Guest Post: Diana Cachey author of Love Spirits

Love Spirits
What Happens In Venice
Book One
Diana Cachey
Genre: Romance/paranormal
ISBN: 1481031767
ISBN: 9781481031769
Number of pages: 160
Word Count: 40,000

Tagline: Among the romantic canals of Venice—and oh so many Italian distractions—can a stunning American lawyer and her psychic sister help the Ghosts of Venice solve a hushed-up crime?

Book Description:

Louisa Mangotti is a gorgeous American lawyer and Interpol expert who, after being offered a job working with the international crime unit in Venice, receives a mysterious postcard from the Venetian Ghosts, the ancient protectors of the Republic. But Louisa assumes her bad-boy ex, Matteo, sent it in a quixotic attempt to gain her attention.  Louisa may have dismissed the ghosts, but the ghosts aren’t quite done with her.

When the bodies of two glassmakers wash up on Murano Island, the cryptic messages persist. Reluctantly, Louisa calls upon Matteo to help decipher the clues. And before she knows it, a flame that was never fully extinguished is rekindled.  Sensing that her sister is in over her head, Barbara Mangotti rushes to the rescue, only to be lured away by two handsome Venetian men.

With time running out, can the two beauties solve a crime that could threaten the city of Venice itself?

About the Author:

Diana Cachey is a licensed attorney, published academic, and former adjunct law professor. She also holds a BA in English, and while in law school, she was the first female editor in chief of her university’s law review. The author of the novel Love Spirits, she has trained with several New York Times best-selling writers, including Robert Allen, with more than seventy-two million books sold. For more than a decade, Cachey has been traveling to Venice, the setting of her novel, on extended trips several times a year. The cafés, restaurants, and many other haunts of Venice play a prominent role in her sexy paranormal mystery-romance about a beautiful American lawyer guided by the Ghosts of Venice in the investigation of a hushed-up crime.

Book Spotlight: Cade by V.A. Dold

Cade
Le Beau Series
Book 1
V.A. Dold
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication:  March 17 2014
ASIN:  B00J1WTSE2
Number of pages:  239
Word Count: about 62,000

Available at Amazon

Book Description:

Anna James is single again, finally. In her opinion, men are self-centered and will never love her for who she is, a beautiful, plus sized woman. All except the fantasy man that she’s been meeting in her dreams for five years.

She just never expected her fantasy to be a real live alpha shifter...

Cade Le Beau isn't what he seems. He’s a billionaire wolf. A Shifter. He laments his missed chance six months ago to meet his fantasy woman in the flesh. Just as his second chance presents itself, his fantasy woman, his mate, is threatened by the local mob boss and her ex-husband. Now, he has forty eight hours to deal with this threat once and for all or chance losing her again.

Is it Anna who’s in danger, or the humans who unwittingly threaten her?

The heat is on the moment they lay eyes on each other. Neither, age, children, horrid ex-husbands, nor mob bosses will stop this love affair.

NOTE: Complete novel. No cliffhanger. Dual POV. Rated 18+ for language and strong sexual content. This is an adult paranormal romance with erotic content. The series centers on wolf shifters but also includes vampires, voodoo priestess, a Marine, and magic. These are stand alone books that create a series. They do not need to be read in order.

About the Author: 
V.A.Dold is the bestselling author of the Le Beau Brothers series, New Orleans wolf shifter novels. A graduate of Saint Cloud University, she majored in marketing. Prior to becoming a full time writer, she was a publicist to the authors, owning Innovative Online Book Tours and ARC Author & Reader Con's (ARC NOLA) (ARC Phoenix). Still is. The companies mesh so well together, much like PB&J.

Her idea of absolute heaven is a day in the French Quarter filled with nothing but her computer, her coffee mug and the Brothers, of course.

A Minnesota native with her heart lost to Louisiana, she has a penchant for titillating tales featuring sexy men and strong women. When she's not writing, she's probably taking in a movie, reading or traveling.

