Through the Oracle's Mist by Aedan Byrnes

Aeden Byrnes, author of THROUGH THE ORACLE'S MIST, is at the Party Pavilion today as part of his virtual book tour. Aedan will be awarding to one randomly drawn commenter a journal from his CafePress storefront, a charm and leather bracelet made for the story and a custom cover shepherd hook style bookmark made by Stone Soup Designs for Through the Oracle's Mist. The bracelet leather colors and the journal cover may differ from the photo. You can see the other stops on the tour here.

What do you do when you are not writing?

Read, people-watch, travel, cook, watch my girls do things.

Where do you get your ideas?

Everywhere. There is nothing and nowhere safe from being fodder. I think we all need to be students of the world.

What book would you like to read again?

All of them. I am an avid reader with a diverse range of interests.

Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version?

No, not one. I seldom watch movies or television. I have no notion of who is who when I see them, and I think that’s a good thing. Everyone is the same for their influence that way.

Do you buy a book by the cover?

No. I like covers, and I am intrigued to know why images are chosen over others for covers, but the cover does not create a purchasing choice.

Do you have a book trailer?

Yes, I have two. One fan made and one official which is loosely based on the first. Both are wonderful.

Fan made: http://youtu.be/wdW5BBP6wcs
Official: http://youtu.be/KLpBb5gnJbs

What are your thoughts on book trailers?

I think if they are done well, they are an invaluable medium to grab potential reader’s attention. We are such a fast paced world now, fewer and fewer stop into a bookstore to browse. (Which could well explain them going away) A video gives you multiple avenues to catch a reader and have them say…I need to read THAT!

Do you write under a pen name?

Yes, always. Multiples as a matter of fact.

What day were you born?

Saturday, which me mum says means I’ll work hard for my living til I pass.

Do you have a nickname?

I’m sure I have many depending on who you ask.

Do you ever write in your PJ’s?

If I am scribing, I’m doing so in whatever I am or am not wearing at the time.

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?

Always the past. History is fascinating and so vast; I’d never be tired of it. To see the future is to presume we need to know it. Let it come in its time.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?

Plutarch, Aesop, Socrates, Pythagoras, and Edgar Allen Poe (but I’d like Athena, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Lao Tzu as well)

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

A mirror, a thick book, something to purify water

10 Things you didn’t know about Aedan Byrnes.

1. Talks out loud to the characters while writing.
2. Talks out loud typing anything to see if it sounds right.
3. Has a large stick note compulsion and collection.
4. Has an extremely difficult time with technology things.
5. Is a classically trained horn player.
6. Enjoys working in the soil and getting his hands dirty.
7. Is multi-lingual.
8. Likes old rock & roll (not while writing)
9. Continues to pay for insurance on a 5 year old cell phone to get the exact same one when it breaks.
10. Likes the rain.

About the Author: There is no simple description for Aedan Byrnes. Obsessive, dreamer, reclusive, compulsive, outdoorsman and wordsmith would be among the list if one were started. The displaced Gael lives in the upper Midwest with family between jaunts wherever the road takes him. A frequent traveler, he is as likely to be found rock climbing or spelunking as sitting fireside dreaming or aimlessly floating away.

A lifelong lover of words and writing, he claims a diverse reading appetite and his writing reflects the myriad influences. A self-proclaimed 'reader's writer', he looks for the emotional and the sensory in word combinations, not just the visceral comprehension of phrases in the stories he crafts and his love of all things literary shines through.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ CafePress

In the blackest night, with the moon and stars to guide him, she would always be there waiting…

Cyrenna thought she died the day she watched Tynan and his brothers jump through the banishment portal in an act of solidarity with Rigor. Little did she know, it would be the first of many deaths she would experience in her quest to claim his heart. She would surrender not only her immortal soul, but a mortal one repeatedly. Through a deal with the great Oracle, she has multiple mortal lifetimes to change the direction of her future and have a chance with Tynan.

Her journey spans the ages from the GenPei War in Japan and the Silk Road west, to Cromwell, the Three Kingdoms and modern times, bringing her one step closer to forever until she makes a misstep. Then, the burden falls to Tynan. The only thing that is absolute is her fervent hope that he will come, but there’s one big problem.

Through it all, he doesn’t so much as know her name.

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Author Interview and Giveaway: DeAnn Smallwood, author of Wyoming Heather

Deann Smallwood, author of Wyoming Heather, is stopping by the Party Pavilion with us today as part of her book tour. Welcome, Deann! Tell us something about yourself that's not in your bio.

Hmm, well, here’s something. I’m afraid of heights. No matter what anyone says, I know there’s a big whirling vortex, not necessarily of water, out there waiting to suck me, just me, off the edge and into its vacuum center. Get me four feet off the ground and my hands sweat. Drive me up a high mountain road with a sheer drop off one side and I hide on the floor of the car with a blanket over my head. Don’t tell me to look out the window and see the beautiful canyon below. Not when I have that vortex just waiting for me.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I like to read. No, I love to read. Books are my buddies. I read close to a book a day. My taste runs from suspense/thrillers to romances. Romances are sorbet to cleanse my palate in between the suspense/thrillers.

How did you choose the genres you write in?

When I write in the suspense/thriller genre, I have to really move out of my comfort zone. They take more out of me than my historical romances. I really enjoy the research back into the 1800’s for my romances. I’m a romantic at heart and believe in happily ever after. That’s why even when I write about serial killers, my books have a good smattering of romance. I think the genres chose me. They bring me comfort. Maybe you write in a genre that captures your interest to read.

Is there any particular author or book that has influenced you or your writing?

Nora Roberts inspires me. She makes me want to write. I met Debby Macomber at a Romance Writers convention and her story of how she had to keep trying to get published inspired me. She knew she could write and no matter rejections never gave up. That’s what you have to do, and it’s hard.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

I don’t know if you could call it criticism, but rejections are very tough for me to take. When I get the nerve to send my manuscript off to a publisher, wait three to four months for an answer, and get back a canned rejection slip that is tough. It’s all I can do to put the manuscript back in an envelope and try again. I take it personally, but with every book I get published, I get stronger and more confident.

