#AADNOLA Author Spotlight: Melanie Card + ebook giveaway!

Enjoy this excerpt from Ward Against Death:

Her eyes narrowed and her hand snaked under the pillow. “It’s not wise to enter a lady’s bedchamber without her consent.”

Ward plastered on his calmest, gentlest expression. The newly wakened dead often assumed they had just roused from sleep. “You’ve been unwell.”

Her icy blue eyes examined him, her gaze jumping from his face, to his wig, to his jacket, and back to his face. “Unwell? Is that what my father told you?”

“In a manner of speaking.” She wasn’t acting the way she was supposed to.

Noblewomen, particularly those around his age, were usually demure or aloof—not suspicious.

“Well, I’m fine, and I’m sorry my father troubled you.” She threw back the covers, sat up, and stepped onto the thick rug. “Now go, be a good doctor, and tell my family I’m healthy and sleeping.” She punctuated her last word by pulling her nightdress over her head, revealing a slim waist, athletic muscles, and pale skin marked with the purple bruises of livor mortis along her back. And no other clothes.

“But—” He flushed and spun around to face the wall. “What are you doing?” No. Wait. What was he doing? He’d seen a dead naked woman before. Just never like this.

She chuckled. “I’m going for a walk.”

“A what? No—You can’t.” She really wasn’t acting the way she was supposed to.

“I beg to differ.”

The situation was spiraling out of hand. Damn it, he had to take control. He was the necromancer, she the newly awakened. She was supposed to listen to him.

He turned to confront her. Thankfully, she was fully dressed—in men’s clothes, but at least she was dressed. “Listen, I—”

She slipped her hand under her pillow and removed a sheathed dagger.

Great Goddess! She kept a dagger under her pillow? Ward inched toward the door to block her escape without appearing obvious, although he had no idea what he’d do if she fought him. Why did he always get stuck with the difficult corpses?


About WARD AGAINST DEATH - CHRONICLES OF A RELUCTANT NECROMANCER - Book One

Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…

Get your copy of Ward Against Death at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books On Board | Diesel | iTunes | The Book Depository

About Melanie Card

Melanie has always been drawn to storytelling and can't remember a time when she wasn’t creating a story in her head. Her early stories were adventures with fairies and dragons and sword swinging princesses.

Today she continues to spin tales of magic in lands near and far, while her cat sits on the edge of her desk and supervises. When she’s not writing, you can find her pretending to be other people with her local community theatre groups.

Connect with Melanie:

Facebook  /  Twitter @melaniecard  /  Goodreads / MelanieCard.com

Giveaway!

Melanie Card is giving away one eBook Copy of WARD AGAINST DEATH to one of our readers! 

This giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL as long as you have a way of reading the book. 
This giveaway ends one week from today.
Must be 13 or older to enter.
Must follow Rafflecopter below!

Good Luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#AADNOLA Author Spotlight: Shayla Black!

1. When you decided to become a writer, what made you chose to write Erotica and Romance?

I chose erotic romance because I’d always written steamy, even before erotic romance was in vogue and I loved the genre. More passion, more drama, more of everything I love about a good romance. I don’t like closed doors and fades to black. As a reader, I like to be completely a part of the experience, not left guessing what’s happening between the characters I’ve come to like. If I’ve chosen to invest emotionally in these people, I want to be up to my neck in whatever they’re feeling. To me, this sort of read is very honest and real. In our own lives, we don’t fade to black when we hit the bedroom door.

2. You write Historical, Erotica, and Paranormal, do you ever find that you have trouble with an inspiration?

Actually, I write erotic romance, not erotica. There’s a difference. Erotica is one person’s journey to fulfillment or self-actualization through a sexual exploration, often with multiple and/or random partners. Erotic romance is the story of a developing relationship between two (or more) people that ends with a happily-ever-after. That said, the short answer to your question is no. There’s inspiration everywhere, all around us in everyday life. Music, photos, the news, even people-watching at the mall can provide me a spark of an idea. I’ve written entire books that stemmed from each of these. Life should be inspirational. You just have to look around. If anything, I have way more stories than I actually have time to tell.

3. I noticed that the Doomsday Brethren series is self-published, why did you decide to go that route?

After four books and a novella, I bought my way out of the last contract because I wanted more creative freedom over the series, which included everything from the direction of future stories to the packaging of the books. There were other business reasons, and my time became such that I was unable to write this book last year when I originally intended to. If I’d stayed with my traditional publisher and written the book this spring, It would have pushed the release of Embrace Me At Dawn into 2013. By going independent, I can write the stories in my heart, package them how I believe they should be, and release them almost immediately. For anyone concerned that self-published means poor quality, not for me. I hired two editors and had lots of eyes on the book to make sure the finished product is top notch. The print version was also traditionally typeset. Since Embrace Me At Dawn released, I’ve had the best reviews of the series so far because it’s exactly my vision. So I’m really happy with the decision to publish this book and future installments independently.

4. The last 2 books you wrote so close to deadlines. In fact, I think you finished Embrace Me at Dawn with a just a few days to spare, do you find you write better under pressure?

