Karen Swart's Blog, page 88
December 5, 2013
Book Blitz: Alpha - The Scattered Dark Series, Book Two by Fierce Dolan
Alpha The Scattered Dark Series Book Two Fierce Dolan Genre: erotic horror, hardcore paranormal erotica, BDSM Publisher: Fierce Desires Date of Publication: 23 October 2013 ISBN: 978-0-9860165-6-1 ASIN: B00G4V1ETU Number of pages: 53 Word Count: 15,857 Cover Artist: Fierce Dolan Amazon Book Description: When domme Alaine Dunham meets beautiful, young werewolf Seth, she dreams of training him to be the perfect bottom to fill her Alpha needs. She quickly finds that gentling the wild wolf is one thing; subduing the rebellious human is another. Tensions mount as the full moon pushes them to consummate their bond before relationship concerns are soothed. After a strange book falls into Alaine's hands she begins to doubt her relationship, her instincts, and the moon. Book One,
Journal of a Lycanthrophile
, is free on Amazon starting December 2 Alpha by Fierce Dolan Chapter 1 A wolf. Alaine Dunham didn’t have to see him for that familiar life force to course through hers, for her body to ache to be near his—the telltale signs. Several years had passed since those sensations last sizzled up her spine, thudded behind her ribs, pooled hot and wet at her cunt, and she relished them. Scouting him from her vantage point on the stage, seeing his wild allure, got her even hotter. The dark man clutched the hand of Hostess Kisha. Her rainbow-plaited head bobbed, a kaleidoscope beacon glinting under the strobing lights as she squinted and guided them through the fray on the glittering dance floor. The shifter pressed through the crowd with his shoulders squared and jaw jutted forward. A lock of wavy black hair obscured his eyes. His swagger betrayed that he was young, anxious, needy, though the power that emanated from him told her he was not newly made. Dancing clubbers parted and stared in his wake. Alaine jumped down from the stage and waited for him to find her, as he most certainly would. She busied her trembling hands by slapping a cat-o-nine against her thigh. The welts that rose on her skin distracted her from the aching want between her legs. Licking her lips, she sighed and slowed her slamming pulse. If she was half the top she and the patrons of Malice in Fundaland thought she was, he’d be trained to knot in no time. Finally, a worthy conquest. Shaking her ponytail down her back, she pulled her shoulders up and greeted Kisha. The waifish hostess clasped Alaine’s hand and kissed her cheek, conservative affection considering they had tribbed all afternoon, culminating with the caramel-complexioned beauty creaming on her face around sundown. Fraternizing amongst staff was forbidden, so they kept their bennie trysts secret. Smiling, she tucked a colorful ringlet behind Kisha’s ear and nodded to the lovely man. “Mistress,” Kisha started, “this is Seth. He’s a regular on the scene, though it’s his first time in Malice.” His gaze roved over Alaine as the smaller woman spoke. “He asked for you. He knows the best when he sees it.” “Ah.” She resisted the urge to rap his thigh with the flail handle. “I’m booked out several nights. Hostess Kisha can get you on the books for another evening.” The wolf’s piercing gaze met hers, though his long lashes fluttered and his voice wavered. “Nice to meet you, thanks. For now, I’ll watch.”
Erotic mezzofiction writer, Fierce is imagination shapeshifted as a scribe taunting blank pages and carpal tunnel, neither of which are much use for deadlines. Close allies are impeccable timing and a trusty masseuse. Being a switch I/ENFP doesn’t hurt. For kicks Fierce has other personas across several genres, tends to fill in “Other” on surveys without explaining, and chooses the finality of the Japanese Tamagotchi. www.fiercedolan.com Facebook http://www.facebook.com/fiercedolan @FierceDolan http://www.twitter.com/fiercedolan Google+ https://plus.google.com/118302380096094683854/posts Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5236551.Fierce_Dolan Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007CJS3QK Pinterest http://pinterest.com/fiercedolan/ Tumblr http://www.fiercedolan.com/'http://fiercedolan.tumblr.com/
December 3, 2013
Author Interview with Rebekah Turner, author of Chaos Bound.
Today we have author Rebekah Turner, author of Chaos Bound for an interview. Thanks for joining us Rebekah. Sit back and enjoy the interview.
Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I've always wanted to tell stories. I still remember when I was a little girl and my parents found out I'd told a serialized story about a family of unicorns, which had been written and illustrated in the front and back of my dad's expensive encyclopedias.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
Three years.
Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?
I do freelance graphic design when my kids are looking the other way.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
Chaos Bound: Lora Blackgoat's latest investigation puts her in the crosshairs of a merchant with a taste for blood sport.
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
My publisher is Escape Publishing.
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
Six months, but I'm getting faster!
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
More gritty urban fantasy with some slap and tickle on the side and a flawed heroine with attitude.
What genre would you place your books into?
Urban fantasy.
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
After the kids are down, I always made a cup of tea and put on my writing music.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
I try not to look too closely, otherwise I think I would start obsessing. But I do take a peek, because I want to know if people are enjoying the story or not.
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
I always write the book first.
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
I collect them like stamps. I love grabbing interesting names off the internet and the world around me. I've even made myself a database of names I can refer back to when I need one.
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
I've been reading a lot of eBooks at the moment, because of the convenience. If I absolutely love a book, I'll buy a hardcopy as well.
What is your favorite book and Why? Have you read it more than once?
One of my favorite books is One for the Money, by Janet Evanovich. I read it so many times the spine split.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?
I think some do, but not often. My favorite would have to be a toss up between the Hunger Games and the Princess Bride.
Your favorite food is?
Burnt fig and caramel ice cream.
Your favorite color is?
Blue.
Your favorite Author is?
One author I love is JR Ward. She has an awesome talent of combining sexy action with snappy prose.
Remember to check out today’s book blitz to find out more about Rebekah and her epic Urban Fantasy Chaos Bound.
Book Blitz: Chaos Bound - Chronicles of the Applecross, Book 2 by Rebekah Turner
Chaos Bound
Chronicles of the Applecross
Book 2
Rebekah Turner
Genre: Urban fantasy
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Date of Publication: 1 December 2013
ISBN: 9780857991072
ASIN:
Number of pages: 177
Word Count: 82,000
Book Description:
The long-awaited sequel to Chaos Born takes us back into the Applecross, where Lora faces increasing threats to her survival and her chance at love.
Lora Blackgoat — mercenary and smuggler — has only just recovered from the last threat on her life and hasn’t even begun to sort out the mess of having both a nephilim warrior and a reborn hellspawn as potential lovers. Work should be a refuge, but a job finding missing persons puts her in the crosshairs of a violent gang and a merchant with a taste for blood sport.
Reluctantly, Lora turns to the two men in her life for help. Roman — the nephilim — professes to be her soul mate and turns to her when he feels the darkness of nephilim madness descending. But though Lora is drawn to Roman, it is Seth, ex-lover and reborn hellspawn, who Lora must ultimately ask to protect those she loves. Can she trust Seth to save Roman and her adoptive family, or will this be a fatal mistake?
Excerpt:
Chapter 1
No one had liked Rae Dowler. His nickname had been Captain Chunky, and that was from his friends. He'd been a greedy bastard in life and now, in death, was a weight on my conscience. This was the second co-worker to die on a job with me. The first one I’d had to behead after he'd become infected at an exorcism with a demonic entity, along with the client. Thankfully, my sword had been nowhere near Rae Dowler when he'd dropped dead of an old-fashioned heart attack. Still, people liked to talk.
Spring had bloomed in the bustling city of Harken, and instead of the usual rain, or tepid fog, the narrow, crooked streets had been flooded with gentle, golden sunshine. For a city used to constant downpours and overcast skies, the unexpected weather was viewed with some suspicion and considered most unseemly.
A warm afternoon wind was blowing though the cemetery, ruffling black skirts and sending hats sailing. I watched as the coffin was lowered into the ground, only half listening as a priest of The Higher Path faith droned on about eternal life.
