writer when many years ago, I wrote an inspirational book called Seeking the Mind Releaser. During that time, the self-publishing route was unheard of for any serious author. With my trusty electric typewriter humming, I whacked out the book and sent partial manuscript copies to agents and publishers that represented those kinds of book. After more rejections than my little novice heart could handle, I retreated back into my world of careers to make my mortgage, if you know what I mean.

It was around 2010, when a personal crisis had taken its toll on my mental stability that I finally put it together: writing down my thought, feelings, and ideas distressed me and more importantly, brought happiness.

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

The first draft for my debut novel, Blood Melt, was completed in about four months. No respectable budding author releases a first draft. Overall it took eight months to hammer on flesh into Blood Melt. Since its release in 2012, I am working on a second edition that will begin with the drop dead gorgeous, warrior alien, Lutalo, on his home world of Amarka. I plan to beef up the romance between Lutalo and Avani and do a name change. Keep in touch for more details on this project

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

My latest Book is Egyptian Moon – Book 1 - Return

Megan Smart has to adapt to college life while resisting reincarnation. Her ancient Egyptian soul is determined to RETURN.

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

The length of time for me to complete a book from idea to completion is subjected to so many variables such as:

How much do I know about the subject; this could add to or take away from the amount of research time needed. How many other projects I have in the queue. My personal timetable on when I plan to release What is transpiring in my personal life with family and friends. Having made all these points, I try to focus on, no more than six months for a book around seventy thousand words.

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

I am on a never ending journey into the worlds of sci-fi / fantasy and all things paranormal. I write in several genres (Children, Teens/Young Adult, and New adult). This year, I plan to release the sequels to Sadie Mae Stevens, and Egyptian Moon. I’m also working on short stories that I will be rolling out continuously throughout the year. Most will be FREE to subscribers to my blog and inexpensive if purchased on Amazon. The two short story series that I’m presently working on are: Ghost Stories Unlimited and Monster Mates. All are welcome to visit my Blog for new and exciting FREE flash fiction and updates on my shenanigans. www.scififantasyfiction.com

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What genre would you place your books into?

Egyptian Moon is Paranormal Romance, written in the New Adult category. A quick understanding of a New Adult book refers to the college years, a time of drama, tons of work from college professors, frat parties, and intimate scenes. Egyptian Moon is not erotica, but it is intended for ages eighteen and up.

What makes the book so unique is that it brings the foreboding twist of reincarnation and all that this paranormal activity entails, right onto a college campus. Imagine how Megan Smart freaks when on a pre-college family trip to New York City, she touched an artifact that awakens a memory inside her. Now, Megan is terrified and scheduled to leave home to attend the same college that her hottie quarterback boyfriend, Tyler, attends.

On the edge of losing her normally shy and reserved personality, two strangers seem to be stalking her—one dark and mysterious that she cannot resist, one with teal eyes and cinnamon hair, both having their own purposes in mind.

Megan is caught with the dark eyed stranger and fears she’ll lose her friends and Tyler too. The plot thickens as the reader is taken deeper into the realm of reincarnation. Imagine Megan’s dilemma as she battles against an element not made of flesh and blood, a powerful entity determined to reshape Megan’s God-given life into what it wants. With every level of personality change, Megan knows that the clock is ticking against her and that she might lose the image of herself at any second. Complete with heightened dramatic scenes, some language and adult scenes, Egyptian Moon is not your everyday New Adult read.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

While I enjoy writing for children, teens, and young adults, I find that I also like to spice it up and writing love scenes and using shocking words, even though what I consider as shocking words are not to most. When I write in the New Adult category of the Romance genre, it is strictly intended for my more mature audiences.

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

It’s hard for me as the writer to say who my favorite character might be in any particular book as they all have a unique place inside the pages. I am always curious to know which character catches my reader’s interest. It is then that I know I’ve breathed life into them. For instance, this review about a supporting character in Egyptian Moon gave me a sense of accomplishment…

Goodreads Reviewer’s Character Comment

This novel was very readable. I read most of it in one sitting and I wasn't bored the whole time. I really like Miller's writing style. She didn't go overboard with purple prose or anything like that.

