Friday, June 29, 2012

AUTHOR INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY - Ashley Robertson

Paranormal Addicts would like to welcome Ashley Robertson!  She is a fresh new face to the paranormal genre and we are very excited to have her join us!



Q&A with Ashley Robertson

Welcome, can you tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

Before I hit my teen years, I remember thinking I wanted to be a famous singer so I would write my own songs and then my sister and I would sing them together. After the first few songs, the need to write more of them exploded inside me, and before I knew it, I had several notebooks filled. But since I was unable to come up with a melody for quite a few of them, I realized some of those pieces needed to be poems. So I would write about my experiences—the challenges, the hurt and pain, the excitement and joy, and by writing all of this down it would help me deal with the accomplishments and struggles I’d encountered.

Once I got into high school, I discovered my favorite classes were English and science. It’s pretty obvious why English is one of them, but science stuff just amazes me and I’m obsessed with the Science and Discovery channels! Now, back to my English classes—since that’s where I started writing short stories and essays, loving every single minute of it. It’s a shame computers weren’t really used at that time as I’ve lost many of my works through several moves. But once I entered into my senior year of high school, I was finally introduced to the wonderful computer and I was able to type one of my short stories—which is much easier than handwriting, or even using a typewriter for that matter. So I head off to college, absolutely confused as to what to major in but knowing I needed to take all the English and writing classes I could, in addition to some computer courses. Since I was working full time as a real-estate broker’s assistant, I was only able to take night classes and only a couple of them a week to ensure I could handle my homework load—obviously I wasn’t going to be graduating college any time soon. That’s when I was encouraged to get my real-estate license, and once I did (at age nineteen) I was offered three jobs—all with top-selling agents. With churning nerves, I made my decision, but also fought to stay afloat with my college classes, but eventually my real-estate job won, stealing every spare hour I had and rolling some pretty good cash in my bank account. How could I resist? After all, I needed to take care of myself and was sick of having roommates to afford my bills. After thirteen long years of working 24/7 in real estate (and a few mini–nervous breakdowns because of the stress load) I was finally given a choice—by my amazing husband who was sick of hearing me cry over a job that was draining everything out of me, and also wanting me to be more available for him and my adorable stepson—of whether I wanted to keep selling homes or let all of that go. Tough choice and one that took me months to make, but I finally, ever so reluctantly, let go of my real-estate job in April 2009. In November of that same year was when I started my debut novel, Crimson Groves, which was finally published before Christmas of 2011. I started UnGuarded as soon as Crimson Groves hit my editor’s desk (Stephen Delaney with Close Reader Editing Services), and now UnGuarded’s release date is right around the corner—the ebook will be available July 1, 2012 and the paperback version will be available a few weeks after the ebook release date.

How do you balance between your personal life and your writing?

The key to balancing my personal life with my business life—and trust me, I do not have this completely mastered—is having a hobby and picking one day EVERY week to do it. For me, this is going horseback riding for an hour or two and forgetting all my worries with taking care of my family, managing our home, and whether or not I’ve been productive enough in my job (Ashley Robertson Books). Before horseback riding, my husband and I used to travel a lot—which is another one of my hobbies, but can become quite costly—so I knew I needed to find something else. I grew up with horses and cows on a 92-acre farm/orange grove in Clermont, Florida (yes, I’m a native Floridian!), so it was a no-brainer for me to start riding again, only I’m too busy to own a horse and take care of it full time, so I lucked out when I found a ranch-and-rescue in my hometown that would allow me to lease one of their horses. And since I’ve done this, it’s helped me get re-centered and balanced, and I feel more productive with everything else. After all, if you’ve ever flown, what is it that the flight attendant tells you when going over the directions should the plane encounter trouble and the air mask falls? Answer: Place it over your face first, and then you can help the person or child next to you. So figure out what your air mask (hobby) is and don’t just think about it—DO IT!

We would love for you to paint a picture for us of you writing your books. Do you always write in your office?

I’m hardly ever in my home office. I have a MacBook Air and because of that, I can write anywhere. I’ve tried working from bookstore cafés, coffee shops, and restaurants, and while some days you get lucky and it’s quiet, there are those other days where your luck has definitely run out because you have the family of screaming children sitting at the table directly beside you. And don’t even bother moving to another spot, because there’s some other disruption awaiting you there. So lately, I’ve been working from my dining room with big windows that let me watch the walkers, joggers, and cars cruise by in front of my home whenever I encounter that dreadful writer’s block. Do you ever go outside on a beautiful day and write there? Sometimes, but being in Florida with the blazing heat and brutal humidity, I only work outside by the pool during the winter months (which are more like fall and spring, since it rarely gets to freezing here). Are you listening to music when you write? Sometimes. I love listening to house music or jazz, but some days I welcome the silence. Drinking wine? I’m a huge wine lover—preferably medium- to full-bodied reds—and if I work nights, then you’ll most certainly catch me with a glass. Do you do your best work during the day? Yes, since my family demands my attention in the evenings, but sometimes when we’re watching TV and I’m disinterested in the show, I’ll grab my computer and get some blog hopping in, or I’ll read on my Kindle.

In Twitter fashion using 140 characters or less, sum up UnGuarded for us. 

Selene—a guardian angel who can shift into human form—is torn between caring for her human charge & her forbidden love for a vampire.  Add it to your Good Reads shelf now! (UnGuarded @ Goodreads)

Will we be seeing a following book to this story?

At this point I’m undecided if this book will be part of a series; it could go either way with the yet possibly open-ended ending it closes with. But since I’m getting requests for a sequel from some of the people who have read the ARC, I’m strongly considering it.

What were your feelings when you first saw the cover of your finished book?