Not necessarily, no. I just do what needs to be done. My schedule is very tight to start with. So any illness, life issue, or difficulty in getting the story out means my schedule gets somewhere close to impossible. I accept it and live with it. Sometimes, that means I have to change it around to make it work. But I’m always trying to bring fans of each series the next installment as soon as I can without sacrificing quality.

5. What can we look forward to next from you?

I’m currently writing Wicked Lovers #7, OURS TO LOVE, which is Xander’s story. After that, I’ll be writing the next Masters of Ménage book, OUR VIRGIN CONCUBINE, with Lexi Blake, which should be out in August. I’m also working on a new collaboration with two debut authors and I’m having a ball with. Look for a new serialized series titled The Doms of Her Life, coming somewhere around September 1.

6. You collaborate and write a series with Lexi Blake, do you find it harder or easier to write a book with another author and why?

I wouldn’t say either easier or harder, just different. You have to be able to coalesce your ideas together and make something cohesive. Lexi writes with more humor than I do. I’m the drama/angst queen when it comes to story ideas. We decided to tell these sexy, sometimes tongue-in-cheek stories because we were having so much fun simply talking about them. And we’ve found a great way to mesh our styles into something different. The process with Lexi is one we’re quite comfortable with our third book in, and we play off one another well. The collaboration with the other two authors in The Doms of Her Life series is very different, as we’re all sort of championing a character in the story and writing it simultaneously, then blending the best bits. It’s been challenging so far, but a lot of fun.

7. What do you like to read when you’re not writing?

A little bit of everything, but I confess, a lot of erotic romance. I’ve picked up a lot of other things over time. I like my Dan Brown. I’ve loved all the Harry Potter and Twilight books. I enjoyed The Help tremendously. I still read historical romance from time to time with the occasional paranormal. But my heart is with erotic romance. It’s so interesting to me to see what others do with the genre.

Links:
Website † GoodReads † Facebook † Twitter

#AADNOLA Author Spotlight: Erin Kellison + Giveaway!

Hello everyone and big thanks to Damaris for inviting me here today. I am thrilled to be attending AAD in New Orleans this year. I had so much fun at AAD last year, and I have a special place in my heart for New Orleans because I went there on my honeymoon. Actually, I surprised by poor fiancé (I say poor because we were utterly broke) by charging plane tickets and a B&B reservation to our credit card. We are still probably paying it off. We were twenty (had met in high school) and so over-the-moon in love.

Flash forward almost 20 years later, and here I am getting ready to return to New Orleans for the AAD conference. I love AAD because everyone, readers and writers alike, have the same kind of crazy.  I get to hang out for several days with the coolest people in one of the most intriguing cities in the world.

I write books where the supernatural collides with the contemporary world, where magic (what I call Shadow) is real and present every day. New Orleans has a rich history of paranormal and supernatural activity, so I have a natural interest in the city. Here are some of the paranormal stories of New Orleans that resonate with me:

Jacques St. Germain – a mysterious, wealthy man in New Orleans society in the early 1900s, St. Germain held wild parties at his estate while not eating a thing and drinking only “wine” (later found to be blood by police). St. Germain was never apprehended but was later believed to have been the Count de Saint-Germain, a wealthy man of Europe’s high society in the 1700s, and who was still seen roaming the continent even after his supposed death.

The Gardette-Laprete House – site of brutal murders that were never solved. It is said that you can still hear the sounds of the victims and the music they were playing on the night they were killed.

The Axeman of New Orleans – a series of grisly axe murders in the early 20^th century had the city on edge. The “Axeman” eluded police for almost a year, eventually publishing a sort of manifesto in the local paper in which he/she claimed to be a demon from Tartarus who loved jazz music, so much that he/she promised to spare any household that had a jazz band playing. The Axeman was never caught or heard from again.

The St. Louis Cathedral – According to legend, on some rainy nights before dawn, the voice of a man can be heard singing a Christian hymn in the air between the St. Louis Cathedral and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. The man was Father Dagobert de Longuory, aka Pere Dagobert, a local 18^th century priest who looked after everyone in his diocese with care. One night, a group of rebels were killed by Spanish soldiers, and denied a Catholic burial. Dagobert somehow managed to steal the bodies away from the Spanish, give them their proper rites, and bury them in the cemetery. It is believed that the spirit of Pere Dagobert still watches over New Orleans.

I can hardly wait for AAD—the con is all good things at once.  New Orleans is a sentimental favorite of mine and I get to share it with fantastic people.

Please come find me at:

Erin’s website: www.ErinKellison.com.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ErinKellisonAuthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/EKellison

Giveaway


Erin Kellison is giving away a copy of her latest release in her Shadow series -- Fire Kissed!

Fae Fire

It is Kaye Brand's power to wield. But outcast from her kind, she's been selling herself to the highest bidder—money for her survival in exchange for a magic glimpse into the flames of the future.

Angel Ice

One of the angelic Order, Jack Bastian has no use for a female like Kaye, as provocative and unexpected as her blazing beauty. Yet he has no choice but to hire her to uncover the secrets of his sworn enemy and her former fiancé, Ferrol Grey.