Dowler had been in the Runner industry for over forty years. He was the only other Runner at Blackgoat Watch that didn't mind being sent on jobs past The Weald's guarded entryways: out into the modern world, with its buzzing technology, flashing neon lights and all things deep fried. Transporting anything from the Outlands back into the hidden Weald was illegal, but somehow Dowler always managed to return with a tray of Winkie Bill's Crème Donuts. A tray he never shared, mind you. Just sat in the kitchen of Blackgoat and scoffed the lot before he had to go home to his wife. In light of his less than stellar diet, I guess the heart attack that killed him wasn't a complete surprise.
Gideon, my benefactor and owner of Blackgoat Watch, stood to my left, reeking of stale whisky and boredom. Cloete, another runner at Blackgoat, was on my right. A five-foot dynamo, Cloete was otherkin: her bloodline a mixture of succubus and goddess-knew-what other interbred, mystic race. Today she was wearing leather pants and a suede coat, her petite horns hidden under a bowler hat. Her inky-black tail wrapped around one leg, the end tapping impatiently against her thigh. Tails were tricky things, always giving away the mind of their owners. Tails never seemed to lie and I was thankful I didn’t have one.
The priest said 'amen' and people dutifully took their cue and began shuffling away. Dowler's widow, a heavy-set woman with coarse hair and fleshy jowls, tossed wilted roses into the open grave, her expression a mixture of sadness and regret, with a pinch of what looked like suspicion.
‘Thank Kianna's sacred tits that's over.’ Cloete yawned, tail unravelling from her leg. ‘Who's up for a brew at Growlers?’
‘That was the most boring funeral I've ever attended.’ Gideon copied Cloete's yawn, covering his mouth with a hairy hand. He was decked out in a long frock coat with a red carnation tucked in the lapels and a natty yellow necktie. Gideon was a full-blooded satyr, and though he made every effort to look human, today he'd forgotten a hat, and his tangle of steel-wool grey hair revealed the tops of his horns he'd had amputated years ago in an effort to fit in. He'd also forgotten the contacts that changed his slit pupils to round, and his fancy-made shoes didn't match. All this, and his hangdog expression, suggested he was struggling with a hangover.
‘It wasn't that boring.’ I tried to sound indignant on Dowler's behalf, but came off sounding guilty. I was busy praying the wife didn't notice me.
‘Before I forget, Lora,’ Gideon paused to yawn again, ‘I need you to come in to Blackgoat tomorrow to talk about a new job.’
‘You've already got me babysitting the theatre bimbo,’ I reminded him. It was a simple bodyguard gig. No real threats...low stress...limited chance of beheadings.
‘Please.’ Gideon looked pained. ‘Nicola Grogan is an actress, and a fine one at that.’ He sniffed and flicked a finger at his carnation. ‘And I must say, that doesn't sound like gratitude from where I'm standing.’
My lips tightened, but I had enough smarts to pause before I spoke, giving my brain a chance to kick in. After being passed over for jobs because other Runners refused to work with me, I was in no position to turn my nose up at any opportunities. I'd only attended one other successful exorcism job since the beheading incident. That client had been high profile: the daughter of the Lord Mayor Corelli. Unfortunately, the Mayor was a staunch advocate of the Church of Higher Path, who frowned upon things such as spells and magic, seeing them as blasphemy. Blackgoat Watch had been hired by Mayor Corelli's wife, who'd sworn Gideon to secrecy, all of which meant I couldn't put the job on my brag sheet of clients I hadn't killed. As things stood now, Gideon had been forced to strong-arm Rae Dowler to work with me on a stakeout of a suspected cheating husband. The fact that the job hadn't ended well for Dowler was now going to make me a social pariah. Again.
‘Sorry,’ I muttered. ‘I'm grateful. I'm grateful.’
Gideon grunted and made a beeline for the rickshaw he'd hired to chauffeur him to and from the cemetery. Despite his dishevelled look this morning, Gideon liked to think most people couldn't pick he was a satyr, and that he was a master of disguise. No one had the heart to tell him he wasn't.
I rubbed my right lame leg and leant heavily on my goat-headed duelling cane, jealous of the rickshaw. After downing two espressos and three pastries from a local bakery, I'd walked to the cemetery as an act of contrition. Orella Warbreeder, my adoptive mother, had been lecturing me on how walking would do my joints wonders. But after standing in one place for so long, my hip had seized. I had half a mind to beg a lift with Gideon when a wink of light caught my eye, coming from the line of pine trees hedging one side of the cemetery. The light blinked again. I was no super spy, but had enough smarts to know when someone wanted my attention.
‘Lora?’
‘Eh?’ I realised Cloete had asked me a question.
‘Drink?’ She mimed throwing back a tankard of beer.
‘I think I'll just stay here a bit,’ I said. ‘Catch up with you later?’
Her eyebrows lifted. ‘Self-pity is an ugly emotion, Lora.’
‘Fuck off. I've just got things to do.’
Cloete pursed her lips. ‘You won't be bringing your boyfriend, will you?’
‘Boyfriend?’ My eyebrows arched. ‘Who would that be?’
‘Are you serious?’ Cloete snorted. ‘You think people aren't gossiping about you making goo-goo eyes at that fire and brimstone Regulator?’
I flushed. ‘His name is Roman, and we're just friends.’
One side of Cloete's mouth jerked up. ‘How very teen drama.’
‘Shut up.’
She began to stalk off, then paused, glancing back at me. ‘Just make sure you come to Growlers tonight, yeah? I want to talk to you about something important.’
‘Fine, fine.’ I gave her a surly look. ‘I'll make sure my teen drama doesn't follow me.’
Cloete chuckled as she left, striding towards the city with a smattering of other burly-looking Blackgoat Runners. I'd heard she'd flat-out refused the protection detail for Nicola Grogan. I wish I could have done the same. Spoilt actresses were bad for my health. There was another flash from the woods and I got the impression someone wanted me to hurry up.
The hairs on my neck prickled and I turned to see Dowler's wife. Her lips peeled back and she hissed at me, sounding like a kettle on the boil. I opened my mouth a couple of times before managing to mutter condolences about her loss.
‘This was your fault.’ Her eyes were slits of fury, face dry of tears. ‘My husband's blood is on your hands.’
‘I don't think that's fair,’ I protested weakly.
But the widow was already leaving, an elderly man escorting her away. She let herself be led, back stiff with anger. I watched her go, feeling miserable. How was Dowler's death my fault? A small voice told me I was a jinx, so that kind of made it my fault. I balked as the widow pulled away from her escort and stabbed a finger at me, spit flying from thinned lips. ‘You're the angel of death, Lora Blackgoat. You bring nothing but misery into people's lives.’
Her escort tightened his grip, threw me a scowl, and hurried her from the cemetery. I was the only one by Dowler's graveside now. Even the grave attendants had retreated for a break, leaning against headstones and smoking tobacco pipes.
I unbuttoned my coat and adjusted my work-belt with its heavy pockets, loaded with knick-knacks most useful in a fight. This included pouches of salt, the one medium guaranteed to act as a conduit to the ley-lines that ran under the earth and fuelled all magic. It wasn't hard to cast; took a few years of training to get the concentration right, then chuck a bit of salt, shout a few words of power in the language of your choice, and hey presto, you could set your own hair on fire. My belt was well stocked with salt, including one pouch of my own special mixture: powdered consecrated silver, salt, and half a teaspoon of gunpowder. I called it my Sucker Punch Special: guaranteed to rock your socks when you needed it. Feeling prepared, I braced my cane against my bad leg and strode towards the line of pine trees.
Rebekah lives in sunny Queensland and has worked in the past as a graphic designer. She now does freelance work when her kids are looking the other way. An avid writer since she could scrawl in her dad’s expensive encyclopedias, she has progressed from horsey stories to tales of dark fantasy with lashings of romance and a sprinkling of horror.
