Today we are lucky to have with us Leanore Elliott who is her to tell us a little bit about herself and her books!
WHO ARE YOU LEANORE?
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, `Lenore!’
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, `Lenore!’
Merely this and nothing more.
Edgar Allen Poe ‘Quoth The Raven’
I’ll try to l explain why I start this spot with a stanza by Poe. My Pen name is Leanore Elliott. I took this name for reasons, which others may not fully understand. No—I did not wish to obscure my real name, nor do I write porn, to hide the fact from my family and friends!
I use the name Leanore for one purpose…MAGIC. Yep. Simple ethereal, pixie dust, wand-wielding caldron on the fire—magic.
Yes…I know I’d better keep on with the explanation.
I have always been a bit different, endearingly thought of by others as sweet, giving and just a little—tetched. (chuckle) As a child, I spun stories at family gatherings. I embellished them with incredible accomplishments and feats by magnificent heroes, and of journeys to faraway lands.
I had friends no one else could see. Yes, yes, I know. There are many who claim they had imaginary buddies as a child. Me? I had entire imaginary worlds. I played for hours in places no one else knew existed.
To this very day, my mother tells the stories of what a time she had with me. I would actually disappear on her. Nowhere to be found. Later, after hours of searching, I would suddenly be found in the yard, or my room.
At her glowering face and enraged expression? I would rush on with an answer as to where I was and what I’d been doing. I tried to tell her of fantastic people and colorful places I had just visited. She would grit her teeth as I gave her scare after hair pulling scare.
After raising a family of four kids and traveling all over the US my kids and hubby retired me in 2007. They lovingly told me, go and write those stories. I did, I learned, studied, researched, self published and failed at that. Then, I submitted my stories to publishers and was picked up by three. I proceeded with zeal to learn all I could from nine pro editors. Now, I have my own imprint, Wicked Muse Publishing.
Okay, so I will finally get to the crux of my explanation: Leanore is my Muse. She spins the tales. Some of these stories are just incredibly unique and out of this world! And…I think they may really be from another world entirely. I am just a determined writer, Bonnie Lea Elliott, dedicated to the display of these stories. I am but a glorified editor and formatter. I also, possibly may be really good at channeling.
To give my Muse the credit due her, I gave her part of the billing.
Here is just two brief descriptions out of the 15 stories she’s spun and afterward, you will see why I believe such an outrageous, surreal idea.
BEASTS~The Eyes Of Constance:
A psychic has visions of Serial Killers. She partners with a Homicide Detective. After three years of tracking and stopping these killers, she finds one day that she hadn’t seen anything yet. She finds that her cop partner and best friend isn’t what he seems—he isn’t human at all. He is a Gargoyle, but with no tail, no horns and such. An immortal with superhuman abilities and strength. He can change his appearance as in, his skin can become, marble, stone or even obsidian. He is also sexy as forever is long and promptly shows Constance this.
Can’t tell you more without spoilers. But here is what some readers said in their reviews.
” Different and intriguing…”
“Leanore Elliott took the term Paranormal in a totally new direction.”
“I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore…”
“The tale begins one way and takes you to a world that you never knew existed.”
The BEASTS Books became what I later called: ‘My Erotic Epiphany’ as Leanore and I spun three full novels in just over 3-month’s time!
Author friends would ask, “How do you write so fast? I’d reply with a shrug, “I was afraid that if I didn’t keep up with the story? I would lose it, as it got ahead of me.” (No one ever replied, “Oh yes! I know what you mean!”)
Revealed:
Glory is a thief and has been groomed all her life, to steal just one thing—the heart stone.
Dell is a thief/killer for hire. He is hired to steal the stone from Glory.
In turn, the stone steals them and their will. It is the heart stone of the Marquis de Sade and he reveals all their innermost fantasies. He takes them on the most erotic ride they’ve ever known, while everyone around them is trying to kill them both, in order to get the coveted stone.
“I have to say it was sex-citing, all the manipulation and sex-apades had me going ga ga.”
“…More please!!”
“The sex scenes are absolutely smoking. This book should have its own warning label.”
Leanore and I went on to produce 10 books in one year. In 2011 so far, we’ve penned 4 more. My family thought they ‘d lost me to some obsessive artist’s world, where I did not respond to even the loudest booms in the house. I never heard whenever anyone spoke to me at all.
The stories just flowed out through my mind, down my arms and onto the keyboard. I went through four keyboards in 2010 and my friends joked: You literally burned them up! They would wisecrack about smoke rising from the keys.
I become a child again, perhaps…Lost in those worlds, which were built in front of my eyes. Magic, I say and truly, I believe this over any other explanation.
I want to thank my old friend, Caridad Pineiro for having me as her guest today here on her wonderful site.