Magekind

War is inevitable between the defenders of the Order and the mage Houses who threaten to engulf the world in Shadow. For Jack, mage-born Kaye is off limits, no matter how hot the impossible attraction between them. But in the coming darkness, beset by danger and desire, everything is about to change...

This giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL and will end one week from today! (Or a little after since I've been super busy lately :0) ).

To enter all you have to do is simple leave a meaningful comment below. Make sure to include a way for me to reach you if you should win!

HUGE thank you to Erin, for stopping by Good Choice Reading today!!! <3

Good luck everyone!

AAD Author Spotlight: Interview with author T.J. Michaels + Giveaway! (18+)

Hi everyone!

We recently submitted some questions for author T.J. Michaels and she took the time to answer them for us via Vlog! Hope you enjoy!

Thank you T.J. so much for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to meeting you at Authors After Dark NOLA this August! It's going to be so much fun!


You can find T.J. Michaels, and all the latest on her books below...

Official Website
Twitter
Facebook
GoodReads


********Author T.J. Michaels has a great giveaway for you all!

If you are attending Authors After Dark in New Orleans this August, you get the chance to have a breakfast, lunch, or dinner with T.J.

If you are not attending AAD, and you win our giveaway, you win a copy of her book Egyptian Voyage in either, Kindle, Nook, or Print copy.


About Egyptian Voyage...

An overworked undercover agent desperately in need of rest, Chrysalyn Geyer couldn’t have been more miffed with her boss. What was she supposed to do on a mandatory three month vacation? Stuck on a private residence cruise ship, she tried to prepare herself for what was sure to be pure boredom. Then he appeared—Rahn Benson. What the hell was he doing here? And while her spirit guide was happy to see the man, Chrys couldn’t see past knocking him senseless for breaking her heart.

Rahn is determined to do anything to win Chrys back. But first he must protect her from the unseen threat quietly stalking her from port to port. Rahn was damned good at job, but could he “work” his way past Chrys’ stubbornness to occupy a place in her heart, rather than just her bed?

But what of the refined looking gentleman determined to catch her eye?

There you have it!  

To enter you must be 18 or older and you must leave a meaningful comment below. Make sure to leave a way for us to contact you if you should win. 

Good luck!

AAD Author Spotlight: Guest Post & $25 GC Giveaway with Julia Talbot!

Hey, y'all!

How are all the GC readers doing today?

My name is Julia Talbot, and I'm an author of romance and erotic romance that spans all genders.

I am gearing up for convention season, and I'm really excited about Authors After Dark in NOLA. Last year in Philadelphia was such a blast, but I'm from Texas, so New Orleans is totally in my comfort zone, despite the heat, and I'm going to be trolling for hurricanes. (The drinks, not the actual storms. Eek.)

New Orleans is one of those cities still on the rebound, where amazing food, shopping, and history sit side by side with desperate poverty and empty buildings. The city has always had a mystique to it, but sometimes now I find it almost has a post apocalypse feel, where the French Quarter and Garden Districts are little oases in an otherworldly landscape.

It sure makes for great story ideas, y'all. I mean, there's a romance or horror tale around every corner. The last time I was there I got the idea to write a story about a special effects artist from Hollywood who comes to New Orleans to meet a mask maker who specializes in monsters. Maybe monsters who are too real.

Who knows what I'll get up to this year? I love to wander around the side streets of the Quarter and the Fauborg Marigny, just checking out shops and restaurants, searching for crazy original art and gluten free food. (Try Muriel's, y'all. Really.) I love the cemetery tours and ghost tours, too, and the carriage rides are made of awesome. Did you know that by law, New Orleans carriages can only use mules? They'd more surefooted and heat resistant than draft horses.

The Authors After Dark masquerade this year is all about dressing up as a historical person from NOLA, or as a book character from the city. I have to admit, I have no idea what to dress up as, y'all. Give me some ideas! Comment with a suggestion, or even just an 'I don't know", and one commenter will win a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate!

You can find that story I was talking about, Manifest, here at Torquere Press Inc. http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_93&products_id=3113 Other stories can be found at Changeling Press, Cleis, and Pretty Things Press

I'm also in an anthology of New Orleans themed stories called Po Boys, which is from Torquere Press as well. http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76&products_id=3531

You can also find me at www.juliatalbot.com and on my blog at http://juliatalbot.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, y'all! I hope to see you at Authors After Dark, August 8-12, 2012.

About Po Boys...

New Orleans is beautiful, mysterious, and above all, sexy. Po' Boys explores all the dark alleys and shadowy cemeteries the city has to offer, with all the heat you expect from the Deep South.

In Ghost Hunting with the Stars, by Lydia Nyx, Harley Weston is an average guy. So when Jackson Carney, America's favorite gay ghost hunter, comes to film a TV show at the haunted French Quarter hotel Harley works in, Harley isn't impressed. However, Harley does admire Jackson's surprisingly down-to-earth attitude.

In Bubba's All Night Diner and Bait Shop, by Kiernan Kelly, you'll find muffuletta and murder at Bubba's, where the danger is as thick as the accents, and the sex is as spicy as the jambalaya.

