Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Q & A with author Allison Merritt

Welcome to February 29th! Leap Year, yeah!  And on this day, I have in the hot seat author Allison Merritt.  I've got interview questions lined up and ready to go. So, let's begin! 



First off, tell me about yourself, and your writing.
I grew up and still live in Southwestern Missouri. The Ozarks, specifically, which is steeped in tradition and superstition and beautiful scenery which makes it an inspiriting place to live. I have a husband, three goofy dogs and I'm the vice president and webmistress for my local writing group, Ozarks Romance Authors, a fantastic group of mostly women who encourage me to get better and better at writing and they never look at me funny when I bring weird stories to critique.
How long have you been writing? How many published books do you have, and what genres?
I've been writing since I was old enough to know my letters. I majored in print journalism in college, but news isn't really my thing. I had a five-year hiatus from writing, but in 2009 I couldn't deny the voices in my head any longer. I started writing a historical romance, because those have always been my favorite, but I became enamored with steampunk, so that's my chosen genre for now and I have a lot more planned for another series.
I have a couple contemporary short stories and a novella that are e-published and a western short story with a romance thread running through it in addition to my debut novel, which was of course, steampunk romance.
Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre?
It's probably just me, but I think breaking from a chosen genre to explore another one is a great idea to break up boredom. I've love dhistory for a long time and I feel cheated if I read a book or see a movie without even a tiny bit of romance in it, so I want to write those two together. I love speculative fiction as well, so steampunk was rught up my alley, but I would LOVE to write a contempory western romance sometime.
Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants?
100% pantser. I might have an idea of where I want a scene or a conversation to go, but mostly I just make it up as I go along and end up adding details later.
What is a typical writing day like for you?
There tends to be a lot of staring at the screen, the walls, flipping through channels or my mp3 player. Once in a while inspiration strikes or the characters decide to get off their butts and interact. This is the downside of being a panster. I've tried to convert, really.
Who do you love to read? Favorite authors, favorite books?
Linda Lael Miller is my all-time favorite romance author. The Stone Creek series, which is historical romances and now she's branching into contemporaries with it. Love those because she has a whole family tree going. I'm also a sucker for Dean Koontz and his Odd Thomas series. So funny and poignant at the same time.
What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career next year?
I think the biggest thing right now is working on brand and name recognition. Being a new author is tough, being an indie author is tougher. One that would just kill though, is if someone recognized me and timidly approached my table at a restuartant to ask if I'm the lady who writes the posts at Have Novel, Will Edit. Big dreams. *wink, wink* Also, I'm crossing my fingers that somehow Jerry Bruckheimer will discover my book and think it's the next Pirates of the Caribbean.
If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?
Make things appear out of thin air by mooshing atoms together. That would be amazing. Or maybe melt fat with my brain.
If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?
I do a lot of research on mythical and paranormal creatures. You know, I find that most of them have negative qualities and are generally mean-spirited. They probably aren't really, but people are afraid of them, thereby giving them bad reputations. I'm sure they just misunderstood. I always think about skunk apes and wonder what we could possibly do to help them get rid of the stink. Tomato bathes? Maybe they just need an introduction to soap? I think a skunk ape could be really useful for getting into those hard to reach places in your house and for heavy lifting.
Tell us a little about your latest release.
The Treasure Hunter's Lady is my first steampunk romance. I like to call it a cross between The Mummy and Quigley Down Under. It's about an adventurer's daughter who finds herself stuck in a life she hates, a seemingly care-free cowboy who acutally has lives depending on his quest and a powerful, ancient evil that can only be defeated if the two of them work together. Writing this book was a trip. I actually completed the first draft in a little under a week, but the revisions and plumping up the story took much, much longer.
What is something that you absolutely can't live without? (Other than family members)
Sweets, but it really comes down between lemon meringue pie and cheesecake. I reference either or both at least once a week. If I'm not talking about them, I'm certainly thinking about them.
Could you ever co author a book with someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?
Oh, there are so many great authors to choose from, but you know, I'd be so intimidated by someone who's really well known. I'd have to stick with a critique partner or someone I knew.
If you could spend a day with anyone from history, dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you do? What would you ask them?
This is easy. Jesse James. He's been examined and speculated on. Some people say he was killed in 1883, others say he assumed a different name and had an entirely different life. I want to know what in the world happened because I watched a documentary on the History Channel speculating he lived and then my husband read a book about it. Some of the evidence they bring up makes it seem entirely like he might have faked his death.
What are some of your other hobbies outside of writing?
In the spring, summer and fall, I walk nature trails. It's good time to help me think and it gets me in shape, allows me to take photos for my blog and gets me out of the house. Definitely one of my favorite hobbies. I also love movies, we rent a lot or go see them.
If you were on the staff to have a book adapted to movie, what would you pick?
Man, it seems like all the best sellers I've read lately are already heading that way. But I was thinking that Tina Fey's Bossy Pants would make a hilarious comedy. Seriously one of the best autobiographies I've ever read, which is saying a lot because I almost never read them, but she hooked me from the start.
What is a talent you wish you had, but don't?
Doing math inside my head. My husband makes fun of me all the time because I'll try to do a math problem and I get the wrong answer. Sometimes I'm even close to the right one, but he still gives me grief about it.
Favorite color?
Green.
Weather: Hot or cold?
Hot! I'm already looking forward to summer.
Favorite place to read?
Curled up in my broken-down chair in my livingroom.
Favorite meal
Chicken breasts in a lemon butter sauce with macaroni and cheese and a side salad with oil and vingear and a slice of lemon meringue pie for dessert.
Favorite non-alcoholic drink.
Dr. Pepper. It's flavorful, mysterious (what ARE the 23 flavors? I can guess one or two: cherry, grape and... wow, I hope it's not prunes), it's the perfect ice cold beverage.
If you could travel anywhere and do anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go?
I've been enamored with Bora Bora since watching Triple X starring Vin Diesel. I'd go there in a heartbeat. I want one of those little huts suspended above the ocean with the little steps that go right down to it. That would be perfection.