What has been the best compliment?

The best compliment is when a reader tells me they started my book and couldn’t put it down. There is absolutely nothing to compare to having someone tell you they like your book. I always say that next to writing my greatest pleasure is having my books read and enjoyed. And it is! I can live for weeks on a good compliment. It thrills me to know my books are out there being read. I almost have to pinch myself to believe it.

If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, fictional or real, who would it be and why?

This is a hard one. I have so many authors I admire. And…Clint Eastwood is still my hero and burning hunk of fire. I’d love to have dinner with Nora Roberts and pick her brain. I’d ask her for advice and probably drink in every word she uttered. Fictional…I’d like to have dinner with Alex Cross, James Patterson’s detective. Love the way that man’s mind works. And wouldn’t it be fun to sit across from Winston Churchill? I’d soak up his wisdom and clever words.

You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and bring 3 luxury items. What would they be?

Are books considered a luxury item? If so, they’d be number one on my list. I get terribly antsy if I don’t have something to read. Then I’d have to have chocolate. But that’s a necessity isn’t it? Comb and lipstick are a must. I do favor my White Shoulders Cologne, too.

Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they and why?

Okay, Danielle Steel for my mother because she seems to really love her children. When she dedicates a book to them I sense her love. Lee Child for my father because I’d like to ask him about Reacher, one of his main characters. I’d like to be close enough to him to watch him write.

What would we find in your refrigerator right now?

Hopefully not containers of green fuzzy mold. You’d find three containers of Peppermint Mocha creamer, some diet pop, apples, a ham, pieces of chicken for my Yorkie kids, soy milk, a jar of home canned peaches, and my special canned apricot/pineapple jam. Oh, yes, a jar of peanut butter. I’m addicted to peanut butter and jelly (homemade, of course) sandwiches. Usually my refrigerator has several baggies and containers of things that need tossed.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

Wow, this makes me think. How about DeAnn Smallwood, A Work In Progress? Or, DeAnn Smallwood, A Woman That Tried?

Think Fast

Summer or Winter? Summer. Most definitely!
Coffee or Tea? Coffee, but I do like my tea.
Cake or Pie? Cake However, I wouldn’t turn down candy, pie, or cookies.
Car or Truck? Truck. I just bought a new Nissan truck. Love my baby!
Print or Electronic? Print. But, electronic has been oh so good to me by publishing my books in ebooks.
Thanks for coming by and spending some time with us. Any final words of wisdom to pass along?

Just to never give up. Take those rejects, we all get them, and keep trying. Writing is hard, but it’s well worth it. To my readers, keep reading and letting us authors know when you like our work. Without you we wouldn’t be. And to the wonderful blog hosts, thank you and thank you again. You amaze me with your abilities and your willingness to share your blog site with others. Bless you!!

About the Author:

I live in Colorado with my husband and my two Yorkie kid dogs: Stormy, four pounds, and Eli, six pounds. I’m a native of Colorado, but I lived several years in Wyoming and Montana. I draw from these beautiful states for much of my material. My historical romances are: Montana Star, Sapphire Blue, Unconquerable Callie, and Wyoming Heather. Tears In The Wind is a contemporary romance. Then I changed genres from my beloved romances and wrote, under the pen name of D. M. Woods, my first suspense/thriller: Death Crosses The Finish Line. The second book in this ‘death’ series, Death Is A Habit, will be out later this year. Truly, I mean it when I say my greatest pleasure next to writing is having my books read and enjoyed. There are many more stories just waiting to be written and enjoyed.

Facebook ~ Website

Heather is a spirited, independent woman living alone on a ranch left to her by her parents. She is also a healer of animals, domestic and wild. A woman doing a man's work, running a ranch that everyone said couldn't be done, not in this untamed, vastly unsettled land, in the mid 1800's. The ranch had everything she needed except water. She stole that from a neighboring abandoned ranch watched over by a lonely cabin and a grave.

He rode alone, coming back after five years to an empty cabin, a run-down ranch, and a grave on a hill. A former Texas Ranger burnt out on life and afraid to love. Whip had spent five years hunting the man that took his wife's life and left him to die.

Whip and Heather meet in an explosive moment on the banks of the Powder River. Both lonely, both drawn to one another, and both stubbornly fighting the attraction.

Whip vowed he would take up his dream abandoned five years ago and make his beloved ranch profit and to put aside the sweet linger of all memories shared by him and his wife. The ranch would be a jealous mistress occupying his every thought and every minute. He had no time or desire for a woman much less a pair of runaways from The Orphan Train, stowaways in Whip’s wagon and onto the Powder River Ranch.

But fate heeds no one or no thing. The criminal from Whip’s past reemerges in the present. Now, Heather is in danger and Whip stand, once again on the cusp of loss. Fate shows a strong, willful woman, full of love and compassion, just what she’s been missing in her life. And it shows a calloused Texas Ranger that Heather and love does flourish on the Wyoming plains.

Buy the book at Amazon. GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

DeAnn will be awarding a $25 BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Remember, the more you comment the better your chances are of winning. Click on the banner below to see the rest of the tour stops.

Taming Jenna by Charlene Raddon - Spotlight and Giveaway

Welcome to Charlene Raddon, who's partying with us at the pavilion today. Charlene will be awarding an e-copy of one of her books from her backlist at each stop to a randomly drawn commenter, and a Grand Prize of a $30 gift card will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

THE WRONG MAN

Deserted by her father at the tender age of seven, Jenna Leigh-Whittington had taught herself to ride, shoot, brawl…and steer clear of the opposite sex. But now, in a lonely Utah canyon, the Pinkerton agent has drawn her gun on a rugged stranger—only to discover that, far from the dangerous outlaw she’d been tracking, he is Branch McCauley, hired gun…and the most irresistible rascal ever to tempt and torment a woman!

THE RIGHT WOMAN

If there’s one thing McCauley trusts less than a female, it’s a female who packs a six-gun. But what a woman! Vowing to bring the sensuous hellcat to heel, McCauley has no inkling that their passionate battle of wills has just begun. Taming Jenna will be the most seductive—and satisfying—job he’s ever taken on.

