A Character Interview and giveaway: VBT Stop for Debra Dunbar

May 13, 2013 by 10 Comments

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This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Debra will be awarding an e-book copy of A DEMON BOUND (book 1 in the Imp Series) to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop, and a grand prize of a Kindle Fire with an ELVEN BLOOD book cover skin to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A Character Interview with Leethu from Elven Blood.

LASR: Tell me about your appearance, the human form you’ve taken

Leethu: Ya was a courtesan in Thailand. As she aged, she felt her influence began to slip away, and knew the day would come when her looks would fade, leaving her with nothing. I offered her an eternity of ageless beauty as well as the chance to experience the power of sex at its full potential. Thus, our deal was made. I use her appearance, all her knowledge and memories, and she lives vicariously through my actions.

LASR: So Ya made a deal with the devil?

Leethu: Oh no, I am not the devil! I am just a succubus. Some do not even consider us true demons.
You need sex to live, correct? It sustains you?

There is energy transference in sex that is vital to my existence. At the moment of my partner’s orgasm, I receive immense power, so it is my goal that each partner experiences the greatest ecstasy.

The power transfer goes far beyond their immediate gratification, though. Long after they have left my arms, each time they think back on our experience, each time they burn with remembered desire, I gain in power. Not as much as the initial event, but still valuable to me.

As you can see, my feelings and my enjoyment do not factor into this. Although I do enjoy each of my encounters, it is my partner’s experience I concentrate on, not my own.

LASR: In ELVEN BLOOD, you’ve come for an extended stay at your foster sister Sam’s house. Are you two close?

Leethu: Sam? Oh, you mean Ni-ni. I forget that she goes by a human name now.

She was very young when I left the care of our foster parents to go for training, so we were not particularly close in our youth. She was the cutest little imp though- orange scales edged with red, blue tufts of fur, and three big heads. Just adorable, and always in trouble.

She’s always in trouble now too, but Ni-ni seems to live under the benevolent wings of Lady Luck. No matter how desperate circumstances are, she always manages to come out on top.

LASR: Speaking of trouble, what exactly happened back in Hel to cause you to want to hide out in Sam’s house?

Leethu: It is nothing really. Just a misunderstanding. Someone thinks I did something, but I did not. It wasn’t me, it must have been some other succubus or incubus.

Rumors burn hot and quick. Soon gossip will turn to another, and I’ll be able to go home. I hope so. Ni-ni is a lovely host, but she has an angel stalking her. He seems to be rather enamored of her, but that affection does not extend to me.

LASR: What will you do when you go back to Hel?

There are some business matters I need to attend to. I’d like to come back here soon and play with the humans. I’m not sure how long I can stay before the angels come for me, though. Maybe Ni-ni’s protection will extend beyond the confines of her house? I’ll have to ask her. It would be lovely to be able to stay and not worry about a beastly winged creature chopping off my head.

LASR: Will you have your own book in the future?

Leethu: Perhaps. Would you like that? Would it please you? I could stay with you and show you what life is like for a succubus. Just for a night – a night you’ll never forget.

About the Author:Debra Dunbar lives on a farm in the northeast United States with her husband, three boys, and a Noah’s ark of four legged family members. Her urban fantasy novels feature supernatural elements in local settings. In addition to A DEMON BOUND, SATAN’S SWORD, and ELVEN BLOOD, she has also published a short story erotica series titled NAUGHTY MOM. Connect with her on Twitter @debra_dunbar on Facebook at debradunbarauthor, and on her website at http://debradunbar.com.

Buy A DEMON BOUND and SATAN’S SWORD.

5_13 Cover_Elven BloodSam may be the Iblis, but she is also an imp with a price on her head. The powerful demon Haagenti won’t rest until she’s dragged back to Hel for “punishment”. Sam knows she can’t face Haagenti and win, so when an Elf Lord offers to eliminate the demon in return for her help, Sam accepts. It’s a simple job – find and retrieve a half-breed monster dead or alive. But finding this demon/elf hybrid isn’t proving easy and time is running out.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Guest Blogs, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , ,

My Five Favorite Paranormal Authors by Sara Humphreys

May 9, 2013 by 10 Comments

Leave a comment to win a print copy of Untamed (the book directly preceding Undone in the Amoveo Legend Series). US and Canada only please. 