Well, that was fun! I love interviewing authors...You never know what you're going to learn :)



Now, I have a blurb and excerpt here for Allison's book, The Treasure Hunter's Lady.

BLURB:  For years, Romy Farrington traveled the world at her father's side, exploring new lands and uncovering ancient secrets. It was everything she ever wanted, until a near-fatal encounter with hostile natives forced her and her father into a life of retirement in Boston and an undesired advance into proper society.

Everything changes again when she's saved from an accident by a brash Texan in a back alley. Abel Courte may act like a care-free cowboy, but he's harboring a secret—he's searching for the Diamond of Uktena, a legendary jewel that can cure any disease known to man. He needs information Romy's father has in order to get to the jewel. When he traces the origin of the Diamond to Dakota Territory, he sets off to claim the treasure, only to find the archeologist's fiery redheaded daughter stuck to him like a bug in sap.

In a race against time, Romy and Abel must learn to trust each other as they undertake a cross-country journey that will expose them to lands uncharted by white men, a deadly battle against the fearsome creature in possession of the Diamond and a fight to return to civilization where they might make the greatest discovery of all—love. 

Excerpt:

Romy’s eyes locked on Abel's necklace. “What's that around your neck? A fossil of some sort?”
His hand flew to the pendant and stuffed it back down his collar. “Nothing.”
“As someone who's seen a lot of nothing, I can tell you without a doubt it's something. Full of secrets, aren't we, Abel?”
Blue eyes widened then narrowed, as she looked between him and the maps he'd lifted out of the drawer. Her coyness fell away like leaves in the fall. “You're a treasure hunter. You found out that Papa is going to search for the Diamond of Uktena, but you plan to steal it first.”
“Why would I want to steal a—” He gave up the pretense. “First of all, it isn't stealing if it isn't in anyone's possession. Second, I'm not a treasure hunter.”
“It is stealing if you're going to sell a priceless artifact to the highest bidder on the black market.”
Abel frowned. “I don't need a lecture from some little chit whose daddy is the biggest treasure hunter in the world.”
Romy poked a finger into his chest. “Take it back. He's an archeologist and an adventurer. When he finds valuables he turns them over to the proper authorities.”
He pushed her finger away. “I'll bet you a thousand dollars he's not going to do it this time.”
Her eyes narrowed into slits, half-hidden behind a thick fringe of lashes. “You're wrong.”
“It would be the biggest discovery of our time. Of any time. It's no mere gem, no ornament to put on a shelf.”
“I have some knowledge of the Diamond,” she defended.
The admission was too nonchalant. Had mere curiosity led her to follow him?
He patted the fang inside his shirt. “I doubt anyone could put a price on its worth, but there are those willing to try.”
She stared at him dubiously. “Because it's supposed to come from a mythical serpent?”
He debated telling her. It wouldn't benefit Romy to know what he was doing. After tonight it was unlikely he'd see her again.
“Ask your father. He might know more than I do. I have to leave now. I'd appreciate it if you kept our little rendezvous quiet.”
He snatched up the papers, flashed a grin and started for the door. The rustle of skirts alerted him that she was right behind him, but he didn't slow down. Not until a cold metal barrel pressed against the center of his neck.
“Stay where you are.”
Romy's voice was hard and all business. Abel raised his hands. She drew the gun back and came around to face him. The pistol was no little thing, not the type a dainty female would carry for protection. Romy was a woman of many facets, like the fabled Diamond.