Her earliest reading memories are from grade school. She had a major fixation with horses, and the Black Stallion was a favorite. Then junior high came along and teenage hormones kicked in. It became all about the Harlequin Romances. She has been hooked on romances ever since.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Interview: Sheena Hutchinson author of Seraphina: The Awakening

Seraphina: The Awakening

Seraphina Series

Book One
Sheena Hutchinson

Genre: Paranormal Romance
ASIN: B00HL5PQYM
Word Count: 60,000

Book Description:

For as long as she can remember, Seraphina Cross has experienced these visions that made her feel like there was more to life. It wasn’t until one moment, one accident that her life changed forever. She awakens the next day a new person in more ways than one. With no recollection of past night’s events, she’s forced to adapt to certain sensations she is experiencing all while trying to piece together what exactly happened to her that fateful night.

Her strange, hectic life doesn’t seem to make sense until she meets a handsome stranger. Only then does the puzzle finally piece itself together. What she doesn’t expect is the new powers she has developed attracting all kinds of unwanted attention.

Thrown into a world she never truly believed existed she is forced to come to grips with who she is becoming while staying out of trouble long enough to figure out what needs to be done to fulfill her destiny.

Available at Amazon and Amazon UK

Excerpt:

I was 18 the first time it happened. I wake up the next day and remember everything about the dream I had just experienced. It’s as if I live one life during the day and once I close my eyes on this world I wake up in another. I’ve gotten used to it over the years; my dreams have actually become something of an escape from my mundane life. During the day I’m a normal, everyday receptionist, but at night I become something else, something important. It’s not always images either. Sometimes my dreams are blank and I’m just experiencing emotions or sensations. Don’t get me wrong- it can be scary sometimes. I never know if it will be a good dream or a bad one. The good ones tend to make me feel empowered and strong, while the bad ones will have me waking up in a pool of my own sweat screaming or even shaking in fear.

Driving home I try to focus on the road, but my mind won’t seem to cooperate. Tears begin to well up in my eyes as I’m driving down the lonely, deserted street. Staring out the windshield through my tears I can’t help but think the scenery is just how I feel inside, alone and dead. It’s just a normal December night outside, but I can feel it coming for me. The darkness and depression creeping up on me like a monster in the night.

I pull up to my house, put my car in park, and pause for a second. I sit with my hands still on my steering wheel staring down the empty dead-end street, not hearing the radio blasting, breathing in the darkness, and finally accepting the depression that’s coming. Tears are streaming down my face now, smearing the mascara I was wearing. Resting my head on the steering wheel, I allow the tears to stream down my pale cheeks. I can’t get control of all the emotions swirling up inside of me, it seems like all I can do is release them.  My mind wanders from the freakiness of my date, to my dreams, to the psychic encounter, to the weird feelings I’ve been having and back again. I can’t help but feel like this world will never be enough. I will never be truly whole because part of me lives in another realm. I will never be truly content with this life, I have this overwhelming feeling that I’m waiting for something, something else, something… more.

About the Author:

Sheena is a born and raised New Yorker, even her writing can’t hide her hard sarcasm. Like some she went to college blindly and spend her early years trying to decide which path to take, dabbling in various jobs and career ventures, such as modeling, clinical psychology, retail, and medical billing. All before destiny lead her to writing again. She constantly strives to be a positive role model and write stories that empower and inspire.  

Sheena always roots for the underdog, believes in love at first sight, and that everyone should have their happily ever after. While God is currently writing her love story she continues to put all her time into her writing as she is constantly getting new inspiration.

For more on Sheena and her books visit her website www.SheenaHutchinson.com

Twitter: @Sheena_Hutch
www.Facebook.com/TheSeraphinaSeries
www.Goodreads.com/SheenaHutch

Tour giveaway

5 e-copies of Seraphina

2 baskets of Seraphina Swag Including: a mug, keychain, bookmark, notebook, pen- open to US Shipping

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Release Day Book Blitz Giveaway & Excerpt: Snow White and the Vampire by Marina Myles

Snow White and the Vampire
The Cursed Princes, Book Two
by Marina Myles

Genre: Historical/paranormal romance 
Fairy tales retold
Publisher: Kensington
Date of Publication: December 19, 2013 


Book Description:
Fog and Fascination. Alba Spencer thought her past in Romania and the dark magic that haunted it 
was behind her forever. She is one of the first female barristers now, safe in London. But London has its dark side, too. A man called the Ripper stalks the midnight streets. There are rumors that her hated stepmother has found her again, suggestions that the nightmares of her childhood are returning. And with them appears the cursed Gypsy boy she once loved, grown into a man more seductive and more terrifying than she ever could have dreamed…