I can only pick five? Oh, fine but I have to tell you that it ain’t easy but I’ll do my best. You see my fave list was long before I became a published author and now it’s really long.  It’s harder to pick favorites since I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many fantastic writers but if I must, then I must. :-)

 

  1. Christine Feehan: She is the one who got me started on paranormal romance. I picked up Dark Prince and it was the first time I’d read any pnr but it sure as heck wasn’t the last.  When I read it, I thought…Where have you been all my life? She writes gorgeous heroes who are dark, sexy and irresistible. In addition to her Carpathian series, I also adore her Ghostwalkers. Oh. MY. God. I’ve read every book in that series at least three times. The Norton twins go down as my all-time favorite heroes.
  2. Lori Handeland: I found Lori’s Nightcreature series when I was looking for more of Christine’s books. I love her heroes but her heroines stand out as my favorites. They are smart, funny and tough. If you haven’t read her Nightcretaures then you are missing out! Blue Moon is my fave.
  3. Terry Spear: Not only is Terry a super fabulous lady, her werewolves are drool worthy! She’s got a SEAL and Highlander werewolf series that will stop you in your tracks. I love that she incorporates nature into all of her books. Her werewolves are actual wolves and she does extensive research, which makes her stories remarkably true to life–even though werewolves are fictional. Although, when you read Terry’s books…you wonder if perhaps they might actually exist.
  4. Nely Cab: Nely is an up and coming author. Her YA paranormals are great. I read Creatura and was captivated by the world she created. Her young heroine is believable, relatable and memorable.
  5. Elisabeth Staab: If you love vampires then you’ve gotta check out Elisabeth’s work and start with Prince of Power. It’s an interesting series because there are vamps and wizards—which is different from the traditional vamp lore. Dark and sexy heroes make her books a fantastic addition to your shelf!

 

These are just a few of my favorites but like most readers, my list could go on forever! How about you…which authors do you totally dig?

 

Dream on…
Sara

 

UNDONE BY SARA HUMPHREYS – IN STORES MAY 2013

 

5_9 Undone CoverShe’s Far From Human…

With her secret race of shapeshifteres embroiled in civil war, all Marianna Coltari wants is to stay far from controversy. Even so, when her overprotective brother insists on hiring his human friend Pete as her bodyguard, Marianna is furious.

 

Does She Dare to Love One?

Like most retired cops, Pete Castro resents his new job as a bodyguard. It’s even worse because he’ll be babysitting a party girl like Marianna. But that’s before he meets her for the first time and discovers his instincts on red alert. Would he kill to protect her?

 

Praise for Undone:

“Humphreys’ skillful storytelling is so intriguing, you’ll have a hard time putting this book down. 4 ½ Stars, Top Pick of the Month!” —RT Book Reviews

” Spellbinding… This fast-paced, jam-packed thrill ride will delight paranormal romance fans.” —Publishers Weekly

“Sara Humphreys has truly created her own world.” —Under the Covers

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

5_9 Sara Humphreys 2Sara Humphreys has been attracted to the fantasies of science fiction, paranormal, and romance since her adolescence when she had a mad crush on Captain Kirk. An actress and public speaker, Sara lives in Bronxville, NY, with her husband, who is very considerate of her double life, and four amazing boys. Look for a brand new paranormal romance series, Dead in the City, starting with Tall, Dark and Vampire this August, and the next Amoveo Legend book, Unclaimed, in December 2013! For more information about her books and to join her street team, please visit www.sarahumphreys.com or follow her on Twitter, @AuthorSara.

 

To purchase Undone:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Chapters/Indigo

Discover a New Love

Sourcebooks

 

 

 

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: ,

Blurb Blitz Tour: Claire Robyns

May 8, 2013 by 9 Comments

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This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Claire will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift card to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour. Please click on the tour banner to see the other stops on her tour.

 

5_8 Cover_AMatterOfCircumstanceandCelludrones300A Victorian Steampunk/Paranormal adventure with strong elements of romance…

Lady Lily d’Bulier is prim, proper, and prefers to think of herself as pragmatic rather than timid. And avoiding life-threatening situations at all costs is just plain practical. But everything changes when Lord Adair tracks her down in London; searching for answers he seems to think she has.

Greyston Adair is a blackguard and a smuggler, although British Customs will have to catch him red-handed to prove the latter. Fortunately, the dirigibles they float around in have never been able to get near his air dust.

Hell is rising, One Demon at a Time…

With Lady Ostrich hunting them, and the mystery of how their lives tie back to Cragloden Castle and the powerful McAllister clan, Lily has no option but to throw propriety to the wind and run off with Greyston to Scotland, away from the immediate danger and toward possible answers.

Excerpt

She glanced across to find him staring out of his window.

In profile, silky brown hair stroked the hollow below his cheekbone and his clenched jaw formed a rigid line. His trousers were a dark grey, matched with a waistcoat worn over a crisp white shirt. Broad shoulders filled a meticulously tailored jacket that was left unbuttoned. He’d crossed one leg over the other and rested an elbow on the door ledge.

He looked every inch the well-groomed gentleman who’d been admitted to Lady Cheshire’s Mummy ball.

Every inch the heart-stopping Lord Dashing.

Her gaze settled on the ruined neck cloth and loose ties hanging down his front. A blush heated her throat as she recalled the unfamiliar hardness of lean muscle and his particular scent of pine forest and ash and something altogether male. She’d danced her share of waltzes, but this took intimacy to an entirely new extreme.

He brought his attention from outside to meet her brazen stare with a quirked brow. “At least you haven’t leapt to your death yet.”

The heat drained from her skin. Lily lowered her eyes, clasping her fingers in her lap to hide the trembling.

I’m not dead.

She lifted her gaze to him. “What do you want with me, Lord Adair?”

The ghost of that exact question, asked as she’d served him tea in her drawing room, answered. I knew Lady d’Bulier. Lily held her breath.

Lord Adair grimaced. “I knew your mother, Lady d’Bulier.”

She let that breath out on a trembling sigh. “You mentioned something about keeping me safe. From what?”

In response, he half-rose and rapped hard up against the roof with his fist. A moment later, the carriage drew to a halt in a clearing alongside the road.

Lily’s hand quickly went to the door handle on her side. She hesitated. There was no urge to run for her life. She was more afraid of her memories, of what might or might not be real, than of Lord Adair.

When Lord Adair alighted and offered her a hand, she shifted along the seat and allowed him to help her out. Neither of them wore gloves. Skin touched skin as she stepped from the carriage.

One more intimate social transgression; she was beginning to lose count.

She slid her hand from his as soon as her feet touched the ground. Her slippers were no protection from the mulch of fallen leaves and damp soil as she walked beneath a cluster of trees.

She spun about, determined to get some answers, but her gaze stalled on the large man in the driver’s box. “He’s the celludrone,” she gasped. “He’s the one who fought that woman.”

She’d only caught snatches of him before Lord Adair had pushed her out of sight behind the settee. The aftermath, however, was burned into her skull. This man, and Ana, torn apart at their seams, nothing left but mechanical pieces strewn across her drawing room. Dear Lord, had these spells she suffered from evolved into some type of visionary premonition? Had she witnessed her imminent death?

About the Author: 5_8 AuthorPicClaire Robyns lives in Berkshire, England, with her husband and twin boys. For so long as she has memories, she was either reading, dreaming about reading, or planning what she’d be reading next. Then one day she started dreaming about writing and that was the beginning of an amazing journey.

When Claire isn’t thigh-deep in laundry, shopping, cooking and general crowd control, you’ll find her head-and-heart-deep in the tangled lives of her characters.

Visit Claire at her website www.clairerobyns.com or on Twitter @clairerobyns or on Facebook 

Buy the book: Amazon.com            BN.com                 Kobo

 

 

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , ,

Dracula Unleashed by Linda Mercury

May 7, 2013 by 6 Comments

5_7 VBRT Dracula Unleashed banner
This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Linda will be awarding a dragon necklace (since Dracula means Dragon) (USA ONLY) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on her tour.

 

5_7 Cover_Dracula UnleashedAfter centuries as the Dracula of Legend, disguised as a male, Valerie Tate’s current incarnation is the last thing she expected: mother of a precocious half-angel, half-vampire, and wife to two men. But Valerie is more familiar with battlefields than domesticity. . .

Some overwhelmed mothers relax with a glass of wine. Valerie soothes her immortal soul with a refreshing blood and coke. How else can she deal with her toddler Minerva’s psychic powers–not to mention her determination to throw knives. Thank goodness for Valerie’s two loves, John Jante, guide to Fallen Angels, and Lance Soleil, Angel of the Lost. Without them, the trauma of her dark past and her primal, Dracul urge for violence and power would overtake her. Yet in a world where humans and paranormals uncomfortably co-exist, Valerie’s peace will be short-lived.

Tensions have erupted with bombings and the emergence of creatures heralding the apocalypse itself. And Valerie’s vampire brother and nemesis, Radu, is at the center of the conflict. Now Valerie finds herself at the forefront of an epic battle between good and evil–and facing a choice no woman in any realm should have to make. . .

Excerpt:

3:00 p.m., Geneva, Switzerland

“Mom, watch this. Mom. Mom. MOM!” Minerva Josephine Victoria Janté chanted her demands for attention in Valerie Tate’s mind. It was a chant that had gone on. And on.

All. Day. Long.

Some mothers took tranquilizers. Others posted on the Internet. Valerie’s own mother had been known to “entertain” good-looking junior soldiers. Whereas Valerie herself craved the perfect combination of sweet and salty, caffeine, and nutrition: blood and coke.

How else was a vampire supposed to deal with the highly advanced psychic powers her child had? Half-angel and half-vampire, Minerva had abilities no one expected from one so young.

“Let me guess. You are going to drop something,” she called from the kitchen.

The baby huffed an indignant breath. Valerie dug her back teeth into her left cheek. No smiling while her child was pouting, even though her daughter’s Cupid’s bow mouth would be pursed like she was spitting out something foul. Such a sour expression on her angelic face.

”But this is cool.”

A familiar clatter told Valerie that Minerva had dropped yet another utensil. Was that her fiftieth or sixtieth of the day?

Really, how long could one vampire watch her flatware fall to the floor and treat it like it was the discovery of a new world?

She took a pitcher of blood in one hand, a cold can of soda in the other, and shoved the appliance’s door closed with her elbow. The condensation on the can of cola chilled her sweating palms. Summer in Geneva could be shockingly hot and humid for a place surrounded by icy mountains. She smiled. This beverage would be delicious.