In Sexual Frankenstein, by TC Blue, friends and band mates Darian Jones and Tony Delacourt think they know each other well. When an opportunity for the band falls into their laps, it seems like a dream come true, but between their unacknowledged attraction, and some questionable decisions, they must decide whether to play it safe, or risk it all.

Finally, in Link to the Crescent, by Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga, werewolf Landry is sent to New Orleans from his home in the swamp, told he'll meet his destiny. What he meets is vampire, Thierry, who might just be exactly what Landry's looking for.

Let the good times roll!

Find Julia Talbot...
Website † Twitter † Facebook † GoodReads

AAD Featured Author: Cynthia Eden -- Guest Post & Giveaway! (18+)

Let’s Talk Haunted Hotspots…

Hi, everyone! 

I’m excited to be here today—and, of course, I’m always eager to talk about some haunted places. ;) 

I’ll be heading over to New Orleans in a few weeks for the Authors’ After Dark event, and, since the Big Easy is such a haunted city, I thought I’d share a few of those infamous sites with you.

First up…

The LaLaurie House. Seriously, this place gives me nightmares.  The old stories say that a doctor and his wife once lived in this house. The doctor and his missus decided to play Frankenstein on some of their slaves and servants, stitching up mouths, attaching appendages in places that they didn’t belong.  When a fire broke out at the house, the fire fighters were horrified by the people that they found in that torture zone.  Um, yes, if any place deserves to be haunted, it’s this house.  

You can read more here:  http://www.nola.com/lalaurie/history/chronology.html

Do you have the stomach to handle another story? How about we do one that is a lot less gory?

Arnaud’s Restaurant. Okay, this is the only place I know where a ghost always has a table waiting. Inside of Arnaud’s (the restaurant is located near Jackson Square), the managers leave a table set up for the ghost.  Most folks believe that the main ghost who visits the restaurant is former owner Arnaud himself, but, either way, the ghost seems friendly enough. And the restaurant is awesome.  

Check it out:  http://www.arnaudsrestaurant.com/about/

Finally, let’s talk about…

The Saint Louis Cemetery (number 1).  I’ve visited this cemetery many times, and I’ve never seen any ghosts. But, actually, I’ve never seen any ghosts, any place, so don’t take that as proof for anything!  This cemetery is just plain cool with all of its old monuments, and most folks say that Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau has a tomb in this cemetery (though I’ve heard tales that the tomb is empty and Marie’s final resting place is elsewhere).  Still, this is a great stop for your haunted tour.  I love this cemetery so much that I had to use it as a location in several of my Fallen novels. 

Now, tell me…have you ever visited a haunted spot?  Share!  One winner will be selected to win a copy of ANGEL BETRAYED (set in New Orleans).

Best,

Cynthia Eden

www.cynthiaeden.com

ANGEL BETRAYED—Available 6/26/12 from Kensington Brava

When you betray an angel, there’s all hell to pay…

About Angel Betrayed...

A LITTLE BIT OF ANGEL LUST.

Sammael – call him Sam – was an angel once. An angel of death. But the dispassionate, watch-from-above thing just wasn’t working for him when it meant watching evil torture innocent souls day in and day out. It might have cost him his wings, but these days, he gets to apply the direct method on the bad guys. Problem is, what’s making his life difficult is a bad girl…

Seline O’Shaw needs protection, and with the hounds of hell on her tail, she’s not going to quibble too hard about where she gets it. Sam’s virtue is questionable, but he’s smoking hot, massively powerful, and owes her a favor. So what if she’s getting a little case of angel lust? There are some damn deadly sins after her hide…

AAD Author Spotlight: Guest Post with Kris Cook! (18+)

Thanks to Damaris and to Good Choice Reading for having me.

I’m thrilled to be attending Authors After Dark in New Orleans this year. I had such an amazing time with readers and reviewers last year in Philly, I’m certain this year will be as good and even better.

I thought I’d give you a little peek into what’s been going on with me this past year.

After AAD in Philly, I was able to realize a lifelong dream. I quit my job. LOL! Actually, I began my full time career as an author. My partner and I had sat down a long time ago and put down a figure that I would need to make in order to leave my Fortune 20 telecom job in regulatory compliance which I’d been in for thirteen years. Doesn’t “regulatory compliance” have such a sexy ring to it? Exactly. It doesn’t. Dull. Dull. Dull. But it did give us a good living. It was hard to reach the goal we had agreed on, but I finally did. I couldn’t be happier. Neither could my personal banker, who is the love of my life and has been for many years. He can keep the corporate masters happy. He works in finance at a Fortune 20 bank.

In April, I was in a serious car accident. I’ll still be in my walking boot when I come to AAD this year. I hope you won’t judge my footwear – grin. My car was totaled and I ended up in the hospital—but I survived. I’m grateful that I will be back to normal (well, my normal—lol) very soon. Except for a broken nose, a slight concussion, and a broken bone in my left leg, I made it out pretty damn good.

Why did I tell you all about that wreck? That event was a reset button for me. It has changed so much for me (in a very positive way), including the direction of my writing.