(Leanore gives you all a ‘Wicked Wink’)
Please see all our books at these websites:
Listamania Page: http://www.amazon.com/Books-by-Leanore-Elliott/lm/R3ELV11ZSQT7H2/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_1_rsrsrs1
1 PLACE FOR ROMANCE: http://1placeforromance.com/index.php?search=Wicked%20Muse%20Books&_a=viewAffsearchMe=Wicked%20Muse%20Books&column=publisher
Wicked Muse Website: http://wickedmusepublishing.webs.com/
Leanore’s Home: http://captivesouls.weebly.com/-leanores-home.html
I’m very pleased to have with me today my friend and fellow author Rachel Firasek. Rachel has a new paranormal romance with a twist on Egyptian mythology, THE LAST RISING. Rachel is here to tell us a little more about her story and the inspiration about it. So without further ado, here’s Rachel!
Every story has a tone or a mood. Your setting creates the backdrop for your characters to tell their story, but does your novel have a color? To date, every book I have has a color. That may be the artistic part of my brain running crazy, but I see in colors. They are so much more interesting than the black and white print on the page.
We are taught at a very early age that colors are tied to emotions. Red=anger, blue=calm, yellow=cowardous, green=envy and so on and so forth. I can’t remember if one person taught me all of this or if it was a collaboration of teachers, parents and, later in life, my own interpretations.
So, it wasn’t until my most fabulous friend and fellow author, Autumn Shelly, showed me these pretty little salt lamps that change colors. These lamps reminded me of my art background, how much color means to me. I bought one, it runs on my USB port and sits on the edge of my laptop. When I sit down to start a new story, I think of the theme. Then I think of the emotions for my heroine/hero. Then I pick a color. That color will be the mood for my book.
The Last Rising, my latest release, is purple & red. There’s anger and passion on every page in some way or another.
Heather Howland did a great job creating my cover to match the mood of this book.
I’m writing the second book in this series and it has a very distinct/different color. Green is my mood for this second book and I’ll bet you can only guess why. Green not only portrays envy or jealousy, but it’s also the color of nature. Its a grounding color. My heroine is definitely in book two is an earth. I adore her. And yes, Heather Howland again created a beautiful masterpiece to bring my story to life.
Now, I dare you to study your the story you are reading and find the color in the mood. It’s there, in every page and in every book, you’ll find it. If your not reading right now, then think about this on your next read. Take those black and white pages and thrust them into full Techno-color. You’ll be amazed at how much more you get from the story.
Drop me a note and let me know your color. Everyone has one. I’m totally a red. I’ll let you guess why….
A little teaser for THE LAST RISING
After paying two millennia’s penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn’t how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she’ll end up back in his life for her next assignment.
Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she’s the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.
Excerpt
“Why is it I can’t get you out of my mind? You say we haven’t met, but my dreams remember you.”
Oh yeah, he’d dreamt of a woman for months now. She resembled his dream woman in so many ways, but he’d never seen his fantasy lover’s face.
She struggled against his clutch. “Mr. Alcott, I assure you we haven’t met. And for your other question, I don’t know why, but you need to release me.”
Why did that quivering bottom lip make him suspect she was lying? Turner rested his forehead against the top of hers and sucked in her scent. “Please, tell me I’m not losing my mind. Tell me you don’t visit me every night and I’ll promise to leave you alone. I just need to know.”
He sounded like a crazy man but she had to tell him. She was the only one who could put a stop to his mind’s constant fantasizing, and this feeling of déjà vu every time he saw her.
Ice wriggled in his arms, her thighs chafing against his slacks. “Mr. Alcott, you need to let me go.” She glanced around his shoulder. “Brodie is probably staring out that glass window and I would hate for him to get the wrong impression.”
She was right. He needed to get ahold of himself, but he didn’t have the strength to walk away. His hands traveled up and over her shoulders, stalling on her neck. Brushing his thumbs against her jaw, he pressed her head back and stared into hard eyes—no emotion. Couldn’t she see the battle he fought?
He teased the corner of her mouth with his thumb and her breathy gasp pleased him. So, she wasn’t completely immune to him. He dropped his head until his mouth hovered over hers.
“Mr. Alcott—”
“Shhh. I just need a taste of the sunshine.”
Don’t forget that tonight’s live video event and giveaway with Stephanie Chong who will be chatting with me about the sexy paranormal heroes and unique concept in her upcoming release, WHERE DEMONS FEAR TO TREAD. The live event will be tonight, August 24 at 9 pm EST. You can click here to join the live event or use this link: http://t.wbx.me/f8qgs.