Valerie rounded the divider between the kitchen and the living room. She shook her head in mock awe at the youngest Dracul’s prowess this afternoon. The floor shone with dropped silverware.

The game had gone like this: Valerie handed Minerva a spoon. Minerva dropped the spoon. Valerie handed Minerva a fork. Minerva dropped the fork. Valerie did not pick any of it up.

She was familiar with intestine-strewn battlefields, not domesticity. The best she could do was shovel the clinking lot into the dishwasher and push Clean.

Fortunately, her little family owned a lot of forks.

 

About the Author:

5_7 AuthorAvatarLinda Mercury left behind her varied careers as a librarian, art model, and professional clown to pursue writing. She’s interested in writing, romance, the Middle East, reading, organizing, cooking, hand-made silk Turkish rugs, and the Nike of Samothrace.

 

 

Website and blog

Twitter: LindaMercury1

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Dracula’s Secret, Blood Wings #1

Dracula’s Desires, Blood Wings #2

Dracula Unleashed, Blood Wings #3

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , ,

Book Blast: Blood Destiny Series by Helen Harper

May 2, 2013 by 8 Comments

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This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.  Helen will award a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Please see the Rafflecopter at the end of the post.  Also, click on the banner to see the other stops on the tour.
*****

5_2 Cover_Bloodfire1Mackenzie Smith has always known that she was different. Growing up as the only human in a pack of rural shapeshifters will do that to you, but then couple it with some mean fighting skills and a fiery temper and you end up with a woman that few will dare to cross. However, when the only father figure in her life is brutally murdered, and the dangerous Brethren with their predatory Lord Alpha come to investigate, Mack has to not only ensure the physical safety of her adopted family by hiding her apparent humanity, she also has to seek the blood-soaked vengeance that she craves.

 

5_2 Cover_Bloodmagic1After escaping the claws of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the Brethren, Mack is trying to lead a quiet lonely life in Inverness in rural Scotland, away from anyone who might happen to be a shapeshifter. However, when she lands a job at an old bookstore owned by a mysterious elderly woman who not only has a familiar passion for herbal lore but also seems to know more than she should, Mack ends up caught in a maelstrom between the Ministry of Mages, the Fae and the Brethren.

Now she has to decide between staying hidden and facing the music, as well as confronting her real feelings for the green eyed power of Corrigan himself.

5_2 Cover_bloodrage1Mack begins her training at the mages’ academy in the hope that, by complying, the stasis spell will be lifted from her old friend, Mrs. Alcoon. However, once there, she finds herself surrounded by unfriendly adults and petulant teenagers, the majority of whom seem determined to see her fail.

Feeling attacked on all fronts, Mack finds it harder and harder to keep a rein on her temper. Forced to attend anger management classes and deal with the predatory attentions of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the shapeshifter world, her emotions start to unravel. But when she comes across a familiar text within the walls of the mages’ library, which might just provide the clues she needs to unlock the secrets of her background and her dragon blood, she realises that her problems are only just beginning…

******
EXCERPT  from Bloodfire:
 

I slowly uncurled my fingers and forced myself to relax. Perhaps they weren’t coming after all I pondered, half hoping – and half chafing at the thought that they had so little regard for my pack that they couldn’t even show up on time.  Didn’t they understand what we’d all just been through?  I almost growled.  Even without the group’s fear of what would happen to them all if my true identity was discovered, and the deep-seated grief that marked John’s passing, they were all on tenterhooks about the imminent arrival.   Would the Brethren like them?  Would the Brethren find out who killed John?  Would the Brethren save the world? Would we be honoured enough to be allowed to wait hands and feet on them?  I snorted, making Tom look worriedly over at me again.  I ignored him.  Screw the Brethren. Part of me wished that I could have been long gone and then wouldn’t have to be witnessing the pathetic displays of my pack, my surrogate family, straining at the bit to do anything to please the sodding Brethren.  Idiots.

I’d confirmed that none of them other than Julia had ever had cause to come in contact with the Brethren before now – well, let’s face it, we lived in a backwater town in Cornwall for chrissakes, nothing had ever happened before that would have warranted the Brethren’s attention – but the crème de la crème of the shapeshifters’ reputation still preceded them.  They were known to be bloody, ruthless and entirely without mercy for anyone who didn’t meet their exacting standards.  And still, the pack sighed over them as if they were gallant heroes galloping in to save the day.

*****

 About the Author:  5_2 GB AuthorPicHelen Harper is an English teacher currently living abroad in Malaysia. As a long time reader of urban fantasy, she finally bit the bullet and began to develop her own series of novels.

Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland. “I always loved the escapism provided by those genres,” states Helen. “No matter how bad life gets, you can always find a route out, even if only temporarily, in the pages of a good book.”

The growth of urban fantasy fascinated her – the mix of reality and fantasy along with strong heroic female characters appealed from the very beginning, and inspired her to write her own.