Enjoy this excerpt:

Something touched her face, something as light as a mist or a lover's kiss. She put her hands to her cheeks and felt the moisture. Mist. Her fingers found grit the fine spray couldn't wash off. She took a step, then another. Water pounded her feet, her calves. She reached out, only to have her hands smacked away by the force of the waterfall. She longed to stand under it, to strip off her torn, dirty clothes and wash away the grime and the soreness and the fear of trying to find her way through that pitch black mine tunnel.

How she longed to see the falls. She lifted her face toward the source and perceived moving shades of grayness among the black. There had to be a hole up there, yet she could not see it. Had night fallen outside?

Somehow the movement of the falls, the fresh scent, the liquid gurgle, made her feel less alone. She had a strong feeling some other live being occupied the dark, musty catacombs besides herself. Something besides rats and nasty dwarfs.

Her spirits climbed. No question now as to where she was—the old Murphey mine. She would follow the water's flow, and she would get out.

Above the muted roar of the small waterfall came another sound, sharp and loud like the crack of thunder on a stormy night, followed by rolling reverberations. Angry. Ominous. Her mouth quirked at the thought: Rainstorms deep inside the bowels of the earth. Obviously, her grip on sanity was still tenuous.

She did an about-face and splashed her way down the drift. The voice of the falls followed, like a jealous lover. She attempted to laugh. At herself. At her fears. Hysteria tainted the sound.

Water swirled about her ankles and rose higher. She kept walking. Her heart caught the urgency of the torrent and thudded tumultuously inside her breast. She trembled in the wet chill of the clammy garments plastered to her body. Her hair had come loose and tumbled about her shoulders in a wild array. She pushed a wet strand out of her eyes and thought of Maura's Irish stew. Her stomach growled.

As the stream swirled and raged about her knees, threatening to suck her into its depths, terror seized her. Two men had drowned in this mine, she remembered. Rembrandt had told her. A storm had caused a flashflood, and the men had been caught in it.

Rainstorms underground no longer seemed laughable.

She bolted blindly forward, groping at the walls with her hands to keep from falling, letting the current of the water guide her. Perspiration dripped into her eyes, in spite of the freezing temperature.

She lived now in a world without sight, without color, a world where perception came only through the senses, magnified by terror and desperation: The coarse, granular hardness of granite walls; spongy moss on splintered wood. Wetness. The smell of water, sweat, and fear. The ragged gasp of her own breath. And the roar—always the deafening roar—of the raging torrent that seemed bent on expelling her from this underground sepulcher of hell.

As the water rose to her hips, she had to move slower and more carefully. She took the Starr from its holster and tucked it inside her waistband to keep it dry. Her feet stumbled. She caught herself, stumbled again. The roar had become so much a part of her that she barely noticed the difference when the volume suddenly increased.

Her awareness of impending doom was strictly intuitive. She could see no danger approaching. But her imagination was excellent. Rising water and an indefinable change in the sound created visions in her mind that closed off her throat and sent her heart tumbling like boulders down an unstable incline.

A new sound came to her ears—her own choked whimper.

Tension mounted, keeping pace with the water's depth and the thunderous din. A scream ripped upward from her diaphragm to lodge in her throat as she plowed clumsily forward, waiting with increasing dread for a disaster she could not see, only sense.

A sudden deluge poured over her, whipping her hair into her face, stealing her breath, snatching her feet out from under her. Her arms flailed as she sought to regain her balance. She went down. Water rushed over her and into her open mouth, her hands scraped against the floor, and silence replaced the angry thunder in her ears.

About the Author Charlene Raddon began her fiction career in the third grade when she announced in Show & Tell that a baby sister she never had was killed by a black widow spider. She often penned stories featuring mistreated young girls whose mother accused of crimes her sister had actually committed. Her first serious attempt at writing fiction came in 1980 when she woke up from a vivid dream that compelled her to drag out a portable typewriter and begin writing. She’s been at it ever since. An early love for romance novels and the Wild West led her to choose the historical romance genre but she also writes contemporary romance. At present, she has five books published in paperback by Kensington Books (one under the pseudonym Rachel Summers), and four eBooks published by Tirgearr Publishing.

Charlene’s awards include: RWA Golden Heart Finalist, Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award Nomination, Affair de Coeur Magazine Reader/Writer Poll for Best Historical of the Year. Her books have won or place in several contests.

Currently, Charlene is working on her next release.

@CRaddon ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Website ~ Goodreads

The Changeup by Rhonda Shaw -- Giveaway and Spotlight

We would like to welcome Rhonda Shaw whose The Changeup has recently been released. Rhonda will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift certificate to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the banner to the left to see the other stops on the tour.

Playing for keeps

After nine years of striking out in the dating department, Maddie Hamlin is throwing in the towel. But just as this mom resolves to remain single, she meets sweet and sexy pitching phenom Chase Patton at a family dinner. He’s perfect for her aside from the fact he’s only twenty-two.

Chase knows he should be focusing on his rookie year with the Detroit Rockets, but he can’t stop thinking about Maddie. He doesn’t care that the beautiful school counselor is twelve years older, and he’s already lost his heart to her adorable daughter. When an incredible date leads to an incredible night of passion, he knows he never wants to let her go.

But dating in the media spotlight is a whole new ball game. Maddie quickly discovers that not everyone accepts their unconventional relationship and that finding love may mean losing everything else…

Enjoy this excerpt:

“Lift your left foot there, that’s right, and bring your arm back to here. You feel that?” Chase asked as he held her right arm up, his warm hand moving slowly from her elbow to her wrist. He angled his body and she could feel the feel length of him pressed against her, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. “And then you’re going to bring it through and follow through to here.”