Her vices include eating overpriced ice cream, over analyzing 80s action and horror movies and buying stationery she just doesn’t need.
@RbkahTurner
www.goodreads.com/author/show/6580834.Rebekah_Turner
https://www.facebook.com/rebekahturnerauthor
December 2, 2013
Author Interview with Gretchen S. B. author of Lady of the Dead
Today on the blog we have Gretchen S. B. author of Lady of the Dead for an interview. Let’s get to know this amazing author!
Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
When I was little I did not want to be a princess or a ballerina. I wanted to be a train conductor. To this day I have no clue why, but I remember thinking that is seemed like the coolest job in the world. It wasn't until college that I began to consider becoming a writer.
When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?
Wow, I don't know. I wrote and created stories most of my life but I have never considered myself a writer. Once I started writing with the intent to publish I did not think of myself as a writer but someone who wanted to become one. I got this sense of relief and accomplishment when I saw my book for sale on Amazon. If I had to guess, I would say I considered myself a writer when a copy of Lady of the Dead sold. It sort of become official for me in that moment.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
I started working on Lady of the Dead, I believe, in 2010. It took me seven months to write. By far the fastest I ever finished a story. My queries were rejected by a handful of literary agencies, so Lady of the Dead sat on the digital shelf until I began seriously researching self-publishing.
Then in April I began giving the manuscript one last onceover. My grammar is terrible so I researched independent book editors. I found The Author's Red Room. They have reasonable prices and edited my manuscript in about two months (they do two rounds of edits). Then I worked on the cover and blub. Lady of the Dead came out on Halloween. So the much shorter answer is about 3.5 years.
Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?
I do, I am a Site Coordinator for City University of Seattle's Everett campus. Which comes down to being a mix between head office assistant and office manager. I am the youngest in the office by almost twenty years. I love my Everett co-workers! We joke around and work well as a team.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
Lady of the Dead: Paranormal romance with a modern woman who sees the Spirit World and an old fashioned King who falls for her.
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
I self-published.
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
Forever! From conception, it could take years. Some books started out as plot points in an existing book that just became too big. I have a habit of writing up a story idea (just so I do not forget it) then leave it alone until it percolates. Once I start getting into the writing groove though it takes me 7-16 months.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I hope to have a long writing career, as long as readers like my work. I hope to be writing Romance and Fantasy (and combinations of the tow) for years to come.
I currently have two stories in the works I hope to publish within the next six months. The first is a book called Berman's Wolves. It is an Urban Fantasy about the aftermath of a science experiment that turned several hundred students into Werewolves. The government quarantined the affected and broke the students up into groups for testing. The book takes place years later, after the government officials have stepped out of the picture. Or so it seems.
The second story is an Urban Fantasy about a homicide detective who is handed a gruesome case. Following the killer's trail, Tony starts to become aware of a paranormal world he did not know existed. The paranormal community would like to keep him in the dark and handle the killer themselves. He not only has to catch the murderer but come to terms with the fact that the world is not as simple as he always thought.
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
I enjoy creating my own spin on reality. I like to create my own rules by which the world has to operate. That is why I like to write fantasy, whether urban or paranormal, there are less boundaries for my imagination. As for romance, I just like romance and happily ever after. I like writing about two characters destiny brings together.
How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
I have been writing since I was very little. I simply enjoy entertaining people. For 15 years my creative energy went toward acting as a way to create and entertain. I started writing more seriously in mid high school. A friend and I used to create stories about characters we made up. I think she in a way inspired me to create my own worlds instead of play in someone else's.
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I do not have much of a routine. But I do have habits. It was not until about a year ago that I was willing to part ways with Word 2003. It was my favorite. I almost always write on my laptop, not much in ink anymore sadly. I can't have any talking while I write, music is fine about half the time but no TV. If I am in a writing groove and someone talks to me it is as if a bubble pops and I can no longer concentrate.
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
Character names are funny. Sometimes there is a name I really want to use. Most of the time there is a letter, I just get the first letter (or once in a while the last). Then I go on baby naming websites until I find one that clicks for me.
With places I like to have a mix of real and imaginary. I like sprinkling in real places so that when local people read it there is that moment of 'hey, I know where that is!' I mostly name places based on the type of name I think it needs or what I think, at the time, would be funny.
Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?
Characters and places come first, then I name them. One of the very frustrating things for me is when I have to use a character's name but do not have one yet. I will stare at the screen for several minutes hoping one comes to me. I usually get annoyed enough that I stop writing for the day.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
I find that characters will write themselves. I might start out thinking a character is (as a random example) a sporty, driven woman. Then I get in to the meat of the story and find the plot is all gnarled and stuck because that character just isn't the sporty driven woman I thought she was. Then I have to go back and look at her actions and see what seems mechanically forced instead of the character's natural response.
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
Personally I prefer paperbacks. I love holding it in my hands, turning the pages, and having that visual confirmation of how far I am in the book. I love book shopping! It is the ultimate retail therapy for me to walk into a Half Price Books and walk out with a bag of books for under $20. I get very excited about organizing my bookcase and seeing it fill with books I like to read.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?
I think they can. I struggle with it though if I have read the book first and within a few months of seeing the movie. It bothers me when the plots or stories are different. I find myself going, 'no, but you're supposed to do this…'
Your favorite food is?
It depends on my mood. But I definitely have a weakness for coffee (mostly lattes). It smells nice, it's warm, and it can taste nice. I love hanging out with people I care about in a coffee shop. I am always excited when pumpkin spice comes back in to season.
Your favorite color is?
Blue, I love that shade that is a smidge darker then cerulean. It looks so rich, as if it would feel like velvet if I reached out to touch it.
Remember to check out today’s book blitz to find out more about Gretchen and her novel.
12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop
Blog Hop: 12 Days of Christmas Event Date: December 1st - 12th 2013 Hosted by: As You Wish Reviews & Confessions of the Paranormal Sponsors: As You Wish Tours & Book Dragon Designs
Ingredients Original recipe makes 3 dozen 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugarDirectionsPreheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Beat 1 cup flour, brown sugar, shortening, molasses, egg, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a large bowl until thoroughly combined; stir in remaining 1 1/4 cup flour. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in white sugar; place 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until cookies are set and tops are crackled, 8 to 10 minutes.
Book Info - Title: Kasadya Hellhound Awakened Genre: Urban Fantasy Audience: Young Adult 14 years and up Formats: Paperback and Ebook Publisher: Anchor Group Cover by: Melody Simmons ISBN: 978-0988633414 Date Published: 21 August 2012 Pages: 342 pages Blurb - In a constant battle between good and evil, evil is dominating the battlefield and leading mankind to its destruction. With our Creator's intervention, a creature destined to conquer and destroy is created. He gives mankind hellhounds to fight back and reclaim freedom. Join seventeen year old Kasadya Levourne as she fights against evil to protect us. With each step, she faces destruction, and yet she has the talent to give it back tenfold. Stubborn and hard-headed she makes her mark in the Fallen world and starts a battle none can escape. Not even her trainer, the very attractive Chax de Luca, was prepared for her presence. Will evil prevail? Or will Kas and her Fallen friends succeed in protecting us against it? Hold on to your seats, this is going to be one hell of a ride. Book Links- Google Books / Amazon UK / Amazon/ Barnes and Noble / Smashwords / Diesel Books / Itunes
Grand Prize: $150 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash First Prize: One (1) eBook from Every Participating Author.
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Link
For more Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes & Giveaways - Hop along the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!
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Book Blitz and Giveaway: Lady of the Dead, Night World Series Book 1, by Gretchen S. B.
Lady of the Dead
Night World Series
Book 1
Gretchen S. B.
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9781311214874
Number of pages: 262
Word Count: ~93, 000
Cover Artist: Gretchen S. B.