                                                                             Facebook Author page          Twitter: HarperFire

Amazon.com buy links:   Bloodfire

 

 
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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , ,

Blurb Blitz Tour: Twinned Universes by Sandra Ulbrich Almazan

April 25, 2013 by 11 Comments

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This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sandra will award one randomly chosen commenter the choice of a $50 Amazon gift card or a gift pack of all of the following items related to Twinned Universes: two Shakespeare mugs, a Sears tower pendant, a book by Carl Sagan (Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space), and a signed copy of the first book in the series, Lyon’s Legacy.  Click on the tour banner to see the other stops in the tour.

MEDIA KIT Twinned Universes E-bookPaul Harrison always wanted to play Hamlet, but he never expected he’d live the role first.

In the aftermath of a family tragedy on 21st century Earth, Paul discovers he’s the clone of Sean Lyon, his great-great-grandfather and a famous TwenCen musician. Suspecting his mother’s death was no accident, Paul comes up with a plan to trick the answers out of the great-uncle who had him cloned. But in order to make his plan work, Paul needs help from Sean himself—and Sean’s time is running out in the TwenCen universe next door. Although Paul’s family lives on the spaceship that travels between the universes, he’s never been allowed on TwenCen Earth. Now, with the help of his friends, his disguise-creating holoprojectors, and a quantum quirk, Paul must make his way to Sean while evading other time travelers who fear he’ll change the history of the TwenCen universe. If Paul is to achieve justice, he must not only risk his own life, but the wormhole connecting the universes. “To be or not to be” was a simple question in comparison….

Excerpt

Paul drew his knees up to his chin as he thought. The space elevator lurched occasionally, but it ran so quietly all he could hear were snores from Cass and a sporadic click from Dad’s handheld. Why would Great-Uncle Jack want him so desperately? Why should he care about Paul so much? He was so obsessed with Sean Lyon it seemed impossible for him to have room in his mind for anything else. Unless…Paul was linked to Sean somehow? They were several generations apart; Jack himself was closer to Sean than Paul was. Besides, Cass was also Sean’s descendant, so that didn’t fit with Jack’s ignoring her. He still badgered Mom about music—well, he had, even on this last visit—so it couldn’t be because Cass was a girl.

Paul remembered the photo and holo Great-Uncle Jack had sent him. What did the Elvii Twins have to do with him anyway? The Elvii Twins were clones of a TwenCen rock star like Sean Lyon. Someone had traveled on the Sagan through the wormhole and into the alternate universe to get Elvis Presley’s DNA. Mom had worked on the Sagan since before Paul was born, and Dad had said she’d gone down to TwenCen Earth at least once. Paul looked a lot like Sean…. 

What the hell? No. It can’t be true—can it? 

Feeling as if he’d forgotten his most important line in the middle of a performance, he asked, “Dad, am I…am I Sean Lyon’s clone?”

About the Author:  MEDIA KIT Sandra Ulbrich Almazan

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan started reading at the age of three and only stops when absolutely required to. Although she hasn’t been writing quite that long, she did compose a very simple play in German during middle school. Her science fiction novella Move Over Ms. L. (an early version of Lyon’s Legacy) earned an Honorable Mention in the 2001 UPC Science Fiction Awards, and her short story “A Reptile at the Reunion” was published in the anthology Firestorm of Dragons. She is a founding member of BroadUniverse and a long-time member of the Online Writing Workshop for Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror. Her undergraduate degree is in molecular biology/English, and she has a Master of Technical and Scientific Communication degree. Her current day job is in the laboratory of an enzyme company; she’s also been a technical writer and a part-time copyeditor for a local newspaper. Some of her other accomplishments are losing on Jeopardy! and taking a stuffed orca to three continents. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, Eugene; and son, Alex. In her rare moments of free time, she enjoys crocheting, listening to classic rock (particularly the Beatles), and watching improv comedy.

Sandra can be found online at her website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook. Upcoming projects from Sandra include a standalone fantasy story called “The Fighting Roses of Sharon”; Twinned Universes, the second book in the science fiction Catalyst Chronicles series; and Scattered Seasons, the first book in the fantasy Season Lords series.

Buy the Book at:

Amazon                                                                   B&N                                                                                       Smashwords

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , ,

Wrestling with my Muse: a guest blog and giveaway by Meggan Connors

April 22, 2013 by 7 Comments

4_22 VBT Jessie's War Banner
4_22 jessie's-war-prizes-animatedThis post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Meggan will be awarding a silver pocket watch pendant and a cameo choker, and a signed paperback copy of The Marker, her historical romance to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (US/CANADA ONLY)

 

 

Wrestling with my Muse

 

I’ll admit, my muse is a bit wonky.

Some days, the ideas flow like beer at a fraternity party, copious and seemingly never ending. The words come easy. I’ll stay up way too late working, and wake up with a vicious muse-induced hangover.