“I can't give you the fang.”
“I have the feeling it's an intricate detail in your mission, Mr. Courte.”
He sighed. “I don't know for certain.”
“Tell me what you do know.”
“The fang is solid proof that Uktena exists.”
She frowned. “And who is Uktena exactly?”
“Uktena isn't your typical serpent. Rumor has it that this sparkly rock stuck in its forehead can bring power and riches to whoever wields it. Better still, the Diamond cures illnesses. Any disease you can think of.”



I hope you all enjoyed today's post. I sure did! Allison, congratulations on your release, and I wish you many sales! I think I'm going to have to head over to Amazon for a copy of the book....the excerpt sure pulled me in!



Links:



Until next time,

Storm Goddess

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Saturday, February 25, 2012

Rook: Allie's War: Book One. Review



 BLURB: 28-year-old San Francisco native, Allie Taylor, at least thought she was human. But when she meets her first real seer, a race of human-like beings discovered in the 1900s, he tells her that not only is she a seer, like him, but that all the other seers believe she's going to end the world. Unfortunately, no matter what she does, everything that happens after that only seems to prove him right.


My thoughts: One day your life is normal. Well, as normal as that word could possibly be. Then, not only do you get your world turned upside down, it's said that you're the cause of the end of it all? Wait....WHAT?

Okay, that sure seems to boggle me. i can only imagine how far worse that is for Allie, when she's facing this dilemma. Rook: Allie's War is a urban fantasy/ Paranormal story that readers of the genre are sure to enjoy. The writer has created such an intriguing premise, and though the beginning had a slow start, I quickly became invested in the story and the pages flew. I am curious to see what this author has in store.



About the Author:

JC Andrijeski is a bestselling author who has published novels, novellas, serials, graphic novels and short stories, as well as nonfiction essays and articles. Her short fiction runs from humorous to apocalyptic, and her nonfiction articles cover subjects from graffiti art, meditation, psychology, journalism, politics and history. Her short works have been published in numerous anthologies, online literary, art and fiction magazines as well as print venues such as NY Press newspaper and holistic health magazines.

Obtaining an MA in political science from the New School for Social Research (NSSR) in NYC, she did her graduate studies in race and caste systems, slave and ex-slave systems, religion and its impacts on social systems and other historical weirdnesses which fitted her surprisingly well for both fiction writing and being extremely annoying at parties. She moved from NYC to San Francisco in 1997, and otherwise has lived or spent considerable time in Albuquerque, Portland, Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver BC, New York, Florida, San Diego, Prague, London, Berlin, Sydney and Swinoujscie, Poland. JC currently lives and writes full time in Sidhpur, India, at the foot of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, a location she drew on a fair bit in writing the Allie's War books.



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Friday, February 24, 2012

Kay Bratt- Guest post and Chasing China Review



I thank you once again for stopping by! I love having visitors. My guest today is author Kay Bratt.  So, I'll go ahead and turn the floor over to Kay, and then we'll get to the Chasing China review aferwards.

Kay? You're on! 