Book Description:
A Lady of the Dead only comes along once in a century. Gwen knows this makes her valuable but she hates the constant supervision of her Warrior guards. Her increasing power has gifted her some independence until rumors of war spook her guards enough to report to the King
Cesar has been King of North America through several wars and rebellions. When one of his generals informs him these new rumors involve the Lady of the Dead he flies to Seattle himself it investigate, posing as his second-in-command. The instant attraction he feels to Gwen becomes increasingly hard to ignore.
Will Cesar be able to protect Gwen while battling his lust? Will Gwen stay with her warrior guards or will Cesar’s dominating nature push her to switch sides? Hidden alliances begin to surface in Lady of the Dead.
Excerpt -
“The Night World stole me from reality. No, a better way to put it is that the Night World weaned me from the normalcy of what most people would consider the real world,” Gwen began by way of explanation.
“That’s an interesting and very selective memory of events you have there,” Viking said, raising a blond eyebrow at her. “In fact, that is not how I remember it at all.”
Gwen glared. “Storebror, are you going to let me tell my story or are you going to be a nuisance?”
Viking smiled but before he could say anything he was interrupted by Raider, his second-in-command.
“Viking, the boy asked her about her past, let her tell it her own way so we can get on with the game. You know how the new guards become so enamored with our Lady of the Dead. Let the boy get it out of his system.” He laid his cards on the table, folded his arms and nodded at Gwen to continue.
Gwen rolled her eyes. She hated that title and Raider knew it. She had tried desperately over the years to convince the Warriors sent to guard her to call her by her name instead of the title, that really creeped her out. Gwen did not just talk to the dead, but to the entire Spirit World. She wanted to meet who ever had come up with that title and kick him in the balls.
Sighing, Gwen turned to Kegan, one of the new men sent to guard her. The fact that he still used his birth name told Gwen that he was less than two centuries old. When Warriors became older, they tended to make up their own names, like Viking and Raider.
“Anyway, I was seven and once again helped out of the house by my Fairy friends…”
Kegan waved a hand. “Fairy friends? There’s no such thing as Fairies.”
Gwen glared at him until he looked away. Yeah, he was definitely young. Older Warriors would not give in that easily. Gwen looked at Raider.
“What is it with you men and interrupting?”
Raider grinned at her. She had known him since she was seventeen, ten years now. Gwen had harbored a minor crush on him when they first met, but had found out what he was in his first life and the feelings had faded. A first life is what Warriors called their first century; everything after that is considered their second life. Raider’s first life consisted of raiding tombs in the 1700s. The young Gwen had been crushed that the gorgeous man before her was not only far too old for her, but a professional thief as well.
Raider kept his light brown hair a little shaggy and his sharp jaw clean-shaven. His broad nose showed signs of a bad break. The break must have occurred very young because at thirty a Warrior’s body became too strong for scarring like that.
When Raider did not respond to her, Gwen continued. “A small child is not going to understand that a being from the Spirit World is not a Fairy. My Fairy friends and I went to play down by Green River; they knew the paths to take to get all the way down to the bank. I was playing in the water when some of the Fairies picked me up and started dunking me.” Gwen did not like the next part. She still had nightmares. “At first it was fun, but then I was under too long and I needed air. The Fairies would not let me up to breathe. They were trying to drown me.”
She knew her voice was emotionless. Though it had been the first traumatic experience in her life, it was not the last. The attacks only grew worse as she aged. When Viking’s hand slid onto her left arm, Gwen knew he was thinking of those later attacks as well. His one little gesture calmed her down. She was safe now. Viking always made feel her safe, even when the odds were against them.
Shaking her head to clear it, Gwen continued her story. “Suddenly I was up in the air and huddling against this huge chest. He was yelling at the Fairies, speaking in a language I didn’t know. Nevertheless, I knew he was there to help me. I could feel that he was a good guy. He made the Fairies leave and has protected me ever since.”
4 Free eCopies of Lady of the Dead by Gretchen S. B.
About the Author:
Gretchen happily lives in Seattle, Washington where she spends her time creating new characters and situations to put them in. She also enjoys cheering on her local sports teams, even though it sometimes seems they are allergic to winning.
She has loved reading and telling stories as far back as she, or anyone else, can remember. Currently, she loves to read the same genres she writes. She also loves exploring her home state. At the end of her adventures she unwinds by curling up on the couch, knitting while catching up TV shows.
https://twitter.com/GretchenSB
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gretchen-S-B/540293959350712
November 30, 2013
Series Blitz and Giveaway: Strange In Skin Series by Sara V. Zook
Title – Strange In Skin
Series – Strange In Skin – Book #1
Author – Sara V. Zook
Genre – Paranormal, Fantasy
Publication Date – July 24, 2012
Publisher – Imagine Press
Cover Artist – Brenda Grate
BLURB:
From the moment Anna James meets the strange prisoner Emry Logan, she becomes instantly obsessed and will stop at nothing to try to get another interaction with him. But going against her family and church aren’t without consequence. She is deemed a traitor as she quickly realizes that there’s more to Emry’s past than just murder. He has a special ability that is far from human that he only shares with her. Feeling this magical connection, Anna has to free her beautiful inmate so that they can be together finally, but someone else knows about Emry’s secret and wants Anna to stop digging for answers as she finds herself in the midst of a modern day witch hunt. The life of an innocent pastor’s kid suddenly is turned upside down in a war between good and evil as Anna begins to wonder which people in her life are on the side of good, and is she one of them.
SYNOPSIS
Anna James’ sheltered life is turned upside down the moment she meets Emry Logan in prison. She can’t stop thinking about how nice he was to her and his stunning yet sad blue eyes. Then he writes her a letter asking her to save him which prompts Anna to sneak into the jail as a visitor to see him.
Buck Brady is a local policeman who also has a crush on Anna. Knowing this, she goes on a date with Buck to try to get some answers about the prison as well as Emry. During the date, Buck slips that Emry Logan is incarcerated on a charge of murdering his best friend. On the ride home, Buck’s car gets a flat tire. They walk to Mrs. Anderson’s house nearby where Anna catches her father, the pastor, uncomfortably close to Mrs. Anderson and seemingly in an affair with the strange woman.
Feeling like her secure home life is becoming a lie, Anna finds another letter sent to her from Emry. Returning the prison, Emry tells her about his home life and that he once was married to the wrong woman.
Hanging out with Buck again results in his attempt to kiss Anna, and her disapproval by punching him in the eye. The phone rings at Buck’s house. Anna’s mother is having heart trouble and has been admitted to the hospital. Once there, Anna is disturbed even more to see that Mrs. Anderson has shown up at the hospital and asks to speak to her father privately.
With more home turmoil as Anna’s aunt, Carlin, arrives to help take care of Anna’s mother, Anna tries to stay out of the house as much as possible. She sees Emry’s ex-wife in a grocery store and ends up following her to her house just to get a glimpse of another woman who had stolen the prisoner’s heart.
Obsession taking over her mind, Anna dresses as a lawyer to get a face-to-face visit with Emry. He tells her how he doesn’t remember his best friend dying and tries to tell her that something strange happens to him every once in a while beyond his control. Then they lock hands and Anna realizes she’s not in Seneca, Ohio anymore.
Emry Logan has transported Anna somewhere else, another world named Evadere. They are on a gorgeous beach and alone together where they get the chance to talk about each other’s lives. As quickly as it happened, Anna is jerked back to Earth, her lawyer disguise found out by Buck Brady.
Anna is interrogated by Buck and her father who are very angry with her having been there, putting herself in the position of danger. Instead of going home, Anna decides to go to a bar, not her usual setting, where she finds Buck Brady and his friends. Buck mocks her and Emry. Mrs. Anderson is the one who comes in and puts an end to it. She has some sort of power over the policemen.
Trying to investigate further into Emry’s life, Anna visits his adopted mother’s house, a filthy, old woman with dementia who slips that not only is Emry adopted, but Anna as well.