I also adored Megan's roommate from the south. She was adorable and very likable. I wish that she had been the main character because she is so interesting and funny. I liked all her sayings and I might read some of the later books in the series just so I can see what happens to her.

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

When I am wrapping up my last manuscript draft, I close the door to my office that also doubles as the family room—no one in and I can’t come out. If I am on a first draft where I know editing is to come, I’m usually okay with the television being on and family and friend in the room.

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

I absolutely keep up with and read all my book reviews. I have found out that readers can help a writer improve although some comments a writer may want to place on a shelf. Reviews keep me abreast on how well I am getting my message across, how strong my plot might be, and what are flaws to work on. The way I analyze it is keeping tab on Amazon’s comparison of how many people said similar things about my book (s). An isolated comment I may ignore, but if I’m reading the same comments over and over, my ears stand at attention.

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

I usually start out with some kind of fitting title, always trying not to get too attached to it in the event the story calls for a change. Sometimes the title may remain the same, but if the characters and events take an unforeseen fork in the developmental road, I am not opposed to changing my title. It’s all about how the book decides to write itself, sound strange but it’s true.

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

My mind travels to what I know before research or interview. Having been raised in the South, Savannah, Georgia to be exact, I believe my thoughts instinctively go to aged oak trees dripping in moss, charming historic river fronts, cobblestone streets and country roads. This type of scenery fits well with the sci-fi/ fantasy/paranormal genres/categories I enjoy writing.

As far as characters and their names: after I know what the story is all about and who will do what to whom, the name fit the sweetness or dastardly nature they will become. Names are also subject to change if the story changes it’s route, doubles back and then fly upward to the sky.

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

I outline the way I believe the story will unfold. Nine times out of ten, the story will veer off into another form, however, writers must make assumption to even get started. Characters will also undergo metamorphosis as I add flesh to their dry bones. Sometimes, if I am writing a character that is a certain age, I’ll bounce a name or two off of a person in that same age range.

A first draft is just what the name implies; look out for the second, third, and forth because they may not look like the same story. In search of the ultimate character name, personality, motive, and role all plays into that name.

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..")

I find that I do write with lessons and moral, hopefully hidden well enough that it does not blaze at first glance. Although, at times I want my moralistic message to blaze: such as in my new release FREE ebook – Think And Grow Dead.

Michael Henson the third needs to be taught a lesson and by the end of the story, the message rings loudly for all to applaud.

As far as Egyptian Moon and morals, I would say that other than a moral, Egyptian Moon – Return encourages one that when attacks come, don’t roll over and pay dead. When life attacked her, Megan Smart had to learn how to attack back.

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Max W. Miller was born in Savannah, Georgia, but has lived in North Carolina with her husband and two children for many years. She comes from a large family with eight siblings who have also experienced supernatural encounters.

Max enjoys writing science fiction, fantasy, and all things paranormal because she believes that we have three distinct parts to our being—body, mind and spirit (soul), and that other life forms in other realms are just as real as we are. In her writing, Max uses popular fantasy, science fiction and paranormal topics such as aliens, ghosts, and witches, and expresses them in a way that is highly entertaining and thought provoking.

