Showing posts with label Eva Gordon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eva Gordon. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Guest Blog: Lycan Gladiator by Eva Gordon

Lycan Gladiator
Wolf Maiden Saga
Eva Gordon 


Published By: Corvallis Press
Genre: Paranormal Historical Romance
Published: Aug 18, 2013 
Print Length: 282 Pages


A lycan gladiator in Rome's brutal arena vows to claim his forbidden mate … but her secrets may seal their doom.

Book Blurb:
During a time of bloody gladiator games and treacherous schemes, a secret society of lycans live amongst the Romans. When Ulric, a lycan gladiator, meets a mysterious human woman with green eyes, he’s drawn to her fiery beauty, enraptured by her alluring aroma. Unfortunately, Ulric and the beauty are slaves. To make matters worse, he can mate only with someone marked with the sign of the wolf.
Cassia’s hidden wolf mark burns in the presence of the handsome gladiator. While her heart yearns to be near Ulric, logic warns her against it—having a slave as a mate is against the lycan society’s plans for her.
In spite of the lycan society’s rules and the emperor’s brutal plots, their love grows … but their passion just may cost them their lives.

US  UK  CAN | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo | All Romance

PRFL is thrilled to have a guest post by author Eva Gordon! Enjoy ~ 


Lycan Gladiator is chronologically book 1 in the Wolf Maiden Saga (Other books in the saga were first published as the Wolf Maiden Chronicles. My rights for the books were returned and I sold the rest of the books to Corvallis press, and coming soon. Each book is a stand-alone set in a different historical setting.
I love werewolves, wolves and all canines in general. I have volunteered at a wolf sanctuary and I teach wolf and werewolf to writing groups. This year at the 2014 San Antonio Romance Writers of America Convention I will be teaching my wolf lore workshop.
I thought I would provide you with a glossary and welcome questions and comments.

Glossary for the Wolf Maiden Saga

Pack Hierarchy

Lycan:  An ancient line of humans that shift into large bear sized massive wolves with distinctive tattoos depicting their specific pack. Also known as wolfen, wolf men, wolfskins and werewolves. Their shape shifting is not painful but rather pleasurable. Lycans are superior to humans in many ways. They have the strength of ten men, and the alpha has the strength of five or more lycans. They can heal over night from severe wounds and are immune to most diseases except for the dreaded rabies and the toxin from wolf bane flower.
Alpha Lycan:  Dominant lycans that are leaders of their packs and can are not under the influence of the moon. They can shift at any time.  The alpha male must control his pack of betas.
Male Alpha: The male alpha leads the pack.  He is the result of a lycan and human woman mating. He is the most powerful member of the pack and like all alphas can shift at any time. Alpha males can only marry a wolf maiden, a human life mate.
Female Alpha:  A female lycan not under the influence of the moon. She helps protect the pack and serves as a surrogate parent to all the pack children. Alpha females are barren. The Lupercal or Lycan secret governmental body is run by twelve alpha females.
Wolf Maiden: A human woman with the wolf print birth mark, which turns bright red when she is imprinted by her alpha life mate. A wolf maiden can be born to a pack or randomly among humans, unaware of her role. She is also known as an Ulf hexen in Viking culture. During the Middle Ages she was also called a wolf witch or a woman marked with the sign of the beast. Though she is meant for an alpha mate, she can marry and though it takes longer can get pregnant by a human and have normal males who can then have future wolf maidens.
Beta Lycans: Lycans that shift only during the full moon. They must be controlled by the alpha since they can become mindless beasts that roam around and kill.
Omega Lycans: Lycans that are used as slaves, no matter their rank. In ancient times they were no more than slaves for the higher ranked lycans. The Lupercal no longer allows pack members to be treated like omegas since a near revolt during ancient times.
Lupercii: Human men that serve the Lupercal and Lycans. They serve as spies for the secret lycan society and worship the lycan goddess, Feronia. They often take alpha female lycans as consorts. The Lupercii hope that in their next life they will be born as lycans.

Lycan Gods and Society

Feronia:  The goddess of the lycans. She is said to have been a wolf maiden who took a shape shifting giant wolf as a lover. She communes with her oracles, especially with the leader of the Lupercal and wolf maidens.
Lusna: Moon goddess that gave them the gift of painless shifting.
Lupercal: Governmental and spiritual body of the secret lycan society. It is run by twelve alpha female lycans. The leader of the Lupercal is often a seer and or sorceress. Their word is law and any who disobey will be considered rogue and or be punished by returning to their next life as a prey animal.
Lupercalia: Early spring festival when most wolf maidens and beta lycans become fertile. Rituals allow for wild sex escapades.
Den brother or sister: Pack that a lycan grew up with, not necessarily related by blood.
Valeria Luperca: A wolf maiden that has the healing touch. Can heal any lycan both physically and emotionally. Mentioned in White Wolf of Avalon.
Bear men: Also known as bearskins. An ancient line of humans who could shift into bears at anytime. Their shift is painful. Like bears they hibernate during the winter.  They can be slow witted, strong and have a short temper. During ancient times lycans killed most off from the continent.

Conditions that Harm Lycans

 Lunar Madness: A condition, though rare, which can occur when an alpha suppresses his shift for too long. It will cause the alpha to shift with the pull of the moon until his system stabilizes.
Rabies: A viral disease transferred from the bite of an infected animal.  Can cause a lycan to kill many.
Werewolf Bite fever: An infection that can kill a human from the bite of a lycan.
Wolfsbane: A flower that is toxic to a lycan. It is often used as poison because a lycan cannot smell or taste it.