Today we’re also having a birthday giveaway at Bad Ass Books! Happy birthday, Erika! To read more about my unusual birthday and Erika’s as well as have a chance to win STRONGER THAN SIN, THE LOST beaded bookmark and other swag, just click here or go to this link:
http://badassbookreviews.com/2011/08/24/bbb-author-caridad-pineiro-giveaway/
I know that there are lots of bad things about the Internet, but one of the good things is being able to meet so many different people! During one of our live video events, I met Tonya and we started chatting. Turns out Tonya is a writer and I know how you all like meeting new writers.
But before we find out more about Tonya and her very sexy books, just a quick reminder about next week’s live event with debut author Stephanie Chong. I’ll be chatting with Stephanie on August 24 at 9 pm EST about her upcoming release, WHERE DEMONS FEAR TO TREAD. I had a chance to read an ARC of this book and it was wonderful! So please stop by for some sexy talk about demon and vampire heroes and giveaways.
And now . . .
Warning – this is for 17 and over so stop here if you’re not mature enough because it’s getting hot in here, really really hot, with Tonya Kinzer and her latest erotic release, SHARING AMONG FRIENDS!
A little bit about Tonya:
Tonya Kinzer writes erotic romance for readers who love to become a silent character within the story! You will be pulled into scenes to partake of the activities, to feel what her characters feel and taste what they taste…strong sexual desires! Be prepared to enter a world you’ll not want to leave and can’t wait to get back to. Their future holds new submissives and demanding Doms.
Her series, The Boss’s Pet, will take you on a journey alongside Nick and Sondra as they venture into a lifestyle that pulls them deeper into a world of sensuality and submission. You’ll not want to miss any of the books in this series so stay locked on her website to know when the next books get released.
Here’s a little teaser about SHARING AMONG FRIENDS:
Nick Carrington has helped Sondra overcome many of her fears regarding his lifestyle and is glad she has joined him. In time, all of his fantasies will become a reality and with a beautiful woman at the same time. Nick is fully aware that Sondra may have fantasies of her own. Can she trust him enough to share those with him?
Not only has she satisfied his clients with great investment strategies in the office, she will eventually satisfy a few of the Doms that he’s good friends with, she just isn’t aware of that yet.
My two characters venture deeper into a world of pleasure, pain and satisfaction for both. Join Nick and Sondra as he introduces her to his lifestyle, opens doors she never imagined, and creates in her…a need she can’t control!
Wow! Edgy much? Thanks for stopping by today, Tonya. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your work.
To read an interview with Sondra, Tonya’s heroine, you can click here.
To find out more about Tonya, you can click here to visit her website or check her out at one of these locations.
Blog Site: http://tonyakinzer.blogspot.com
Website: http://tonyakinzer.com
FB Fan Page: http://tinyurl.com/4sh37tk
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_163160073732655&ap=1
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/tonyakinzer
BookBuzzr: http://www.freado.com/users/26001/tonya-kinzer
IAN: http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/tonya-kinzer.html
Author’s Den: http://www.authorsden.com/tonyakinzer
Manic Readers: http://www.manicreaders.com/TonyaKinzer/
I am off to the Authors After Dark Conference today and want to thank my good friend and fellow author Gabriella Hewitt for helping me out by dropping by today to discuss her latest novel! But before Gabriella spills all about her latest release, please remember that on August 11 at 9 pm I’ll be having a live video event with Rachel Kramer Bussel. We’ll be chatting about OBSESSED: EROTIC ROMANCE FOR WOMEN which is Rachel’s latest release. You can click here or use this link – http://t.wbx.me/f8qgs – to come and watch and ask questions, plus there will be some fun prizes!
Without further ado, here’s Gabriella!
The fun part of writing OUT OF THE SHADOWS based on Aztec mythology was getting to do the research. Some of the things I found out had me smiling and heralding the Aztec culture. Other things had me cringing and shaking my head.
In a way, we are not so different than the Aztec people of the past. And in another way, we are completely different.
Here is a quick comparison list of how we are alike & different:
ALIKE: Aztecs liked to eat meat and tons of it. (Throw some steak on the BBQ any day)
DIFFERENT: Aztecs ate deer, rabbits, and dogs. (Sorry but chewing on Bambi, Thumper and Fido doesn’t sound tasty to today’s modern girl.)
ALIKE: Corn tortillas on the Go! The tortilla shells were a staple of food and young women made them as a right of passage. Warriors ate them fresh or carried them on long journeys because they kept well. (Ancient Taco Bell)
DIFFERENT: Aztecs worshipped corn. Yup, they even had a corn god named Cinteotl. According to About.com contributor, Austin Cline “During the festival of Hueytozoztli, “great watch,” Cinteotl was honored in order to encourage the growth of corn. First a procession of virgins would march to the Temple of Chicomecoatl, and then an impersonator would be sacrificed.” (Nice. Wonder how that would go over with the Dept. of Agriculture today?)
ALIKE: Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate! The Aztecs loved it as much as we do today. They ate it, drank it and used it as an aphrodisiac. (We’ve perfected it and made chocolate pens to write naughty messages on our lover’s body and then lick it off!!)