Maddie nodded. Could she feel that? She could feel nothing but that! The breadth and solidness of his chest against her back as he leaned over her made her want to turn and worship its strength. Her butt was snug against his front and she didn’t even want to think about what she could bump into if she moved even the slightest inch. His breath was warm on her neck and his lips were right by her ear making her mouth water. Her skin started to tighten and tingle as the air seemed to clog in her throat, and she could feel her cheeks burning. Her reactions, all of them, were shocking. Had it been that long that any touch from a male was going to set her off? Did it not matter that he was many—way too many—years her junior? Her mind screamed, asking what the hell she was thinking, but her body was happily ignoring the alarms.

About the Author:After writing one mind numbing technical document after another, Rhonda Shaw decided to combine her love of writing with her love of reading romance. Born in California, but transplanted to the Midwest, Rhonda is a warm weather girl to the bone. She works in the software development industry and was a lifelong dancer until her body told her it was time to come down off her toes. For more information about Rhonda and her books, please visit her website at http://www.rhondashaw.com. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook.

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Realizing You by Ron Doades and Susan Sloate - Guest Blog and Giveaway

Realizing You by Ron Doades and Susan Sloate is partying with us at the Pavilion today. One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. You can see the other stops by clicking on the tour banner.

Why do you think a fictional self-improvement book will help people more than a non-fictional one?

The original idea came from the learning method I have long applied in my management consulting practice. The method—proven to produce lasting change in people’s lives and those of the companies they work for—is based on the premise that the most effective and lasting learning is achieved through showing people models of success, instead of merely telling them about those models. My consulting firm’s long-lasting success derives from facilitating meetings where our clients learn first-hand what those highly successful companies have done and are doing to achieve success—how they manage their resources to achieve the best possible outcomes. After all, that’s what people in their private lives are striving to do—to make the best of what they have in meeting their individual happiness objectives.

So, after years of pondering the best self-improvement learning method, I realized that I need only apply the approach that has been so successful in my firm’s consulting business—show the way, not tell the way. My illuminating, break-through insight was on its way to becoming a reality. I was absolutely convinced that a fictional self-improvement book would greatly enable people to change their lives for the better. I had been living and breathing the answer to the quest of my book idea for 14 years, but didn’t recognize it. I was resolutely convinced that showing people the way to greater personal happiness would have the greatest, sustainable impact on their lives.

About the Authors: RON DOADES is president of Ronald Doades & Company, a consulting firm that, since 1977, has helped the people of large and mid-size energy companies improve their individual and corporate performance results by learning from the best-practice experiences of others. A popular speaker on the topic of managing change for optimal results, he holds an MBA from Columbia University and an MS in Psychology from The New School in New York City. Visit him at www.RealizingYouBook.com

SUSAN SLOATE is the author of twenty published books, including STEALING FIRE, a #2 Amazon bestseller and Quarter-Finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest, and FORWARD TO CAMELOT (authored with Kevin Finn), which in its first edition was a #6 Amazon bestseller, took honors in 3 literary competitions and was optioned for film by a Hollywood production company. She lives in Mount Pleasant, SC. Visit her online at SusanSloate.com.

Meet Robby Aihn, the newest star in the self-help universe and author of the runaway bestseller, Realizing You, now struggling with his first taste of fame. Though his five principles for good living are changing other people’s lives, his own life is starting to fall apart. When Robby stages a lavish self-help conference in Dallas, he attracts others with their own secrets: his estranged wife and unhappy teenage daughter; the businessman pursuing his own agenda; the all-star pitcher facing the end of his career; and the shy co-author Robby never acknowledged, who is searching for meaning in her own life. Join Robby and the others on their journey toward understanding and fulfillment, in this truly novel approach to changing YOUR life.

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Author Interview and Giveaway with Dianne Hartsock

Welcome to the Party Pavilion where Dianne Hartsock is making a special stop on her Virtual Book Tour. Dianne will be awarding a $10 All Romance E-Books gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so either ask her a question or leave a comment to be entered. Enjoy the following interview with Dianne:

Tell us something about yourself-- Anything that you think your readers would like to know?

I'm a floral designer for a locally owned gift shop in the town I live in. Besides having a wonderful time creating lovely arrangements and making people happy, I have the pleasure of people watching. We have such an eclectic group of customers! Not only do they give me inspiration for my characters, they've also set up some almost unbelievable scenes for me to use.

Why do you write?

I can't help smiling at this question. I write because there's nothing I enjoy doing more! I love creating worlds and meeting new characters. I usually have a vague idea for a story and where I'd like the characters to end up, but it's always a new and exciting journey for me as, hopefully, it is for my readers.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

I hope that I become a better story teller with each book I write. I've been writing mostly short stories (under 20k) but I'm going to try to expand into the novella range with my next endeavors. I'm also going to try my hand at longer fantasy stories. The two I've written have been fun and I think I can take the ideas and turn them into novels.

Do you have any authors that inspired you to become a writer?

It was Ray Bradbury who did it for me. I started reading his stories in my early teens. He blew me away! His descriptions are so unique and involved. He drew me into worlds I'd never dreamed of and made them real for me. I decided then that I wanted to write just like him. I'm not there! But he inspired me to try and to keep at it.

Are you reading any books at this moment?

Omorphi by Cody Kennedy
Odd Thomas-Apocalypse by Dean Koontz
Retribution by Laura Harner

What attracted you to writing?

Once upon a time when I was in first grade, I wrote my first story. I remember it had a giraffe in it and we went to visit him at the zoo. My teacher pinned it to the board for everyone to read and I thought, I like that! I liked writing a story and having people read it. I still do! I enjoy the whole process, dreaming up an idea, working out the plot, fleshing out the characters. I especially like working with an editor to fine tune the story. Also, seeing the finished book cover is a treat.

Tell us what inspired you to write The Dark Bokor?

One of my publishers, Breathless Press, put out a call for zombie stories for their Halloween anthology. I didn't give it much thought at first. I'm not a huge fan of the zombies that can't be killed and go around eating people. But I've always been intrigued by the hoodoo culture down in Louisiana, particularly in New Orleans. This was my chance to write my own story on hoodoo magic and the zombies they create, but add the romance that I love to have in my stories.

What was the hardest part of writing The Dark Bokor?