Dimitri Grigorescu has become a surgeon, a gentleman—and a vampire. The lusts that drive his body are scarcely under control, and even he does not truly know what he is capable of. To fight evil and confusion, Alba must rely only on her wits—and a desire that overwhelms her doubts…

Excerpt from SNOW WHITE AND THE VAMPIRE:
“I’m very grateful for Teddy’s friendship—and for the opportunity to be introduced to the people he’s acquainted with.” The surgeon lowered his tone. “People like you, Miss."
His words encouraged the spattering of nervous blotches across Alba’s chest. “You’re too kind,” she murmured. “So you find this city a pleasant enough place to live?”
“Pleasant but for the brutal murderer who lurks in the Whitechapel District.”
“Are you referring to the killer the newspapers are calling ‘Leather Apron’?” she asked.
He evaluated her with interest yet said nothing.
“I understand this monster killed two unfortunates by ripping their abdomens wide open,” she went on, making no attempt to sugarcoat her words since she was speaking with a surgeon.
“Where did you hear that, Miss Spencer?”
“It said so in the penny dreadfuls. Oh, not that I read them frequently…”
Drake raised an eyebrow.
What am I saying? She didn’t normally babble on so, but this man had lit a fire beneath her, though she couldn’t say why. To her great relief, the doctor didn’t seem to notice her jittering nerves.
“Nasty business, preying on those unknowing women,” he said. “I can’t imagine a man treating any female that way. After all, women are beautiful creatures to be coddled. Admired. Cherished.”
“That’s a lovely thought.” Alba repressed a girlish sigh. “It’s a shame the killer does not share your school of thought.”
Drake wrapped his hands around his back. “I daresay the police believe this murderer will strike again.”
“I fear that is why fewer people came to your party this evening than Teddy anticipated. The city is gripped with fear.” She paused to take a sip of champagne. “Perhaps we should talk about something more uplifting than murder.”
“Yes.” The surgeon took her glass and deposited it on a servant’s tray. With his hand pressed to the small of her back, he guided her to a quiet corner of the drawing room.
As she turned to face him, she could smell hot liquor fumes and the scent of expensive aftershave. Surprisingly, she found that she liked the mixture of aromas.
“Teddy tells me you hail from Romania as well, Miss Spencer. What are the chances of that?”
“Slim, I daresay.”
“You’ve lost a great deal of your accent, but if I had to guess, you are from Bucharest.”
“I am.” How did he know?
His features darkened. “It appears we were destined to meet. And since we have, I’d be fascinated to know more about you.”
Although Alba was taken aback by his boldness, nerves propelled her to continue their conversation in a blabbering rush. “I came to London when I was fourteen—to live with a family friend who runs the dormitory apartments of the Royal Opera’s corps de ballet. Just this year, I graduated from law school. That’s where Teddy and I met—at King’s College. Recently, I’ve been assisting Teddy’s father, Harold Rollingsworth, in the hopes that—”
“—you will become London’s first female barrister.” Drake completed her thought. Tilting his head to the side, he gazed at her with admiration. “Lovely, intelligent, and a pioneer. You are a rare gem, Miss Spencer.”
The Romanian’s hungry stare closed the small distance between them. Alba’s cheeks burned. We hardly know one another! 
Desperate to steer the conversation away from herself, she cleared her throat. “I have yet to wish you a happy birthday, Dr. Griffin.”
“Thank you.” The guest of honor did a cordial bow. “But ‘Griffin’ is merely my professional name.”
Alba frowned. “What is your real name?”
“Dimitri Grigorescu.”
Alba’s limbs froze and the room started to take on a slow whirl. “That’s curious,” she murmured. “I knew someone by that name in Romania.”
“And I once knew a girl named Alba Zǎpǎda,” Dimitri said as a curtain of desire passed over his face. “You.”
His lips thinned into a familiar smile and Alba’s hand flew to her gaping mouth. Curse my poor eyesight! Now that she was this close to him she knew precisely who he was: Dimitri, the handsome Gypsy boy she’d fallen in love with at the tender age of fourteen. Words escaped her while she gasped for air.
“Life is too short to be without the ones you love,” Dimitri purred. “Don’t you think?”
All at once, memories of the summer Alba spent in the Balkan countryside flashed through her mind: The first kiss she and Dimitri shared amid a field of white poppies. Simona, Dimitri’s raven-haired friend. And the terrifying night the three of them spent in a haunted graveyard.
Her blood raced and the room spun in faster circles.
“I’ve been waiting an eternity to return this to you,” Dimiti whispered as he slipped a dried white poppy into her hand.

“But I thought you were dead,” she said before everything went black.

Amazon | BN | iTunes | eKensington 

About the Author:
Although Marina Myles lives under the sunny skies of Arizona, she would reside in a historic manor house in foggy England if she had her way. Her love of books began as soon as she read her first fairy tale and eventually led to degrees in English Literature and Communications. Now, with her loyal Maltese close by, she relishes the hours she gets to escape into worlds filled with fiery—but not easily attained—love affairs.
She’s busy being a wife and a mother, but she is never too busy to hear from her amazing readers. 

Author Contacts:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Tour Giveaway: 
20 free downloads of SNOW WHITE AND THE VAMPIRE
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Guest Blog: This Ring by Jacqueline Paige

This Ring
by Jacqueline Paige

Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy Romance

Today we have a guest blog by author Jacqueline Paige.

Writing a shorter story is harder than writing a 200 page one.  I didn’t think this was true until I was asked to write a novella.  My first thought was “this will be so easy”.   I was wrong. 

With a longer full length story you have all the time in the world to unravel the plot, get to know the characters…with the shorter ones it’s hard to put it all together so the reader gets the whole picture in a much shorter time frame.

Maybe I’m a bit backwards (maybe???) but trying to write This Ring and keeping it “novella” length was a grueling process for me.  I wanted to explore the characters more and find all the little things about them that you didn’t see.  Bryce’s internal monologues were much, much longer in the pre-edited version. His thoughts alone could have filled endless pages. Then again if I had nothing to do but think for forty years I could fill volumes of notebooks with my thoughts too.

Anytime I want to challenge myself after this I’m going to write a shorter story.

About the Book:

Attempting to pick up the pieces of her life and heart, Emma flees to an isolated cottage on a lake. Not knowing what to do or where to start, she needs time to decide on her new life.
An invisibility curse has given Bryce forty years to reflect on past mistakes. The arrival of an intriguing woman brings him someone to watch, who just might be the first to see him in decades.
Together they may find their chance to live again…

This Ring was previously published in 2011 as one of the stories in the Curses book

Excerpt:

The most fascinating thing began to happen as the sun started to light the world.  It looked as if fog, or mist she supposed, was coming off the ground and shore, moving out over the water.  She sat there in awe, never having seen such a thing in her life.  It was both eerie and breathtaking all at the same time.  For a second she pondered on whether she should run back inside and get her phone to record it—but not knowing how long it would last she sat right where she was.
In no time the lake was covered in a blanket of mist that hovered and swirled just over the water’s surface.  Emma couldn’t take her eyes off the bright white layer over the water.  Birds were oblivious to it being there as some flew from the trees to land among the haze—only to vanish from her sight.  There was something else among the white vapor; she stood to get a better look in the low light, trying to decide what it could be. 
As her eyes focused through the misty dawn glow she dropped the cup to the sand beside her shoes.  It looked like a man; only he wasn’t quite solid looking.  Which, she knew was crazy.  Men didn’t walk out of the water.  She thought maybe he was on a boat that the fog hid, until it swirled clear around him and there was nothing but water beneath his feet. Snapping her mouth shut, she squinted and watched as he came towards the shore.  Having hallucinated more than enough, she turned abruptly and walked back towards the little cottage.  Clearly she still needed a lot more sleep.

Amazon | BN

About the Author:

Jacqueline Paige lives in Ontario in a small town that’s part of the popular Georgian Triangle area.  No one has ever heard of Stayner, so she usually tells people she lives “near Collingwood” and no, she doesn’t ski at Blue Mountain or at all, in fact she’s not even fond of snow.

She began her writing career in 2006 and since her first published works in 2009 she hasn’t stopped. Jacqueline describes her writing as “all things paranormal”, which she has proven is her niche with stories of witches, ghosts, physics and shifters now on the shelves.

When Jacqueline isn’t working at her ‘reality job’ or lost in her writing she spends time with her five children, most of whom are finally able to look after her instead of the other way around.  Together they do random road trips, that usually end up with them lost,  shopping trips where they push every button in the toy aisle, hiking when there’s enough time to escape and bizarre things like creating new daring recipes in the kitchen. She’s a grandmother to four (so far) and looks forward to corrupting many more in the years to come.