DIFFERENT: Chocolate was considered decadent and only for the rich. Today anyone can enjoy the delicious delicacy without fear of retribution from the gods. (If you’re really feeling rich, Hershey’s Amusement Park offers a chocolate infused mud bath. Now that sounds divine.)
In many ways we are alike and different. Definitely one thing is for certain, whether it is modern times or ancient times, Aztec Warriors are considered hot and sexy.
EXCERPT
A wolf’s howl pierced the desert silence, causing the animals to stir restlessly in their stalls. Wolves had been reintroduced into Arizona, but she had yet to see or hear one so close to her ranch. Was it an omen?
Carolina paused in her chores to stare out the open barn door into the gathering darkness.
For a moment, she let herself get caught up in the long, solitary note. It felt like a kindred spirit. She knew loneliness intimately. Only her loneliness did not come from the vast miles of the sun-parched Sonoran desert that surrounded her, but out of the necessity to protect her goddess, her land’s secret. As one of the few amongst her people to become a guardian, her choices were limited.
The one occasion she’d invested herself in another, he’d betrayed her. She’d foolishly placed her hope and trust in Billy and she’d paid a horrendous price. Her desire to find someone to share the workload, her joy and sadness, and the burden of her secret—just as her parents had done—had blinded her to the trap she’d walked into. By the time she understood what was happening, it was too late. Her parents were dead.
Her heart weighed heavy in her chest as if it had happened recently and not five years ago. The memory of her parents lingered too close to the surface today. This had been their land, their dream, and now it was hers to fight for. She’d vowed never to fail them again. Above her own needs came the higher purpose of protecting her goddess at all costs.
Her mare, Mariposa, snorted and reared up, pulling Carolina from her thoughts. The animals had been growing edgier with each passing minute. They sensed the evil that blew in with the warm desert breeze. She berated herself for not paying more attention to them.
Goose bumps prickled her skin. Her tattoo, a gift from the goddess, began a slow burn on her shoulder, a sure sign that evil was approaching. She felt the heat radiating through the fabric of her denim shirt. The last time she’d experienced the odd sensation, her world had fallen apart.
Cautiously, she turned her head, seeking the source.
Her breath came out in a gasp.
Less than ten feet away sat a magnificent gray wolf, watching her. Waiting.
OUT OF THE SHADOWS releases August 16th. You can pre-order it now at Samhain Publishing
About the author:
Gabriella Hewitt is the pen name of creative writing talents Sasha Tomaszycki and Patrizia M.J. Hayashi. Together they weave tales of romantic suspense and dangerously sensual paranormals. Check out the website www.GabriellaHewitt.com to find out about upcoming releases and events on their blog.
Over ten years ago, Kensington Publishing launched the short-lived, but innovative, Encanto Latino romance line. The women who came together to write for that line formed the Encantadoras sisterhood. A sisterhood that has continued for many of us through the trials and tribulations of the publishing world.
That’s why it’s so exciting and joyful for me today to have with me Diane Escalera, one of my writing sisters. Diane is going to share with us her new release, DANGEROUS DESIRE, from Lyrical Press.
Please welcome Diane today! To help celebrate the release, I am offering up a $10 gift card and a copy of THE LOST to one lucky reader who leaves a comment by July 21, midnight PST (I want to give my California friends the time to post!)
About Diane Escalera
Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, I relocated to South Florida, a sultry paradise I instantly fell in love with. Unlike most authors, I didn’t know I was destined to write. In fact, I worked in banking for many years, but deep down knew that it wasn’t my dream job.
At the young age of thirty-five, my sister died of an illness. I realized the same thing could happen to me. There are no guarantees. I couldn’t waste another moment doing something I didn’t love.
Writing was one of my greatest joys when I was growing up. While still working at the bank, I decided to enroll in an intensive course where I learned everything I could about the craft. It didn’t take long before I left the bank to pursue a writing career.
Still living in South Florida, I’m married, have two children and a super cute Dachshund I can’t get enough of. I feel truly blessed to be able to share my stories. I only wish I could have shared them with my sister.
Dangerous Desire will be available on July 18th at Lyrical Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Digital Bookstores everywhere. The Print Edition comes out in October.
Please visit www.DianeEscalera.com to learn more about my sexy tales. I love to interact with readers! “Like” my fan page at www.Facebook.com/DianeEscaleraOfficial. Follow me on www.Twitter.com/DianeEscalera.
DANGEROUS DESIRE Excerpt
In full view, Cruz stripped off his sweaty black tee and Sienna nearly had a heart attack. Jesus Christ. The men at her gym would’ve despised him.