Many parents and grandparents in this mountainous region of terraced rice and sweet potato fields have long known to grab their babies and find the nearest hiding place whenever family planning officials show up. Too many infants, they say, have been snatched by officials, never to be seen again.” New York Times, Asia Pacific

When I read those words, I felt a sudden streak of anger that the Chinese people once again have been trodden on by their government. This story was only one of many about what they now call the Hunan scandal—one that caused ripples of fear throughout households of adoptive children all over the world.     
I have been an advocate for China’s children since 2003 and this latest discovery really put me ill at ease. I began to wonder how a parent goes on with life knowing that their child was unfairly snatched from them. Would they challenge the government and try to get them back, or cower in fear of the well-known punishments interference with the blue suits can garner them?

Those thoughts soon led me to wonder what it would be like to be adopted at an early age and know next to nothing about your birth parents. I have had close interaction with the adoption community for years and while many children are well adjusted and happy, there are some who as they grow older long to know—just know. That is not to say they are not happy or that they don’t love their families, they just want to find the truth.

In the months since the Hunan story broke, there have been adoptive parents who have gone in search of evidence of their child’s finding details. Where were they found? Who found them? Is there an indication of a birth family that may be searching? Can they establish that their child was truly abandoned?

Proof is what they seek, for no true adoptive parent sets out to become entangled in anything unsavory when it comes to building their family. While it is now becoming evident that the Hunan scandal is not the norm for children who arrive at the orphanage, there are still parents and children out there who will never truly rest until they have found the truth of their story.

Mia, the fictional character in Chasing China, is one of those girls. Adopted from China at the age of four, she grows up in a healthy and loving environment. That love however, does not change the internal yearning she feels to know how her story began. When she becomes of age, she sets out to find the truth.

As Mia’s story unfolds, the reader will follow her through the trials and adventures of becoming familiar with a land she was born in but does not know. The reader will also see the story from the POV of a family who only remembered one day they had a beautiful little girl, and then the next she was gone. Their refusal to give up hope that they would meet her again one day, and Mia’s tenacity to uncover the truth, may or may not bring them together to find the answers they both seek.



Wow, Kay. That's just....haunting. What an informative and eye opening post.



And now, the Chasing China review.



BLURB:  Mia is beautiful, talented and has the world at her fingertips. But what makes her different than the average college student who juggles a heavy workload and a rat of a boyfriend? Many years ago she was born to an unknown family in China but soon discarded to fend for herself in a busy train station.  Fate stepped in when Mia was taken to the local orphanage and adopted at the age of four by her American family. Life has been good for her, or at least as much as she has allowed it to be while pushing her deep feelings of abandonment to the back of her mind. Finally she has decided that in order to move forward, she must confront her past. Mia takes a journey to the mysterious land of her birth and embarks on a mission to find answers. As she follows the invisible red thread back through her motherland, she is enamored by the history and culture of her heritage--strengthening her resolve to get to the truth, even as Chinese officials struggle to keep it buried. With her unwavering spirit of determination, Mia battles the forces stacked against her and faces mystery, danger, a dash of romance, and finally a conclusion that will change her life.


My thoughts:


Chasing China is an emotional story of self discovery. Mia is adopted, and though she's very loved and has been taken care of, it's only natural for her to want to find out who she is and where she's from. That journey leads her to things she's never known.  Chasing China is a beautifully written story that will chill you to the bone. I dare you to not find yourself emotionally involved with every aspect of this story. Once I finished the book, I sat and thought long and hard. THat's what this story does. It makes you think. It makes you look at your life and reevaluate things. Kay Bratt has created a realistic fictional story that stays in your mind for a very long time.



http://www.clpblogtours.com/2011/12/chasing-china-by-kay-bratt.html

Website: http://kaybratt.com/

To buy Chasing China at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-China-Daughters-Quest-ebook/dp/product-description/B00632ITY8/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&n=133140011&s=digital-text

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kay-Bratt/112957968144

Twitter: twitter.com/kaybratt


BIO:
Kay Bratt is a child advocate and author, residing near the base of Wacau Mountain, in the rolling hills of Georgia with her husband, daughter, dog, and cat. In addition to coordinating small projects for the children of China, Kay is an active volunteer for An Orphans Wish (AOW). Kay lived in China for over four years and because of her experiences working with orphans, she strives to be the voice for children who cannot speak for themselves. Kay kicked off her career as an author with her best selling memoir titled Silent Tears; A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage. Since that time she has been writing material to entertain readers while raising awareness of world issues. Kay is the author of The Bridge, Mei Li and The Wise Laoshi, and an upcoming novel titled A Thread Unbroken.