My breath caught with stunned surprise as I cried tears of joy. Claudia with PhatPuppyArt.com did such an amazing job and has been so incredible to work with that not only would I highly recommend her to anyone needing a book cover or anything art related, but I also can’t wait to work with her on my next book, Crimson Rain (book #2 in The Crimson Series [the sequel to Crimson Groves]).

Paranormal Addicts would love to thank Ashley for joining us today.  If you are interested in visiting her or learning more about her please check out these following links:





Abigail Tate was a normal human girl. Until the day Bronx the vampire barges into her life and turns her against her will. Held captive while forced to deal with never ending cravings for blood, Abby prays for a way to escape. Only when an opportunity arises, it's with the aid of an innocent human named Tyler—except vampires are forbidden to interact with the unbitten. But Abby quickly learns this human has secrets of his own...secrets that can either help her or get her killed. Only Abby discovers that she was the one with the biggest secret of them all.



Be sure to stop by here on July 1st for Ashley's new release.
She will be giving away a copy of this great new book!


UnGuarded tells the story of Selene, a guardian angel who was so close to becoming an archangel—the supreme of all beings—until she fell in love with Cole, a forbidden dark one. Once she discovers her vampire lover has been kidnapped and the only way to save him is by abandoning her number one priority—Caitlyn, her human charge—there really is only one answer in Selene’s mind, even though leaving Caitlyn unguarded will most likely cause Selene to fall from grace. But her choice to save Cole doesn’t come without a price...and now Selene is racing against time to not only save her dark lover, but find a way to keep Caitlyn alive as well. With the help of a new vampire ally, Luke, Selene will push her diminishing angel abilities to the point where her very existence lies in the balance. Now threatened with the chance of becoming a fallen angel or even dying, Selene can only pray she’ll have enough time—and good grace—to save the ones she loves.

You can find the first two chapters of UnGuarded on my blog here.


Book Giveaway

Ashley is giving away TWO copies of Crimson Groves.
Open Worldwide!!




Many entry chances are available. By entering the giveaway you are agreeing to the terms outlined in the Rafflecopter widget.


This giveaway is open to everyone!!!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

SERIES GIVEAWAY & Toni's Review of Stalking the Others by Jess Haines ***4.5 Stars***


  

Vampires, werewolves, mages–the Others are very real, and wreaking havoc in Shiarra Waynest’s life. But now, she’s returning the favor…

Once, she was one of the good guys–or as close as a New York P.I. can get. Then Shiarra Waynest was drawn into the world of the Others. Every faction has its own loyalties and agenda. And Shia’s recent betrayal by her ex-boyfriend means that she may be on the verge of becoming a rogue werewolf at the next full moon.

Of course, with all the threats against her, Shia’s not sure she’ll live long enough to find out. The enigmatic vampire Royce wants her back in his clutches, as do two powerful werewolf packs, along with the police. Instead of going into hiding, Shia is enlisting the aid of her enchanted hunter’s belt and every dirty P.I. trick she knows. If she’s going down, she’ll take out as many of her enemies as she can–and hope that in the process, she keeps whatever humanity she has left…

**************************

Scheduled release date is July 3, 2012

I have to say that this series is new for me.  When I requested Stalking the Others, I knew that this was book four and that I would have to play catch up.  I’m glad I picked it and I’m really glad I had this book after finishing book three, Deceived by the Others.  Get ready for a kick-ass ride!

The Sunstriker pack is on the run.  Their crimes have been revealed, and everyone is looking for them.  The person top on the list:  Shiarra Waynest.  Shiarra has a mission.  Take out every one who has wronged her.  She as a month to do it and she will do anything to accomplish it.  Enemies beware; this woman will take you down.

This one time good girl is now bad.  Over the years, Shiarra has been forced into a world she never wanted to enter.  This new world has ruined her life and broken her heart, but rather than dwell and sulk about it she runs head first into the battle.  You really have to admire her for that.  She may not do the smartest things and may not be the strongest one out there, but you can’t fault her determination.

Stalking the Others is a fast, action packed novel.  I really can’t go more into the story, since I really don’t want to give it away.  I had moments of deep emotion, elation and fist pumping “Heck, yeahs”.  There are also more stories to be told.  I can only hope that Ms. Haines is going to quickly crank out the next in the series.

Since I don’t want to give the plot and surprises away, I will mention a bit more about the series.  H&W Investigation in my opinion is very good Urban Fantasy.  I sometimes have a hard time connecting with this genre, but I did with ease with this series.  Shia is not your normal heroine.  Some people complain about her weakness, but I find her traits more believable than the norm.  She is human, and her actions and thoughts portray that.  She doesn’t instantly become a super heroine.  The buildup is slow and I liked it.  She makes a lot of errors and even at the end of this book she retains her believability for me.

The first two books in the series; Hunted by the Others and Taken by the Others, were not as enjoyable as the last two were for me.  Ms. Haines has definitely picked it up and has improved on the series.  Now with her world building done, she is fully engaged in the plot and it shows.  As a whole I would recommend this series.

You want something new and exciting?  Then you need to pick up H&W Investigations.  This is a wonderful Urban Fantasy series with a teeny tiny touch of romance (it’s barely there).  The action is amazing and the characters are engaging.  When you need something a little different, I would look no farther than right here.  

Book Giveaway
Kensington Publishing is kindly giving away the first three books in the H&W Investigations series to one lucky winner!!


(click on the photo if you want to check them out)

Open to US and Canada Only!
Thank you to our sponsor - Kensington!  Be sure to friend them on Facebook and check out their website.  

You can also visit their Facebook app to find some great contests and excerpts, along with polls and quizzes about their books. The direct link to the apps are here:
http://bit.ly/xGzDj5 (Kensington)
http://bit.ly/xdiiXK (KTeen)


I'm going to throw in something special!
If we top our review giveaway entry numbers record of 232, I'll also throw in my plain cover ARC of Book #4 Stalking of the Others.