Website and Blog http://www.scififantasyfiction.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/maxwmiller

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Published on June 02, 2014 00:30

June 1, 2014

Cover Reveal: Serenity by @AvaOShay

Presented by:

Title: Serenity Author: Ava O’Shay Audience: Upper Young Adult Genre: Contemporary Romance Formats: E-book and paperback Publisher: Ava O’Shay Cover by: Raven Books and Design Editor: Kara Leigh Miller Expected Date of Publishing: June 15,2014 All it takes is one moment for their lives to change forever. One bad hit and a head injury destroys Jolin’s football dream and leaves him with a stutter. Knocked from his pedestal he struggles to keep a hold on a popularity he isn’t sure he even wants. When Serenity’s strung out mom returns, the money Serenity saved for her escape disappears. To keep her life together, Serenity is forced to make a deal with the guy who wants to take Jolin’s spot on the top. With their futures in the balance can two people on opposite sides of the social circle find a common ground and help each other survive their present and heal from their past? Goodreads

His hands reached out and encircled her waist. “So she’ll sign the lease then?” His voice had gotten low and sent a chill through her. “Does she have a job?” Ren wanted to step away from his touch. Her entire body screamed to jerk free of his hold but she fought to keep control over the situation. “Quill and I work. We’ll make sure you get the rent on time.” Brock laughed. “You don’t work enough hours to pay rent and utilities. Not to mention food to eat.” “I think your only concern would be whether I can pay you the rent on time.” Ren stood straighter. “Can you?” he raised an eyebrow. “Well I don’t have it right now. With the funeral costs it will be tight this month.” Ren was lying. The funeral cost weren’t even close to being paid off and she had no money set aside for rent. Anything Grams had, Mom had spent before the body was in the ground. Brock pulled her into him. “Well then I guess that’s where your initial question comes back into play.” “And what was that?” Ren was afraid to ask. “What can you do for me?” He ran the back of his fingers down her cheek. Ren swallowed. She didn’t like where this was going. Ren pulled her lip ring into her mouth and sucked on it for a minute before letting it slide out again. Brock took in a sharp breath, his thumb moved to caress the ring encircling her lip. “What can I do for you,” Ren said, lowering her voice to a confident whisper. “More importantly what’s in it for me?” She leaned into him, raising her hand to rest against his chest. Brock diverted his eyes from hers. She suppressed a smile when she felt his heartbeat quicken. She craved the control she had over men and if she could use it to get a few more days to pay the rent she’d play his game. “What do you want,” she said again leaning in to brush her lips against the side of his neck. Brock moved his hands to Ren’s shoulders and pushed her away. “I want a deal.” Ren leaned back against the wall of the living room and crossed her arms over her chest. “What terms?” The corner of Brock’s mouth turned up. He dipped his head and looked up through his long lashes. “You have…” he let his voice train off. She raised an eyebrow. “A rep?” He looked at his feet and shook his head. “Spill it Roberts. What do you want?” “Okay here’s the deal. I’ll give you a break on the rent. I’ll even give you some extra for the stuff you need. I want you to provide services for me.” Ren pushed off the wall and walked away from him. “I’m not for sale.” “I’m open to negotiation.” He followed after her. “I’m not having sex with you for money.” “Again I said I’m open for negotiations.” “I already kissed you. Let you put your hands all over me. Do I get paid for that?” Ren continued to walk across the house, hoping to get some distance between them. “She hadn’t planned on even kissing him but she was drunk at the Warehouse Club and he had been a willing distraction from her mom. “Well since we already did that for free I was thinking of upping the anti a bit.” His eyes lowered toward his crotch and then back to meet hers. Ren turned on him. “What? You want me to suck you off for rent money? We aren’t living on the set of Gossip Girl.” “Is that what you’re offering?” “I don’t know that I’m offering anything.” “I need to know if what you can do for me is worth what I’m offering.” He placed his hands on her shoulders moving his thumbs in small circles on the side of her neck. “If you’re as good as I think you’ll be it could be a couple hundred off. I expect you to be available when I call. Whenever I call.” He moved into her. “Are you worth it?” She felt sick to her stomach. “I’m worth it,” Ren said without batting an eye. After many years trudging through the social awkwardness of high school and the whirl wind of college romances I finally landed in the Seattle area writing about the hell, horror, and don't forget hot romance of youth. I love all things outdoors and can be found hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, or doing anything that will work up a good sweat. I love to interact with my readers and meet them at signings. Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon

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Published on June 01, 2014 23:30