By AAD time, I will have completed the first two books in my new series– Love Ink. As a gay man, I’m thrilled to be writing male/male, paranormal romance. Cupid’s Arrow is book one. The retirees of Olympus aren’t interested in helping humanity, though their grandchildren see things quite differently. Titos, Cupid’s grandson, opens a tattoo parlor with very special ink. It helps mortals find their true loves. Unfortunately, bodies of his customers start turning up. Enter, Detective Derek Stone. With all the darkness he’s seen and experienced in his life, he has walled off his heart from everyone.

Book two is about the god of War’s grandson and the son of a United States representative who chairs a very important subcommittee in the government. Some reviewers will be getting an eARC of it at AAD.

I’m still writing my 1^st person diary novellas, which are erotic romances. Each is from the eyes of a woman discovering more about sexuality and love. These are not for the faint of heart.

FYI - Melissa Schroeder, my dear friend and mentor, and I will be hosting a happy hour – Saints and Sinners. Lots of goodies to be given away there. Also other surprises I can’t wait to share. Whether you’re attending our happy hour or not, I do hope you’ll look me up at AAD. I love spending time with readers. I’m still one myself.

Dream Big!

Kris

website - http://www.kriscook.net

FB fanpage - https://www.facebook.com/KrisCookFanPage

twitter - http://twitter.com/kris_cook

blog - http://musingsofkriscook.blogspot.com/

-- Thank you Kris for sharing this post with us! I cannot wait for AAD! See you there!! :-) 

AAD Author Spotlight: Katie Reus -- Guest Post & Giveaway!

Thank you so much to Damaris and the ladies at Good Choice Reading for having me as a guest here today! Primal Possession, the second book in my Moon Shifter Series, is releasing in September, which is right before AAD!! (I’m still waiting to find out whether I can get early copies for the signing yet or not). A conference in New Orleans just promises to be exciting and I’m very much looking forward to meeting so many people I interact with online.

I hope you enjoy the sneak peek excerpt from Primal Possession. I haven’t posted this anywhere else yet!

Through her slat blinds December could see light starting to peek in. Without looking at her digital clock, she knew it was just barely sunrise. Normally she liked to sleep in on Saturdays, because she opened her shop up an hour later than usual. That so wasn’t happening today.

Not with Liam sleeping in her guest room. She should probably be more concerned or scared that some maniac had tried to inject her with God knew what last night, but Liam’s dark, dominating presence in her house was much more frightening. Okay, maybe not frightening. But it made her much more aware of . . . everything. Namely, herself and all the sexual feelings he stirred inside her.

She wasn’t scared of him. Just scared of her feelings for him. Instead of staring at the ceiling for another hour, she threw off her comforter and headed to the bathroom. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she stared at herself in the mirror. Her curls stuck out wildly thanks to a rough night of tossing and turning. For a moment she contemplated putting on makeup or taming her hair, then scoffed at herself. Let Liam see her this way. Maybe it would help him get over her.

She opened the bedroom door and jerked to a halt.

Stretched out on the rug covering the hardwood hallway, Liam lay on his back—shirtless—directly outside her bedroom.

His dark eyes popped open when she gasped. Something told her he’d already been awake, though. In one quick swoop, he assessed her from head to foot and smiled. Despite her pajamas she felt practically naked under his not-so-subtle evaluation.

As he stared at her, she couldn’t help the way her own gaze strayed to his bare chest. His shoulders were impossibly broad and his chest was pure male perfection. All that strength. He wasn’t bulky or overmuscled, like those awful-looking bodybuilders. Just firm, but too broad to be called lean. Her gaze helplessly dipped lower and his stomach muscles tightened in response.

The slight action jerked her gaze back to his face.

“Like what you see?” The question was low and sensual and his dark eyes were knowing.

Her mouth dried up and it took a moment before she could speak. She ignored his question and asked one of her own. “What are you doing on the floor?”

“I wanted to be close in case anything happened.” Liam moved to his feet with the agility and speed of a jungle animal. Instinctively she stepped back. He didn’t advance on her or make a move, but his mere presence invaded all her personal space.

Why did he have to make it so hard for her to keep her distance from him? He might be aggravating with his dominant attitude, but he still wanted to protect her. That made it difficult to get mad at him. Even though she wanted him gone—if only to get back some of her sanity—she also wanted to thank him for staying the night.

“Are you hungry?”

His dark eyes flashed and she knew what he was thinking before he said a word, so she preemptively cut him off.

“For food,” she continued.

Grinning, he shrugged. “If that’s all you’re offering, I’ll take it.”

When he didn’t move, she had to turn sideways to shimmy past him. She ignored his soft chuckle. The frustrating man enjoyed making her uncomfortable. As she headed down the stairs, she could feel his eyes burning into her. Mentally stripping her. “Stop doing that,” she muttered.

“Doing what?” he asked, his deep voice far too close for comfort.

She resisted the urge to turn around. If she did, she was afraid of what she’d see on his face and afraid she’d like it too much. “You know exactly what. Quit looking at my butt.”

“I can’t help it, Red.”

To protect her, he will unleash the beast within…

As his pack’s second-in-command, lupine shifter Liam Armstrong gives orders and takes what he wants—until he meets red-headed, blue-eyed December McIntyre. Liam knows the human beauty is his intended mate the moment he sees her, but December is far too strong-willed to accept his protection.