Other days, though, dragging the words from my muse is no easy task. It’s like trying to wrangle a buffalo. Or what I imagine wrangling a buffalo would be like, since I try to stay away from large bovines. It’s the principal of the thing, I suppose.

Now, my muse is always active, don’t get me wrong. She just doesn’t like to do what I want her to do. Perhaps she’s got oppositional defiant disorder. (You know it’s bad when you try to diagnose your muse with a specific psychiatric disorder)

We wrestle with the ideas, or we tangle over word choice. I’ll ask her where we’re going next, and she’ll start singing Bohemian Rhapsody, or Sweet Caroline, which is actually a little disturbing.  It’s in those moments that I realize our ship is rudderless and all my navigational systems are down.

My story is going nowhere, and going fast.

Now, I have a number of writer friends who, when I complain of my museless status, say, “Oh, let the writing come to you. Allow the story to be organic.”

But let’s face facts: if I could throw some fertilizer on my muse to force her into working, I would totally do that. To heck with organic. Grow me a story, baby.

While my friends have a point, and I would certainly prefer to have a story that writes itself, I sometimes have to go all steel-cage death match on my muse in order to make her work. When I say I’m wrestling with my muse, I’m not talking about a weirdly fascinating match complete with baby oil. When I wrestle with my muse, someone is going to come out bloody.

It’s usually me.

In any case, some days the words come easier than others. Some days, my creativity is spent on the day job, the kids, or other drama, and I don’t have a whole lot left over when I write. Sometimes the story speaks to me, but sometimes I just need a break. I write every day, but there are days when I realize, as I sit down at my computer, that I will erase everything I write.

And that’s okay.

Now, I can’t speak for everyone, because, yes, some people make writing seem so effortless. So instead, I’ll admit to this: my muse is not perfect, and writing isn’t always fun. Sometimes it’s hard work.

So, to all you writers out there who are struggling with your story, think on this: not every story will come easily. Not every character will speak to you in the same way, at the same time, or when you want them to.

Relish the days when you can sit down at your computer and breathe life into images written on a black and white piece of paper, when you can give a soul to people who don’t exist. Not everyone can do that.

It’s those days that make writing worth it.

 

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Meggan Connors is the author of two historicals, The Marker and Highland Sons: The Mackay Sage (with Dawn Ireland), as well as a western steampunk, Jessie’s War. When she’s not forcing her muse into submission, she can be found hiking in the hills, searching for cute shoes on the Internet, or reading a book. 

Website: www.megganconnors.com                                Twitter: @megganconnors

 

 

4_22 jessieswar-coverShe’s about to become a pawn in a brutal game between nations…

The American Civil War has raged for more than ten years. The outcast daughter of a famous inventor, Jessica White has struggled to salvage what little remains of her life. Then, one cold winter night, the lover she’d given up for dead returns, claiming the Union Army bought the plans for her father’s last invention. But he’s not the only one who lays claim to the device, for the Confederacy wants the invention as well. Both sides will kill to have it.

…And only he can save her.

As an agent for the Union Army, Luke Bradshaw is a man who will use whomever and whatever is at his disposal in order to complete his mission. An attack by Confederate soldiers ensures that Jessie will turn to him for help, but Luke can’t help but wonder about the secrets she keeps–and if those secrets will ultimately prove fatal.

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SUPER BOOK BLAST: A Witch Without Magic by Larisa Walk

April 17, 2013 by 12 Comments

4_17 SBB A Witch Without Magic Banner
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Larisa will be awarding a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate to five randomly drawn commenters during the tour.

4_17 Cover A Witch Without MagicWhen her neighbors accuse Belladonna of Satanism and making them age years to days, she must find who is behind it or face a modern day witch hunt. Her mysterious enemy knows where to strike to cause the most damage: Belladonna’s only friend is losing his life-force; the garden that feeds her is dying; and her house ghost goes poltergeist. To save her neighbors and friends and prove her innocence, she must travel to the Otherworld where butterflies have razor wings and where her worst fears will come to life.

 

 

READ AN EXCERPT

I tried to walk with an official swing in my step, clipboard under my right arm, the other arm at my side, desperately trying not to clutch at the fabric of my jumpsuit with a death grip.  Mice and rats darted in and out of bushes.  A large flock of crows cawed in the trees.  In one spot ants covered the sidewalk like spilled black pepper.  Dark magic was afoot and the vermin were drawn to it.

There were some kids with aged faces playing on the other side of the street.  I tried not to stare at them.  One kid, a boy of about seven, judging by his height, actually looked like he was in his eighties.  He seemed to have trouble breathing and had to stop often to rest.  My jaws ached and a sharp spike seemed to be embedded in my chest.  Goddess help me, but I couldn’t blame their parents for hating me.  If I were in their place and thought I knew who was doing this to my kids, I’d go on a witch hunt, too.  I was lucky the cops didn’t believe my neighbors that I was doing this awful life-draining stuff to them or I wouldn’t have any protection.  I prayed hard that I’d find a way to stop the dark witch before anyone died from being too old at the age of seven.