New Release!! SEAL My Destiny by @sharonlhamilton

BOOK INFORMATION TITLE – SEAL My Destiny SERIES – SEAL Brotherhood #6 AUTHOR – Sharon Hamilton GENRE – Romantic Suspense PUBLICATION DATE – June, 1, 2014 LENTH (Pages/# Words) – Full Length Novel PUBLISHER – Al Publishing

Navy SEAL Luke Paulsen, on the verge of PTSD stemming from the death of his fiancée and a brutal tour overseas, knows he is damaged goods and unsuitable for relationships. While paying respects to a fallen comrade, he is unprepared for the chemical attraction he feels for the carefree dark-haired beauty playing in the surf one evening. Julie Christensen befriends the troubled SEAL, motivated by her yearning to soothe the young man’s troubled soul. Fueled by intense mutual desire, they succumb to one night of mind-numbing passion. Afterwards, he is unable to shed the memory of his lost love and disappears. When they meet again at a wedding that will forever bring their two families together, their passion and longing for one another forces them to confront their pasts in order to find a future together. But soon the trauma of his service separates them. Julie goes back to teaching and Luke deploys for North Africa with SEAL Team 3. Upon his return, he receives a frantic call that Julie's life is in danger. Will he make it in time to save the woman he now knows he wants to marry and spend the rest of his life with?

Pre-orders available now AMAZON KINDLE US / AMAZON KINDLE CA / AMAZON KINDLE UK

He wanted to say something but suddenly became hesitant. Everything had gone so fast, he didn’t want to spook her. He was unafraid to show her how much he loved being with her, especially since she’d promised to visit him in Coronado and they’d see where things went from there. It would have been like the cart before the horse, but he wanted to ask her to marry him at that impulsive moment, but he held himself back. Being the wife of a SEAL was a special assignment and there was no training for that, except the school of hard knocks. There was a community of wives that looked out for each other. And not all the stories from overseas made it home to them. The smart wives knew this. He knew it was a lot to ask of someone. He didn’t want to fall for a lady who didn’t really understand what she’d be getting herself into. But that was a completely crazy thought, because he’d already fallen for her. He decided he’d just put it out of his mind, and not discuss anything future-related, to keep the pressure off them both. Nothing wrong with having a little bit of—well, a lot of—fun in the next few days before his deployment. He held her under the starlight. Feeling eyes on him, he saw Julie’s parents eyeing him from their kitchen window, smiling. He couldn’t keep up the eye contact because odds weren’t in his favor. He wasn’t prince charming, or Sir Galahad riding in on his white horse. He was just a guy other guys sent in to blow stuff up, grab people and hopefully get out before getting shot or caught. And his intentions, although he liked to think of them as honorable, were merely to do everything in his power to be as irresistible as possible to her so that when he left, he’d be the one hard to miss. And then maybe she’d wait for him. Maybe she’d wait until he got fully well. It was a lot of ifs. The music stopped while he was kissing her ear through her hair, while he was holding her tighter as she melted into him. He liked that they were dancing because their thighs made soft caresses and the dress, that yummy dress, made all that noise. He just knew every time he heard the sound of layers of chiffon, he’d get hard. It was going to be something he’d have for the rest of his life.

Sharon’s award-winning almost-erotic Navy SEAL stories of the SEAL Brotherhood, have consistently made best sellers lists and review sites. Her characters follow a spicy road to redemption through passion and true love. She has been an Amazon top 100 author in Romantic Suspense since last fall. Her Golden Vampires of Tuscany are not like any vamps you’ve read before, since they don’t have to go to ground and can walk around in the full light of the sun. Honeymoon Bite, Book 1 of the Golden Vampires of Tuscany Series was recently named the #1 Gothic Romance by Amazon. It is now available on Audible. Her Guardian Angels struggle with the human charges they are sent to save, often escaping their vanilla world of Heaven for the brief human one. You won’t find any of these beings in any Sunday school class. Sharon lives in Sonoma County, California with her husband, and two Dobermans. A lifelong organic gardener, when she’s not writing, she’s getting vera vera dirty in the mud, or wandering Farmer’s Markets looking for new Heirloom varieties of vegetables and flowers.