Thanks for visiting today! 




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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Jenna Jaxon interview- With giveaway!





Welcome one, welcome all! Today's post features author Jenna jaxon. I do hope you'll stay awhile, read the interview, and leave a comment to enter a giveaway! We all love those, right?

Jenna, I'm so glad you could stop by today, and i thank you for taking the time to answer my interview questions! :)

First off, tell me about yourself, and your writing.
Well, first I want to thank you, Nikki, for having me here today.  For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Jenna Jaxon, author of erotic contemporary and historical romance.  I live in Virginia with my family and a menagerie of pets and I teach at a local college near home.  I’ve got three books published in the past year, self-published a collection of Christmas tales, and have a full length historical romance coming out in May.


How long have you been writing? How many published books do you have, and what genres?
I’ve been writing professionally for about three years now.  In the past year I’ve published three short stories/short novellas, one anthology of short Christmas stories, and in May will have my first full length historical romance, Only Scandal Will Do, published.

I’ve got two erotic contemporaries out and one short historical romance.


Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre?  I never thought I would write anything but historical romance.  It’s been my passion for years.  But an opportunity to write a fractured fairytale last year was too tempting, so I took the bait.  Now I’m almost finished with my third erotic.  They’re lots of fun to write.


Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants?
Definitely a plotter.  I do a detailed plot outline before I start to write.  I give myself permission to change things, let the characters evolve as I write, but I’ve got to have that outline.  And I can’t write ahead of myself.  I can’t skip around and write chapter 20 if I’m only at chapter 2.  I waited forever to get to one particular chapter in Only Scandal Will Do—I knew exactly what was going to happen in that chapter (somewhere near Ch. 26), but I couldn’t skip ahead and write it.  When I finally got to that section and wrote the chapter I felt like I should have a cigarette afterwards (metaphorically speaking, LOL).  It was that satisfying.


What is a typical writing day like for you?
Since I have a full-time job there’s not usually a typical writing day for me.  Weekends and summers I suppose I have a regular schedule, although I’m always interrupted it seems.  My ideal writing day would be up by 8am, tea and writing (checking social media & email); write until lunch, write after lunch until dinner, write from dinner until bedtime (maybe 1am).  This was the way it was at a writer’s retreat I went to last summer and man, did I get some work done!


Who do you love to read? Favorite authors, favorite books?
I love Jo Beverley’s books, Lisa Kleypas, Mary Balogh, Kathleen Woodiweiss.  And of course now I’m reading the Outlander series and seriously in love with Jamie Fraser. LOL



What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career next year?
My writing goal for 2012 is to have doubled my backlist by December.  Actually, I want to have 12 books/stories published or contracted by Dec. 31, 2012.



If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?
The ability to travel back through time.  I’ve loved history for as long as I can remember.  To be able to go back and witness it would be a dream come true.


If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?
Wow.  What a hard question.  I think it might have to be a griffin.  I’ve always thought they were pretty cool.


Tell us a little about your latest release.
My most recent release was Almost Perfect, an erotic contemporary in Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand series.  It’s sort of a Fantasy Island romance that goes wrong.  Pam Kimball, my heroine, is heading for a 1night stand date with her fantasy man—an Orlando Bloom-esque pirate.  When things take a turn for the worse, she’s left stranded on a deserted island, that’s not quite deserted enough.  Her ex-husband Roger Ware is also there, and once they encounter each other, well, the sparks light up the sky. LOL

What is something that you absolutely can't live without? (Other than family members)
Books/Kindle.  I’d go crazy in a very short time without something to read.


Could you ever co author a book with someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?
I’ve never co-written a book before, but I’ve collaborated on projects a lot, so I think I could have the give and take it requires.  The first person who springs to mind is a good friend and crit partner.  We’ve actually talked about a Steampunk romance (sort of), that  could be pretty cool.