Her eyes slowly drank him in. Good God. He had the sexiest bod she’d ever seen. Taut and tan, his muscles were chiseled in a way that gave his dimensions beautiful symmetry. Tori would’ve been impressed. She’d always preached about the importance of muscle balance. Some men took it to the extreme. Not Cruz. He sported a tapered waist with shredded abs, V-shaped torso, and arms that made her drool because, if she had to pick a favorite body part, arms were it.
He used the dirty shirt to dry sweat off his gorgeous frame. Her eyes followed his movements, stopping at the bulldog tattoo etched on his sculpted pec, with the word Marines below. He’d been in the service, a kickass Marine. How hot!
He busted her checking him out.
She yanked her eyes away. Jeez. Her face probably looked as red as it felt.
Holding up a fresh shirt, he shook it out a few times. The sound of fabric caught her attention. Her gaze slid that way again. Okay. Sound had nothing to do with it. She just had to look one more time. He pulled the shirt over his head. Terrific. Now he wore a white muscle shirt tailor-made for his ripped physique. The thing should’ve been outlawed.
Wearing a sly smirk, he combed his fingers through his short, spiky hair. Running down the inside of his arm below his rock-hard biceps, he had another tattoo, this one with five small Chinese symbols. What a unique spot for a tattoo, and unbelievably sexy, like everything else about him.
Even his name sounded hot.
He climbed into the driver’s seat and snapped his door shut. He didn’t look at her, but then, he didn’t have to. She knew he knew what kind of effect that little display had on her. Oh yeah. He had it written all over that smug face. He might be a soaking-wet dream she didn’t mind entertaining on a nightly basis, but she didn’t have to be so obvious.
Sienna grabbed her seatbelt and tried to latch it.
“Damn,” Cruz mumbled, as he watched her struggle with the belt. He turned on the ignition and flipped the air conditioning to the highest setting.
She looked at his face instead of his sinewy arm. It took willpower, because those arms really did it for her. “Is there a trick?” The mechanism wouldn’t click into place.
“I keep forgetting to get that thing checked,” he said. “Don’t usually carry passengers except for Roman.” He looked back at his dog and grinned. Roman sat on the bench seat patiently waiting to go bye-bye.
“It doesn’t work at all?” She preferred to wear a seatbelt, and not just because of the law. South Florida had some loony drivers.
“It just takes a little maneuvering,” he replied. “Let me give it a try.” He turned all that magnificence toward her and reached across her chest.
Holy crap, he was totally in her face, his delicious body stretched across her lap. She held her breath and pressed her back into the seat, felt his weight, smelled his soap and baby shampoo. Her every cell fell under his spell. She tried to find her voice. “Any luck?” she squeaked out.
They were eye-to-eye, his mouth so close that if she puckered her lips, that would be it. His gaze traveled downward. He tilted his head like he wanted to kiss her. Uh-oh. She hadn’t made out in years. She probably sucked at it by now. A magnetic intensity pulled her to him, and she had a feeling she’d relearn pretty quickly. Her body buzzed with sexual urgency. Not once in her life had she felt this consumed, this desperate to feel a man’s lips on hers.
Whew, is it hot in here or what? I hope you enjoyed Diane’s visit. Feel free to leave questions and comments for Diane and the giveaway.
Also, if you feel like chatting, I’ll be at the Writerspace chat room tonight at 9 pm EST. Stop by for some fun and prizes!
Today we’re lucky to have with us today Laurie London who is sharing with us her latest release, EMBRACED BY BLOOD, the second book in the Sweetbloods series.
Laurie grew up near Seattle, Washington, and graduated from Western Washington University with a B.A. in Business Administration. After working as a programmer/tester and as an underwriter for a Fortune 500 company, Laurie now writes from her home in the Puget Sound area where she lives with her husband, two children, her faithful dog, and her horse.
Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, two vampire coalitions battle for supremacy—Guardian enforcers who safeguard humanity and Darkblood rogues who kill like their ancient ancestors.
Alfonso Serrano is a hunted man. For months he’s managed to elude the Darkbloods, vengeful foes who won’t rest until he’s dead. But he still craves one dangerous temptation: Lily DeGraff, the sexy Guardian agent he’ll risk anything to protect.
Lily is a wanted woman. Her talent for tracking Sweet-a rare blood type that’s addictive to vampires-makes her a prime target for enemy capture. Her only hope is the stealthy vampire operative who stole into her bed…then left her in despair. Danger aside-Lily won’t let Alfonso near her heart again-until an irresistible hunger draws them back together…and into an assassin’s snare.
I had the pleasure of reading this book recently. Just to keep all in order with Big Brother FTC, I was provided an e-copy of the book by the publisher via Netgalley and also, Laurie and I will be appearing together in the upcoming A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS.
I had not read the first book in the series, BONDED BY BLOOD, mainly because I do not usually read books in the genre I write. But I was intrigued by the blurb I read and I was not disappointed. Although I had to catch up a little on the mythology, it was not difficult to understand the conflict between the good and bad vamps (Darkbloods) and I liked exploring this new world.
Alfonso struck me as a reluctant hero at first, but as his past became clear, I understood that this dark hero had a tortured past and I was rooting for him to find happiness.
Lily was strong, determined and kick-ass. All things that I love in a heroine. Together, Lily and Alfonso had wonderful chemistry and it was well-balanced by the doubt they have and the passion.
Laurie is offering up a giveaway today to anyone who comments on the blog. Share your thoughts on EMBRACED BY BLOOD or vampires in general by leaving a comment. One lucky winner will receive an autographed copy of EMBRACED BY BLOOD and one set of Sweetblood Trading Cards (U.S. Shipping only).
We’re very luck today to have a visit from Amanda Arista whose new release DIARIES OF AN URBAN PANTHER is one of Avon Impulse’s new digital releases.
Amanda was born in Illinois, raised in Corpus Christi, lives in Dallas but her heart lies in London. Good thing she loves to travel. The summer of second grade, she read every book in the young adult section of the library. So she started making up her own stories and hasn’t stopped since. She spends her weekends writing at coffee shops, practicing for the day that caffeine intake becomes an Olympic sport, and plotting character demises with fellow writers Wolvarez, Killer Cupcake and Keith (names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent).
Amanda is generously donating a $25 Amazon or B&N gift certificate to one lucky person who leaves comments on the various blog tour stops which you can find at Goddess Fish Promotions. For more on Amanda, you can visit www.amandaarista.com, follow her on Twitter at @Pantherista or visit her Facebook Fan Page.
Without further ado, here’s Amanda to share more about her writing and her release.
At what age did you realize that you wanted to be a writer?
In the back of my head, there has always been a little person declaring herself a writer. I really did read every book in the kids section the summer after second grade and I finished my first story in 3rd grade. I’ve been writing ever since but I dared not say the word writer out loud. The first time I felt like I had the right to use the word was when I finished my first novel. It was no longer a strange hobby, something that I did, but something that I was.
Tell us a little something about the novel!
Diaries of an Urban Panther is a fun little experiment in which we take a nice normal girl and throw her into a situation in which she has to adapt or die. The fun part about Violet’s story is that she doesn’t adapt like everything thinks she should. Violet’s story is a fresh approach to the paranormal romance genre because the heroine is a writer, not a vampire hunter or necromancer, and the reader explores this treacherous and fantastical world through her guarded and very quirky heart.
Tell us a little something about the heroine!
Violet Jordan is a writer for a cheesy movie company called Cloak and Dagger productions. She polishes scripts for them as well as writes articles for a few e-zines in order to pay the rent, which seems to always need paying. She describes herself as the Velma, the sidekick in the movie of her own life, and really was just stuck in a rut until the incident in the back alley that turned her fuzzy once a month. She’s flawed and stubborn and is very hard on people and the most important thing to her through this whole ordeal is that she own this curse and refuses to let it control her life.
Are you a plotter who lays out everything in detail as you write or a pantser who lets the story unfold on its own?
I don’t outline until I know who the character is, which means that I’ll write out a couple of scenes in my head and then figure out who they are and what tortures I’m going to put them through.
And then I do try to plot. But mostly the characters take me where they want to go and highlight where they do not want to go, which means I force them in that general direction. Let me tell you how much the ending of Diaries changed when I found out the Jessa didn’t want to die in the first few scenes. There was no planning for that.
I knew it was going to be a romantic ending, but until I was half way done, I didn’t know what Violet could live through and what she would need in her romantic lead. I didn’t know that her biggest hurdle was going to be seeing her self as sexy and powerful in order to accomplish her mission. Until I knew Violet, I couldn’t predict what the plot needed to be.
Where is your story set and does that influence the plotlines and characters in your stories?
I live in Dallas and not too many books that I had read had captured the true urbanite quality of the city. It’s got everything that NY and Vegas have: dark alleys, interesting night clubs, just with bigger cars and less smog. You can drive 10 minutes and be in a vibrant down town or drive 30 minutes and be out in open land with cows. And let me tell you about a good pair of Wranglers.
Also, it fit Violet. She didn’t want to go to any place that reminded her of what happened in LA, so Dallas was a good choice. It’s not too chic, but neither is she. It does have a hometown feel to it, and she secretly wants a home. But it still has a coffee shop on every corner.
What is your writing schedule like?
I have a full time job, a husband, two needy dogs and am getting a graduate degree. Needless to say, I have to be a stickler about time. On weeknights, I set an egg timer. One hour for being Wife Amanda, usually include dinner, errands, laundry. One hour for Student Amanda, homework, readings. And one hour for Writer Amanda, type as furiously as I can for one hour.