Amazon Author Page / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Google+ / Goodreads / Shelfari

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Published on June 01, 2014 01:00

Cover Reveal: 2B Or Not 2B? by @StephanieR76

Book Info Title: 2B Or Not 2B? Series: Roomies #1 Author: Stephanie Witter Category: New Adult Genre: Contemporary Romance Publisher: AG Publishing Cover Artist: Cover it Designs Full length novel.

BLURB: London Reed is on the hunt for a place to live before the start of her second year in college. Either she is successful and can enjoy her student life without the pressure of her parents breathing down her neck, or she goes back home and clashes with her parents. Because London doesn’t have a filter. ''You’re a weird one, aren’t you?'' She basically tells it as she sees it. So when she meets the hunky and scarred guy who lives in apartment 2B, the last apartment on her exhausting list, she’s sure to bring some crazy in his life. But he’s determined to not take a girl for a roommate. "I have nothing against you, but I don't see this working for me." London doesn’t give up that easily and makes a deal with him. If she makes it for two months, she’s in for the whole year. If not, then she leaves to never contact him again. Easy, right? Not so much. "You should have told me that you wanted me to be all over you." When a guy and a girl live under the same roof, it’s bound to complicate things. Between banters, heady games of seduction, innuendos and insecurities revealed, the life in apartment 2B isn’t simple, and a few slips in their relationship doesn’t help the matter. "You're driving me completely nuts. That's my fucking problem." Add it to goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22107209-2b-or-not-2b Ebooks and paperbacks will be available on Amazon, Nook, iTunes and Smashwords late June 2014. Stay tuned!

Stephanie Witter is a French dreamer. She started learning English at three, and fell in love with the language. Always with a book, or two close by, she started reading in English when she couldn’t wait any longer for Harry Potter to be translated in French. After a while, reading wasn’t enough. She soon started writing Young Adult and New Adult Contemporary novels filled with angst, love, hope, drama and a touch of fun. PATCH UP is her first New Adult Contemporary novel. Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Blog / Amazon Page Website / Newsletter

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Published on June 01, 2014 00:30

May 31, 2014

Cover Reveal: Fierce Awakenings by @KrissyGirl122

Presented by:

Title: Fierce Awakenings
Author: Kristy Centeno
Audience: Adult - Erotica
Genre: ex Paranormal Romance
Formats: E-book
Publisher: Limitless Publishing

An oppressed werewolf princess…
In a world where the werewolf species is rapidly declining, breeding the strongest of the purebred bloodlines is of the utmost importance. But when Victoria Bonvalet is ordered by her alpha father to partake in this breeding program, she rebels by fleeing her home and the protection of the pack.
Though she has never fallen in love, Victoria refuses to mate with someone she doesn’t even know and commit her lifecycle to someone with defective genes, which could ultimately be passed down to her own children. Though she expects to be found eventually, she plans to hide and run until that happens. What she never expects is the attraction she would feel for a one thousand year old vampire lord with a thirst for adventure.
A vampire with nothing to lose…
Tristan Garland has traveled the world, fought in wars, and encountered many enemies over the years he has existed as a vampire, but even his experience as an undead could not have prepared him for the deep magnetism that lures him to his newest neighbor. Though she’s a werewolf, and by law his enemy, Tristan finds in Victoria the desire to continue existing in a world he’s come to loath over the years.
Enemies in the eyes of their own kind but hopelessly in love, Victoria and Tristan must find a way to be together without causing a war between bitter adversaries. But will their refusal to part ways provoke their kinds into a conflict unlike any they had seen before?