Anna still avoids home and goes to Mrs. Anderson’s house where she becomes hidden in the woods in the middle of a snowstorm. A group of local men, well known in the community, gather around as Mrs. Anderson conducts some sort of ceremony with a bonfire as Emry’s name along with a Lucas Banesberry is announced during the chant.
Anna digs further into who Lucas Banesberry is as she drives to speak with his family. She finds out a story of a little girl named Cassie who found Lucas and the family took him in and adopted him as one of their own. However, one day while playing with Lucas, Cassie mysteriously disappeared and was never found again. Lucas was arrested, put in prison and on his day of release, assassinated the moment he stepped out of the courthouse. Anna finds that Mrs. Anderson, also known by the last name Hanley, was involved with helping Lucas get locked up.
Confronting her family about her adoption, Anna becomes depressed. She alienates herself from everyone until she attempts to forget Emry Logan altogether. She tries to get her sheltered life back, returning to a normal routine at her mother’s antique shop.
While attending her father’s service one Sunday morning at church, Anna sees her father speaking with Lauren, Mrs. Anderson’s son. They leave in a hurry, and Anna attempts to follow them. She decides to go to Mrs. Anderson’s house and breaks in to investigate. She finds Emry’s birth certificate and an old polaroid of him as a child. She questions why Mrs. Anderson has these items. Lauren catches her in the house and forcefully throws her down the basement stairs where she becomes injured and trapped.
Mrs. Anderson’s other son, a doctor, repairs Anna’s ankle. Her father comes to see her and decides to leave her there. It’s actually Carlin who comes to her rescue to get her out of Mrs. Anderson’s basement and take her to the courthouse where they’ll be announcing Emry’s verdict later that day.
As she’s getting cleaned up in Carlin’s hotel room, Carlin confesses to Anna that she is actually Anna’s real mother.
They go to the courthouse together. Everyone stares as they enter. Emry is declared innocent. He introduces Anna to his attorney, Ben Hanley. The last name strikes Anna’s memory, and she becomes convinced that Mrs. Anderson is related to Emry’s attorney and that he’s in danger. If he leaves the courthouse, he may be assassinated in the same manner Lucas Banesberry was.
After failed attempts to warn Emry, Anna sees a woman pull out a knife and go toward Emry. Anna grabs Buck’s gun and shoots the woman dead before she is able to harm Emry.
The last scene is Emry and Anna walking on the beaches of Evadere together. A man approaches them and speaks to them. They realize that Evadere is not empty, but that there is life living there also.
BUY LINKS
Amazon Kindle Link – http://www.amazon.com/Strange-in-Skin-ebook/dp/B008ONH78S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380713279&sr=8-1&keywords=Sara+v.+zook
Amazon Paperback Link – http://www.amazon.com/Strange-In-Skin-Sara-Zook/dp/1478277556/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1380713279&sr=8-1
Goodreads Link – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450481.Sara_V_Zook?from_search=true
Title – Evadere
Series – Strange In Skin – Book #2
Author – Sara V. Zook
Genre – Paranormal, Fantasy
Publication Date – December 18, 2012
Publisher – Imagine Press
Cover Artist – Brenda Grate
BLURB
When Anna becomes separated from Emry, she has no other choice but to explore the foreign world of Evadere on her own. She soon discovers that it is tainted from a stirring turmoil among the people.
Evadere has been a place of respite and escape from the difficulties of Earth for Anna and Emry, but alone on Evadere, Anna is pulled into the stirrings of an uprising between the Scaves and the ones who force them to live as scavengers. Anna is determined not to let the fear and attempts on her life stop her from finding her way back to Emry.
But Anna is shocked when she discovers who Emry really is, the forces of evil supporting him and how the temptations in paradise have been misleading them both.
It will take all the strength and determination Anna and Emry possess to survive Evadere, even as the killing starts ...
BUY LINKS
Amazon Kindle Link – http://www.amazon.com/Evadere-Book-Strange-Skin-ebook/dp/B00AQ9S1G0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380805495&sr=8-2&keywords=sara+v+zook
Amazon Paperback Link – http://www.amazon.com/Evadere-Book-Two-Strange-Skin/dp/1927404177/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1380805495&sr=8-2
Goodreads Link – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450481.Sara_V_Zook?from_search=true
Title – Solace
Series – Strange In Skin – Book #3
Author – Sara V. Zook
Genre – Paranormal, Fantasy
Publication Date – September 29, 2013
Publisher – Planettopia Publishing – http://plantettopiapublishing.wordpress.com
Cover Artist – Stephanie Fontecha – http://www.facebook.com/beetifulbookcovers.com
BLURB
Emry and Anna's love has always been forbidden. They've been hunted, seen those around them murdered and still don't know who to blame or who to trust. In a world where Anna is considered just a human, can peace be achieved between those inhabiting Evadere and those cast out and left for dead? They have to find out who is after them before it's too late, before one of the lives lost is their own, but are Emry's powers strong enough to save the one he loves? As their wedding day approaches, so does a war, and no one sees it coming.
Amazon Kindle Link – http://www.amazon.com/Solace-Three-Strange-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00FIWO9JS/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
Goodreads Link – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450481.Sara_V_Zook?from_search=true
AUTHOR BIO
Sara wrote her first book at age six. Of course, it was only a few pages, handwritten by a 6-year-old and was about kitty cats. As a child, some days she would be out venturing in the woods with her older brother and cousins, but sometimes would stay inside and create stories, write them down in a notebook and then pretend to publish them by typing them up on her mother's old typewriter. "I know, what a weird child I was." From then on out, Sara didn't want to be anything but a writer. When others would ask her classmates what they wanted to be when they grew up, some would say the usual things, singers, veterinarians, astronauts, but not Sara. Sara would say writer, and then she'd get a strange stare. Writer? What child says they want to be a writer?
Sara graduated from United High School in 2000, a small school out in the country where everyone knew each other from kindergarten up and could tell you every little detail about each other and still can. "It was a nice area to grow up, and I love going back."
In 2004, Sara graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a bachelor's in, you guessed it, creative writing. She had such a blast in college, met some of the greatest people that Sara still remains in close contact with along with her husband, Brad. They were married and had two children back to back, so while Sara was in "mommy land," her writing was put on the back-burner.
Sara started writing again in the summer of 2010, and after three months, 'Strange in Skin' became the product of her imagination. Sara had so much fun writing it, she couldn't stop. She would work all day and then stay up late at night typing up a few more chapters. She didn't want it to end, so Sara decided she would have to write more books to follow it. The main characters, Anna James and Emry Logan, were people Sara could relate to, that she loved to relate to. There's nothing quite like a sappy love story that's so good it sucks you in. You want them to be together. They have to be together and you can't stop reading until they are together. That with a little paranormal twist, and voila, a book is born.
Then Sara and Brad became proud parents once again. Sara is still in "mommy land" but also Strange in Skin fantasy land. The mix of both raising children and writing makes for some pretty entertaining days. Sara could write a million stories on her kids alone, especially the things that come out of their mouths that you're either so shocked they said or are so funny that you can't stop laughing.
STALKER LINKS
Amazon Author Page – http://amazon.com/author/saravzook
Website/Blog – http://www.saravzook.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SaraVZook
Twitter – https://twitter.com/SaraVZook
Google+ - http://authorsaravzook.blogspot.com/
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/SVZook
2 $25 Amazon Gift Cards
1 Gift set of all 3 Books signed w/swag – US Only
November 29, 2013
Author Interview with Kaitlin Bevis, author of The Daughters of Zeus Series.
Today on the blog we have the fabulous Kaitlin Bevis, author of The Daughters of Zeus Series. I have to say that this series was an amazing read and it’s an honor to have such a brilliant mind on the blog today. So sit back and enjoy the interview.
Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I've always wanted to be a writer. There's not a specific moment I remember. I colored pictures of stories before I could write and I have this tendency to act out story scenes that goes back as long as I can remember. I used to be a much more enthusiastic actress. I'd run around my house acting out scenes like a little psychopath. Now I just talk to myself while I'm driving in the car.
When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?
When a friend introduced me as a writer. Even after I got published, if people asked what I did for a living, I said I mostly stayed home with my daughter and moderated a website. It never occurred to me to answer that I was a writer until she said it.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
About two years. But the writing process for Persephone was complicated. I came up with the idea the summer Clash of the Titans came out, drafted the entire thing in my head during the movie (really, it was that bad), and went home and wrote a very rough first draft.
I was six months pregnant at the time. Pregnancy affects everyone differently, but for me, at a certain point, it made me feel like an idiot. For the first time ever my college classes resembled the classes I'd seen on television, where the professor asked students and answers would fly out of their mouths over my head. My brain just couldn't keep up. Writing felt about the same way. I'd sit down to tinker with my rough draft and stare blankly at my computer screen before realizing all I really wanted to do was eat breadsticks from Olive Garden.
I was also finishing up my last semester of college, moving to Athens, and dealing with all the chaos that comes with pregnancy, graduation, and moving. So I shelved the idea for a few months, returning to it when my daughter was three months old. I fleshed out my rough draft, wrote a second draft from first person, and found a local writers group, and took the whole draft through writers group in five thousand word chunks every other week.
I can't even begin to explain how much of a difference a good writers group makes. My writers group, rocks. We have a content editor from a small publishing house, a copy editor from the same house, several published writers, lots of writers with academic credit, and an incredible amount of talent. There are two members of this group that could sit down, half asleep, and type out a book that could be published and hit bookshelves across the country tomorrow.
I'm not jealous or anything.
With their help, I whipped my book into shape. The pacing had to be improved, subplots had to be expanded on, character motivation had to be clearer. There were a few changes they suggested that I resisted, and kept the same.
And they were the first things my editor had me change, so lesson learned.
My next draft was practically unrecognizable from the first. I took it through again, then had several friends that hadn't spent the last year working on my story read through it. Finally it was ready for submission.
I sent my story to a few agents known to the group, and never heard back. I sent my book to TOR, and Belle Bridge. I never heard back from TOR but Belle Bridge rejected me because two popular young adult writers were apparently in the process of having books about Persephone published. Which is actually funny, because after I got my contract with Musa, I sent an arc to one of my favorite writers, and she said it was very similar to a book she and a group of well known young adult writers had worked on together, but ultimately decided not to publish.
My editor tells me that's very common. An idea gets in the air between writers that have never communicated, and suddenly everyone in the writing community is working on the same story.
Obviously my story was accepted by Musa publishing. It went through two rounds of content editing, and then a round of copy editing. Now it's out in the world and waiting for readers.
It was a lot of time, and a lot of work, but I've enjoyed every step in the process. I hope you all enjoy reading my book as much as I enjoyed writing it.
A while.
Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?
I do. I work as a moderator for a website called Truu Confessions. People go and anonymously confess embarrassing stuff, and I read it and decide whether or not it gets put on the website.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
The Iron Queen. The Iron Queen concludes Persephone's arc in the series. Persephone has come to terms with being a goddess and her new responsibilities
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
I'm published through a small publishing house called Musa Publishing. But all authors, indie or not, have to do a big chunk of their own self-promotion, so I have a lot in common with self-published writers. I just lack the technical know-how to turn my books into an ebook on my own. I tried, with one of my short stories, Siren Song. I still can't figure out how to get an excerpt to show up, so I just typed it in the description
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
My next book, Venus and Adonis kicks off Aphrodite's arc in the Daughters of Zeus series. Aphrodite (in my version) is a new goddess, and while she doesn't have the same issues Persephone has with accepting her role and responsibilities, relationships are a mystery to her. She needs to figure out how to interact with humans in a way that makes people less inclined to slap her, and she needs to do it while searching for a group of missing demigods and tracking down a group that has weapons designed to kill gods. Aphrodite will get a trilogy, then Artemis, and then I'm considering a prequel with Helen and Cassandra. I have a few non-Greek mythology based book ideas, and I plan on using Nanowrimo to fully develop one of them.
What genre would you place your books into?
Young adult Greek mythology retellings.
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
I've always loved young adult books, and because that's what I read, my voice is better suited for it. I really enjoy writing young adult fiction. As far as the Greek mythology bit, that just came with the story. I'll write something outside of that genre eventually.
Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?
Melissa. A lot of people hate her, which makes me sad because she's the character I get the most. I've read books about characters with fantastic abilities my entire life. I've wished magic was real with every fiber of my being, and you know what I eventually figured out? If all the stuff I read about was real, I'd probably still just be a regular human. That's why I love Melissa. She has to deal with the knowledge that everything is real, just not for her, and she manages to deal with that crushing disappointment while still being a good friend. I admire her for that, it can't be easy having a goddess for a best friend.
How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
I've been writing all my life. Before I could read I called it make believe, but the same basic components were there. Plotting, developing characters, dialogue. It's all there,
I developed much of my writing style through reading. I would read my books with a black marker and a pen in hand, so I could change anything I didn't like. If the next book wasn't coming out soon enough, I'd create my own version.
I did that with shows too. As soon as Sailor Moon went off I'd start acting out the next episode. I was so proud of myself, because I was almost always right.
Took me awhile to realize the show had a rather repetitive formula...
While I was in middle school I wrote my first book. It was terrible. I still have it on a floppy disk, and I'm too terrified to open the file because it was that bad. In high school I was able to take creative writing classes and learned how to critique the work of my peers.
I enjoyed writing so much that when I ran out of creative writing classes in high school, I begged my school councilor to let me take it at the college through joint enrollment. In the summer between eleventh and twelfth grade I took English 1101 and 1102. During my senior year I took introduction to creative writing, advanced fiction writing, advanced non fiction writing, advanced poetry writing, and screenplay writing. The next year I took my core classes and even more creative writing classes. Including autobiographical writing, science fiction and fantasy writing, technical writing, and every other writing class I could find. Once I ran out I moved to Atlanta to get an English degree with a concentration in creative writing. I'm finishing up my masters now, and am applying to the Phd program with a creative writing dissertation.
Despite my lifetime commitment to writing, my personal writing didn't really take off until I joined my writers group. I was familiar with the workshop format through my schooling, but there's something different about a group of people who willingly spend Saturday nights away from their family and friends to talk about their writing that just can't be replicated in a classroom.
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
The problem with routines is that they become necessary to your concentration. I've moved eight times in the last five years. My husband and I both work, both have school, and now I have a toddler in the mix. Right now I write best at night, but next semester my school schedule may shift and I may do most of my writing in a coffee shop between classes. I have to stay flexible, at least until my life settled down into a more predictable routine
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books? Yes. And all the goodread status updates. I'm a bit self-obsessed, I know, but I can't help it. The fact that people are reading my book is just amazing to me. Fortunately most of my reviews are good, but I am SO tempted to answer when people ask a question in the review, but you can't do that without looking really immature and unprofessional.
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
That really varies with the books. For the Persephone books, the titles came first, but I had a really clear idea where the series was going before I wrote a word. The titles were all her titles. Names are very important in the Persephone myth. They set the tone for the gods entire persona. Persephone didn't even have a name until she was abducted. The myth called her Kore, which is Greek for girl. Ovid referred to her as the Iron Queen in his retelling of the Orpheus myth to reflect her changed demeanor as this heartless, stone-cold jerk of a queen. A good chunk of who Persephone was in myths had nothing to do with her, but her lineage (hence Daughter of the Earth and Sky). In my series, each title has to do with Persephone's progression and acceptance of who she is, and who she is becoming
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
For Persephone it was a tough decision whether to go with the classic Greek names or rename the characters something more modern. It was a tough call, but I'm glad I stuck with the classics. Sometimes the names find me, and that creates the character. While I was researching the Persephone myth, I stumbled upon Melissa, which was a title for a priestess of Demeter. To me, Melissa sounds like a young name, a modern name. Not some ancient title. That contrast got me thinking of whether or not the modern gods would have modern priestesses, and what that dynamic would be like.