Saturdays are the exception. On Saturday mornings, I get up and join my writers group for 4 hours. It’s more of an accountability group than a critique group, but all four hours are for typing and then I try to just be free the rest of the day. The brain must take a break at some point.
Of course, sometime when the muse strikes, you can stop writing, and, frankly, that’s what the coffee is for.
What are you working on now and what will readers have to look forward to in the future?
I’m currently working on the second book in the series. Poor Violet. I’m putting her through hell now that she’d proven she can take the heat. Expect to see the second diary in December 2011.
I’m also putting together another darker series called the Daughters of Chaos. It’s a new challenge that is proving very interesting and just a little steamy.
Thank you so much, Amanda! We wish you all the best of luck with your release. Don’t forget to leave a comment either here or on one of the various blog tour stops which you can find at http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/06/virtual-tour-diaries-of-urban-panther.html.
And many thanks for helping me out this week with this guest blog. I’m back from RWA, but still recuperating and fighting a cold so I appreciate you visiting with me. Don’t forget today is the last day of the Freedom Blog Hop also!
Without further ado, here’s Xakara!
Thank you for having me today, Caridad. I’m excited about my new release DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT. It’s the second in my PsiCorps Chronicles and expands the relationships within our core group, while revealing more of the world as a whole.
DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT picks up some six months GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST, with U.S. Marshal Mackenzie Matthews coming to grips with his feelings for the fellow Psis in his care. The loss of Mackenzie’s cousin and last family member six years ago left him alone in the world. His decision to take on his cousin’s psychic Triad in tribute to her, has given a semblance of belonging, but it is only after being given lead on Torrin’s protection detail, that Mackenzie finds a true family. Just before Independence Day, Mackenzie is left to face his fear of losing it all by refusing to risk the move forward to have it all.
DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT
Blurb:
U.S. Marshal Mackenzie Matthews has spent the last six months on the most important witness protection assignment of his career–protecting PsiCorps’ own. The four agents under his care in the program have always had his admiration, but now, under such close quarters, they’ve earned his affections as well. Bonds formed after a dramatic showdown on Christmas Eve, and the concerted efforts in its wake to build a sense of normalcy around his pregnant charge, has Mackenzie the happiest he’s been in years and the most frightened.
To push for more not only questions his integrity as the lead marshal on the case, but it threatens the surrogate family that has engulfed him in a sense of home. Mackenzie is the only one that can see the danger in every step he takes–so he stands in place. He soon learns that he’s the only one not willing to move forward. In a whirlwind of revelation as the country celebrates the stars and stripes, Mackenzie is faced with what it means to truly be free. He’ll learn that sometimes no amount of caution can save you from what’s meant to be. Sometimes, no matter how deeply you bury secret desires in the darkness, it takes but a single kiss to reveal it all by the dawn’s early light.
WARNING – Over 17 only! Contains: Psychic Vampire seduction, all male ménage, M/F oral fixation and bloodless biting to spare.
EXCERPT
Mackenzie shook his head. “Why today? I mean, why did this come up now and not three months ago? What’s changed?”
The men fell silent. Riley looked at him. “I’m guessing it’s on their minds because we all thought you were going to sleep with Quintus last night. We had a huge discussion when he came to bed. I went to sleep before everyone else, so they probably had the initial discussion about our relationship then too. But that’s all pure—if accurate—speculation on my part.”
His skin flushed. He looked at Quintus and his heart sped up. “A huge discussion, really?” His gaze found Riley. “What’s huge in this context?”
“Only a couple of hours, it was pretty late.” Her expression changed. “I’m sorry, it must be odd being the only wizard in a house full of incubi who think they can freely talk about your sex life to your face over breakfast.”
A house full of incubi—said as if it included her as well. He’d been told to never refer to her as anything but an incubus, or, if he couldn’t relate to the gender-neutral inclinations incubus had picked up over the generations, as a succubus. He’d also been told to never ask her why. “Riley, I’m not the hippest, most slang-savvy person, so perhaps there are connotations I simply can’t see and have never learned. Why don’t you like being referred to as a vampire?”
The other men froze, Kincaid and Quintus went so far as to extend their abilities and shield Mackenzie. Before he could panic, Riley shrugged.
“It’s always depended on who was doing the referring. It’s what Torrin has always called me. And Quintus uses it in briefings and all the case paperwork because it’s accurate and immediately gives perspective. Sometime the perspective isn’t always good. When people know that there was violence as well as sex that sparked your abilities, some of them judge. It’s the same in knowing there was fear and sex for the djinn or pain and sex for the shifters. They look at you and you can tell by the way they say vampire, djinn or shifter that they’re trying to figure out if you were the victim or the perpetrator.