I had a great time writing this story. The hardest part for me was the deadline. The story needed to be submitted to my editor by a certain date, which of course was fair, since they wanted it for October. But there's a lot more to this story that I'd like to tell, so much more that happens after that last scene in the book. I'm planning a novella length sequel to it for the near future.

If you could write a soundtrack for your novel, what two songs do you think would be most important to your main characters?

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol for Jesse and Every Time You Turn Around by Daughtry for Matt

If a movie would be made of The Dark Bokor, who would play the leading roles?

I'd have Chris Pine play Matt and Jay Ellis for Jesse.

Are you working on anything new right now?

Oh my yes! I'm in the middle of writing the sequel to my psychological thriller novel ALEX. I've also started a m/m contemporary romance and also a Christmas story for next year. I'm one of those writers who's happiest when I have two or three projects going at once.

Dianne is the author of m/m erotic romance, both contemporary and fantasy, the psychological thriller, and anything else that comes to mind. Oh, and a floral designer. If she can’t be writing, at least she has the chance to create with the beauty of flowers and bring a smile to someone’s face. Currently Dianne lives in the Willamette Valley of Oregon with her husband, and both her children have chosen to attend colleges close to home, for which she is forever thankful. You can find out more about Dianne here: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page.

When it comes to the dark weavings of hoodoo magic, only a few can survive.

It's started. Bodies have been found in the French Quarter, torn limb from limb. The undead have been seen walking. For Detective Matthew Rieves, this is the worst news he can imagine. Having spent his entire life in Orleans Parish, Matt's no stranger to the bizarre. Though, despite the growing evidence, he still has a hard time believing in the occult. But when two hoodoo bokors vie for supremacy, it's the innocent civilians that pay the price.

For Jesse Dalembert, he'd left New Orleans to sever his ties with hoodoo. But when a friend is brutally murdered by the bokor's zombies, he returns, falling at once into danger and into Detective Rieves's bed. With their lives on the line, their simmering attraction flares into a passion they can no longer deny.

Working against time, can the lovers find a way to stop the hoodoo war, or will they fall victim to the dark magic, maybe becoming zombies themselves?

Buy the book at Breathless Press.

Return to Audubon Springs by RoseAnn DeFranco-- Interview and Giveaway

Welcome to the Party Pavilion this morning. We have a special guest-- one of our clients, RoseAnn DeFranco-- with a special interview for our Pavilion followers :-)

RoseAnn, we have some questions for you that are writer specific as well as some fun stuff so that we can really get to know the real you. *grin* Plus we will finish things off with round of Think Fast. Ready to begin?

Absolutely! This sounds like great fun. First I’d like to give a big Geeky THANK YOU for hosting me today. I have a strong background in geek. Some might even say I majored in it back in middle and high school, so I already feel right at home.

Great! Then take your shoes off, settle back, and tell us something about yourself that's not in your bio.

I played the flute for twelve years and studied vocal performance in college.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Most of my non-writing time is spent with my family where I play the role of Dance Mom, Soccer Mom and PTA Mom. I also work full time for a Consulting firm. I usually leave that last part out. NOTHING sexy and fun about that!

How did you choose the genres you write in?

Honestly, I think the genre chose me. I’d dabbled in a few other things, paranormal being one, but the Brothers of Audubon Springs series sort of wrote itself. Even then, I meant to write a sweeping epic drama exploring a family in crisis, recovering from grief. Instead I wrote a Humorous Contemporary Romance series centering around three brothers and their warm and loving Italian family.

Is there any particular author or book that has influenced you or your writing?

I am a big fan of Susan Wiggs and Virgina Kantra. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting both women and I’ve attended workshops they have led. I think I write in a similar style to both yet my writing possesses more of the comedic elements you’d find in a Kristan Higgans book. I fan-girl Kristan Higgans as well!

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I think the toughest criticism as an author is those rejections without reason. As a writer develops their craft, we are looking for creative feedback and ways to improve our work. About a year ago I won a 50 page critique from a very prolific author in my genre. She sent me the following message: “I’m wowed. You are an amazing writer. Talent oozes from your pages. The passion, the romance, the conflict, the descriptions -- you have what it takes to make it.” This piece of unsolicited feedback helped me have the courage to step forward and seek publication.

If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, fictional or real, who would it be and why?

Jane Austen. To me she is the Godmother of all Romance Writers. While you’d never find her in the romance section of a bookstore, she wrote all the original romances. She was a strong, brilliant pioneer. I’m sure she’d have plenty in the way of words of wisdom for writers of today.

You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and bring 3 luxury items. What would they be?

A laptop with unlimited battery life or these voices inside my head will drive me bonkers waiting for me to record their stories. A big pot to cook in over an open flame, because our family motto, regardless of the circumstances is ”We’ve got to eat!” My cell phone, cuz I’m assuming my island has Wifi. This way I can make sure my hubs knows exactly where I am so he can come get me!

Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they and why?

Pink, because she is crazy mad talented. You’d get away with almost anything with Pink as your mom and at the same time you’d be free to explore in your creativity. Steven Spielberg because then hopefully daddy would make my books into a movie, or at least a really cool and funny TV show.

What would we find in your refrigerator right now?

A big pot of my homemade marina sauce filled to the brim with meatballs, Italian Wedding Soup and my daughter’s birthday cake that looks like a Cake Boss creation. I should mention my mother is visiting right now. If she wasn’t you’d find the remains of a store bought rotisserie chicken, leftover instant mashed potatoes, and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

VERY cool question! The Show Must Go On! When I transitioned out of the Music Theatre world, I needed a creative outlet. Fortunately the voices in my head and they said the show must go on, so I started to write their stories!

Think Fast

Summer or Winter? Summer
Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Cake or Pie? Apple pie, my mother’s
Car or Truck? Truck
Print or Electronic? Electronic – My office is bursting with books. I keep better track of my books on my kindle!

Thanks for coming by and spending some time with us. Any final words of wisdom to pass along?