Happy Reading!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Toni's Review of The Man of My Dreams by Gladys Quintal ***4 Stars***


   

Ever since the death of her parents at the age of 17, Cassie has been dreaming about a dark haired man. He always comes to her in times of trouble to comfort her and help her through the toughest of days. But now after the devastating break up with her boyfriend, Cassie struggles with separating reality from her dreams.

During a trip to her family beach house, her dream man becomes her lover and Cassie finds herself longing for this man to be in her life. But trying to find out the truth about him leaves her questioning her very existence and sanity.

She is convinced her dream man is real and connected to a string of macabre murders over the last 20 years. Fearing for her life, Cassie prays she is right about him and that he can save her before it is too late.

NOTE FROM AUTHOR: This mentions of a sexual abuse case, attempted rapes and and a sadistic serial killer.

*************************************

All I can say is…UGH!  I bet that has you thinking…WHAT??

Cassie is wondering what is going on.  For most of her life she has had dreams of a knight in not-so-shiny armor.  He is always there when she needs him; holding her through the pain, comforting her during her sadness, saving her when she needs help.  But he is always in the shadows, never quite there.  Suddenly now he is more, much more.  His arms have become her home and her body craves this secret man with a passion.  What do these erotic dreams mean?  Her brain tells her, he is only a dream, but her body is saying something different.  Is he a vision, a man or a monster?  Who is he?  What is he?

Thinks are happening in her town and have been for a very long time.  There is a killer on the loose.  This killer seeks to rid the world of deprived evil; a type of evil that hurts good decent people.  The killer is killing killers.  Does that make them good or evil?

Cassie is questioning her sanity, but she is beginning to see a pattern.  Can her dream man be this vigilante killer?  Is she losing her mind and her heart?

WOW – what a different story!  The Man of My Dreams is detailed, deep and well thought out.  Ms. Quintal really dives in and you learn a lot about Cassie, but she skates around this mystery man.  You know what he is and basically why.  You understand the basic reasons why he does what he does, but he is written just out of our reach.  Ms. Quintal teases us; “here is a little taste, nope that is all you get”.  You are left on the edge of understanding and you get nothing more.  It is a bit hard to explain.  I was left wanting more of him and in the end, I was pleased and yet pleasantly shocked.

I do have to warn you.  There are disturbing scenes and subject matters involved and the ending is very abrupt.  I personally did not have any issues with the story, but some may.  Some of the elements are graphic, but they are written in a way that didn’t bother me, but got the point across clearly.  In regards to the ending, you will want the next book right away, I know I do.  I am pleased to report there are two more so far in the series.  Be Careful What You Wish For is currently out and The Chosen One is out the end of June 2012.

I have no idea where this series going, but I do know I want a front row seat!  Great job Ms. Quintal!  You have a new fan and I can say she is very pleased!

Thanks for reading - Toni

Saturday, June 23, 2012

A Soul To Steal by Rob Blackwell





This is the type of review I hate writing, because I know that the author has talent. Talent really doesn't do him justice. Rob Blackwell creates great imagery that sucks you in and characters that you actually fear or you have real empathy for them. The connection is palpable. However, I'm really confused about the plot. I'm not getting sucked into this novel the way I should. It's a bit like walking in to the middle of a conversation. I am so lost, I don't think I can force myself to read it the whole way through it. Like I said, this type of review is the hardest because the author is so good. I think with some editing and some creative reworking this novel would be a hit. Good on ya, Mr. Blackwell. Keep writing!

This book gets 1 Red Flower.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking




17 year old Wendy is a girl with a past. Her mother called her a devil child and tried to kill her when she was 6, never believing Wendy was her child. Now in high school she’s an outcast with no friends and only her Aunt Maggie and her brother, Matt, for family. She does have one gift to her advantage, though, she can persuade people to do as she wants. When Finn a strange newcomer comes to her high school, Wendy finds out the truth of her unique parentage and her eyes are opened up to the world of the Trylle, a clan of trolls, earthy people with physical and mental abilities.

I’m doing the full trilogy in this review of Switched, Torn and Ascend. If I give any more information in the summary I could really ruin the awesomeness that is the Trylle Trilogy. These books are so interlinked you have to read them all back to back. The main characters are really what make this story. They are flawed, fun and very strong personalities. I really connected with the young heroine and wondered if I was in fact a troll in my younger years. When we first meet Wendy, she is a dysfunctional teenager and by the end of the story she is a strong and formidable woman with gifts and talents. There are some books you are sad when they end but you are happy to see how it works out for the characters. This is one of those books. I give these books 5/5 Nerds for the action, adventure and romance.

Hollowland Book 1 by Amanda Hocking


I am not a zombie fan and I put off reading Amanda Hocking's Hollowland #1 for a long time but when I did start it I couldn't put it down and read the whole thing in 2 hours, then started the second one already...lol. 19 year Old, Remy is a survivor of the Zombie Apocalypse encased a fortress where the last survivors are protected by soldiers. While she lives in the young women's wing,her younger brother, Max, is in the medical wing of the facility, under the watchful eye of her rescuer and mentor, Beck. When Zombies attack the facility Max is ushered to safety, and everyone is killed but Remy and her 13 year old friend, Harlow. Now to reunite with her brother, Remy starts out on a cross country journey gathering with her Harlow, Lazlo, the former rock star, Blue, the Canadian doctor and Ripley, the lioness. Together, they face both the good and bad of what the new world has to offer. This is the perfect blend of humor, adventure, love and heroics. I don't know how Amanda Hocking did it but most of the "gross" zombie stuff adds to the story. It is not senseless violence but a reality of the post-apocalyptic zombie world. As we read we are drawn into lives of the characters and the suspense of what will happen to the merry band. I can't wait to see what happens to Remy. 5 out of 5 Nerds.

