Ally Shields's Blog, page 86

Affairs of the Dead: New Urban Fantasy Release!

On Wednesday, you met AJ Locke on the Coffee Chats. (If you missed it, click here.)

Today she is revealing her new urban fantasy release ~ AFFAIRS OF THE DEAD ~ available now!

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Affairs-of-the-Dead-ebook/dp/B00CF0OWAW/

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/affairs-of-the-dead-aj-locke/1046515853?ean=2940016461298

All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-affairsofthedead-1166820-140.html

BOOK BLURB:

Help ghosts, stop a thief, and try not to die…

Necromancer Selene Vanream helps ghosts settle their affairs so they can move on. But when breaking the rules gets her in trouble, she’s bumped down to tracking ghosts trying to avoid the afterlife. Ghosts like Ethan Lance, who claims he was kicked out of his body when someone else jumped in. Which might be plausible—if such a thing were possible. And if Micah, Selene’s partner, didn’t pull her into an investigation of brutal murders that lead directly back to Ethan.

But when the whole mess puts Selene’s life in danger, she suddenly has very personal reasons to get Ethan’s body back. Between her uncomfortable relationship with Micah, and problems with her boss, Selene learns just how much trouble it can be when you don’t follow the rules…

EXCERPT:  (Beginning of Chapter One)

I was in a strip club trying to help a ghost get laid, which was challenging, but not impossible. It was just extremely taxing on the necromancer extraordinaire (me) who had to channel energy into the ghost to make her corporeal enough to entice one of the stripper boys. Technically what I was doing was illegal, but it was my job to help ghosts settle their affairs so they could move on to eternally ever after, and Julia’s unfinished business was that she’d died a virgin. I’d made it as easy as I could for her by starting at a strip club; if she couldn’t get some here, I wasn’t sure how much lower I could scrape the barrel.

Julia’s prolonged virginity was an enigma to me, even though she told me that she’d been waiting for her soul mate. I just didn’t understand why that meant she couldn’t hit up a bar, get drunk, and have a fun, regret-filled weekend that included the walk of shame. At least she’d have been in better shape once soul mate came around.

 “What do you think about him?” I asked, pointing to one of the three oiled up men who were gyrating for the benefit of all the screaming women. He had blond hair and green eyes, and wasn’t overly muscular. Julia looked at him then quickly looked away. I took that as a sign of approval.

“I think this was a bad idea,” she stammered.

“This was a fantastic idea,” I said. “And it will work, don’t worry.”

“No, I mean, I don’t think I can do this. I waited my whole life for my soul mate and now you want me to just—” she stole another quick look at the stripper, “I don’t think I can do this with some random…stripper man. It’s so indecent.”

I rolled my eyes. “Julia, you’re a ghost; you no longer have the option of being discerning. And if you don’t wrap up what’s keeping you around, you run the risk of turning into a monster. Then it’s an even bigger pain in the ass to get rid of you. So let’s call our efforts here at Bump and Moan choice A, and murderous monster choice B. Which choice would you like to make?”

“A,” Julia said, but she didn’t sound happy about it. I smiled, and grabbed a couple drinks off the tray of a passing waitress. I set them down in front of Julia.

“Drink,” I said. “This will help.”

“I’m a ghost,” she said. “I thought I was unable to eat or drink.”

 “You can feel the effects of the alcohol since you’ll be working off my energy, so drink up. I’ve pegged you as a light weight so I think two drinks will be enough.”

“But how is this supposed to help?” she asked, frowning.

“Because its job is to help,” I said.
                                                                                                           ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Note from Ally: Oh, wow, AJ. I've experienced that kind of help a time or two. :) I see trouble ahead...

Talk with AJ about her book at these links:

Blog: http://iqurae.blogspot.com/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/maqueripe
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17226279-affairs-of-the-dead

Coffee Chat Introduces New UF Author AJ Locke

Hi, everyone! Say "hello" to AJ!

Her first book ~ Affairs of the Dead ~ will be released on Friday! Be sure to check back here on that day to view her cover, an excerpt, and use the buy links. I think this is one book you'll want to try. It sounds gooood!

I have my coffee and AJ has hers with cream and three sugars. I guess we're ready to get started, so let's take a look at her photo and official bio:



A.J. Locke is an author and artist, originally from Trinidad, now residing in New York City. Affairs of the Dead is her debut novel, and other than writing she enjoys reading, drawing, painting, graphic design, and watching too much television.

Ally: Okay, that's the official version, but is there something about you that might surprise us?

AJ: I can speak Japanese on a conversational level, and can also write in Japanese.

Ally: I'm impressed! I've heard it's a hard language to learn. But we should probably talk about writing. I know your chosen genre is urban fantasy. Can you tell me what influenced your choice?

AJ: I loved the mix of reality and fantasy I’m able to blend with Urban Fantasy. Overlaying supernatural creatures and happenings in a real world setting is a lot of fun, and I love all the elements of UF; the kick ass heroine, the action, and romance, the grittiness. It’s definitely a genre that is open to a lot of things, you can go almost anywhere with it so I love the freedom it offers.

Ally: Looking forward to the next two years of your career, what are your writing dreams and goals?

AJ: I hope to have a few books published, including at least one continuing series.

Ally: Ambitious goals! I wish you the best of luck with them!
          Now for some Quick Answer Questions:

    a. favorite breakfast food: Yogurt with granola
    b. normal bedtime: Between 12 and 2
    c. shoes or barefoot in the house: Flip Flops
    d:  favorite tv show: I’m a T.V. junkie so I have many favorites, a few are Vampire Diaries, Once Upon a Time and Scandal.
    e. spring or fall: Spring, because it precedes Summer and leaves behind winter, which I greatly dislike.

It's time to give readers a hint about your soon-to-be-released book:

Affairs of the Dead Blurb:
 
Necromancer Selene Vanream helps ghosts settle their affairs so they can fade to the afterlife. However, after her rule breaking methods of helping her clients lands her in trouble, she’s downgraded to tracking ghosts who hide out, since ghosts that linger too long become murderous beasties. And here Selene thought having an affair with the boss would get her out of trouble, not into it.

While tracking, Selene finds Ethan, a ghost who claims he was kicked out of his body and someone else jumped in. Reanimation, the power to resurrect the dead using souls of the living, would be the most likely explanation if only it added up to how Ethan became a ghost. What’s worse, partnered with Micah -- a one night stand who turned hostile after --, Selene investigates brutal murders that turn out to be linked to Ethan.

When an unforeseen complication with Ethan arises and puts Selene’s life in danger, she suddenly has very personal reasons to get his body back. Throw in a shifting relationship with Micah and a suddenly possessive boss, and Selene will learn just how much trouble you can get into when you don’t follow the rules.

Remember to check back Friday for the cover reveal, an excerpt from the book, and those all important buy links! :)

In the meantime, you can contact AJ through any of the following:

Blog: http://iqurae.blogspot.com/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/maqueripe
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17226279-affairs-of-the-dead

_

Ally's Snippets April 14

I have another snippet for you!

Last week I gave you a peek at the beginning lines of the unedited version of Burning Both Ends, the third book in the Guardian Witch series. Today's snippet is from that same unedited manuscript and occurs a few minutes later. (If you missed last week's snippet, click on Ally's Snippets in the sidebar.)

Ari and Andreas are walking home through Goshen Park after an evening of training.

I hope you enjoy the snippet!

     She suddenly halted, leaving her last thought unfinished. Her skin prickled with sudden awareness of an approaching Otherworld power, and she dropped into a defensive crouch. Andreas' body stilled beside her. Whatever inner radar warned him, they were on synchronized alarm systems.

     A fox-colored wolf trotted into view, a small taupe bag attached to his neck. He paused, gave them a brief doggie grin and disappeared behind a bush. Ari and Andreas relaxed. They knew that grin, even if  the wind at their backs had pushed away his familiar scent. A few moments later a red-headed man in his early thirties stepped out of the woods. As he walked toward them, he shrugged into a gray t-shirt to match the faded jogging shorts.

     “That’s the only real inconvenience about this werewolf thing,” Steffan complained, clipping the now empty bag to his shorts, “having to carry your damn clothes around with you.”

                                                                                                          ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

That's all for this week! Hope you're having a great weekend. See you again soon!


_

Coffee Chat with Author Rhonda Laurel

Welcome, everyone! Grab your coffee cup...

Romance author Rhonda Laurel has joined us today! She takes her coffee with cream and three sugars, so we're set to go.

Rhonda, let's see your bio!