Author Contacts:

Website | Blog |  Blog 

Guest Blog: To Love a Highland Dragon by Ann Gimpel

To Love a Highland Dragon
Dragon Lore, Book 1
by Ann Gimpel

Publisher: TaliesinRelease Date: 9/5/13

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Romance

From Guest Author Ann Gimpel:

Elements of Great Storytelling

I’ve thought about this a lot lately since I ran into a spate of uninspired books, both on my Kindle and in Books on CD. I will say, though, that in the latter format, a gifted actor reading an audiobook can make even a mediocre story come to life and can gloss over awkward grammatical constructions so they aren’t quite as noticeable.

How about if we start with characters? It goes without saying they need to be three dimensional, which means they have thoughts, feelings, and actions that are congruent with their personalities. In my opinion, if a book doesn’t have characters that reach out and grab your heartstrings, then it’s DOA. It can have the most inspired plot in the world, but it’s wasted if readers don’t care about the characters.

Alrighty, so we have decent characters. Maybe not great characters, but they’re good enough you want
to pick up the book to see what they’re going to do next. Plot determines the next moves in a book.
Plot is basically the story that the book tells, but it’s how we get from point A to point B that weeds out
talented writers from the rest of the pack. Brilliant plotting is tightly woven and the writer’s hand is all but invisible. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been somewhere in a book and something happens that just screams “convenient plot twist.” As an aside, this is why all writers need someone—critical partners, publishers, editors—to be a fresh pair of eyes. No matter how seasoned a writer is, he (or she) can’t see the foibles in his own writing. Not all of them, anyway. Another plotting issue is plot threads that go nowhere. They look intriguing, but the writer just never gets back to them.

A corollary of plotting is pace and tension. The plot has to move fast enough to draw a reader along, yet not so fast as to lose them. Writers accomplish this by inserting pacing into the plot and building/releasing tension. Of course certain genres, like horror, have a whole lot more tension than most romances. But even romances—the good ones—have a big, dark moment when it seems like the hero and heroine will never be able to bridge the gap between them. This introduces tension and draws readers into turning pages to see what’s going to happen next.

I think I’m probably like most writers in that I write the same type of fiction I like to read. For me, it’s
fast paced, with strong characters that collide with one another. Lots of passion. Lots of angst. Big,
dark moments that are really big and truly dark. In a lot of ways, writing isn’t so different from being a psychologist. Not everyone will like what I write. I don’t expect them to. Not everyone likes Stephen
King, or any of the really big names of our time. Likewise, I always told my patients that the first couple
of sessions were “getting to know one another,” and seeing if we were a good match. Just like I’m not
the right author for everyone, neither was I the right therapist. That’s just common sense, really.

What sings to you in books you read? Why do you adore your favorite author? If you had to pick great
characters versus great plot, which would it be?

-Ann Gimpel

Book Description:

In a cave deep beneath Inverness, a dragon shifter stirs and wakens. The cave is the same and his hoard intact, yet Lachlan senses something amiss. Taking his human form, he ventures above ground with ancient memories flooding him. But nothing is the same. His castle has been replaced by ungainly row houses. Men aren’t wearing plaids and women scarcely wear anything at all.

In Inverness for a year on a psychiatry fellowship, Dr. Maggie Hibbins watches an oddly dressed man pick his way out of a heather and gorse thicket. Even though it runs counter to her better judgment, she teases him about his strange attire. He looks so lost—and so unbelievably handsome —she takes him to a pub for a meal, to a barbershop, and then home. Along the way the hard-to-accept truth sinks in: he has to be a refugee from another era.

Never a risk-taker, Maggie’s carefully constructed life is about to change forever. Swept up in an ancient prophecy that links her to Lachlan and his dragon, she must push the edges of the impossible to save both the present and her heart.

About the Author:

Ann Gimpel is a clinical psychologist, with a Jungian bent.  Avocations include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness photography and, of course, writing.  A lifelong aficionado of the unusual, she began writing speculative fiction a few years ago. Since then her short fiction has appeared in a number of webzines and anthologies. Several paranormal romance novellas are available in e-format. Three novels, Psyche’s Prophecy, Psyche’s Search, and Psyche's Promise are small press publications available in e-format and paperback. Look for three more urban fantasy novels coming this summer and fall: To Tame a Highland Dragon, Earth’s Requiem and Earth’s Blood.