 

4_17 Author PicLarisa Walk, a native Russian, lives in California with her husband and two formerly homeless cats. She writes paranormal fiction that is more often than not populated by characters from the Russian fairy world. Her short fiction appeared in several anthologies and magazines. She has published a historic fantasy novel, A Handful of Earth, and a modern paranormal novel, A Witch Without Magic. See her quirky blog posts here: www.LarisaWalk.com

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THE ANGEL CHRONICLES, Book 3 and Giveaway

April 16, 2013 by 1 Comment

 

A Privilege:

The Angel Chronicles, Book 3

The beloved Angel/Warrior team face pure evil in their final climactic story!

The first time they were sent down, Irish lives were led. Emily, the angel, ended up embedded in murder and lost in the realm of true love. While Matthew, the warrior, took over a life that left blood on his hands and anger in his soul.

With their second coming, Emily found herself facing an oncoming war that brought her to the shores of America. While Matthew tried desperately to unveil the evil character of a young man who was intent on locking his partner in a ‘gilded’ cage.

Now…Emily and Matthew find that their lives are all their own. Yet, all the memories, hatred, longing and regret have come hand-in-hand with this newfound freedom.

In small town U.S.A., Matthew finds himself loving his new life. From his military school existence to a new, ‘odd’ friend who’s arrived in town, Matthew’s looking forward to graduation and heading off into a brilliant future with Emily by his side.

Emily wants nothing more than to hide. Although doing her best to fit in, she lives a life on the edge, wondering when her past love with reappear to either forgive or seek revenge on the angel who let him down. Battling the shadows that seem to be breaking her soul in two, Emily soon discovers that her small, quiet town has a secret that’s beyond dangerous…

As she and Matthew join forces to help a ‘haunted’ victim, they open the door on a mystery neither of them can believe. A true villain has returned from the past, and not even their heavenly family will be able to save them. This time they’re on their own, as they face a fight that could lead them straight to Hell…and end the angel/warrior team forever.

Excerpt

Without a word, Matthew reached out, took Emily by the hand and pulled her down beside him. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “I knew my Emily was still in there.”Out of the blue, the room became incredibly hot, as if Gabriel had entered in order to give a lesson to his favorite students. “What?”

“That spark.” He pulled Emily’s face closer before she could push herself away. “You’ve been acting all this time like you’re just here to sit and wait it out until you’re lucky enough to go Home. But you’re still in there, Emily. You still have all that energy and belief in there and you want to do something. That’s the partner I know.”

Shaking her head, Emily listened to her own breathing intensify as she stared at his full lips and wondered why she felt so completely and utterly strange…vulnerable even. “I want to help this girl. This is a job, maybe my only job down here. She saw a ghost and she wants me to help her out, that’s all.”

“And you will.” Matthew captured Emily’s lips, and she could no longer feel the breath in her lungs. Completely different than the one kiss they’d shared up above so long ago, this one was far more demanding, as if Matthew was a young man determined to kiss his human love for the very first time.

Sitting back, Emily practically jumped off the bed.

“I’m sorry,” she heard him whisper behind her. “I guess I was just excited to see you again.”

Not trusting her voice, she remained silent.

“We have jobs, but we also have a life to live. Our own lives this time around. Maybe you should think about adding that into your angelic plans.” Matthew continued softly, “Jason isn’t here, Emily.”

The name being said out loud sent a chill down Emily’s spine. It reminded her of the vow she’d made a long time ago—a vow that an angel couldn’t break.

She cleared her throat. “It doesn’t matter if he’s here. We were sent to do a job, and maybe helping this little girl prove her story is what I need to begin.”

Standing up, Matthew looked as if he was a man who wanted nothing more than to turn back the clock and erase the name he’d spoken aloud. He walked to the open window. “Well, I hope the job goes well. Good luck with it.”

“Matthew,” Emily took a step toward him. “Don’t leave like this.”

He nodded at the book on the bed. “You have your mission, Emily…your job. Ghosts, goblins, lost souls—knock yourself out.” He took a deep breath. “I wonder when you’re going to figure out that the living souls around you would like some of your attention as well.”

Closing her eyes, Emily shed silent tears as she heard his feet hit the ground beneath her window. A friend, a partner, the one who actually listened, was now just an angry young man racing back to The Armory—a place where warriors reigned.

Emily sighed. She’d done it again. No matter how hard she tried to be good, her mouth always got her into trouble. She needed Matthew to understand. She’d made a promise to a young man a long time ago; a promise that was supposed to last for eternity. How was she to know at the time that their eternity would include death by her hand?
Had the second time around broken their vow? Emily had no idea. But whatever happened she could not and would not offer Matthew her heart if payment was still due for her past sins. Above all, Matthew was the last person who deserved to be punished for her mistakes.

Author Amy Lignor

Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

 

 

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How My Morgaine Series Grew Like Topsy by Joe Vadalma

April 16, 2013 by 8 Comments

VBT The Chronicles of Morgaine Banner copyThis post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly drawn commenter will win a $25 Gift Certificate to Renaissance EBooks, Inc.

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You might be interested in how my Morgaine Novels became a series. It started with a song, Dancing in the Moonlight. When I heard that song, I pictured people in a forest clearing dancing in a ritual manner. I thought, suppose an ordinary person became involved with such a group. I created Melody Trent, a young widow, who falls in love with a psychic, Michael Ellul, who was a thousand year old sorcerer granted extended life by a demon. Of course, Melody must have a rival for Michael’s affection, a witch, Morgaine Fabiano,. I added other complications such as an android. Soon I had a novel, Dancing in the Moonlight.

When I submitted to Renaissance E-Books, the publisher thought it was too long for an E-book and asked me to split it into two novels, Morgaine and Michael, and Morgaine and Melody.

I was not satisfied with the ending. What’s going to happen when Melody ages and Michael remains youthful? It’s likely that he’d disappear from her life at some point. Perhaps he’d seek a means to restore her youth so that she would remain his lover through the centuries. And what would Melody do when he disappears? Hunt for him, of course. Well, she couldn’t do this herself, so she hires Raven Lenore, a tough PI. And of course, Morgaine had to fit into the story. She returns from hell as demon to regain Michael’s love. Mix in a meglomaniac out to steal Michael’s robot — the result, Morgaine and Raven, a suspense thriller.

The next novel was how Morgaine became a witch told from her point of view, how she met Michael and why she did evil things. Alas, this also turned out to be too long and was split into Morgaine and Gretchen, and Morgaine and Asmodeus.

I enjoy writing about is the end of the world. Hence, I used the Book of Revelations of the Bible as an outline plus information from the internet about the apocalypse, included the possibility of earth being struck by a meteorites, threw in the Frankenstein monster, Dracula and other demons, bad guys, and aliens. And of course the schemes of Morgaine played a big part. This weird mix became Morgaine and Armageddon.

At that point, I thought I was done with Morgaine. But then I thought, with all the strange things that happened at Moonwood (Michael’s mansion), it would make a great haunted house story. I invented a young engaged couple, Tom and Bridget, hired as contractors to repair the mansion. Morgaine and various demons and ghosts make life at Moonwood hell for the couple. I called this book Morgaine and Moonwood.  A sequel, Morgaine and Nicholas, tells what happens after Bridget has the baby that she conceived after the demon Asmodeus raped her. This was to be the final book of the series,.  Since then, I’ve added two more novels, Morgaine and the Necromancer and Morgaine and the Sorcerer’s Guild.

MEDIA KIT Vadalma and grim reaper

I’ve loved science fiction and fantasy from the time I learned to read. My hobbies, besides writing, are traveling, adventure game playing and do-it-yourself projects. Before I retired, I was a technical writer working for a major computer manufacturer.

I believe my love of reading stems from my parents and grandparents, who were all avid readers. As a child, one of my favorite things was hanging out at the library or browsing in flea markets for books I could afford. I also liked mathematics and science, especially astronomy.  When I was twelve or so, I discovered the pulp magazines. They had garish covers and were printed on blotting paper, but the stories inside were marvelous. In these magazines, I learned to love such writers as Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Robert Silverberg and so many others.

I married a girl who went to the same high school as I did, and we’ve been married over fifty years now. We have four wonderful girls, ten grandchildren (who are now adults ) and one spunky nine-year-old great-granddaughter. In 1993, I retired. That’s when my fiction writing career really started.

Three series of paranormal fantasy novels of mine, called The Morgaine Chronicles, Raven Lenore, Psychic Investigator, and my humorous fantasy saga The Books of Retslu have been published as ebooks by Futures-Past Editions. Futures-Past has also published all my novels including, The Isaac Project, For Love of Kumiko, Pawns of Tomorrow, Star Tower, Out of Time, Takeover, The Artifact, Pawns of Tomorrow, The Laws of Magic, Castle Darkest Night and Dinner with Dracula. All are available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, as well as other online ebook sellers.

Website                                Facebook

MEDIA KIT MorgaineBOXset

Readers who love books about magic and romance, will love this special ebook “boxed set” of the first three books in a spellbinding series – all for just the price of the first book plus one dollar more! Start reading this irresistible saga of a modern witch who couldn’t free herself from an ancient love. Meet the bad girl of romance, Morgaine the first anti-heroine! When they had been lovers hundreds of years earlier, Michael had sold his soul to the devil for immortality. Now that they are lovers once again, Morgaine tries to outwit the demon Asmodeus by offering him the pure soul of the woman Melody in exchange for Michael’s. But when Michael falls in love with Melody, Morgaine unleashes a fury on them the like of which even hell has never seen. And Morgaine’s fury threatens to shatter even the will of Hell’s mighty King. “A fine, original new work of dark fantasy,” raves Horror Sagas!

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