December, whose brother is the town sheriff, has every reason to mistrust shifters after one killed her youngest sibling. But the forceful and handsome Liam has gotten under her skin in a way she hadn’t thought possible, and the desire she feels for him is almost too much to bear.

When a radical hate group targets all humans known to sympathize with paranormal beings, December is attacked in her bookstore. Reluctantly, she turns to the only one who can help her: Liam. And he is going to take her to places within herself she never knew existed.

Thanks for stopping by today! Just leave a comment telling me what you like about paranormal romance and be entered to win a copy of Alpha Instinct (Book 1, Moon Shifter series). Or, if you’re going to AAD 2012, tell me what things other than the conference you’re planning to visit or do. Me? I plan on going to Café du Monde at least once for coffee (I don’t care how hot it is) and hopefully picking up some artwork in Jackson Square.

A little about me: I’ve been reading romance since a young age—ever since I discovered my mom’s hidden stash. Luckily the addiction stayed with me into adulthood. I write paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense for Carina Press, Harlequin Nocturne, and NAL/Signet Eclipse. To learn more about me please visit my website, my blog, facebook or find me on twitter @katiereus.

AAD Author Spotlight: Jae Lynne Davies -- Guest Post + Giveaway! (18+)

The Complex Art of World Building

We’ve all heard the term “world building”—a story/series and the details of the fictional worlds within them. Some are relatively simple involving a hero, a heroine, and the challenges between the two that ultimately bring the couple together at the end of a piece of romantic fiction.

At the opposite end of the spectrum there are complex worlds comprised of multiple characters, planes of existence, and a spin-off series or two. Some worlds are so detailed they have the power to make heads spin. But simple or no, authors invest a wealth of time and effort into creating a world that readers find utterly fascinating.

Through my personal experiences, world building begins with a foundation based loosely on facts. For example, in my latest novel, Blood Moon (the second installment in the Mythic series), my world begins in modern day London, England. Once characters begin to branch out, the location moves to Greece where the story takes on ancient Greek mythology and builds upon the lore.

I’ve been a fan of mythology for years, but my interest in the subject was a mere stepping-stone along the journey toward completion of the novel. Tremendous amounts of research went into the creation of the world in Blood Moon. I began over a year ago, reading and watching just about anything I could get my hands on to make sure I set the stage for a believable setting. Once I collected enough information to lay the foundation, elements were then added to bring the world to life. But when the setting was complete, there was nothing more exhilarating than taking a particular story in Greek mythology and adding a twist that might earn a few raised eyebrows. 

Want to see what how I’ve altered a popular myth? Read about Dante Diakos in Blood Moon, coming soon from Tease Publishing! 

Blood Moon Blurb: 

Forced to make a heartbreaking decision between the man she loves and the family she thought long dead, Gianna Marino returns to London—obligated to vampire coven leader, Mattias Vitale while thoughts of another are fresh on her mind.

When word is received of suspicious vampire activity, she is assigned to an investigation that leads her to Greece, where she discovers Dante—Mattias’s recently resigned second in command, and a dangerous prophecy.

Dante Diakos is the last of a pure immortal bloodline—a descendant of the gods, and he intends to invoke the power of the entire pantheon on the eve of the Blood Moon which occurs once every millennia. If he attains the legendary abilities, he’ll be the most powerful being on earth, and intends for her to rule by his side. 

When the fate of world hangs in the balance, the decision is placed in Gianna’s hands…become an eternal slave to Dante’s will or lose everyone she’s ever loved.

** I’d like to give away a digital copy of MYTHIC (the first novel in the series) to a commenter.**

Question to your followers: Which fictional world would you like to step inside for a day? Me? I’d LOVE to walk around in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s world of the Dark-Hunters. Going for a stroll her vision of New Orleans would be so much fun!

Mythic blurb: 

Centuries after the death of her family, human/vampire hybrid, Gianna Marino is determined to shed the blood of the vampire responsible. 

Disguising herself as a human wanting to be turned, she infiltrates the enemy’s coven with the hope of bending him to her will and destroying him from the inside. 

But when a handsome stranger enters the scene and is lured into their seductive game that results in a heated love triangle, she discovers a secret that blurs the lines between good and evil, forever changing the course of her existence, and destiny will soon determine on which side she’ll stand.

I want to thank the lovely, Damaris for inviting me to her blog today and I hope to see a few of you at AAD in August. Happy Reading!

Bio: Jae Lynne Davies is a wife, mother and author who wishes there were more hours in a day to balance all three and her full-time job, but whenever she finds a spare moment, you’ll find her sitting in front of her laptop typing the next chapter! Jae Lynne currently resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her husband and two children.

To learn more about Jae Lynne and her work, please visit her website: 

http://www.jaelynnedavies.com

Blog: http://jaelynnedavies.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Jae-Lynne-Davies/100001587731488

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/JaeLynneDavies

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/jaelynnedavies

 
Mythic is available online at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jae+lynne+davies&sprefix=jae+lynne%2Caps%2C181

• Must be 18 or older to enter this giveaway
• Giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL

Must leave a comment below answering Jae Lynne's question: Which fictional world would you like to step inside for a day?