Beast Warrior by Eva Gordon




Emelisse is the daughter of rich Alpha with a prophesy hanging over her head that she wants nothing to do with. Born with a weak heart and strong spirit, she feels smothered by her fathers coddling and dreams of a human life away from pack law. Driven into the arms of a farm boy, she falls pregnant only to have her lover murdered by a cruel Alpha that lusts after her father's lands and lays claim to her for only that reason. Alone and brokenhearted, she is shipped to a monastery where she loses her child and is taken captive the Bear Men who are more animal than man. To her surprise, traveling amongst the Bear Men, Emelisse meets Sigurd, an alpha who hides his lycan nature with wolfen magic. He seeks revenge against his Bear companions for the death of his pack. Enthralled by Emelisse, Sigurd vows to protect her with his life. Where does this lone wolf fit into the prophecy and why does Emelisse now long for pack life? This book is very different from the first, a true stand alone novel. However true to form, Eva Gordon brings an enchanting love story, a look in to the beginnings of Were lore and spine tingling action... I never turn down a book with Viking beheading each other and shifting from swords to claws mid-battle. I give this book 4 Nerds.

Werewolf Sanctuary by Eva Gordon


I am not impressed with the cover but I am really impressed with the story. I give it a solid 4 Nerds. The story centers around Dr. Maddie Styles, who specializes in Lupine (wolf) breeds. While in Ethiopia, her good for nothing fiance drops her like a bad habit leaving her swearing off men for a while. Maddie doesn't even want a rebound! Not long after she comes home she is contacted by uber-hottie, Alpha werewolf, Wyatt Weylan. His pack needs help with a mysterious disease that steals away their cubs to death or leaves them in wolf form forever. Her expertise is just what they need. However, Wyatt wasn't expecting to meet his Wolf Maiden, a human female who can mate with an Alpha to make Alpha babies or Wolf Maidens. This story is full of romance and action like killer fight scenes. Add in romance, toss in a bad Alpha and some neat insight into Eva Gordon's werewolf world...stir it all around and you have a book worth the read!

The Vampire Shrink (2007) by Lynda Hilburn



I must confess that  even though I gave these books bad reviews. I think Ms. Hilburn is very talented. I can see it in every idea and the world she created. I wondered if this was one of those raw talent things that I myself as a writer have faced. In a rush to meet time constraints or make a name for ourselves we rushed into things but forgot to polish and probe the books for things that don't make it our best. I wish her the best and will watch her career with interest. I know for a fact I will revisit successive editions of The Vampire Shrink because with talent there is hope.

With that said, it took me a long time to get through this book because it really didn't hold my interest. I can bang out books with the best of them if they hold me in.  I'm not sure what to say about this story. It seemed a bit pointless. When Dr. Kismet (I'm not sure they ever mentioned a last name) meets Midnight, a young, goth woman forced into therapy by her family she is sucked into the world of Vampires. There she meets Alan, an FBI agent in pursuit of a serial killing vamp and Devereaux, the leader of the local vamp contingency. Both are hotter than hot and in definite pursuit of Kismet, who still can't believe in vampires until she has sex with one. Toss in a bad guy with homicidal tendencies, his partner who's split personality and inter-dimensional travel and the whole thing seems like it might add up but the ending builds up to awesomeness then dies a horrible stunted death of an anticlimactic scene. I'm going to read the second book and hopefully it can be redeemed.

1 out of 5 Nerds

Book 2 didn't redeem it at all. I couldn't make it through the first 20 pages. I quit and erased it from my Novel. I think I was still stinging from the first one and had my mind made up. It may in fact have been awesome but I was still in a bad place from Book 1. I do vow to go back a try again when I'm not being a weenie.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Diamond Candles Blogger Opportunity

Normally we do just our Paranormal book reviews and author interviews and giveaway here but I saw that Diamond Candles was taking on Bloggers to blog about their amazing soy candles and I thought I'd tell you a bit about them and my own experience.


Diamond Candles have gorgeous soy candles that each come with a ring in each one. The rings can range from $10 to $5,000 dollars. The candles are a tiny bit pricey at $25 bucks each but keep in mind they are soy, they smell delicious, so the ring is just an extra bonus! ;)

I've personally tried out three of their candles. My flavors that I tried were Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Chai, and Gingerbread Latte. They all smelled awesome but I adored the Gingerbread Latte one, as it seemed to highlight the whole house. The Pumpkin Chai was nice but not strong enough for the whole house. If you've never tried one of these lovely soy candles I suggest you give them a try. I will continue to buy them throughout the years.




You can check out their website here: http://www.diamondcandles.com/And you can check out their facebook here:https://www.facebook.com/diamondcandles If you'd like your own chance to do your own blog post to try and win your own candle for a giveaway go here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEdPRzRfV2RndGFBZmIwNExva2o0SHc6MQ Have you ever tried your own Diamond Candle?? If so, which one did you try? and which ones are your favorite?? I'm dying to try Cinnamon Roll, Cupcake, Apple Slice, Sunwashed, and Tropical Retreat. Yum! Just thinking about it gets me all mmmmmm!! :)

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Donya Lynne

 Paranormal Addicts would like to welcome Donya Lynne.  
  
Donya resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her husband and a small zoo of cats and dogs. In fact, her writing buddy, Lucky, serves as her writing assistant most days, staying right by her side and distracting Donya with her adorable-ness when needed. Because, hey, every author needs a distraction once in a while.