About the Author:
I write fantasy and paranormal novels with a strong romantic element. I love to create stories that combine my passion for mythology, romance and werewolf lore. Apocalyptic Moon was inspired by my love of the zombie genre. It is book 1 in my After the Bane series. Book 2, Raven Moon will be released 2014.
I also write steampunk and Victorian era historical and alternative novels. Hand of Miriam, A Bayla and the Golem story should be released soon. December 2013.
Please Note: I have my rights back to The Wolf Maiden Chronicles series and Corvallis Press will be publishing my updated, revised books. The series is now called the Wolf Maiden Saga. Lycan Gladiator, book 1 is out with more to come.
I have a BS in Zoology and graduate studies in Biology. I have taught high school Biology, Environmental Science and Anatomy/Physiology. When not in my den writing, I enjoy world travel, steampunk conventions, hiking, raptor rehabilitation and wolf sanctuaries.
I also teach online workshops on wolf lore ancient falconry and animal lore for Romance Writers of America and other writer groups. 

Author Links:

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Book Spotlight: Hand of Miriam by Eva Gordon

Hand of Miriam
A Bayla and the Golem Novel
By Eva Gordon

Published By Eva Gordon
Genre: Gothic Steampunk Romance
Cover art by Nicolene van Staden
Editing by Marion Archer and Karen Lawson
Published: December 13, 2013


A Victorian world of supernatural creatures, magnificent airships, a secret society, and one bluestocking adventuress who, threatened by evil seeks protection by awakening the golem.

Book Blurb:
On an archaeological expedition, Bayla Gideon, is widowed by a supernatural force and branded with the Hand of Miriam or Knowing Eye. Threatened by evil, she awakens the golem; a mythical man of clay, who protected the Jewish community over three centuries ago.
The golem, Gesher, is surprised. Freedom –by a beautiful, enchanting woman. His desire is to return to the celestial spheres and regain his status as an avenging angel. Yet, Bayla challenges his mind, body and soul. Would he risk his return to the heavens for her? 
Besides, dealing with the otherkind, mad inventors and an unrelenting matchmaking aunt, Bayla is equally determined to resist her steamy attraction to the striking fallen angel. 
Thrust into a malevolent war, which includes facing Jack the Ripper, they must resist the magnetic pull toward each other, while protecting the world from encroaching evil.

Note: Hand of Miriam is Book 1 of a duology in Bayla and the Golem novels, which will continue after Book 2, Her Majesty’s Witch, with the steampunk adventures of other corseted but brainy members of the exclusive Bluestocking Adventuress Club.

Excerpt:
Bayla unlocked the Gemmatridon and held it as instructed. The talismans on the cover shifted into gears that twisted in rapid circles, and buzzed like irate bees while emitting light. Startled, she fumbled with it. The box opened. Inside was a small parchment. The instructions dictated that it be placed in the golem’s mouth. She carefully removed the ancient scroll and with trembling hands set it in the slit that had to be its mouth. Immediately, the parchment sunk in as if swallowed by quicksand and vanished. The chamber shook as if an earthquake had struck. She fell back still holding the box. Sitting sprawled on the floor, she froze in terror. Thankfully, the tremor stopped.
A blinding bright light erupted from the crate and the golem roared a deep menacing bellow from within.
 Bayla dropped the box. What have I done? She closed her eyes from the blazing brightness and wrapped her arms and head over her knees. Like a candle snuffed out, the light vanished. The golem’s holler subsided into a grumbling moan, as if awakened from its slumber.
 She dared look. The golem sat in the crate. She suppressed a scream on seeing his rigid red-stone face. He looked like a misshapen man made of hard red rock. An aleph was added in front of met. The Hebrew word for truth, emet, now inscribed on his forehead, permitting it life. It slowly rose and stepped out. Tall, its square head almost touched the ceiling. It wasn’t too monstrous in stature, perhaps six-foot-seven, and within the range of human height. It blinked open gray eyes and stared at her. His eyes were the only part that looked remotely human and revealed his soul, by holding her gaze as if he knew her.
Bayla scooted back on her bottom but kept her eyes on him. There was a connection, a warm bond that eased her fear. She couldn’t read its thoughts. Was it because it had none?

The golem turned his head to the side and spoke in a deep baritone voice, “You are a woman.” 

About the Author:
I write fantasy and paranormal novels with a strong romantic element. I love to create stories that combine my passion for mythology, romance and werewolf lore. Apocalyptic Moon was inspired by my love of the zombie genre. It is book 1 in my After the Bane series. Book 2, Raven Moon will be released 2014.
I also write steampunk and Victorian era historical and alternative novels. Hand of Miriam, A Bayla and the Golem story should be released soon. December 2013.
Please Note:
I have my rights back to The Wolf Maiden Chronicles series and Corvallis Press will be publishing my updated, revised books. The series is now called the Wolf Maiden Saga. Lycan Gladiator, book 1 is out with more to come.
I have a BS in Zoology and graduate studies in Biology. I have taught high school Biology, Environmental Science and Anatomy/Physiology. When not in my den writing, I enjoy world travel, steampunk conventions, hiking, raptor rehabilitation and wolf sanctuaries.
I also teach online workshops on wolf lore ancient falconry and animal lore for Romance Writers of America and other writer groups. If you are interested in my workshops, please contact me.

Author Links: