Pippa DaCosta's Blog - Posts Tagged "demons"

The much anticipated prequel to The Veil Series is now available for preorder at just .99c (The release date has been moved forward to Oct 11th 2014).

"I am his muse. But not for long..."

When Mammon, the Prince of Greed, 'acquires' a half-blood slave known as 'Muse' for three nights, and bespells her with tales of a world where people live like kings and queens among towers of steel and glass, the seed of hope takes root in Muse's soul. But hope, for a half-human half-demon creature like her, is a dangerous thing. Especially when that tentative hope springs from the honeyed words of a Prince of Hell. What is Mammon's price for freedom?

Meanwhile Da'mean, her ruthless owner, would rather see her dead, than free. She belongs to him. She is his muse. And no beast will take her from him.

The netherworld is harsh and violent. Muse's demon kin are merciless, blood-hungry beasts, but little do they know, Muse has something far more dangerous coiled inside her, desperate for a taste of freedom.

Her humanity.

***

This novella can be read as a stand-alone book, or at any time before/during/after the other books in The Veil Series.

Click here to preorder

The third book in The Veil Series sees Muse trying to manage both sides of her half demon/half human nature, while simultaneously trying to save a young half-blood girl from a horde of demons, her immortal brother, and the Prince of Envy. And she has to do all of this while fighting back the darkness coiled around her heart.

As the third book in a planned five book series, some questions are answers, while more are asked. Our favorites are back, including Stefan (who recently won a Facebook poll for favorite guy in the series - sorry, Akil!). We meet a new character in Jenna (Stefan's ex and Enforcer hard-ass). Ryder is back - as surly as ever. And then there's Dawn, the sweet nine year old girl, who perhaps unsurprisingly isn't what she appears to be. Oh, and of course, Akil; who's motives are as gray as always - although he does finally answer some questions. As to whether he's bad? That's up to you to decide.

While writing 'Darkest Before Dawn', I ditched almost 30,000 words, I struggled with the death of a character, and wrestled both Akil and Stefan as they fought to have their side of the story told. The resulting book is more complex than the earlier novels, but no less action-packed, gritty and raw.

You'll be pleased to know Book 4 is written, and I'm now going through lengthy edits (whilst juggling another project - more on that soon!). I hope to have 'Drowning In The Dark' #4 The Veil Series ready for early February 2015, and book 5 (the final book) available late Summer 2015.

If you haven't already, please add The Veil Series books here: https://www.goodreads.com/series/1250...

If you've read the books and are up to date, don't forget to review them on Amazon (every new review helps The Veil Series find new readers). http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OKSBCA0

Thank you so much for joining me and The Veil Series characters on this journey. It wouldn't be the same without you to witness this wild ride.

www.theveilseries.co.uk
www.pippadacosta.com

Hollie Jackson, narrator for The Veil Series, has stopped by to answer some questions about what it was like to narrate 'Beyond The Veil, #1 The Veil Series.' (Audiobook out now).

~~~

I was lucky enough to discover a narrator who not only brought the main character of Muse to life, but who was also great fun to work with. Audiobook production can be a bit of a mystery, so I asked Hollie if she could demystify the process for us (and what she wants for Christmas!) ~ Pippa.


How did you discover you had a talent for narrating?
~I’ve always been a reader and I was that girl in class who was always first to volunteer when asked to read out loud. *laughs* I grew up being read to by my family members, and I’ve always been known to just… spontaneously read out loud whatever I’m reading if I’m particularly taken with a turn of phrase. My husband was actually the one who encouraged me to try my hand at narrating, as I read to him on a daily basis as it is. Everyone told me I had the voice for it and I figured, what the hell? When someone approached me about narrating their project, I gave it a whirl and realized just how much I loved it. And here we are almost 150 projects later.

Do you have any other talents? (Quirky is good)
~Dragon (my husband) claims that I have an uncanny talent for finding the hole in any flat surface I’m walking upon. I’m also quite good at falling up the stairs.

What were your first thoughts when you read Beyond The Veil?
~My first thought? I *have* to narrate this. I absolutely fell in love with not only the premise, but the character, Muse. I have a soft spot for snarky, confident, strong female leads in Urban Fantasy settings, and I *loved* being able to portray all of that. Plus? She’s a half-demon. And that is complete awesomesauce. I’ve done all manner of halflings, but Muse is my first demon.

Were there any scenes you struggled with & why?
~Actually, no! And this is a very good thing. One of the things I noticed as I went through, was that the writing was so fluid that I rarely had to stop for any mistakes or adjustments. It was an easy read, as far as just being so smooth and well written, and kept me utterly engrossed the entire time.

The one thing that DID bug me? What happened to Jonesy? As a fellow cat-owned person, I was all kinds of distraught about what happened and the not knowing is driving me nuts! (Don’t worry. Like all good felines, Jonesy survives pretty much anything and everything. He’ll be back later in the series).

What was your favorite scene & why?
~That final showdown was *completely* my favorite scene. From the moment Muse heads to the hotel, to that realization on the ground of what happened with Stefan… it was one of the most frustratingly satisfying finales I’ve had the pleasure of reading!

Who’s your favorite guy, Stefan or Akil? Why him?
~That is a tough one, as I kinda like them both. I’m a “root for the villain” kind of gal, so my first instinct is to go with Akil. No matter how despicable he may be, he’s all kinds of sexy suave, and I can completely understand Muse’s fascination and wariness. But then there’s also Stefan…who, just yum. I love his sarcastic wit and cocky attitude. Can I just have a Stef/Aki sandwich? (Perhaps with a scruffy dash of Ryder on the side…)

How many projects are you working on right now?
~Oh goodness. I have a *bunch* on my plate. I’ve currently got somewhere around 60 or so projects all told waiting in the queue in various stages of development, with more added every week. I never thought I’d be as busy as I am, but I truly do love it.

What’s your favorite thing about being a narrator?
~Honestly? That I get to read amazing stories and bring those stories to life for not only their creators but those who read them. There are so many people who don’t have time or physically can’t read and audiobooks open up those worlds to them, introduce them to characters and stories they might not otherwise get to enjoy. I love that my voice is instrumental in doing that.

What do you want for Christmas?
~A cat-proof Christmas tree. *laughs* We haven’t had one for years because our Feline Mafia like to cause all kinds of havoc. Beyond that? I’ve got a birthday and anniversary literally within days of the holiday, so perhaps a weekend getaway to the Rose Red Mansion is in order.

Barring that, cookies. Cookies and video games are always welcome.

What are you most looking forward to when narrating the upcoming ‘Devil May Care, #2 The Veil Series’?
~I am *really* interested in seeing what Muse decides to do. The ending to BTV was so epic and it really seemed like she was finally embracing who she really is, so I’m excited to see just what she does with her abilities. Also? I cannot *wait* to see the “jail break” as it were.

And of course… if there’s any word on what happened to Jonesy. ;)

~~~
Thanks for dropping by, Hollie.

You can buy the Beyond The Veil audiobook (or get it FREE with your Audible trial) here. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA3S97K

#2 The Veil Series, Devil May Care is due to be released as an audiobook in December.

Find out more here www.theveilseries.co.uk & sign up for your FREE novella here: http://eepurl.com/O5Aq5

Yup, that's right. Get your twitchy fingers on a free copy of the "mesmerizing" & "emotionally charged" Wings Of Hope.

All you have to do is sign up to my mailing list (I promise not to spam you) and instructions on how to get your free ebook will follow. Then simply download the ebook to your kindle/ereader, and enjoy.

Click here to do the deed. No strings.

www.pippadacosta.com
www.theveilseries.co.uk

(I only send out emails when I have a new release or when I'm running a competition. You can unsubscribe from me at any time).

I need your help. There's an idea in my head, scratching to get out. A character wants his story told, and he's getting impatient.

The Veil Series finishes at Book #5 Ties That Bind but what if there was a spin-off series? What if...it didn't entirely end there?

Check this out and leave a comment or ask a question on the website beneath the sneaky little snippet. I need feedback to know whether this story should be told. Ask me anything. Got an idea? Share it there. What do you want from a spin-off series? You can make this happen (or not ;) ) ~ Please, go comment.

Click here to read a snippet from the 'Half Blood Twin Saga'.

Ooh, a surprise cover reveal today, for Delta the 1st book in the new Half-Blood Twins Saga.

It's still early days for this little book, but I can tell you what I know so far.

Delta is set in the same world as Beyond The Veil. We follow a young half-blood (half-demon) who has no memory of who or what he is. He knows just three things:

His name is Delta.
He has a sister, somewhere.
He is a killer.

'Delta' is a gritty new adult urban fantasy, similar to The Veil Series in tone, but told from the point of view of a very different character to Muse (the main character from the Veil Series).

Here's the teaser scene:

Reality dealt me the cruel slap to the face I needed when I killed the two men who’d tried to kill me. I hadn’t planned it that way. Generally, only sociopaths plan to kill, and I didn’t think I was one of those. Yet.

But I was demon. Or, at least, half demon. I learned a lesson that night; when you don’t know who you are, or where you’ve come from, and have no place to sleep, life can still get worse. Demon. There wasn’t a cure for that. And even if there was, nobody was going to help me find it, not now I’d added murder to my résumé.

I’d drowned them; the two hooded thugs who’d thought they’d liven up their evening by beating on the homeless kid. The only reason I didn’t have blood on my hands was because the rain—my rain—had washed it away. But a sudden and inexplicably localized rainstorm wasn’t going to wash away the bodies. So I did the only thing I could, and ran.

As I stumbled into LA back alleys, avoiding the brightly lit streets, I knew three things for certain.

My name was Delta.

I had a sister, somewhere.

I was a killer.

Two weeks ago, when the veil fell, I lost my mind, and my sister. I planned to get both back, if I survived the night.

I'm hoping to have this released in the summer of 2015. The schedule will depend on The Veil Series and other writing commitments, but rest assured, Del's story is coming, and soon!

Add it to your shelves here:

The fourth book in the Veil Series, Drowning In The Dark has a release date and is up for pre-order.

Oh, book 4 was a difficult one (I know I say that about all of them, but this one really was). The story wanted to go one way, and I was afraid—yes, afraid—to let it have its way. We wrestled, but in the end, the story won (as it should).

You can read an action-packed draft excerpt on Tumblr, here. (Do not read the excerpt unless you're up to date with Darkest Before Dawn). I've posted various other snippets and shorts on Tumblr, including a holiday special featuring Ryder and Muse.

Click here to pre-order book #4. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QQMKLDW

And have a Happy New Year!

Blurb:

“I wasn’t demon enough to defeat my brother before. Things have changed.”

As the veil begins to fall and the demons bleed through onto the streets of Boston, Muse knows the battle is lost before it’s even begun.

To make matters worse, Adam and the Institute have captured Akil at a time when the city has never needed him more. Muse believes Akil’s incarceration is a ruse, because if he truly is at the mercy of the Institute, she must choose which side she’ll fight for. Human or demon?

The princes are coming. Muse’s immortal half-brother, Valenti, leads the charge. The Institute is not ready, the people of Boston are not prepared, but one man is. Stefan knows what it will take to beat back the netherworld. Will his demon allow him the freedom to right his wrongs?

Muse’s loyalty will be tested. To save those she loves, she must give up that which she cherishes most. Her humanity.

The Mother of Destruction is about to go nuclear.

What's it like inside Akil's head? We've all wondered. Well, two nights ago, he demanded this moment be shared and I had little choice but to write it down. He doesn't often talk to me. Usually just stands, arms crossed, eyeing me like he's imagining all the ways he could make me disappear.

Click here to experience a rare glimpse inside Akil's thoughts.

(WARNING: 18+ only please. Scene takes place between books 3 & 4. If you're expecting nice, don't click ;) ).

Y'know that friend, the one you've been bugging for ages to try The Veil Series, and they keep dragging their feet? Well, now there's no more excuses. Book #1 Beyond The Veil is FREE and for the first time you (and your friend) can download it from Amazon and iBooks, Nook, Kobo & Scribd.

Click for:
Amazon
iBooks
Nook
Kobo
Borrow on Scribd

Don't forget, you can get the Veil Series prequel Wings Of Hope for FREE too, by signing up to my mailing list, here.

What are you waiting for? Go grab the free stuff.

Pippa.

It's the end of an era. Book #5 in The Veil Series is out today and I'm equal parts elated and sad. Muse, the main character from the series, has come a long way from her naive beginnings in Beyond The Veil (or if we include the novella Wings Of Hope, she's come a long way from a half-demon plaything), and she's not the only one who's changed. I've received emails and messages from readers saying how much they've enjoyed witnessing Muse, Stefan, Akil (and maybe even Ryder!) change throughout the series. Enemies become friends. Villains become heroes. The good are bad, or are they?

It truly has been an amazing experience to see a series such as this one through to the very end. There were times when I had to force myself to sit down and write. There were times I cried my eyes out while writing certain scenes (if you've already read Ties That Bind, you'll know why). Times I laughed, cringed, and wondered what the hell I was doing.

When I started writing Beyond The Veil, did I imagine it would be so popular? No. I dreamed it would be. Did I dream that I'd have sold 10,000 copies of the series in a year? If someone had told me, a year ago, that would happen, I'd have laughed at them.

Even now I struggle to put into words what The Veil Series means to me. I think perhaps every author is gifted with a special book/idea, the one that makes all the difference. The combination of characters in the Veil Series are what really makes it shine; and while I adore Muse, there's one demon who I must tip my hat to. He's the one everyone asks me about, the one who I had trouble keeping in line, the enigma that is Akil.

I'm not sure if it's normal for an author to thank a character, but in all honesty, Akil is as real to me as anyone. He was an absolute b*stard to write, and on the couple of occasions I got inside his head (or he got inside mine) to write from his POV—I struggled to 'tame' him. He's a dangerous combination of intelligence, ruthlessness, and immortality. And, as much as I hate to admit it, he is the reason the Veil Series works. (I can just see his smug smile right now).

So *raises glass* here's to the end of the Veil Series. It was a breathless, action-packed, plot-twisting, lust-drenched, fire-and-ice filled, ride; and I wouldn't have ended it any other way.

Pippa.