As a little girl, Donya always had a book in her hand. As she got older, the books became pens and notebooks, which she filled with stories and poetry. For as long as she remembers, she has been writing and studying the writing craft with the goal of being published one day. She is passionate about providing readers with what she calls an experience. She wants readers to be able to sink into her stories and escape reality for just a little while, and every word is written, and every sentence structured, with that goal in mind.

Donya loves music and often finds inspiration for her stories in the wide range of music she listens to. But occasionally it's a movie, a book, or just a drive around town that inspires her work. She constantly reads new material, new authors, and different styles of writing as a means to improve her own, and believes the writing process is one an author should always strive to perfect, even though perfecting it is an impossible feat. It's the thrill of the chase and the challenge that keeps her from getting stagnant in her own work.

She has several projects planned and in progress, including eight more novels and two novellas in the All the King's Men series, as well as several stand-alone novels, another series, and several short stories and novellas. She would love to share her journey with you in this exciting venture.

May 29 - Book n Kisses


May 31 - Page Flipperz

June 1 - I Smell Sheep




June 12 - Paranormal Addicts

June 14 -  The Reading Cafe




“Rise of the Fallen”, Book 1 
BUY NOW: 



In the streets of Chicago exists an uneasy, centuries-old truce between vampires and their distant cousins, a race of shifters called drecks. Vampire enforcement agency, All the King’s Men (AKM), is charged with maintaining the truce, but when volatile enforcer Micah Black loses his mate and falls into the biological agony that results from the broken bond, he tests the boundaries of the truce by seeking out Apostle, a leader in the dreck community. Micah wants Apostle to kill him, a request Apostle is more than happy to fulfill. 


When ex-Army medic Samantha Garrett inadvertently disrupts the plot and saves Micah’s life, a chain reaction sets Micah’s heart on a collision course with Sam’s, but he will have to protect her from Apostle and her obsessive ex-husband, Steve, if they will have a chance at forever. Can Micah hold his emotions together to keep Sam alive? 


"Heart of the Warrior", Book 2 
BUY NOW: 


Severin was born to be a warrior. Conceived as a mixed-blood when his vampire father raped his dreck mother over two centuries ago, Severin retained the power of iron skin inherent to newborn drecks. However, Sev keeps this secret closely guarded. If it's discovered that inferior dreck blood flows in his vampire veins, it could destroy his life. And to make matters worse, his father suddenly wants to make amends for his transgressions. Sev wants nothing of his father's apology, especially now, as he contends with both an assassin who has marked Sev for blood vengeance and his obsessive attraction to his teammate, Arion. 


Arion is the son of King Bain's liaison, Gregos Savakis, who had Ari's course plotted before he was even born. But what Ari's overbearing parents wanted for him wasn't what Arion wanted for himself, and a lifetime spent fighting through one relationship after another with females from all walks of life has left him weary in his search for a mate. After a startling and erotic encounter with Sev, Ari has begun to realize why. He's gay. And now he can't stop thinking about Sev. Arion suddenly realizes he's been forcing himself to be with females because that's what his parents expected. But what he wants is a male, and not just any male. Arion wants Severin. 

Can the two overcome the secrets, prejudice, plotting, and the threat on Severin's life to find happily ever after with each other?

Thursday, June 7, 2012

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - K D Grace

PNA would like to welcome K D Grace to our blog.  

She writes steamy erotic romances and resides in beautiful England.  
So sit back and take a few moments to learn a few great things about her.


Can you tell us a little about yourself?   I’m addicted to writing. That’s probably the most important thing about myself. I’ve never NOT written and I can’t imagine life without it. The best part of my life now is that I get to write and sell my stories.

My husband and I are long distance walkers. We walked across England last summer, which was an amazing experience. I find most of the inspiration for my stories through walking. One of my favourite places to walk is in the English Lake District and it was walking there that inspired my paranormal erotic romance, Body Temperature and Rising, which is the first novel of the Lakeland Heatwave Trilogy.

I raise my own vegetables, which also inspires my writing. I've got a reputation for writing ‘garden porn.’


Who is your favorite author?  My favorite author of all-time is probably Marion Zimmer Bradley. All-time favourite novel is her fabulous Mists of Avalon. I also really love Nora Roberts.


What is your favorite genre to read?  I don’t really have a favorite. I like most any genre as long as the story’s good.


Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?   I've never not written, as I said. Before I could actually write, I used to make up stories and draw pictures to illustrate the stories.


What surprised you the most about the writing/publishing process?   The biggest surprise for me is just how much hard work is involved. The actual writing itself is always a total joy for me and when I’m writing the story, I’m in heaven. However the hardest part, after actually getting published, is promoting. I would say promoting what I've written takes up a good third of my time, but it’s essential if I want my stories to sell and get the attention I think they deserve.


Where does your inspiration for a new book come from?  As I said, I get inspiration from walking or gardening. I got most of my inspiration for Body Temperature and Rising from walks in the English Lake District, which is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also very atmospheric for paranormal writing. Walking always clears my mind and switches on the creative part of me. I never come back from a walk without new ideas.


How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?  When I get an idea, which usually involves a very loose plot and characters, I go for a walk. I walk out the plot in more detail. Once I've done that I write a very sketchy chapter by chapter synopsis, which is really nothing more than sort of a road map. While I do that, I write a blurb, which helps me tighten and clarify the story in my head. The blurb evolves with the story. Once I've reached that point then I’m ready to write the first draft.


What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?  I think a good story has to have well-rounded, interesting characters and a tight plot. I think one of the key elements is pacing. A story has to move from point A to point Z at a pace that will pull the reader in and keep her reading.


How long does it usually take for you to write a book?   If I’m not doing anything else (which almost never happens, of course) I can write a rough draft in four to five weeks. But for that to happen the decks have to be completely clear. Usually the process from start to finish takes more like four months.


Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?  If so, what do you do to get out of it?  My problem is the opposite. I have way more ideas for novels than I’ll ever have time to write, and I keep on getting new ones all the time. A good problem to have. J


We would like to hear about your process of writing, ideation, and average time to actually write.  Also your typical day hours devoted to writing vs everything else.  I write almost every day. I don’t really have a set writing time because there are just too many things that interfere. However, I would guess I write an average of six hours a day. PR takes up a good chunk of time, so I don’t get the kind of hours to write the story that I fantasize about. In an ideal world, I would have nothing else to do but write the story J I like to start my day with a walk. The writing always goes better after a walk.  At the moment, my husband is working on an MBA, so while he’s studying in the evening, I’m writing or catching up on PR.


Do you have a favorite book that you have written?  Fortunately for me, my favorite book always seems to be the one I’m working on at the moment, which is a good thing because it keeps me excited about my work.


We would love for you to paint a picture for us of you writing your books.  Do you always write in your office?  Do you ever go outside on a beautiful day and write there?  Are you listening to music when you write?  Drinking wine?  Do you do your best work during the day?  At night?   When we moved into the house we’re in now, we set aside a room to be my office. I wrote in there maybe two or three times then ended up moving to the black leather recliner in the living room because from there I can look out the sliding glass doors onto the garden and watch the birds. I have to have a view when I write, and I didn’t have one in the ‘office.’

I always write in either the recliner or at the dining room table. Both places have a good view. The chair at the end of the table and the set of nesting tables beside the recliner serve as the repository for everything that accumulates while I’m writing. I drink coffee and iced tea while I write. There’s always an on-going glass or cup. Sometimes on the rare occasions when I’m able to write into the night (I’m a morning person and am rarely worth much after ten PM) I drink red wine, preferably South American. I don’t listen to music. I listen to the birds singing in the back garden. Also, since I read everything I write out loud, music would interfere.

I can write any time any place, and I don’t need a huge block of time set aside for it. I’ll take what I can get. I have been known to write whole chapters on my Blackberry on the train to London, then email them back home to myself. I seldom write long-hand anymore because I edit as I write, and I also find that I can’t write long-hand fast enough to keep up with my thought process, so most of my work is done on the laptop.


Can you share a little of your current work with us?   Body Temperature and Rising started out as a project for National Novel Writing Month. I started writing it in one of the most Pagan places in England – Avebury Stone Circle --  on Celtic New Year. I wrote the very first words in the most haunted pub in England, The Red Lion Inn, in the middle of the circle. It was misty and pouring down rain at the time, and my writing friend and I may very well have had an encounter with the resident ghost. The jury’s still out on thatJ. I think that was a very auspicious beginning.

Since I spent several years in a Wiccan coven in England, and I knew I wanted to base my novel in the world of witches and magic. Body Temperature and Rising and the Lakeland Heatwave Trilogy is about the Elemental Coven, a coven of witches that practice a very specific, very rare form of Sex Magic which allows ghosts the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh. Mind you the sex magic idea is all an invention of my imagination, there was no sex magic in the coven I was in, and the coven high priestess would have been horrified at the thought. But the idea of magic that involves sex, magic that basically is sexual in nature has always been in the back of my head. I just needed a context in which to put it. Add a nasty demon who wants revenge on the coven’s leader and the action – both sexual and otherwise – heats up.

BLURB:

American transplant to the Lake District, MARIE WARREN, didn’t know she could unleash demons and enflesh ghosts until a voyeuristic encounter on the fells ends in sex with the charming ghost, ANDERSON, and night visits from a demon. To help her cope with her embarrassing and dangerous new abilities, Anderson brings her to the ELEMENTALS, a coven of witches who practice rare sex magic that temporarily allows needy ghosts access to the pleasures of the flesh.

DEACON, the demon Marie has unleashed, holds an ancient grudge against TARA STONE, coven high priestess, and will stop at nothing to destroy all she holds dear. Marie and her landlord, the reluctant young farmer, TIM MERIWETHER, are at the top of his list. Marie and Tim must learn to wield coven magic and the numinous power of their lust to stop Deacon’s bloody rampage before the coven is torn apart and more innocent people die.

EXCERPT:

The image of a dark figure approaching her through the fog tightened her belly and her nipples, and yet at the same time sent shards of ice down her back. It was a dream, she told herself. Surely it had to be, as she gathered herself to run.

It was a gentle touch of her arm that woke her with a start, and she looked up into the dark eyes of Anderson. ‘Come with me, out of the rain.’ He offered her his hand and helped her to her feet. She was amazed to find that he was still in the black suit, no anorak, no water proofs, no proper walking boots.

‘I lost my compass,’ she said.

‘I’m very sorry to hear that,’ he replied.

Almost before she knew it they were descending. ‘Don’t worry,’ he spoke close to Marie’s ear. ‘I know the fells like I’ve lived here forever.’ Once we get to Grange, Tara will be waiting for us.’

He made no attempt to explain who Tara was, nor did he introduce himself. That was her first clue that he might have been aware of her voyeuristic escapade.

‘We’ll be down before you know it,’ he added, turning his face into the storm.

But they weren’t. The weather worsened to a downpour. Bent double in the wind, Marie was soaked to the skin and shivering by the time Anderson pulled her into a cave that she hadn’t even seen until they were safe inside.

‘We’ll wait it out here,’ he said. He offered her a smile and gestured around the cave. ‘There are lots of caves and quarries around the Lake district. Some are fenced off for the protection of curious tourists, and others, like this one, most people don’t know about.’

‘And your girl friend, won’t she be worried?’

The tolerant smile he offered made her aware of her mistake. ‘Tara knows what I would do in such weather.’ Then he added, ‘Though she’s very dear to me, Tara’s not my girlfriend.’

Before she could say anything he chuckled softly. ‘I know that you saw us together, and there’s no need to apologize. Neither of us was upset that you enjoyed our love making. In fact we rather hoped it would please you. Besides one must certainly expect such encounters when one chooses the middle of a well-traveled path for a rendezvous. Now remove your shirt for me, please.’

When she balked, he added. ‘You’re cold and wet. I only wish to make you more comfortable and prevent you catching your death.’ He had already shed his jacket and handed it to her. She was astonished to find it completely dry. ‘You may wear this.’

More info and buy links: http://kdgrace.co.uk/books/lakeland-heatwave-book-i/


Will we be seeing a following book to this story?   Yes. Body Temperature and Rising is the first book of the Lakeland Heatwave trilogy. The second book, Riding the Ether, will be coming out later this year.


How did you come up with the characters of Tim and Marie?   I wanted Tim Meriwether and Marie Warren to be, for all practical purposes, total opposites. Because I love the Lake District and I love the rural feel of the land, I decided that the person closest to the land would be a farmer who raises sheep. He would be someone born in the Lake District, who after a love affair with the big city, moves back and settles on the land he loves. He would have to be a man of the earth for the story to work.

Marie Warren, on the other hand, is an American of British/American heritage. When a high-stress job in banking begins to have serious repercussions on her health, she moves to the Lake District, where she went as a young girl with her parents on holiday. She’s looking for a simpler life, and a safe peaceful place to heal. What she finds is anything but simple, and anything but safe.


If you could pick one actor to portray Tim and Marie on the big screen who would it be and why?   I always struggle with this question. But I think Tim would have to be Sam Worthington, who has the stoic look about him that I can picture Tim having. Marie would probably be Katherine Heigl.

Was there anything you find particularly challenging when writing this book? As I said, BTR started out as a NaNoWriMo project several years ago. After that I didn't look at it again for a couple of years. In the meantime Xcite Books published my novels, The Initiation of Ms Holly and The Pet Shop. When I got a contract for Body Temperature and Rising, I struggled and struggled to get started with the rewrite. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get it to feel right. Then one day I want out for a long walk and realized the reason I couldn't write it was that it was really a trilogy waiting to happen. That scared the liver out of me. I’d never tackled anything as complex as a trilogy, and yet there it was. I didn't really see much choice. Once I’d got my head around that fact, I wrote out short synopses for the second and third novels, then I proposed the trilogy to Xcite. They accepted the proposal, and after that everything fell into place. I just had to realize there was too much in the novel the way I saw it in my head to fit into one book. After that, the trilogy has fallen beautifully into place, and it’s been outrageously fun to write.


What were your feelings when you first saw the cover of your finished book? I loved it! I have always thought the cover of Body Temperature and Rising was one of the best covers ever, and when I received my author's copies, I took them out, fondled them, and took pictures of them. I even had cups made with the cover image on them so I can drink my coffee from them every morning. Proud? Who me???



K D Grace was born with a writing obsession. It got worse once she actually learned HOW to write. There's no treatment for it. It's progressive and chronic and quite often interferes with normal, everyday functioning. She might actually be concerned if it wasn't so damned much fun most of the time.

K D's critically acclaimed erotic romance novels, The Initiation of Ms Holly, The Pet Shop and Lakeland Heatwave Book 1: Body Temperature and Rising are published by Xcite Books and are available from all good paperback and eBook retailers.

Her erotica has been published with Xcite Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Harper Collins Mischief Books, Black Lace, Erotic Review, Ravenous Romance, Sweetmeats Press and Scarlet Magazine.

Find out more about K D Grace on her website, http://kdgrace.co.uk. She's also on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you so much for taking the time answer our questions K D.  
We hope you can come back soon.

Monday, June 4, 2012

AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Ella James


Paranormal Addicts would like to extend a warm welcome to Ella. Thank you for stopping by and answering some questions about yourself, your career and your books.


Can you tell us a little about yourself? I’m a former journalist who has written fiction ‘seriously’ – with the intent to publish – since 2006. I’m married with a 10-month-old little boy. I’m quirky (not necessarily in the cool and trendy way) and I love traveling and daydreaming.

If you didn’t write, what other profession would you have selected? Medicine. I still plan to go back to school to get a medical degree. Journalism, too. That’s the one I did select. Taught me how to write… didn’t really pay the bills. ;) 

What profession do you think you would hate? Ack! I’m afraid I’ll offend someone. But the truth is, I always say a slow (or maybe speedy!) death for me would be something like accounting. I’m not a detail person. I was once a secretary for a law office. I nearly burned the place to the ground. =/

Who is your favorite author? The author who has probably written the greatest number of books that I enjoy is Lisa Kleypas. The author who is just plain my favorite is Maggie Stiefvater. I love her blog posts and have followed her blog since before Shiver became big. I adore EL James and think she wrote an awesome love story; I really enjoyed that. I also really enjoy J.R. Ward.

What is your favorite genre to read? Romance, absolutely.  J

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? I always had an affinity for words and an aversion to real life. ;) It didn’t hurt that writing was the only thing at which I excelled.

What surprised you the most about the writing/publishing process? Honestly – how difficult it is to get traditionally published. For a long time I believed that if you wrote a good book you could get published by a NY publisher. Life became much better once I realized and accepted that that’s simply not true. Talent, quality, and professional presentation have a lot to do with it, but luck, timing, and connections play a part as well.