BIO: Rhonda Laurel is a contemporary romance writer whose two great loves are writing and landscape photography. She uses both as a vehicle to convey the complexity of the human spirit and the beauty of the world around her. Her writing career has spanned two decades but has recently gained momentum in 2012 with her debut novella Ebb Tide. Contemporary, multicultural/interracial romance is her ‘thing’ in the form of short stories, novellas and novels, but she also writes poetry, inspirational quotes, designs greeting cards and the occasional essay. Ebb Tide, For the Love of the Game and Masquerade were released in 2012. Shutter, Memories of You and Star Crossed in 2013. California Bored and Tourism, July 2013. MVP will be released in 2013 as well. The author is happily building her backlist.

Ally: I always want to know something that's not in your bio. What secret are you hiding?

RHONDA: I am a die-hard Golden Girls fan.  Lol.

Ally: I haven't watched them in a while, but my favorite was always Blanche - she was so transparent! :) 
Let's move on to book talk.  I know you write adult romance, what kind of books do you read? And, besides your own books, what  adult romance authors do you recommend?

RHONDA: I like to read contemporary romance.  I recommend Susan Taylor, Megan Hart…there are so many great romance writers out there!

Ally: As a writer, I know it's hard to get away for vacation, but If you could go anywhere with all expenses covered, where would it be and why?


RHONDA:  I'd pick Hawaii.  I love palm trees and scenic places.

Ally: Quick Answer Questions:

     a. favorite color:                               Blue
     b. favorite TV show:                         NCIS
     c: favorite feel good movie:            Love Actually (click for Wikipedia listing)
                                                                                                         ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Reminder, Rhonda's books are for over-18 readers.  She picked the following four books to bring to our attention. Also, see her bio for other titles.

Ebb Tide – Contemporary Romance -  Natalie Griffin is an attorney who is practical, smart and good at her job.
For the Love of the Game – Contemporary Interracial Romance - This quarterback is making the greatest play of his life…
Shutter – Contemporary Romance - Photographer Antonio De Soto’s life is out of focus.
Memories of You – Contemporary Romance - Dr. Cameron Spencer’s past has come back to haunt her...

For more information on Rhonda's books or to contact her, check out the following links:

Website:  http://www.rhondalaurel.com

Facebook Author Page:  http://www.facebook.com/authorrhondalaurel

Twitter:  https://www.twitter.com/rhondalaurel

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

Rhonda, it was so nice to chat with you today! I hope you'll come for coffee again!

To the rest of you, track down her books. You'll be glad you did. :)

                                                                   Thanks for stopping. As always, come back soon!

Ally's Snippets

If you're looking for Sneak Peek Sunday, it has moved and changed (try searching for the hashtag on Twitter).  I've decided to occasionally post snippets on my own, starting today.

This week I've picked a short dialogue from Fire Within (Guardian Witch #2)  between my witch cop Ari and the werelion husband-and-wife team who provides security for Ari's love interest Andreas and his club. To set the scene, two vampires have been murdered and yesterday someone shot at Andreas. He was uninjured, and they're discussing how he escaped when the other vampires died.

Here's the snippet:

     “Maybe he’s just that much quicker,” Lilith suggested. "He is a master level vampire.”
     “Granted,” Ari said. “But we can’t assume that was the difference. Something’s hinky here.”
     “So, what do you suggest we do?” Lilith asked.
     “Protect his ass,” Russell said.
     “Oh, yeah.” Lilith polished her nails against her shirt. “It’s a cute one, too. Can I do that part?”
     “No,” Russell and Ari chorused.

There you have it for this week! :) Come back soon!

Ankeny Book Fair: Saturday April 13

                Ankeny Book Fair!

Saturday, April 13, 2013
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
 

Hosted by the Kirkendall Public Library  at the Pinnacle Club
4100 NE Otter Creek Dr, Ankeny, IA 50023

I'll be at the Ankeny Book Fair next Saturday with a dozen or so paperbacks of Awakening the Fire (ready to sign, if you like) and QR codes for both ebooks. Pick up a bookmark, a flyer, or just say, "Hi!" I'd love to see you if you're in the Des Moines area!

Complete List of over 40 authors attending: Author List .

Tsavo Pride: New Short Story by Laura Diamond

Fellow author Laura Diamond had such a blast sharing her PRIDE series with readers that she’s decided to self-publish a spin-off short story. Set in 1890’s Kenya and based on the man-eating lions of Tsavo, this young adult paranormal short has a decidedly horroresque bent to it.