Goodreads

As a child, she used to lose herself in an imaginary world by the means of a good book. Now that she’s all grown up, Kristy gets to create her own fictional realms and make them come to life in ways that most readers might not expect.
She’s always had a passion for writing but never had the opportunity do so until now. After trying out numerous options, she realized that writing was what she loved the most so when she found herself with some free time on her hands, she decided to pursue her passion. As it turned out, her very active imagination helped her achieve her goals of creating believable plots with some ordinary, and some not so ordinary characters that helped the stories move along in one way or another.
As she keeps moving along in achieving her dreams of becoming a published author, she divides her time in between her five children and her very understanding husband.

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Pinterest

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Published on May 31, 2014 23:30

May 30, 2014

Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: Shunned No More by @CMcKnightWriter

Shunned No More

A Lady Forsaken

Book 1

Christina McKnight

Genre: Historical Romance, Regency

Publisher: La Loma Elite Publishing

Date of Publication: May 30, 2014

ISBN: 9780988261723

Number of pages: 300 Approximate

Word Count: 75,000 Approximate

Cover Artist: LFD Designs for Authors

Book Description:

A Lady Shunned by All…

Lady Viola Oberbrook only wanted to forget the ill-fated early morning duel that took the lives of two young, wealthy, promising men of the ton and sent her fleeing for her father’s country estate. Eight years later, she has her life in order: a fulfilling business, a few trusted friends, and no plans to return to London society. What she doesn’t expect is to come face to face with her past.

A Lord Betrayed by One…

Brock Spencer, Earl of Haversham, only wants vengeance. Recently returned from his military service to the King, his plans include repairing his family estate, finding a bride, and destroying the girl responsible for the untimely death of his twin brothers. What he doesn’t anticipate is falling in love with the only woman who should never be part of his future.

An Impossible Match, Destined to Be…

Add Shunned No More to your Goodreads Shelf or get it now on Amazon !

Character Name: Lord Haversham, Brock Spencer

Character Bio: 6’-2”, Brown eyes with dark hair. Age 32.

Brock returns from the horrors of the battlefield to nothing--an empty estate without family to surround him or horses to amuse him. As the oldest brother, he feels responsible as well--if he'd been there it would've been different. If he'd been a better brother, the twins would never have made the terrible decision they did.

But he's a hero and saved countless lives during the war, and it's so much easier to blame the woman who had been there and who had goaded his brothers into that bad decision.

Describe yourself. What is your worst and best quality?

Can they be the same thing? My need for justice is both my best and worst quality, or so my best friend, Harold, likes to point out.

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

My family and lineage mean everything to me.

What are you most afraid of?

An eternity alone; no wife, no children, and an empty estate.

What do you want more than anything?

Retribution. And I will have it!

What is your relationship status?

I found it hard to maintain relationships while I was serving the King. I will say I am available, for the time being.

How would you describe your sense of fashion?

Fashion? I don the clothes my valet deems appropriate.

How much of a rebel are you?

I am no more the rebel than you, I suppose. I do what suits myself, whether others agree or not.

What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?

I have not attained what I want future generations of Havershams to honor me for.

What is it that you, most dislike?

Disloyalty. Your allegiance to something or someone is all you will be known for after you are gone.

What is your greatest regret?

Abandoning my father and brothers when they needed me most.

What is the quality you most like in a man? What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Man…woman…they are not both people and therefore the same, correct? Honesty. Sometimes all a person has to offer is their word, and if they fail to live up to their word, what is left? A dishonorable person without quality.

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Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since. Currently, she focuses on Historical Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance.

Christina enjoys a quiet life in Northern California with her family, her wine, and lots of coffee. Oh, and her books…don’t forget her books! Most days she can be found writing, reading, or traveling the great state of California.

Twitter! https://twitter.com/#!/CMcKnightWriter

Blog: www.christinamcknight.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaMcKnightWriter

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Published on May 30, 2014 00:00

May 28, 2014

Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: Dancing with a Dead Horse by @sammyig

Dancing with a Dead Horse

Danielle DeVor

Genre: YA Thriller

Publisher: Eirelander Publishing

Date of Publication: April 30, 2014

Word Count: 65,104

Cover Artist: Buffi BeCraft

Book Description:

Sometimes lullabies aren’t soothing; they’re deadly.