Thanks you so much for hosting me today. I had a great time answering your questions. As for words of wisdom…Always look on the sunny side, think before you act, and don’t eat the yellow snow. :-)

As a special thanks for checking in, RoseAnn is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to a random commenter on her book tour. You can ask RoseAnn a question or just leave a comment--and you can see the other stops on her tour here.

Before you go, though, here's a little bit about RoseAnn and her book:

RoseAnn DeFranco grew up in upstate NY with her nose in a book and a song in her heart. Following the pursuit of a musical theatre career in NYC, she turned her creative energy to writing romance. RoseAnn blogs about her writing experiences with her critique partners at www.TheVioletFemmes.com. A NJ shore transplant, she enjoys time spent at the beach with her family. She would love to one day live in a quaint shore town like the fictional town Audubon Springs from her BROTHERS OF AUDUBON SPRINGS series. More information about these Contemporary Romantic Comedies can be found at www.radefranco.com and you can socialize with RoseAnn on Facebook and Twitter.

When Emma Grant returns to her family's Audubon Springs beach house to fulfill the stipulations of her father's will, she has every intention of forcing her former lover out of the house for good. She's never fit into her wealthy family and would prefer avoiding her past, but with her brother threatening to reveal her young daughter, she has no choice.

Rafe Iuliano has other plans. The wealthy Grants tried to bribe him out of Emma's life years ago, but he's determined to prove once and for all that a master carpenter is worthy of Emma and the house.

Their ridiculous and steamy battle for the house reignites the love and passion that bloomed between them years ago. But when Rafe discovers she's kept their daughter a secret for two years, can he overcome anger and pride to claim his family and the love of his life, or will the deception drive a final wedge between them?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HATHOR LEGACY: OUTCAST Giveaway

Hi everyone!

Thanks for your comments and feedback! The $10 Amazon gift card giveaway goes to commenter Cathy Lee. Congrats, Cathy!

My next tour stop will be on Jan 8th at Books to Light Your Fire, so stop by and comment for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of my book. Other stops will be posted on my blog (URL below).

Buy it on Amazon.com for Kindle and in Print.

Visit my blog here: http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com

Shannon's Law Cover Reveal - romance, danger, adventure and passion from Emma Calin.

 Cover-reveal for "SHANNON'S LAW" the new action-adventure-romance novel from Emma Calin.

Blurb

Wild child inner city cop Shannon Aguerri walks a dangerous line between her methods and justice. When the bosses lose their nerve, after yet another maverick mission, she is transferred to green pastures to play out the role of a routine village cop. When she encounters signs of people and drug trafficking she homes in on serious millionaire criminals. As a loner she has attracted men but nothing has stuck. When she meets Spencer, the hunky and widowed Earl of Bloxington, there is an immediate rapport between them. Their social differences mean nothing to their passion and need. Already in the mix is an upper class female rival – who has long plotted her way into the Earl's bed. The jealousy is an evil shade of green and the anger is a violent scarlet. Often inhibited by a sense of duty and honour, Spencer is slow to reveal his feelings. When Shannon confronts him with the need to choose between her word and that of her rival, he does not immediately support her. All the same, when they are forced together to carry out a desperate rescue mission, their love is stronger than everything ranged against them.

Shannon’s Law USA        Shannon's Law UK

(Pre-order paperback only at this stage)

We will be revealing snippets from the story, photos of places and people that inspired the venues and characters on Pinterest during the pre-launch book tour. There are already some scrap-book cuttings posted:

http://www.pinterest.com/emmacalin/shannons-law-launch-reveal-on-pinterest/

There is also news about the book on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ShannonsLaw

(‘Likes’ are always appreciated.....)

There are two launch parties themed around “Afternoon Tea At Bloxington Manor”. The first is online on the 28th February on Facebook and the second is LIVE at the English country house that inspired the home of the hero of the book, on Sunday 2nd March. A local favourite venue for Emma,  Avington Park in Hampshire, UK, is steeped in history and tradition. (Think genuine Palladian style rather than Downton Abbey neo-Jacobean). The private owners have kindly agreed to open up with a tour of the house and then tea and cake – oh and launch the book of course!

Shannon’s Law Cover Reveal Draw

$30/£20 Amazon voucher
A pair of tickets to Avington Park Launch Party 2nd March (UK only)
3 Advanced Review Copies of Shannon’s Law

EVERY entrant will receive a FREE gift of an audiobook of Emma Calin's short story Escape to Love.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/Mjg1OTEwYzI5YjYwMjA3ZWY2Y2EzZDEzODljNmNjOjE4/

Through the Oracle's Mist

 

 

     Writing a series is a lot like inviting your family for an extended stay in your head with one not so small exception, there is no reprieve.  Even the watercloset is not safe from their invasion and their decisions to pop up willy-nilly with something they consider vitally important to the tale. The only thing you can hope for is that there is paper and pen nearby when they show up... (or wear your digital recorder like a fashion piece). The other thing that you need to be aware of is that they will bring new people in without consultation sometimes and depending on the when, that can be difficult. I met Euphrosynae in the shower, a fact I'm sure Rigor would not care to be reminded of. Would you want to tick off this guy?

 

 

 

 

     Well, I mean I can..and I have.. and I will again through the series, but still...rubbing salt is some wounds is not smart even with fictional characters. Rigor is tempermental at best. I'm looking forward to showing you more of him in coming books...if only to get him to shut up for a bit. He thinks he runs the show, can you fathom it? The other brothers have managed to sit back (mostly) and let the tale come, but I don't expect that to hold for long. One of the others likes to pop up and remind me that I have not started setting up his book or making people want to know him...impatient Ass.

 

     If you haven't had the chance, I do hope you'll grab a copy of Through the Oracle's Mist and give it a spin. I think (and I know I'm partial), it's an interesting ride and you might just find yourself wondering what's coming next too as so many others are. For now, please join me as Goddess Fish Promotions take me, my characters and book one on tour starting the 13th.

 

 

 



 

 

Cyrenna thought she died the day she watched Tynan and his brothers jump through the banishment portal in an act of solidarity with Rigor. Little did she know that it would be the first of many deaths she would experience in her quest to claim his heart. She would surrender not only her immortal soul, but a mortal one repeatedly. The asking price for an outside chance at a future just went up. 