Here's the trailer so you can take a look:
_


Story Blurb:

Rogue shapeshifters, Santamo and Legeny, believe they are kings blessed with the power to shift into lions. Using that strength, they brutally defend their land from the British building the Ugandan Railroad that threatens their way of life. On a particularly ruthless raid, Santamo meets his match—Naserian. He spares the girl’s life, a move that fractures his relationship with Legeny and blurs his visions of cleansing his territory of invaders.

While the pile of bones in Santamo and Legeny’s cave grows, so does Santamo’s attraction to Naserian. When she challenges him to give up his murderous ways, will Santamo stay on the path of death he believes is his duty, or will he choose Naserian, and love?

TSAVO PRIDE is NOW AVAILABLE via Amazon for $0.99! Amazon Prime members can borrow it for free. ;)

Amazon.com purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/Tsavo-Pride-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00BXF4OJY/


About the author:

Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist and author of all things young adult paranormal, dystopian, and horror. Her Young Adult Paranormal Romance novelette, NEW PRIDE, and novel, SHIFTING PRIDE, debuted late 2012 from Etopia Press. A spin off short story based on the lions of Tsavo, TSAVO PRIDE, is now available. A short story, CITY OF LIGHTS AND STONE, is in the DAY OF DEMONS Anthology by Anachron Press and another short, BEGGING DEATH, is in the CARNAGE: AFTER THE END Anthology Volume One by Sirens Call Publications. Forthcoming novels include a young adult adventure, ZODIAC COLLECTOR, and young adult dystopians, ENDURE and EVOKE. When she's not writing, she is working at the hospital, blogging at Author Laura Diamond--Lucid Dreamer and renovating her 225+ year old fixer-upper mansion. She is also full-time staff member for her four cats and a Pembroke corgi named Katie.

Find Laura Diamond on the web:

Blog: http://lbdiamond.wordpress.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/diamondlb
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laura.diamond.52
Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraDiamond
Website: www.AuthorLauraDiamond.com
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Diamond/e/B009Y7L432/
Author’s Den: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?AuthorID=168059
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5815639.Laura_Diamond

Novels in the Pride series:



















        Amazon link to New Pride





        Amazon link to Shifting Pride

Coffee Chat with Writer Kath Boyd Marsh

I'm so pleased to welcome today's guest, Kath Boyd Marsh, who is my invaluable critique partner. Without her insight and encouragement, the Guardian Witch series might never have been published. So, thanks, Kath. You're the best!

Kath reads and writes paranormal fiction and is currently a finalist in a middle grade fiction contest. You'll soon have an opportunity to read her latest story and to vote on the contest winner, but for today, we're just going to chat.

Knowing I have a magic pot, Kath just asked for "pocket" coffee instead of her usual black and strong. What's that?

KATH: Pocket Coffee is a dark chocolate shell over concentrated coffee liquid - a candy. I fully blame author Patricia Winton for getting me hooked. And yes, you can buy it on Amazon.

Ally: This is a coffee maker, not a candy maker!  Black and strong will have to do this time!

KATH: Coffee is coffee. Bring it on. :)

Ally: Now that's settled, let's move on to the BIO. Being Kath, she brought her own rendition of her writer photo to go with it. Lol.
_ BIO:
I’m a fourth generation native born Californian who grew up a Marine Corps brat. Translated, that means I have no answer when someone asks where I’m from. Too many places.
I have my BS (pun intended) from Florida State University in English Education.
I have had a number of jobs: sous chef, dishwasher, cashier, busboy- helping my restaurant manager husband, office manager of a small company we owned for a short while, substitute teacher followed by assistant teacher when I let my unbridled sense of humor rule my mouth in front of a teacher who needed an assistant for a class of wild an wooly third graders, a wildlife rescue volunteer, the mother of Professor Daughter, and Wife of The Prince Consort.

(Ally Note: She and her husband currently live in Kentucky in a wonderful suburban area surrounded by woods and wild creatures. Visit her blog, Letters from Earth, for some great photos!)

Ally: So, tell us something personal that will never be part of your official bio.

KATH: When my college sorority ran out of volunteers (yes, I was playing truant from the meeting.) I ended up their candidate for Homecoming Queen. (See photo for why this was a BAD idea from desperate people.) Hence the life long lesson of DO NOT MISS A MEETING.

Ally: I'm almost afraid to ask, but did you win?