A husband, grown children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out her family.

Author Contacts:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Amazon

Book Review & Interview: Heaven and Hellsbane by Paige Cuccaro

Heaven and Hellsbane
Hellsbane Series, Book Two
by Paige Cuccaro

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Our Review:

As the second full novel in the series, Heaven and Hellsbane continues the story of Emma Jane Hellsbane, and her wannabe-lover, Eli. And that’s where the simplicity ends. In this very complicated world of illorum and angles, demons, magisters and gibborim, a novice reader in this world could easily get lost among the varied relationships and histories. However, Ms. Cuccaro does a good job keeping everything straight and clear in the reader’s mind.

The story is fast-paced, and the author creates vivid imagery and action with her words. The only points of dissatisfaction I had were not with the writing, per se, but with the author’s tendency to over play certain moments, such as too much introspection by the heroine, Emma Jane, when she is in full battle mode, or Emma’s very persistent stomach woes when looking at something gross. In both cases Emma is used to fighting and the inevitable gory outcome, so why the hesitation and bile every time?

That being said, those two points are by no means show stoppers. This is a solid and exciting read and puts the other books in the series, Commencement (prequel novella), Hellsbane, and From Here to Eternity on my list of “must reads”. Well done.  -Cary Morgan Frates

Our Interview with Paige:
We are delighted to have Paige Cuccaro with us today to give us a little insight into her life and the things that make her tick.

Paige, where are you from and from where/who did your love for writing come from?
I’m from Pennsylvania originally. A tiny little town that was named for its stop on the Pony Express—Eighty Four PA. My family is pretty creative, both parents. My mother was a music teacher and my Dad was a draftsmen and a really good artist. I’m the only one who took their creative side in the direction of writing.

Can you say that your journey to publication was difficult? If so, what were the hardest moments to get through?
I don’t know if it was difficult, but it was long…I’m still on it. The hardest moments were getting those rejection letters. It’s hard to keep going when you get a letter every other day saying, “Nope. No thanks. Not what we’re looking for.” And of course, my insecurities read through the lines and saw, “No WAY do we want you. You write like a fifth grader. Why do you keep bothering us?” It took a long time to STOP letting my paranoia see something in the words that wasn’t there. I had to learn to read ONLY what it said, not what I thought they might mean by it.

Editors are very busy people. They don’t have time to play word games. They write what they mean. There’s no mystery to decipher. If they say, it wasn’t what they were looking for, then…it wasn’t what they were looking for. That’s it. And if an editor says, “If you have something else I’d be happy to look at it,” or, “Feel free to submit something else…” THEY MEAN IT. They’re not going to beg you, but there’s really no clearer way for them to ask for more from you. They’re not just being nice. They don’t have that kind of time. If you get that kind of rejection letter…send something else! They’re waiting! I can’t tell you how many opportunities I missed because I thought they were just being nice. Ugh…

The easiest way to get through it is to start writing the next thing. It’s so much easier to put that rejection letter to the side when you can tell yourself, “Okay, they didn’t like that one, but they’re gonna LOVE this one…” Then keep on writing!

How do you overcome i-suck-at this, that little voice in your head that tells you your writing isn’t good enough?
I don’t know. I still get that feeling from time to time. Before I was published, I told myself that if I was right, and I do suck, I’ll just keep writing, keep learning until I don’t suck anymore. I entered contests and got outside validation that way. And once I was published I could look at those books and say…somebody thinks I don’t suck. That feeling is just part of being a writer. We put our hearts on the page and then send it out to be read/judged. It’s easier to believe the bad stuff than the good, so one rejection, one bad review can make you doubt everything. You just have to shrug and tell yourself, even if it is total crap, I’m writing it anyway because I want to write it. In the end that’s really why we all write, isn’t it? Because we like to do it. So…do it. Whether you actually suck or not…doesn’t really matter.

What is your dream vacation?
A yearlong tour of Europe.

Describe your writing style in five words.
Brainstorm, Plot, write, re-plot, write.

What movies are you currently excited to see?
Enders Game, Thor, The Hunger Games, The Hobbit… Should I keep going? I <3 movies!

What are you currently reading?
Affliction, by Laurell K. Hamilton.