Good Luck!

 

Author Spotlight: Stacey Kennedy -- Guest Post & Giveaway!

Big thanks to Good Choice Reading for having me by today. I’d love to share my Frostbite series since it’s one of my favorites! Yes, I’m in love with a ghost, and I feel no shame!

 So…you’re asking yourself, “how can a ghost romance have a happily ever after?” Well, it can’t. Or what I should say is, it won’t right now. Since this is an Urban Fantasy Romance at the end of book one you’ll get a happy for now. I know some people are going to want to kick me, but the truth is if I gave a happily ever after book one what would be the fun in that? And I have a nasty habit of loving to torture my characters!

Sure, I’m a cruel author and make my characters suffer a little before they reach that happily ever after, but really do any of us find happiness without a little trouble along the way?  I’ve planned to write four books in the series, and each one will bring Tess closer to happiness. Will it come easy for Tess? Not likely. But I’m cheering her on that eventually she’ll get the happily ever after she deserves.

Book two in the Frostbite series, Demonically Tempted has just released. Trust me when I tell you, a lot of questions that come up in book one get answered and things take turns that even I wasn’t expecting. It was great fun! And more to the point, far too enjoyable to watch Tess be put through the ringer.

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(The cover has been a bit altered so that we are able to share it with you.)

 

Ghosts harass and annoy Tess Jennings to save their souls. Sometimes she helps them. Other times she ignores them. But one ghost will give her no choice.

Kipp McGowen, a cop with the Memphis Police Department, will stop at nothing to gain her help, including using his ghostly charms to seduce her.

Tess must help solve the five year old cold case of Hannah Reid, because solving the case will save Kipp. But a bigger problem presents itself. Tess is falling in love with a ghost. Now she must decide. Keep Kipp forever or find the killer…

BUY LINK

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ADD TO YOUR GOODREADS SHELF

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EXCERPT:

Copyright © STACEY KENNEDY, 2011

All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

An icy wisp of air swept in behind me, causing my heel to twist as I stumbled. To the other pedestrians striding along the downtown Memphis Street, the sensation would be brushed off as a cold breeze.

They were wrong. A spirit lingered here.

“Can you hear me?”

From the intrigue rolling in his voice, he hadn’t expected me to acknowledge him. Shit! I’d already given myself away. A mistake I’d rectify.

Without hesitation, I righted my stance and strode forward with purpose, forcing myself to remain deaf to the voice. If I ignored ghosts long enough, they moved on and searched out someone else who held the same irritating ability, who I had yet to meet.

Much to my annoyance, the ghost stayed right on my heels and his presence remained strong behind me. The cold air at my back remained a contrast to the warm morning air in front of me. Every hair on my neck stood up and goose bumps pimpled a trail along my skin. If only I could rub them away, but I didn’t dare. Ignoring him would make him go away.

“You can hear me, can’t you?” the ghost asked again.

Spirits were typically harmless, but annoying. I’m dead, what’s going on, why am I ghost―yada, yada, yada. I quickened my steps and made my way down Peabody Place in hopes he’d leave me alone.

“Wait.”

He sounded desperate, which meant a big headache for me. If I hadn’t worn my damn sling-backs, I would’ve tried to run and hide. But the three-inch Manolos and the tight tailored gray skirt around my knees restrained my movements.

I passed Miss Polly’s Soul Food Café, and the delicious aroma of bacon and eggs drifted along the air. My empty stomach complained. My only thought after I woke had been caffeine. Now I wished I’d grabbed a muffin with my latté at the Starbucks. With ten minutes to get to my desk, I couldn’t worry about such things.

My boss, Event Manager Dylan Cobb, would hand me my ass if I stepped into the office a minute late. Sadly, there’d never been a day I didn’t cater to his every need.

I approached Beale Street and sighed in relief, relishing the warmth surrounding me. Not only from the sun above—the spirit’s cold presence at my back had vanished. Pleased my dodge of him had worked, I took a sip of my energy in a cup and smiled. Coffee’s fantastic, the ghost is gone―life is good.

Another block passed under my heels before I reached the historical red-brick building. Randall Marketing, written in black block letters, decorated the striped green and white awning.

I opened the door to the office and strode in, greeted by a bubbly voice. “Good morning, Tess.”

“Mornin’.”

“Give me a moment here.” Doris shuffled paperwork around her desk, her auburn curls bouncing on her shoulders. The receptionist had always been messy, yet somehow organized. “There were a few messages on the voicemail for you.” She raised her head and held out the pink slips of paper. “A lovely day today, is it not?”

“Sure is.” So I lied. The ghost hadn’t kicked off my day on a high note. Not like I’d tell her about my interaction with spirits. My ability to converse with spirits remained on a need to know basis, and as far as it concerned me, no one needed to know. I grabbed the messages from her hand. “Did your weekend treat you good?”

“I spent the entire weekend knee deep in my garden.” Her cocoa colored eyes lit up. “My best year ever, I’m hoping. You’ll have to come out and have a look-see.”