KATH: Sorry, I spit my coffee all over you. No. I did not. But I was Sweetheart for one of the local fraternities.

Ally: Let's move on to writing. How are the rules different for middle grade writing?

KATH: Writing for adults and writing for children: two different animals. Take changing point of view character. Where it’s okay to change POV character on the page of an adult novel, it has to be carefully handled in children’s. If the POV character needs to change, there should be a separation by scene or chapter.

There are a number of reading levels: from older Young Adult,  Young Adult, Tweens, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Easy readers, to picture books. The complexity of the vocabulary and grammar descends from Young Adult. Amazingly from YA up, the kinds of risqué subject matter and language differ little from adult.

The length for MG on up through older YA has traditionally been around 200 pages for a first novel. Chapter books on down are much shorter, and picture books are traditionally 32 pages.

Biggest difference: the Main Character has to grow, change, by the end of the novel. It’s not enough to have a rollicking adventure.

Ally:  Since I already know what a great critique partner you are, tell us what makes a good critique.

KATH: Well, aren’t you too nice for words. (Which I already knew.) For me the best critiquer is honest  and balanced. The writer needs to know where she’s done well, as well as where there could be a problem. And the big one: never tell the writer what words she should have written. The way I as the critiquer would write a sentence has nothing to do with anything. The writer’s voice has to be respected. If something is unclear, I say so. If I know this writer could do better than what’s currently on the page, I nag.

Ally: Lol! She does, too. :) Let's try some Quick Answers Questions about your writing process:

      a. Which comes first - character or plot? Character!!! My head is full of weird characters. Which may be why my
          husband sleeps with a gun under the bed. ;)
     
      b. outline or seat of the pants? Seat of the pants. But the ms. I’m working on now has benefitted from going back and
          doing a plot point outline. I think in future I will still use seat of the pants for first draft, then do that plot point outline
          using Vogler’s Hero’s Journey, to get all the nuts in a row.
   
      c. computer, ipad or pen? Yes. Including a special dragon pen!
   
      d. with or without music? Instrumentals, except Toby Keith, and then we be rocking!
 
      e. best in morning or evening: Best intentions are to write in the morning, but it seems like afternoons to evening
          work out better.

Ally:  I'd love to hear more about your WIP and what you'll tackle next.

KATH: My current project is a Middle Grade paranormal titled Pansy Pants & the Search for Magic.  I’m in the finals of a contest held by Children’s Brains are Yummy Publishing, with my fingers crossed for a contract. Pansy V. Pants wants to learn serious magic, the kind a High Demon is offering. Pansy learns a lot more than magic from the High Demon’s lieutenant, the pet dragon, and the ghost magician. She learns it just in time to face a terrible challenge.

I’ve learned so much in the revisions of Pansy Pants, that I think I’ll go back and see what I can do for a favorite manuscript, Bumblespell Wizard and her River Dragon.

Do you see the dragon theme here?

Ally: No surprise to me. I suspect you'd have a pet dragon if you could find one! Thanks for visiting today. Good luck with the contest, and be sure to tell us when and where we can read your story!

Thanks for joining us, readers! You can check out Kath's blog here - Letters from Earth! See you next time!

Sneak Peek Sunday Mar 31

Hi, everyone!

For this week's sneak peek I'm revealing the unedited beginning to book three of my urban fantasy Guardian Witch series. The title is Burning Both Ends, and it is scheduled to release in June 2013.


Here is the snippet:

      Fangs flashed where her check had been an instant before. Ari whirled, crouching to meet the vampire’s return charge. Her fingers sparked, witch blood clamoring for action, but she refused its call. She watched as he wheeled and speeded toward her in a blur, then she flung the magic powder. Green particles winked in the moonlight. A loud “thump.” The vampire recoiled from the invisible barrier, took two staggering steps. A direct hit. Before a smile more than touched her lips, the dark figure recovered, and leaped. Ari backpedaled, but his weight drove her to the earthen floor.
 
     He grinned down at her, a lock of dark hair falling across his forehead. Trapping her arms above her head, he leaned close, his dark eyes glittering, brushed her lips with his, and whispered, “Better—but not yet good enough.”
                                                                                                         ~ ~ ~

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Happy Easter!

If you celebrate the day, Happy Easter!

If you're in this part of the hemisphere, enjoy the Spring!

Anyone else, have a marvelous day or weekend! Wherever you are, I hope you have something to celebrate!