If you weren’t a writer, what other careers would you pursue?
I would’ve loved to have been a psychologist. I wanted to major in psychology when I first went to college, but the counselor talked me out of it. He said I’d never find work, but I think that’s because he couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to have some of the jobs that a psych degree would get you. I could. I should’ve ignored him and done what I wanted. But…then I wouldn’t have started writing.

If you could create a holiday of your own, what would it be called?
Un-holiday. A nationally recognized day where absolutely nothing is expected of you. No gifts. No special meals. No “traditional” events to be attended or preformed. Just a day off…from everything…with pay.  

For people who haven’t read your novel, how would you summarize the plot?
Emma Jane Hellsbane was born different, the child of Fallen angel and human—the child of sin. But Heaven has a way for her to make amends for her birth. Like others born of Fallen angels, she’ll work as their bounty hunter, rounding up the Fallen and banishing them to the abyss. The trouble is, the Fallen won’t go quietly and Emma won’t be done until she finds the one Fallen angel who created her.

What are two of your pet-peeves?
People who sit at green lights admiring the pretty color. It’s green folks. GO!

To you, what makes a good story?
Interesting realistically flawed characters who have clear goals. I like action, less introspection. And a slow burning love story where I’m as excited for the characters to finally come together as they are.

What usually turns you off about a story?
Whiny heroines. Or heroines who absolutely every male that comes in contact with them falls head over heels for them. And it drives me crazy when I read a book that promises something, a romance, or a goal and then doesn’t deliver it. That’s false advertisement. Tear jerker, lost love stories sold as a romance. – Turn off! Hot steamy—sex on every other page—book billed as an urban fantasy. – Turn off! I like tear jerkers and erotic romance, I just think an author should deliver what the genre promises.

If you could collaborate with any author, who would you choose, and why?
Anne Rice! That would be sooo awesome! I just love the way she writes and I’d love to work with her in hopes that a little of that talent would rub off onto me. LOL

Also, Jim Butcher. For much of the same reason, but also because he’s got a more current voice and a more male view point on the world. He’s got an amazing imagination and it would be such fun to be a part of that!

What is on your night stand?
A Boba fett alarm clock. A lamp with a built in nightlight. Box of tissues. A drink coaster and lotion.

What is your favorite book?
Interview with a Vampire, by Anne Rice.

Thank you, Paige! 

Amazon | BN 

For More from the Author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog

Author Interview & Giveaway: Victoria Danaa author of Gathering Storm

Gathering Storm
The Order of the Black SwanBook Five
Victoria Danann
               
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: 7^th House   

ISBN: 978-1-933320-93-9
ASIN:

Number of pages: 320
Word Count: 85k

Cover Artist: Victoria Danann

Book Description:

The fifth installment in the Black Swan serial saga. READING IN ORDER STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. That’s why we have a try-before-you-buy-program. The first book in the saga, My Familiar Stranger, is PermaFREE everywhere.

THE NEWSLETTER: Z Team, a.k.a Zed Company, is transferred to Jefferson Unit, which is being temporarily retired as an active hunter facility and converted to a research / training institution. Sol takes his first vacation – ever – leaving Glen in charge with Storm supervising. Rosie is proving to be an extraordinary little girl and Deliverance is in BIG trouble with her mother.

THE SURPRISES: Storm is really not himself. Former members of B Team must reunite to preserve his image and reputation.  No one could have prepared for the surprises Rosie delivers.

THE ADVENTURE: The Ralengclan send a second wave assassination team to Jefferson Unit at the worst possible time, when it’s been left defended by only Z Team, Glen, the Lady Laiken and the trainees.

Our Interview with Victoria Danann:

Welcome Victoria, and thanks for taking the time to interview with us. We are looking forward to discovering a little bit about you.

Where are you from and from where/who did your love for writing come from?

I was born in Austin, Texas. Sixth generation. Where does writing come from? For all I know I 

brought it forward from another lifetime.

Can you say that your journey to publication was difficult? If so, what were the hardest 

moments to get through?

I owned a small publishing company for almost fifteen years, specializing in New Age books, 

calendars, sidelines. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I didn’t have time or patience for 

traditional publishing, so I published through my own company. So, no, it wasn’t difficult. 

How do you overcome i-suck-at this, that little voice in your head that tells you your writing 

isn’t good enough?