Place names, I was always going to stick with Greek mythology and as many real places in the real world setting as I could. Memorial Park is real, Demeter's Garden is not. Demeter's Garden is really the only place name I got creative with.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
I try, but my characters really develop themselves while I write. Persephone was supposed to be super shy and non-confrontational, then she surprised me and stabbed a guy with a pen in the third chapter and I realized she wasn't going to fit into the box I kept trying to write her in.
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 so much for my books. I don't have an agenda and I'm not trying to pass on any pearls of wisdom, I just like good stories. I did a ton of research so if you're familiar with the myths there's all kinds of fun references in my stories, but I'm not trying to teach anyone anything. I just want people to have fun reading my book.
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
EBook. When you've moved as often as I have the novelty of print becomes a bit of an encumbrance. Plus I like having my entire library on me at all times. Stuck waiting in the doctors office? No problem, I have a book. Can't remember something I've read, I can pull it up. I'm never going back to print!
I do sometimes reflect on the fact that should I ever find myself in post-apocalyptic conditions, most of my books will be on a dead phone. But libraries and bookstores should still exist, they just may not be manned, so I figure I can make due.
What is your favorite book and Why? Have you read it more than once?
Tamsin, by Peter Beagle. It's this fantastic ghost story that.. I can't even describe it, just go get a copy. It's amazing writing.
And of course I've read it more than once! I've read almost every book I've ever owned dozens of times. I read really fast, and I have to read before I can fall asleep. My budget would implode if it always had to be a new book. The library takes some of that pressure off, but I can only check out twenty books at a time, and most of those go to my daughter who is just learning how to read. Plus gas to get to the library is half the cost of one book, so I cant go too often.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?
It really depends on who's making it. Harry Potter translated really well because the writers paid attention to the books and what the fans liked and didn't stray that far from it while being conscious of the fact that film is a different medium than books. Ella Enchanted is the absolute worst book to film adaptation ever because the writer seems to have essentially read the back of the book once while texting a pal, waited a year, then wrote the movie. They didn't keep a thing, invented the villain, the conflict, and the subplots from thin air, changed the rules of the universe and then acted shocked by the results.
Your favorite food is?
Pizza.
Your favorite singer/group is?
The Goo-Goo Dolls. I don't know why, but I love most of their songs.
Your favorite color is?
Pink. I know, it's a super fluffy color, and people are always trying to make me feel childish for liking it, but it's a good color!
Remember to check out my 5 Star review of Iron Queen today on the blog and find out more about this amazing series!
Series Blitz, Review and Giveaway: Daughters of Zeus by Kaitlin Bevis
Book Info-
Title- Persephone
Series- Daughters of Zeus Book #1
By- Kaitlin Bevis
Genre-YA Paranormal
Blurb-
There are worse things than death, worse people too.
The "talk" was bad enough, but how many teens get told that they're a goddess? When her mom tells her, Persephone is sure her mother has lost her mind. It isn't until Boreas, the god of winter, tries to abduct her that she realizes her mother was telling the truth. Hades rescues her, and in order to safely bring Persephone to the Underworld he marks her as his bride. But Boreas will stop at nothing to get Persephone. Despite her growing feelings for Hades, Persephone wants to return to the living realm. Persephone must find a way to defeat Boreas and reclaim her life.
Links-
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15724908-persephone
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Persephone-ebook/dp/B008HYPD58/ref=la_B00875POAG_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371825394&sr=1-2
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/persephone-kaitlin-bevis/1111973897?ean=2940014686051
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/181487
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Persephone/book-Gcimqk_7y0-LYRkfZGKqWA/page1.html?s=85GJFYf1YUq964dgoSyu0Q&r=2
Ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/persephone/id550273478?mt=11
ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-persephone-1041197-143.html
Book Info-
Title- Daughter of the Earth and Sky
Series- Daughters of Zeus Book # 2
By-Kaitlin Bevis
Genre-YA Paranormal
Blurb-
Some vows can never be broken.
Persephone thought she could go back to her normal life after returning from the Underworld. She was wrong.
The goddess Aphrodite is born among the waves with more charm than she can control. Zeus is stalking Persephone and her loved ones, and Thanatos is no longer content with Persephone's silence.
He wants her soul.
Persephone can't tell anyone about Thanatos' betrayal, and it drives a wedge between her and Hades. Her mother is still keeping secrets, and Melissa's jealousy of Aphrodite threatens to tear their friendship apart.
Alone, Persephone turns to a human boy for comfort. But will their relationship put him in danger?
Sacrifices must be made, and Persephone must choose between her human life and her responsibilities as a goddess. If she doesn't, she could lose them both.
But will either life be worth choosing once Zeus is through with her?
Links-
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16240988-daughter-of-the-earth-and-sky
Musa: http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=503
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Earth-Daughters-Zeus-ebook/dp/B00ARA2YK2/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daughter-of-the-earth-and-sky-kaitlin-bevis/1114018019?ean=2940016124100
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/267337
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Daughter-of-the-Earth-Sky/book-WaPLppy9pUysEAVoCa28Lg/page1.html?s=ZwemYx4mrkSYkDVgZNAJLw&r=1
Ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/daughter-of-the-earth-and-sky/id590558106?mt=11
ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-daughteroftheearthandsky-1044959-143.html
Book Info-
Title- The Iron Queen
Series- The Daughters of Zeus Book # 3
By- Kaitlin Bevis
Genre- YA Paranormal
Blurb-
Life is hell for Persephone. Zeus will stop at nothing to gain access to the living realm and the Underworld, and as the only living god with a right to both, Persephone’s in trouble. Captured and tortured beyond the limits of her resolve, Persephone must find the power to stand against Zeus. But will she be strong enough?
Meanwhile, Hades contemplates desperate measures to rescue his queen. Persephone never thought of herself as dangerous, but there’s a reason gods never marry for love. A being with the power to destroy all of creation shouldn’t place more value in one individual than the rest of the planet. But Hades...Hades would break the world for her.
To save the world and stop both Hades and Zeus, Persephone must make a difficult choice. One that may cost her everything.
Links-
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17189031-the-iron-queen
Musa: http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=587
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Queen-Daughters-Zeus-ebook/dp/B00CUFSIIY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371826095&sr=1-1&keywords=9781619376045
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-iron-queen-kaitlin-bevis/1115360048?ean=2940016701929
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theironqueen-1211958-153.html
Excerpt-
Hades
Watching my wife chase after a human boy was hell. The heavy rain drenched the thin fabric of her clothes in seconds, plastering them to her body in a way that would be appealing…if he wasn’t going to see her, too. I clenched my jaw. She just doesn’t want him to get hurt. It wasn’t as though I wanted any mortals caught in the crossfire when we faced Zeus either. Persephone was just going to charm the boy into leaving the park.
Tearing my gaze away from her as she scurried up the hill, I searched the parking lot for Aphrodite, or Zeus, or whoever he, she, it may be. I had the layout of Memorial Park memorized, anyway. Who was I kidding? The entire city of Athens, Georgia was embedded in my mind. The precaution was reasonable. Persephone spent most of her time here, and she was a magnet for trouble.
I followed her up the dirt-packed path in my mind’s eye. She’d be rounding the corner now well above the park, oblivious to the way the plants she passed leaned toward her. Persephone was beautiful. Vibrant. Light and vitality pulsed from her that like the first warm gust of a spring breeze promised everything would soon be new and alive again, that winter would thaw into life. Everything was drawn to her. Unfortunately.
My thoughts returned to the human boy she was following. I scowled. Rain fell, pinging against the transparent shield that kept me out of sight while I sat dry atop a metal picnic table. My fingers worried a spot of rust. I tried not to think too hard about whatever else might have touched the shining surface.