Sixteen-year-old, Jason Miller, wants three things: to become a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter, graduate from high school, and avoid his mother’s ballet classes.

When he finds the body of the most popular girl in school, he has a major freak-out session, and then calls 911. But if finding a body wasn’t bad enough, when a horse doll made of human skin and hair is found in his locker, the entire town accuses Jason of the murder.

As the body count rises, so does the hostility. Jason is left with a choice: To run and hide or to clear his name and find out why the killer is targeting him before it’s too late.

Available at Amazon

Palomino

Living in a small town is like living in a bubble. Everything seems to go the way it has for eons, until something comes along and POP! The bubble bursts. That’s when mass panic sets in.

The panic doesn’t come immediately. Usually, it takes some loser redneck with a chip on his shoulder to say something like, “Kyle Crabtree has always been weird. Weird ain’t good.” And the next thing you know it all goes to hell and poor Kyle has a mob surrounding his house demanding justice. Unfortunately, Kyle has no idea what’s going on. Then, they drag him out of his house. If Kyle is lucky, they don’t beat him to death.

Thank God, I’m not Kyle.

My name is Jason Miller and I almost died today. Believe me, it sucked. All I wanted was a normal life, instead, I ended up with a giant mess.

But, today wasn’t the beginning. It all started about six weeks ago…

“Jason,” Mom said. We were in the kitchen. She had done a lot of work to it over the years. The formerly green metal cabinets were replaced with white wooden ones, and the sink was made of some type of soapstone. She’d spent hours trying to decide on the right colors, the right design, but I never really paid much attention. Kitchens just weren’t my thing. Not that I really paid much attention to the rest of the house either, but that was beside the point. I looked up from my cereal. She was wearing her do-what-I-say-mister-or-you’ll-be-sorry look. Her brown hair was pulled back into this severe bun. It was so tight that it seemed to stretch her eyebrows up towards the top of her skull. People said I looked like her. I guess it was the brown hair and blue eyes. Who knew what I’d done this time. Mom was kind of obsessive compulsive.

“Yeah?” I asked. I fought not to roll my eyes. I didn’t feel like dealing with her weirdness this morning.

She put her hands on her hips, not that she really had any. She’d once been a famous ballet dancer for the Kirov Ballet, but then she’d met Dad while trying to find some obscure Chinese restaurant in New York when the company was on tour, and the rest was kind of history.

“You left towel on the floor again,” she said. It was interesting. Mom had lived in the States all these years and her Russian accent was still as strong as ever. I guess the “homeland” never left her. Not really.

But, shit. The way she acted, you’d think I just shot the dog—not that we had a dog, but whatever. I’d hit on her worst fear. She was a germaphobe of the highest order;at least that’s how it seemed to me. I didn’t mind it though.

The thing you have to know about Mom is that she has these fears because she lived through Soviet Russia. When she was a kid, she lived in an apartment with carpets on the walls to try to keep out the drafts. Everything was saved to be reused, even aluminum foil. So now, when she has something, it all has to be perfect, so it can stay good for many years. Somehow the American disposable society and her ideals still work. That is- if you can keep her from having a conniption fit when the TV breaks. Her culture was set on making things last because they didn’t have a choice. I think she resented that Americans didn’t pay much attention to things like that anymore.

Her head was probably running rampant with images of mildew snaking its way up the walls of my bathroom like some kind of space monster. And honestly, my bathroom wasn’t that bad. It was one towel for crying out loud. I mean, a little soap on the sink wasn’t that big of a deal and I’d cleaned up that part of it this time. Plus, Mom had a cleaning lady come in once a week. The place wasn’t going to turn into mold central that quick.