“Not that I care, but I acknowledge it and I know that’s the reason hinted at in my file. But really, by itself, it’s just a word and one I think is accurate. All of the terms are. Our legends of vampires, shifters, incubus, djinn, wizards, witches, fae, all of it, they were all powerful Psis who were misunderstood in their time period. Or if you listen to the conspiracy theories, they were all real and we’re their offspring with humankind, either way it wouldn’t change what we are. I’m a vampire by genes or legend, I don’t deny it. I used to like it and went by it at the academy.” She looked at Torrin. “I still like hearing it in the right circumstances, said with just the right emphasis and background sounds.”
Mackenzie shuddered as energy rippled between the two of them and caressed everyone at the table. When she turned back to him her eyes held the first faint signs of a trance glow.
She sighed, a warm, chocolate sound. “Ajay and I use it of course, it’s all he’s ever known himself to be and I don’t want to curb that.” She reached up and smoothed his hair back into place. Mackenzie realized he’d given in to the nervous gesture and run his hands over the short, neat locks.
“What else did my file say?” She put her hands in her lap.
“The part I’m authorized to read just says that PsiCorps did not find you right away when you came online.
The neural network didn’t pick you up. Odd and ironic that it’s capable of overlooking some of us when that’s the entire reason they call getting your abilities coming online, but there you are.”
A smile broke free. “Did it actually have that little aside in my file in parenthesis, or are you personally frustrated with the current update proceedings for the neural network?”
“I just think if we’re going to spend billions of dollars to invade the public’s privacy, we could at least be more than ninety-two percent accurate about it. Pregnancy tests are ninety-nine percent accurate and they only cost five dollars.” He waved his words away.
“But never mind my politics.” He took a deep breath. “What happened?”
“Other vampires found me first. And no, they aren’t why I don’t use the word often; that happened the first time we had an exchange with the Langley campus. It’s happened since on missions and such. Most people say it and it…”
Her face changed, and Mackenzie was hard and ready so fast it brought pain as well as arousal. “It means something primal and dark, something dangerous and succulent and covered in sex. When you use a word for yourself, others use it often around you and when they do, they provoke the power in that word. The power that they give that word.” She draped herself over him, inhaling his scent. “They ask you to do things, things they don’t even have words for, but the images, mmm, the images and scents, they don’t need words. The way someone’s pulse will race, beating against their neck or thigh, as if trying to reach out to you. The instant, salty-sweet scent of women and men all wet and hard and ready in the darkness for things they deny wanting in the daylight. You can taste it, heavy and waiting on your tongue and every time you roll it around in your mouth. They shudder like they can feel you lick along the rush of longing for things best forgotten, but always remembered. And the submission, Mackenzie, the sheer submission and surrender that comes forth from it all and what that does to someone like me.”
She pressed her forehead to his shoulder. “I don’t call myself a vampire to the general populous, so that I don’t hear them say it in turn and call to what’s beneath it. In contrast to PsiCorps‟ belief that I dislike it, I, in fact, like it entirely too much for it to be safe for recreational use.” She leaned in and kissed his neck. He jumped. She laughed. “Tell me, Mac, why hasn’t a single bright, young mind at Quantico even hinted at figuring that out? It’s an interesting oversight, don’t you think? Now, let’s talk of something else, something important. In my file, does it still tell you not ask me about being a vampire?”
He laughed in reply, a breathless, wanton sound, that he reined in. “It does, but I know you didn’t put it there, because it also says not to tell you that there’s a no-asking policy in your file. How did you know? It’s in the hardcopy, not the digital file.”
“Ajay told me. He tells me everything.” She nuzzled him. “Right now, so would you most likely. Why did you ask me?”
“I’m going to turn and kiss you any second.”
“Undoubtedly.” She licked his pulse. “Why did you ask me?”
Mackenzie tried to stall but couldn’t remember how. “To see if I could get away with it. Because if what you said was true, you wouldn’t be upset.”
“I’m not upset.”
For the first time in the months of being together, of growing closer, he wasn’t entirely sure about that, and that was the allure. It finally clicked why everyone danced so close to the edge, stepping in time to her mercurial nature. The heightened awareness had his heart in this throat, and his body flooded his system with an adrenaline equivalent somewhere between coming in public and petting a tiger.
Thank you, Xakara for your wonderful guest blog!
Counting down the minutes. Cannot wait to see this movie and the very sexy Chris Evans, this morning’s Guilty Pleasure! How about you? Is this on your must list of movies to see?
Wanted to announce the winners of last week’s giveaways!
Tammy Rammy is the winner from Rachel Firasek’s Guest Blog.
Margay is the winner of Kelly Moran’s Guest Blog.
Noreen Lace is the winner of Chritine Ashworth’s Guest Blog.
Please e-mail me so that I can forward your contact information to our fabulous guest bloggers.
Hope you all have a blessed Monday.