Cyrenna will give up everything in her quest for the only thing that matters to her…forever.  Through a deal with the great Oracle, she has multiple mortal lifetimes to change the direction of her future and have a chance with Tynan.  If she can help him see what he wants, and if it is her as his immortal soul mate that he seeks, they might get a chance.  From the GenPei War in Japan and the Silk Road west, to Cromwell, the Three Kingdoms and modern times, she lives and dies repeatedly hoping to get her heart’s desire.

 Near the end, she makes a misstep, breaks one of the rules of her covenant with the Oracle, and cannot return.  The burden falls to Tynan and everything she was able to share with him to that point.  The only thing that is absolute is her fervent hope that he will come, but there’s one big problem.  Through it all, he doesn’t so much as know her name.

Grab your copy of the first book in my Vengelys Series

 

Through the Oracle's Mist

 

 at Amazon or Smashwords today!

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Through-Oracles-Mist-Vengelys-Series/dp/1935970186/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388946458&sr=8-1&keywords=Aedan+Byrnes

Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/379575

 

 

 

 

 



Giveaway and a Book Excerpt from The Nun and the Narc

Giveaway and a Book Excerpt from The Nun and the Narc

The Nun and the Narc is now available in print!

The Nun and the Narc, by Catherine Castle, is a fast-paced, out-of-the-box inspirational romantic suspense that has been garnering five-star ratings. Readers have called it a can’t-put-it-down, fun read that you won’t want to miss.

Captured by the local Mexican drug lord after she interrupts a drug deal, novice Sister Margaret Mary risks losing her life, her vocation, and her heart when she falls for undercover DEA agent Jed Bond who is imprisoned with her.  Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary. Jed knows she’s off limits, but his heart can’t help wanting this woman who’s been promised to God.

 

Excerpt from The Nun and the Narc:

Jed’s head whipped around just as the car plowed through a market stand of live chickens. Poultry, wooden cages, and feathers scattered over the car. An angry hen dropped through the car’s open sunroof, squawking and flapping in front of Jed, beating his head with its wings.

Margaret reached over, grabbed the bird, and threw it back out the sunroof opening. But it was too late. The car glanced off an adobe wall into a second market stand and careened toward another building. Jed jammed on the brakes. The car spun three hundred and sixty degrees before screeching to a stop.

The impact threw Margaret sideways against the passenger window. She hit her head on the glass, the blow blinding her for a second. Jed’s body slammed into the steering wheel setting off the horn. The wail echoed in Margaret’s head as she struggled to remain conscious. Warmth trickled down the side of her head. Margaret managed to focus her eyes as the noise stopped. Two Jeds leaned toward her, in slow motion. She blinked to clear her vision.

“You all right?” he asked.

“I think so.” Something warm and sticky seeped down her face. She reached up and wiped her temple. “I’m bleeding,” she said as she stared at her fingers. The words sounded slurred. At the sight of the blood on her fingers, her stomach rolled. She swallowed to keep the bile down.

“Listen. It won’t take them long to get here. Let me do the talking.”

“You won’t have to worry about that. I feel really odd.” Margaret lowered her head between her knees. “I think I’m going to faint.”

“It might be a whole lot easier if you do.”

 

Want to read more? One autographed print copy of The Nun and the Narc will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter (U.S. commenter only) from this post and the other two posts by Catherine Castle appearing on the 1/5/14 Pavilion Party. Email address must be provided in order to be eligible to enter the drawing. Thanks for stopping by today and good luck.

Buy links:

E-Book: http://www.amazon.com/The-Nun-Narc-ebook/dp/B00CHU9DH2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1368652543&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Nun+and+the+Narc

Print version:

http://www.amazon.com/Nun-Narc-Catherine-Castle/dp/1619352966/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380639013&sr=1-1&keywords=the+nun+and+the+narc

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-nun-and-the-narc-catherine-castle/1116942061?ean=9781619352964

 

A New Year in the Wind River Valley...

One print copy of Fateful Waters will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter from the December 8, 2013 and this Pavilion Party. Names from all Party posts, including 2/2/14, will be eligible for a $25. Gift Certificate from Barnes & Noble. Increase your chances at print copy and the gift certificate by commenting on my new blog listed at the end of this post.

Excerpt:

            Christmas came and went peacefully for the population of the Valley, including Jax and Garrett. Time was slipping away from Jax. Maggie and Sid planned to drive her to Denver on the 29th. There, she would board a flight back to Raleigh. A lot needed to be accomplished before classes started following the New Year. One of her roommates had graduated at end of the fall semester. She and Jessica had petitioned to have Jess fill the accommodation, but there was no guarantee.

            Two days before her planned departure, the weather was holding up well. The air bit at any exposed patch of skin, but every star in the heavens was on full display. Snow glistened like small crystals, and during the daylight hours, the white clad mountains were breath taking. There hadn’t been any new snow since Christmas. She always ran the risk of being snowed in when coming home for the holiday break, but it was worth the risk. Butterflies were harassing her midsection as she dressed for dinner at Sally’s place. She and the other guests for the evening were stand-ins for Sally’s looming New Year’s Day event. Dexter’s little blond, blue-eyed bombshell was hosting both sets of parents, and the dinner tonight would be a dry run.

            Oblivious to any perils or pitfalls, Jax accepted the invitation. As a matter of course, she offered to bring a dish or desert. Sally politely refused. She wanted to do the whole enchilada, which, according to her, was the point of the dinner. Jax conceded the food issue. Then she asked what time she should arrive and for directions to Sally’s place. She managed to step right into the snare, and she felt like the fly invited to dinner by the spider, stuck and praying for a way out. “OH! I forgot to tell you.” Sally feigned a memory lapse. “Garrett said he’d pick you up at six, and for you to please be ready.” Then she paused to giggle. “He told Dex that he didn’t want to hang around too long, or he’d spend the evening removing buckshot from his rear end.”