“Sorry, Mom. It must have fallen.” I gave her what I thought was a I’m-just-your-little-boy smile. Hell, even I had to admit, coming out of my mouth it sounded fake and hokey, but you can’t blame me for trying. Playing innocent was the only way I knew to get by Mom. But, she was getting better and better at ignoring my charm. At least I hoped it was charm.

She huffed and gave me the look. Apparently, my charm was not working this morning. “Don’t you lie to me, Jason Nicholas Miller, or I’ll make you take advanced class this afternoon.”

Oh, God, anything but that. Dealing with her reaming me out for not hanging up my towel was one thing, taking one of her classes was another. “I’m sorry,” I said. And I meant it. I did not want to spend the afternoon in tights and having sweat stick to my balls like glue. The itching would be bad enough, but the “unclean” feeling would drive me crazy.

Last thing I wanted to do was take ballet classes again. Mom owned her own studio here in town. Town was Orinth, Ohio. It wasn’t a bad place if you still liked picket fences and lots of gardens. Orinth was known for its yearly garden show. We never participated.

I felt the look of disgust creeping onto my face and I forced my facial muscles to relax and remain neutral. I needed to be strong. If I caved now, I would be so screwed. Besides, I didn’t need the “ballet dancers are manly” talk again.

Character Name: Jason Miller

Character Bio: Jason’s dream is to become a Mixed Martial Arts fighter. He’s sixteen years old and still trying to figure things out. His biggest problem? His mother wants him to be a professional ballet dancer. He spends most of his time trying to avoid going to his mother’s classes.

Describe yourself what is your worst and vest quality?

My worst quality is probably that I tend to bottle things up that bother me until they explode. My best? I am very loyal.

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

That I’m actually a pretty normal guy.

What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?

Sometimes, I don’t mind taking Mom’s classes, but don’t tell her that.

What are you most afraid of?

Meeting another serial killer

What do you want more than anything?

To be a professional MMA fighter

What is your relationship status?

Single.

How would you describe your sense of fashion?

I dunno. American boy I guess.

How much of a rebel are you?

My dad is a motorcycle guy, so I was kind of raised to be outside the box.

What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?

Surviving the past year. Sad, but true.

What is your idea of happiness?

Being somewhere with a few people I care about and relaxing.

What is your current state of mind?

Mildly depressed.

What is your most treasured possession?

My first pair of MMA gloves.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I tend to shred my clothes when I get nervous.

What is it that you, most dislike?

Being judged by people who have no idea what they are talking about.

Which living person do you, most despise?

Garret Keller

What is your greatest regret?

Not being able to save Shubangi

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Being honest

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Being someone who I can count on

Who is your favorite hero in fiction?

Harry Dresden

Which living person do you most admire?

Eddie Alvarez- He’s one of the most awesome fighters ever.

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

I wish I was stronger- both physically and mentally

What is your motto?

Get over it.

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Danielle DeVor spent her early years fantasizing about vampires and watching “Salem’s Lot” way too many times. After living briefly in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she moved back to her hometown to write. When not writing and reading about weird things, you will find her hanging out at the nearest coffee shop, enjoying a mocha frappuccino.

Twitter: @sammyig

Blog: http://danielledevor.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/danielledevorauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/DanielleDeVor

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Published on May 28, 2014 01:00

May 27, 2014

New Release!! Crane by @Rourkewrites

Presented by:

Title: Crane
Series: Legends Saga Book 1
Author: Stacey Rourke
Genre: NA paranormal
Audience: Older teens and up
Formats: eBook and print
Publisher: Anchor Group Publishing
Cover By: Najla Qamber Designs
Editor: There for You Editing
Date Published: May 26, 2014

The Horseman is unending, his presence shan’t lessen. If you break the curse, you become the legend. Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane’s disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep. What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you? Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse. But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?

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The Gryphon Series is written by Stacey Rourke. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of this series as well as other literary projects. The Gryphon Series is available wherever fine books are sold.