If you could spend a day with anyone from history, dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you do? What would you ask them?
I think it would be Henry VIII (the young Henry).  I’d want to spend a typical day with him (he did everything—riding, hunting, royal court, dancing) and I probably wouldn’t be able to speak at all. LOL

What are some of your other hobbies outside of writing?
Reading, of course, theatre, scuba diving, traveling


If you were on the staff to have a book adapted to movie, what would you pick?
My book or any book?  Of my books I’d have my forthcoming release Only Scandal Will Do; if any book Outlander.  What can I say, I’m a sucker for historicals!

What is a talent you wish you had, but don't?
I wish I could speak foreign languages fluently.  I’ve had classes in French, Russian, and Gaelic and can’t speak any of them more than a word or two.


Favorite color?  Blue


Weather: Hot or cold?  Cold


Favorite place to read?
The deck on our timeshare at the beach, early in the morning before anyone else is up.

Favorite meal
Lamb Biryani (love Indian food)


Favorite non-alcoholic drink.
Dr. Pepper


If you could travel anywhere and do anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go?
I love to travel so that’s way hard!  I guess I would simply go around the world—and take more than 80 days!  I’d like to spend time in a lot of countries, get to know how the people live.  But my first stop would probably be either England or Ireland

Blurb for Almost Perfect:
Pamela Kimball’s birthday present, a 1Night Stand adventure, is supposed to help her jump-start her life, put a new man in her bed, and help her forget her ex.  Unfortunately, movie-buff Pam’s Pirates of the Caribbean fantasy goes wrong when she’s abandoned on a not quite deserted island with ex-husband Roger Ware.  When Pam is forced to accept Roger’s offer of dinner, she recognizes that he’s  changed since their divorce and his newfound sensuality re-kindles an old fire.  When he challenges her to find out how much his amorous skills have improved, Pam is torn between self-preservation and desire.  With time running out before they’re rescued, Pam has to decide if her heart can survive the consequences of becoming Roger’s “almost” perfect 1Night Stand.
Excerpt for Almost Perfect:
She set out to paddle the short distance, grumbling with every stroke. Was this abandonment part of the package?  If so, she hoped there was a survey at the end of the adventure.
Within yards of the beach, she decided she was close enough to walk the rest of the way in. She slipped off her sandals then eased over the side just as a large wave hit the dinghy.  Pam landed with a splash, submerged and came up sputtering. Her feet scraped bottom and she struggled to stand up.
Plodding through the surf as small waves crashed around her, Pam cursed the captain under her breath. On the beach at last, she surveyed the wreck of her carefully chosen outfit. The green-diamond top was cotton and would survive if it didn’t shrink. Ditto for the shorts. The white bandeau top she had opted for in lieu of a bra was fine. Her Gloria Vanderbilt turquoise leather sandals in her hand would never be the same.
Pam gazed at the Nautilus, now a distant speck. “Goddamned arrogant son-of-a-bitch!  You would’ve been boring in bed and you know it!”
Feeling marginally better, she stalked out of the water then raced over hot sand to a haven of shady palms. She dropped the shoes and unbuttoned her shirt. It would dry better off and she disliked the feel of wet cloth next to her skin. The warm breeze made her consider removal of the top and shorts as well. A quick glance around told her she was alone. Her bikini panties she’d leave on—the wisp of polyester would dry instantly. Moments later, feeling wicked to be on a beach all but naked, Pam draped shorts and shirt over low-lying bushes. The towering palms shaded them, but the heat would bake them dry.
She contemplated the bandeau, wavering. It wasn’t like anyone would see her. “Screw it.” Pam crossed her arms, grasped the ends of the stretchy top and started to yank it over her head.
“Hello!” A faint shout sounded down the beach.
“Shit!” Pam pulled the top back down, thankful she hadn’t gotten it over her head. The wet fabric clung to her; if she’d taken it off, she’d never have gotten it back on. She crouched, grabbed her shorts and struggled into them.
“Hello?” The voice moved closer, definitely masculine.
Pam finished zipping the shorts and ducked lower behind the bushes. Was it the pirates?  Sounded too friendly for pirates. Maybe the Nautilus had come back. Doubtful. They hadn’t had time. Then it hit her. This was her one-night stand. She hadn’t specified her “date” had to be a pirate. Maybe they would spend their night here on a deserted island and be rescued by a pirate ship.
“Hello?  Is someone there?” His deep voice sounded pleasant and…somehow familiar. Too familiar.
“Shit!” Pamela shot up from behind the shrubs and stalked onto the beach.
The man headed toward her, still at least ten yards away.
Pamela put her hands, now balled into fists, on her hips and glared at his approach. “I am so getting a refund from Madame Eve!” she yelled when he came within earshot. “Roger!  What the hell are you doing here?”
Author Bio:
Jenna Jaxon is a published author of historical and contemporary romance.  Her erotic contemporary short, Almost Perfect, part of Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand series, was just released in December 2011.  Her Georgian novel, Only Scandal Will Do, the first in a series of five interconnecting novels, will be published by Lyrical Press in Spring 2012.
Jenna has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager.  A romantic herself, she has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise.  She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories. She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets. 
She equats her writing habit to an addiction to chocolate because once started, she just can’t stop.