“I’d love to.” Doris treasured her gardens, so I tried to appear interested, even though my green thumb looked black.

Her smile brightened, but when the phone rang, she waved a goodbye and answered the call. “It’s another beautiful day here at Randall Marketing, how may I direct your call?”

Leaving her behind, I strode down the hall toward my office and sipped my coffee. The warmth slid down my throat and provided an immediate rush to my energy levels. At the third door on the right, I entered my bleak workspace with its pale blue walls, closed the door behind me and approached the desk. I dropped down into the black leather chair and flipped through the messages. None were urgent enough to worry about now.

I powered up my computer, but a knock at the door, had me glancing up. Before I got a word out, the door swished open and I cringed, fully aware of the looming trouble.

Caley, the officer manager and my best friend since the age of four, looked like a typical Barbie. Perfect skin, long flowing blonde hair and a body men drooled over. I might have been jealous of her perfection since I couldn’t pull off her looks even with a makeover—so maybe a little envious—but her appearance had always been a front. She was the devil in disguise.

She scowled, shutting the door behind her with a slam. “Do you mind explaining where you were all weekend?”

“At home.” I batted my lashes. “Why? Did you try to call me?”

She pointed her finger, narrowing her eyes on me. “Don’t you try that shit on me. I called you all weekend and your phone went straight to voicemail.”

“Hmm…” I pretended to ponder. “The battery must have died.” She had enough gall to just come over, but the little hint had been a subtle way of telling Caley to leave me alone.

“Liar.” She plopped down in the seat across from my desk. “Where were you? I wanted to go out.”

“Nowhere. Honestly, I vegged on the couch.”

Caley snorted. “You lead such an exciting life.”

My mouth parted to offer a snappy retort, but a cold wisp of air brushed across my skin, causing my lips to snap shut. Damn! I thought I’d got rid of him.

“Hello.” Caley snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Leave the aliens behind and return to Mother Earth.”

I blinked, trying to force my attention back to her, yet failed. The ghost knelt right beside Caley—not kneeling, of course; more like floating, since ghosts were never able to obtain physical contact with the world around them—and my focus held strong on him, unable to stop myself from ogling. He stared intently, with one crystal blue eye, while the other was a chocolate color. His strong jaw, the muscles clenching along his cheeks, all spoke of power. But as he ran his hand through his untidy sandy colored hair, his expression showed playfulness. His black tank top left his arms exposed and muscles upon muscles layered those arms.

“Anyways,” she said, dragging my gaze back to her. “I had to go out with Susanne because you left me high and dry.”

I laughed. Caley’s horny, twenty year old stepsister had the body to fulfill her needs. “You did have the option to stay home, you know.”

Her eyes widened. “On a Saturday night?”

“Yeah, you know, get some popcorn, watch a movie and relax.”

She frowned. “If you don’t stop your grandma behavior, your va-jay-jay is going to shrivel up and die.”

The ghost chuckled.

His smooth laugh hit me like a cup of warm cocoa, causing my insides to melt. Nothing amused me. First off, Caley had been so wrong― maybe a little right―but I’d never admit to her accuracy aloud. Second, reacting in such a heated way to a ghost definitely didn’t hit my to-do-list today.

“Excuse me.” I spoke not only to Caley, but also to the irritating ghost. “My va-jay-jay is just fine.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear you’ve still got some spunk.” She stood and placed her hands on her hips. “Because we’ve got a double date tonight.”

“A what?” Dear God!

She grinned from ear-to-ear. “Yes, my dearest Grammy, we’re going out.”

“With who?”

“Two guys I met on Saturday night. You’re coming with me, either willingly or unwillingly, so suck up your hesitations, babe, because saying no isn’t an option.”

“But it’s a Monday night.” Not saying a date didn’t sound like fun. A month had passed since my last attempt at dating—which failed miserably—but a man Caley chose while drunk? No thanks. My sex life might have been as dead as the sexy ghost in front of me, but I’d still search for a way out. “I have to work tomorrow.”

She wagged her finger in classic Caley fashion. “You’re a Grandma.”

Most times, I respected her persistent personality. She never backed down, always dreamed big and went for the gold, but her grit hadn’t been all rays of sunshine. Her determination made her annoyingly tenacious. I had to agree or she’d never give up, and getting her out of my office sounded all too good. “Fine. I’ll go with you.”

“Oh, stop looking so pissy. We’ll have fun. Promise. I’ll come to your place at eight.” She opened the door, glanced over her shoulder and winked. “Leave the granny panties at home.”

~*~

Author Links:

Website | Blog | Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart-squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and they even give you a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll also find fast-paced action, life-threatening moments and a big bad villain who needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance eBooks bestseller lists.

Stacey welcomes comments from readers. You can find her at www.staceykennedy.com.

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Giveaway:

To get started with Tess & Kipp, leave your email address with your comment to be entered to win the ebook Supernaturally Kissed (International).  

1. Must be 18 or older to enter.
2. This giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL as long as you have a way of reading the ebook.
3. Contest ends one week from today!
4. Winner will be chosen at randoom.
5. Good luck!