This realm was disgusting. Insects swarmed the park, and birds flew through the air, dropping waste indiscriminately onto the world below. I couldn’t wait to return to the Underworld. The surface had its charms, but I had no desire to stay for long.
Joel!
Persephone’s voice rang through my mind, and I tossed up a mental wall. It wasn’t just good manners preventing me from listening in. This boy had been in her thoughts every night. I’d seen the way he looked at her like she was something to be consumed, the way he touched her like her body was his for the taking, the way her heart raced when she felt his breath upon her neck. I clenched my jaw and studied the parking lot like it might change shape any moment.
She’d probably think less of me if I ripped him apart.
Not that her opinion was all that stopped me. It wasn’t my habit to go around killing mortal children, and not just because I’d have to deal with them in the Underworld. I liked humans. Just not when they groped my wife.
My heart thudded at an uncomfortable speed, filling my body with adrenaline. I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. My hands gripped the edge of the picnic table, and I leaned forward, muscles tensed. That was strange. I had no reason to be this anxious. He was just a kid, and Persephone was Persephone; she had no idea what effect she had. I couldn’t really fault him for being interested, and I had encouraged her to see other people. A spectacularly stupid move on my part. Not only was it condescending as hell to tell Persephone what she should and shouldn’t feel toward me, but I’d managed to push her into the arms of another man. It had taken all of two seconds for me to realize I really didn’t want her to be with other men.
Apparently on top of all my other charming flaws I’m over-possessive. Who knew?
I took a deep breath to force myself to calm down, but it didn’t seem to work. What was the matter with me? Channeling Persephone’s power away every night had given me a very unwanted front row seat to her developing relationship with Joel. I’d seen every kiss, everything, and not felt this before. It hadn’t been pleasant, but—
Cold dread filled the pit of my stomach, and I frowned. This didn’t even feel like rage. My heart was still beating a mile a minute, like it might burst free from my chest at the slightest provocation. I felt strange, no…terrified.
That was it. Fear. But why was I—? It wasn’t mine.
My thoughts flew to Persephone, crashing through the mental wall. Her abject terror flooded my thoughts with such paralyzing force that for a second I lost the ability to move or breathe. All that existed was her fear. The boy spoke in a harsh voice, grip tight on her arm. I rose from the picnic table, ready to relieve him of that limb, when his words filtered through her thoughts.
…Hades.
I blinked. How would he know my name?
A red sports car squealed into the parking lot, and I swore. Hate to interrupt, I directed the thought to Persephone. The boy locked gazes with Persephone and seemed to look through her to me.
I knew those eyes. Images and thought fragments flashed from Persephone’s mind to catch me up, but I already knew everything I needed to.
Persephone, run! I tore through the parking lot to reach the path.
Hades, it’s Joel! He’s Zeus! The whole story passed through my mind accompanied by waves of fear and guilt. Persephone gripping Joel’s arm to teleport but nothing happening, followed by her realization that Joel wasn’t from this realm. Her shock and horror when his glamour melted away. Why wasn’t she running?
Get out of there, now! I couldn’t keep the panic out of my thoughts. If Zeus hurt her…
Our plan, she protested.
She wouldn’t. Only a fool would risk going through with our plan now. We’d intended to trap Zeus by having him stand on an entrance to the Underworld so we could bring some of my realm up and around him. A little slice of Tartarus. It had worked to imprison some of the Titans before, and it could work with him. But not like this. Not with her alone and hopelessly overpowered.
But this was Persephone. The girl who fled the safety of the Underworld to confront Boreas with nothing but righteous indignation on her side. It was foolish of me to expect her to do anything else.
I swore and scrambled up the hill. Just teleport. Leave!
I can get him to the entrance. Hades, this is our best chance.Her determination pounded through me coupled with her desperate need for this to be over. She wouldn’t run. If I couldn’t reach her in time… A bright light seared my vision as I rounded the corner. She screamed, intense pain flashing through her and reverberating to me. I stumbled, blinded by her white-hot agony. Another flash. Pain flared through her, exploding within my mind in a cacophony of anguish. My vision cleared for a split second, and I saw the ground rush toward me. Then everything went black.
5 out of 5 Stars
The Iron Queen
Daughters of Zeus #3
Kaitlin Bevis
The final battle have come Persephone finds herself in the hands of her demented father, Zeus. He wants her power to take the underworld.
Racing to find his wife Hades struggles to unite the children of Zeus to destroy him once and for all. Worse is that he doesn’t have a connection with her anymore, their bond broken by Zeus.
The race is hard, brutal and deadly. She has no choice but to fight back and destroy her father.
Wow this round was epic! Persephone had to endure endless torment and torture from Zeus as he tries to get her powers. But with all her trails Persephone have gowned into a fierce warrior, and Iron Queen. She stands tall and endure it to give the others a chance to destroy him.
On earth Hades and Demeter is gathering all of Zeus Children to kill him. This time around Hades isn’t taking anyone’s crap. I loved this book! Hades was figting everything to find his wife. But Kaitlin make sure to pull on some heart strings and have you clutching the book as more and more is revealed. Finally at the end I could breathe again. If you haven’t started to read this series, you need to start now. It is a must read to all. Yes, 5 Stars all the way.
About the Author-
Kaitlin Bevis spent her childhood curled up with a book, and a pen. If the ending didn't agree with her, she rewrote it. She's always wanted to be a writer, and spent high school and college learning everything she could so that one day she could achieve that goal. She graduated college with my BFA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and is pursuing her masters at the University of Georgia.
Her young adult series "Daughters of Zeus" is available wherever ebooks are sold. She also writes for truuconfessions.com and Athens Parent Magazine.
Links-
Webpage: www.kaitlinbevis.com
Blog: www.kaitlinbevis.com/blog
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kaitlin-Bevis/e/B00875POAG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6150699.Kaitlin_Bevis
Authorgraph: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/KaitlinBevis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaitlin-Bevis/224768864266454
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Twitter: @kaitlinbevis
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November 28, 2013
Author Blitz and Giveaway: Author Angee Taylor
![4_thumb[1]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gkDqFMpPA3Y/UpUI6p_3wnI/AAAAAAAAEDI/ehYmRGhUrVU/s1600-h/4_thumb12.jpg)
Angee was born in Houston, Texas in 1977, to an interesting family. Her mother and father separated when she was young. She lived with her mother who later remarried a wonderful man, who had a huge impact on her as she grew up. Angee has always had a love of reading, mostly paranormal. As a child, she would sneak up at late night when her mom thought she was sleeping, to read. They moved around a lot, eventually settling in Deep East Texas. Angee married at a young age and eventually divorced. She has raised her now 16 year old son alone. Angee works full time as a pre-hospital nurse and sometimes sees things that would make the rest of us have nightmares. On other days, she is blessed to see miracles. These things are what drive her to write.
In 2006, she was diagnosed with a rare disease, shortly after that she was told she would be on full disability in five years and most likely to be dead in ten. She’s fought to live a normal life every day since and is beating those odds. She works at a demanding job, is a single mom, cares for an elderly mother, and two dogs.
Angee describes her job as- “I fight to save people’s lives. Sometimes I lose, sometimes I win. It's the emotional roller coaster of that job, which leads me to writing. I'm able to put those emotions into my characters and let them out of my heart and soul.”
Author Links -
Website - www.angeetaylor.com
Blog - www.angeesafterthoughts.com
Facebook Author - www.facebook.com/theangeetaylor
Facebook Blog - www.facebook.com/angeesafterthoughts
Author Twitter - www.twitter.com/angeetaylor
Blog Twitter - www.twitter.com/angeesthoughts
GoodReads - www.goodreads.com/angeetaylor
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/angeetaylor3/
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StumbleUpon - http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/angeetaylor
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Angee-Taylor/e/B00B7BG5QO/
Giveaway -