To purchase Almost Perfect, here is a link:

  http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=132&products_id=416&osCsid=6c1232251c1e45744bd0b3ee7262f414

But, Jenna is holding a giveaway. one Lucky commenter gets a shot at winning a copy of Almost Perfect, so be sure and show some love to Jenna!


Find more of jenna here:  http://jennajaxon.wordpress.com/



Until next time,

Storm Goddess
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Monday, February 20, 2012

Characters that Come out to Play

Hello and welcome! Today, I have Tory Michaels on my blog. But it seems as someone else has taken over! So instead of talking to Tory, a character has decided to sep out of the boundaries of a book and come take over Storm Goddess Book Reviews Today.





It's a good thing we love characters...Right?

Okay, on with it, shall we?


Thank you for hosting me today, Nikki, though the stage has actually been commandeered by Dara MacKechnie, the heroine from Blood Rage.

::weak voice, off camera:: Please don’t call me a heroine.

But you are, Dara.
So you say. I disagree.

Are you feeling all right?
::chubby redhead staggers on stage, looking a bit green around the gills:: So sorry I’m late. I, er, let’s just say I’m not at my best just before a speaking engagement.

After all the appearances you’ve made on behalf of the Bureau, how is it possible you still get stage fright?
I hate being in the public eye. God only knows what I might do to embarrass myself. I’m not exactly the most graceful or svelte out there.

I’m sure someone doesn’t feel that way.
True. Anyway, I’m better now. What would you like me to talk about?

Can you tell the audience about what the world’s like where you come from and how it grew apart from our own?
Well, about ninety years ago, my adopted daughter, Sheridan, got tired of pretending to be something she’s not. She was only a vampire for a few years, but of course we’d moved at least twice in her life to conceal the fact that I didn’t age. I’d been doing it for more than a century by then, so didn’t think much of it. But, she pushed the issue and blabbed the notion to a friend of mine, Chris Javert, and, well, let’s just say it took a few years of fast talking, both with the Great Council of Vampires and with the other non-human species, but eventually we orchestrated what is now known as The Great Awakening. It came at a time, in my opinion, the humans needed a distraction, as we make our presence known in ’29, right after the markets crashed.

So there are other non-humans? Do you get along?
::she snorts:: According to the laws we do. What happens behind the scenes is a different matter. There will probably always be inter-species squabbling, but until recently the worst seemed to be past. Now, however…well, we’ll have to see whether we can spin this into avoiding an all-out war.

As to your first question, there are four: vampires, shifters, mage-born, and dhampier. Some would argue that the demons are their own breed, but as they are not native to this world (or yours), they aren’t accorded citizenship rights in any country. At least in the West (as opposed to the Middle East), non-humans share the same rights and responsibilities as the humans. If you’re not human, we don’t recommend living in the Middle East. Asia’s not much friendlier, but at least you’re not subject to a lynching or other summary execution there if you’re caught.

I take it all is not well in your world?
Not exactly. I just learned about them, but apparently there’s a group calling themselves the Aristocrats who have been stirring up a bit of trouble. Until two weeks ago, the Circle (they lead the Great Council) managed to keep things from the public eye. Unfortunately, the Aristocrats’ leader, the dream-walker Ares, decided he wasn’t happy being kept from notice and launched an all-out assault. Unfortunately, ever body that turns up with the signature of the Aristocrats has also been drained, so guess who the humans (and other non-humans) are blaming?