            Though Maggie hadn’t said a word, the look she gave Jax said it all. It worried her, the idea of Jax going anywhere alone with Garrett. His history with young girls nagged at her. Jax attempted to reassure her. “The only reason Garrett is escorting me, instead of Alicia, is to avoid a repeat of the incident at the Christmas party.” Maggie wasn’t buying the flimsy excuse, and she wondered if her daughter really believed it.

            Jax hadn’t seen or heard from Garrett since the aforementioned party, and a week had passed. She speculated that Alicia must be back on track and keeping him occupied.

If you missed any of the excerpts on the December 8, 2013 Pavilion Party, all are listed on my new blog  http://autohorjmanton.blogspot.com/

Buy Links: Wind River direct link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/328170

Amazon Adult Romance http://www.amazon.com/author/jmanton

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Wind-River-Refuge?store=allproducts&keyword=Wind+River+Refuge

Author Links:

Website: http://talesbyjackie.com

Writing Blog: http://jackieanton.com/

FB Adult Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/authorjmanton?ref=hl Stop by and give us a like.

Wind River Refuge book teaser: http://youtu.be/ig3jvBzFKsE

A to A Review blog http://bookreviewsbyjackie.com/

Email: talesbyjackie@gmail.com

HIS WICKED DREAM: First Kiss

HIS WICKED DREAM

Book 2, Velvet Lies Series

by Adrienne deWolfe
Book Excerpt

Story Notes:  And now for our last excerpt of the party:  the first kiss! Eden and Michael are squaring off in the dining room, after Sera tried to match-make for them and failed. (Or so she thinks!) The scene is written from Michael’s point of view.  (Need more of a book description?  Visit this site.) Enjoy! ~ Adrienne deWolfe



Rural Kentucky, 1881



"You suffer romantic delusions about me, Eden."

"You'd like to think I do. You'd like to convince us both you don't feel any grief or pain."

Michael didn't like where this conversation was heading. "Are you sure you haven't set your cap for me?"

That derailed her from her track. Her chin rose, quivering beneath flashing, storm-flecked eyes.

"I told you I haven't."

"Good."

"Why?"

His gaze roamed over her ribbon-bound hair, shimmering like molten copper in the lamplight. Renegade wisps curled softly in the hollow of her throat, just beside the flurry of her pulse, and his lashes fanned lower. He didn't want her to see the long-constrained hunger that would have made him feast upon that column of peaches and cream—or, God help him, the ripe, pouty handfuls that heaved just an arm's length away. Lightning surged to his loins as he envisioned the globes of her breasts spilling over his palms, their tender rosettes jutting into his mouth.

"Because I'm not the angel I was named after."

"You're just saying that," she said tremulously. "To make me think less of you. You couldn't bear it if anyone tried to hold you up to your own impossible standards."

Her insight, spoken with such hard-won defiance, was almost as unnerving as the realization that the seventeen-year-old who'd once bathed his wounds had grown into a woman wiser than her years, a woman who could see clear to the charred bottom of his soul.

But Michael had never cowered before a worthy opponent, and he wasn't about to start. He stepped closer. Then closer still. He halted only when his thighs were bare inches from her skirts, when his shoulders towered above hers and she was forced to crane her neck to meet his gaze. It was a deliberate tactic, one designed to press his physical advantage, and yet, at this proximity, he was forced to breathe her fragrance.

The intoxication of lilies, lavender, and cherry pie was almost his undoing.

"I'm not afraid of you, Michael."

"You should be, Eden," he said huskily. "Very, very afraid."

She swallowed, her eyes as dewy as meadows. They reminded him poignantly of the butterfly field from his dreams.

"Why?" she whispered again.

It was more than he could bear, her refusal to concede. How dare she be so blind? So naive? He needed her to run from him as he would have run from himself. And he knew of only one way to make her see the light.

He locked his arm beneath her buttocks and dragged her forward for his kiss.

The breath slammed out of Eden as her breasts collided with linen-swathed musculature; her pulse pounded as relentless fingers gripped the base of her skull. She barely had time to gasp, to think, before Michael's tongue thrust past her lips, a velvet rapier intent on bringing her to her knees. Sandalwood soap and rain-scented hair flooded her senses. His thighs branded her hips; his palm burned its imprint through her silk stockings. She trembled, shock giving way to unease.

She tried to shove him back, to wedge a hand between them.

Then he moaned.

Tortured rather than threatening, the sound wracked her with confusion. It seemed to well up from some dark, tumultuous vault, a Pandora's box of denial and need. The healer in her recognized the pain; the woman in her heard the desire. Stunned by the proof of such raw emotion, she sagged, her chest sinking against his wildly beating heart.

"Eden," he breathed, freeing the fingers he'd tangled in her hair. He cupped her cheek, and his lips moved seductively now, nuzzling, sipping, caressing. Her mouth trembled open, tasting the heady tang of man. Somehow, the fist that had been so intent on pushing him away clutched a handful of his shirt. He rewarded her submission.

Feather-light touches lured her hips forward until they, too, sank in intimate surrender. His arousal should have frightened her; she should have come to her senses, cried out for release. But the intoxication of his lips, the bonfire that spread from her belly to her limbs, numbed her virginal unease. He wrapped his spell around her, fanning the heat that sizzled between them until she dared to slide her fingers through his hair. Until she fit her length more snugly to his. And when she dared to push her tongue into his mouth, a guttural sound ripped from his throat.

God help you, Eden. I want you.

THE OFFICIAL BOOK TOUR AND GIVEAWAY FOR

 HIS WICKED DREAM

The official tour for His Wicked Dream (Book 2, Velvet Lies series) starts Jan. 20. You’ll get lots of exclusive sneak peaks, plus the chance to win 2 Amazon gift cards and 3 bundles of ebooks in my Rafflecopter Giveaway.

Previous posts in the pre-tour party for HIS WICKED DREAM:

• Secrets and Schemes: Part I
• Picnic Auction:  Book Excerpt
• Secrets and Schemes: Part 2
• Kissing Booth:  Book Excerpt
• Love Swag?  Visit my “book cover” shop!

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Velvet Lies