This may sound bad, but I’ve never experienced that. 

What is your dream vacation?

I would like to take one of those repositioning cruises where you’re at sea for about ten days with 

nothing to do but eat, sleep, look at the water, and write.

Describe your writing style in five words.

I’m sorry. I’ve never had a class on writing so I don’t know what you’re looking for. I would 

have to just repeat the word “mine” five times.

What movies are you currently excited to see?

I’ve been so busy with books and music, I haven’t paid attention.

What are you currently reading?

Sweet Dreams, Kristen Ashley

If you weren’t a writer, what other careers would you pursue?

I’ve already had lives in airlines, as an evening wear designer, and a Classic Rock musician. I 

think this is the last stop.

If you could create a holiday of your own, what would it be called?

Men have to do all the planning, shopping, decorating, cooking, and cleaning up Winter Solstice 

celebration.

For people who haven’t read your novel, how would you summarize the plot?

This is the fifth installment in a serial saga that must be read in order to be understood and 

appreciated. The short version blurb is this. Storm is REALLY not himself. B Team must reunite 

to try and preserve his reputation. Jefferson Unit is left defended by a skeleton crew when 

Ralengclan renew their assassination mission. This book explores an age old questions. Do you 

believe in destiny? Do you think any part of it is predetermined by fate?

What are two of your pet-peeves?

1. People who wait until their groceries are completely bagged and then start fishing in their 

purse or pocket for a paper checkbook. 

2. Books that pass themselves off as novels and give no indication of a cliff hanger until 

you’re, well, left hanging on the last page. 

To you, what makes a good story?

Was I emotionally engaged? Do I care about the characters? Am I satisfied with the outcome?

What usually turns you off about a story?

Phrases that get repeated too often. Example. I fell in love with a New Adult trilogy that shall go 

unnamed. Loved everything about it except the fact that all the characters “smacked” each other. 

The smacking could mean anything from a love pat to a black eye. I’m coming from a culture 

wherein I don’t smack and am not smacked – with the possible exception of Slug Bug. In these 

books there was so much smacking going on that I had my Kindle count at one point. It was 

something like 93 mentions in the first book, 60 odd occurrences in the second book, and I don’t 

recall the third. The reason why it irritated was because it reached the point where each mention 

of smacking took me out of the story temporarily.

If you could collaborate with any author, who would you choose, and why?

Without hesitation, Stephen King. Always wanted to meet him. Call me Uncle Stevie.

What is on your night stand? 

TV that never gets turned on unless I’m sick, a lamp, and a Kindle Fire.

What is your favorite book?

Memnock the Devil, Anne Rice.    

Thank you, Victoria.! Great Interview.  Everyone, be sure to check out Victoria's giveaway and the bottom of the page!          

About the Author:
If you're looking for something new and different in PNR, you've come to the right place.
I write unapologetic romances with uniquely fresh perspectives on paranormal creatures, characters, and themes. Add a dash of scifi and a flourish of fantasy to enough humor to make you laugh out loud and enough steam to make you squirm in your chair. My heroines are independent femmes with flaws and minds of their own whether they are aliens, witches, demonologists, psychics, or past life therapists. My heroes are hot and hunky, but they also have brains, character, and good manners - usually - whether they be elves, demons, berserkers, werewolves, or vampires.
My first book, My Familiar Stranger, was nominated for Best Paranormal Romance of 2012 by the Reviewers' Choice  and Readers’ Choice Awards. Each of my books has remained on the Amazon best seller list in category every day since release. All four also earned the Night Owl Reviews TOP PICK award and have remained on the Amazon Best Sellers list every day since release.
My work has been compared to J R Ward, Karen Marie Moning, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Lara Adrian. For example:
"I do see shades of Lara Adrian's Breed books and shades of J R Wards Black Dagger books, but this story is unique enough that it stands out all on its own and can stand up along side those other books and I think given time will elbow them out of the way with the rich story telling and deep emotional core that makes you want to know more." - Kerry, Musings of a Bookworm
The Order of the Black Swan is a series that is also a serial saga. Each book is an episodic installment in an ongoing story. Join me for the adventure.


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Tour Giveaways:

Every tour stop: one e-copy of The Order of the Black Swan Collected Tales, Books 1-3.

Tour wide: One entire set of signed paperbacks, Books 1-5.

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