Us, of course. Vampires, or the Blood as we prefer to be called, have never been exactly the preferred non-humans. Mage-born are the preferred other race, simply because they’re the most, for lack of a better term, human. They don’t necessarily show any traits that reveal themselves as not human. Dhampires are hybrids, they need blood to survive and live about 500 years, but otherwise they’re mortal. Shifters, well, they’re frequently fuzzy and tend to get cranky around the full moon. Vampires, on the other hand, are considered the epitome of “not human”. We only need blood to live.

Ares appears to be trying to start a war and get all the blame slung on us. Unfortunately it looks like he’s recruited some of the Blood to his cause, the traitors. When we find them, and we will, the Circle will not look kindly upon them. I just pray that we can root out this nasty Ares creature before the humans start taking more serious steps toward controlling us. I still remember during the second World War when they interned the Japanese. I’m afraid that the Blood wouldn’t get off that lightly. I really don’t want to go back into hiding.

Wow. Are you involved in these hunts?
Not really. I just entered a mourning period, along with, well ::blushes:: something that makes the grief a b it better. I’m more designed and built to handle public relations, my public speaking nerves notwithstanding. My friend, Chris, is much more involved than I am, and from what you were telling me, Ms. Michaels, her story is coming out next month?

Yeah, that’s right. Blood-Mage Rising is due out at some point in March.
Interesting title. I do hope Chris isn’t involved with this blood-mage referenced. Blood-mages are what we call the mage-born who convert to being members of the Blood, and all the races have forbidden their creation for the past two thousand years.

Um, I’ll plead the fifth on that.
Probably best. I’d rather not know details if it could get Chris in trouble. Just call me Schultz, I guess. (Hogan’s Heroes reference, if you have that show in your world).

Gotcha. Okay, well, I better let you get back to what you were doing!
Yes, indeed. I’m off to DC today to hopefully meet with a senator to stop a nasty bill that I’ve heard is being circulated to gather support. Have a pleasant day, Ms. Michaels! ::she departs:

Well, there you have it. Sorry she couldn’t stay longer. Hopefully this interview has sparked your interest in paying a visit to the world of the Dream-Walker War, with its first book, Blood Rage, out now from Evernight Publishing. Chapter Two is out next month.


That was a fun interview, Tory. Your heroine....*clears throat* Err, Dara is very interesting!



To learn more about Dara's book written by Tory Michaels, here is a blurb!

BLURB: For eighty years since the Great Awakening, humans and non-humans have lived in relative peace together. That peace is threatened when three bodies turn up less than a mile from the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs in Tampa bearing the signature of vampires who once terrorized Europe.

The Bureau’s chief liaison to the vampires, Dara MacKechnie, learns that the Tampa victims are not alone when her ex-lover, and head of the vampire’s Great Council, Anthony Caldwell comes calling.  The pair discover the lie that separated them two centuries ago only banked their passion, not extinguished it.

Dara must decide whether she can trust Anthony with her heart a second time as they try to head off the war that threatens all they hold dear.


Tory Michaels Links
Web/Blog: www.torymichaels.com
Facebook personal: authortorymichaels
Facebook page: thedreamwalkerwar
Twitter: @torymichaels
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/torymichaels

BIO
Originally from the Sacramento Valley, Tory packed up and moved all the way to Southwest Florida in 2004 with her husband (a Florida native) under the premise that ‘hurricanes almost never hit that part of the state.’ That year, 4 blasted the area. 4 more came the following year, and her husband blames her for bringing the hurricanes. She now resides in Jacksonville and is relieved that, thus far, no more hurricanes have followed her around.

She began writing in kindergarten when a turnip wished to be human and, other than a hiatus shortly after getting married, has never stopped. Her love of vampires began somewhere in junior high, and combining the two loves didn’t take long. She loves music, considers herself a ‘book slut’ whose reading habits would break her family financially if given free reign, and is (usually) delighted to be a mommy of twin Shrimpettes and a Shrimp.


Well, I had a blast today. Thank you Tory, and Dara for stopping by. Good luck on the book release, I wish you many many sales!! 





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