Where does your inspiration for a new book come from? A lot of it’s just organic to my head. Like…it’s just something that I do, the way maybe a composer is always mentally arranging bits of music. But the true origin of all my books is dissatisfaction with “real life.” I have the most wonderful husband and a baby boy I adore, and I would say my day-to-day life is very fulfilling, but I think for most writers real life is just not enough.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula? Formula? Me?! No. ;) I read all the standard books on plotting, which taught me what I know about it. Reading taught me the rest. And I am by no means finished learning everything about it. With characters, I try to reach down into myself and pull out the parts I need for a given character. I think it’s a lot like acting.

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing? A story that has forward-momentum and reasonably high stakes. Excellent characters. A plausible and interesting premise. Conciseness. Strong ‘voice.’ The worst thing to me is when I buy a book and everything about it is awesome… except that there are a few key details I just don’t buy. The writer has not sold me on everything, or something about the story just isn’t plausible.

How long does it usually take for you to write a book? Somewhere between 40 and 50 hours. When I can get my hands on them depends on my day-to-day life… It varies a lot.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do to get out of it? I don’t anymore, not really. For me writer’s block usually means my personal life needs my attention at the moment – time to go have a long vent-session with my husband – or there is something wrong with the plot. Writing a book is as easy as eating cake if the plot is spot on.  J Well… if eating cake took 40-50 hours.

Who do you ask to read your work and give their opinion? From those opinions what helps you the most and how do you keep from picking it apart?  My husband is my editor. He’s an editor for his day job, too. We’ve been known to have screaming matches over the placement of a comma. (No, that is not a joke.) J

Do you have a favorite book that you have written?
My favorite is HERE. I love writing in first-person, and I think the premise (and story) are unusual. It’s the kind of book I would really love to read.

We would love for you to paint a picture for us of you writing your books. Do you always write in your office? Do you ever go outside on a beautiful day and write there? Are you listening to music when you write? Drinking wine? Do you do your best work during the day? At night? I do decent work any time I can focus – meaning no crying baby, no loud TV, no plans for the next two or three hours. I have a slight preference for writing in the morning, although I hardly ever get to indulge that preference anymore now that I have a child. I usually write under a fleece blanket with the laptop (guess where?!) on my lap, sitting on the couch with the couch’s arm and a pillow propped behind me.

Can you share a little of your current work, Chosen, with us? Yes. (see below - she sent along a special treat)

In Twitter Fashion use 140 characters or less, sum up Chosen for us. Continuation of Stained storyline, plus Swiss Alps, more characters, and more drama.

Will we be seeing a following book to this story? Yep, there is a fourth Stained book which is untitled, and will be out later in the summer.


ABOUT ME:

Ella James is the author of Stained and Stolen, books one and two in the Stained Series; HERE, book one in an unusual sci-fi romance trilogy; and Before You Go, a one-shot YA romance beach read that tells the first meeting of Logan and Margo, who will be featured in her upcoming adult release, Over The Moon. She has a YA paranormal romance release scheduled for almost every month of 2012, including Chosen (Stained Book Three) in June and the second HERE book in July. Ella is inviting readers to help her write an adult romance shapeshifter novel, which is plotted via polls and questions on her blog and her Facebook page.

Ella lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her wonderful husband, opinionated baby, and mopey dog.

You can visit her BLOG, become a fan on Goodreads, or friend her on Facebook .

For a list of her award-winning YA romances, visit her Amazon page.


Here are blurbs about all my books except Stolen and Chosen, because they contains spoilers:


After a fire destroys seventeen-year-old Julia's home and kills her foster parents, she chases the half-demon responsible across the country and back, determined to avenge her family and discover why a host of celestial baddies want her dead. With Julia is enigmatic hottie Cayne, who has his own score to settle with the half-demon, and who might be just as dangerous as the creature he and Julia hunt.

Listed as one of the Top 10 Books of 2011, Cayne voted one of 2011's Top 10 Book Boyfriends. Recipient of the Flamingnet Top Choice Award.

   


Milo Mitchell's life used to be charmed, but that was before her family dissolved, she went a little crazy, and her best friends started acting more like strangers. Spending Saturday morning in a treehouse with a stun gun for company and a herd of deer for friends is the only exciting thing in her life...until she shoots a fawn and finds her dart stuck in a guy.

Her gorgeous victim is dressed in a Brioni tux and armed with a hanky. He has no idea who or where he is. Afraid her dart caused his amnesia, Milo takes him in, names him Nick, and vows to help him solve his mystery. Soon the pair find Nick's face in a newspaper obituary, and Nick begins to have strange, ethereal memories of Milo--who is sure she's never met him. Suddenly Nick knows things he shouldn't know and is doing things he shouldn't do. When the Department of Defense shows up, Nick and Milo run--toward a shocking conclusion that could destroy both their worlds.
 



Margo Ford just became an heiress. Not the Paris Hilton kind. Her billions came after her father died and her insanely wealthy, insanely absent mother officially claimed her. Unfortunately, some terrorists noticed, and they hatched a plot to kidnap her. After a news report goes awry, reporting that Margo *has* been kidnapped, and her mother offers the humiliating sum of $500,000 for her return, Margo doesn't want anything to do with her *#$!@ of an egg donor. Then she is sentenced to a summer of "protection" on her mother's private island. Not the Oprah Winfrey kind. This one has an astronomical observatory filled with scientists, including Logan Greer, a super hot, super infuriating planet-hunter. Hiding out from kidnappers has never been so boring... until suddenly it isn't anymore.
 


 

Book 2 of the Stained series



 





Book 3 of the Stained series is to be released June 2012


CHOSEN


As a special treat, Ms. James' has given our followers a sneak peek at this book.


So without further ado.....Chapter One of Chosen


 


Thank you Ella for stopping bye and sharing so much of yourself with us.  To our followers, head on over to your favorite e-book retailer and pick up her books.  Her books are amazingly priced.  You can't beat a quality story for less than $3 (most are under a buck).