Congratulations to Kimberly the winner of our Taking Angels Book Giveaway here at From the Shadows! Kimberly will receive a Taking Angels ebook by C.S. Yelle.
Thank you to all who entered!
**Giveaway winner selected using Random.org**
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014
Burning Bright Cover Reveal Giveaway Winner
Congratulations to Carl S. the winner of the Burning Bright Cover Reveal Giveaway! Carl will receive a $25 Amazon electronic gift card.
Thank you to all who entered!
**Giveaway winner selected randomly using Rafflecopter**
Thank you to all who entered!
**Giveaway winner selected randomly using Rafflecopter**
Ghost Light Audiobook Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to Brenna F., Pernille P., Victoria Z., bn100, Susan T., and Denise Z. the winners of our Ghost Light Audiobook Giveaway here at From the Shadows! Our six winners will each receive a digital audiobook download of Ghost Light, the second full-length novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.
Thank you to all who entered!
**Giveaway winners selected randomly using Rafflecopter**
Thank you to all who entered!
**Giveaway winners selected randomly using Rafflecopter**
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Q+A with Shiloh Walker
Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Shiloh Walker! Shiloh is the author of The FBI Psychics series, The Hunters series, the Rafferty series, The Ash Trilogy, the Grimm's Circle series, the Veil series, the Wrecked series, the Connected series, the Fated Trilogy, the Mythe series, the Secrets and Shadows series, the Firewalkers series, and the Colbana Files series as J.C. Daniels.
EJ: When did you begin writing?
Shiloh: I'm a lifelong storyteller. I can recall writing my first story in third grade...not much more after that until middle school, but after that, I picked up the pen and never stopped.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Shiloh: The same thing that pulls me to the other subgenres I write... a story. I write pretty much whatever comes to mind and if the story has a paranormal bent, that's where I'm going. If it's an romantic suspense, that's where I'm going. If it's a contemporary, then I follow that story.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Shiloh: I think most abilities would come with more responsibility than I'd want-I play with that sort of thing when I write, so I don't really want any. But if I had to take something, I'd like the simple and magical ability of cleaning my house with the snap of my fingers--that ability and nothing more because I don't think anything harmful can come from something so simple...but so very useful.
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Shiloh: Well, I've got a couple...my newest is a romantic suspense, the first in my new Secrets and Shadows series. If a person likes that suspense on the dark and moody side, then BURN FOR ME and BREAK FOR ME just might be right up their alley. If paranormal is more what a reader is looking for, then I'd say something similar about THE INNOCENT, one of my FBI PSYCHIC stories, but there's a paranormal element thrown in...psychics, naturally.
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Shiloh: Oh, geez...lol. Again which one? I don't tend to think along the lines of movie stars as far as my books go, so that's a tough one. Since I have so many, and that's not an easy question, I'm going with the one book that comes to mind...it's my contemporary romance, WRECKED and I'd picked Jennifer Lawrence for Abby, and Tom Hiddleston for Zach. Granted, Hiddleston doesn't have tatts, but hey...there's always airbrushing right? And why? Well, he wants to dip into the rom-com type of thing. WRECKED has some light, funny moments and he's definitely pretty enough to be Zach, and I doubt there's a role he can't make shine. The same for Jennifer Lawrence in Abby's role. She's beautiful, and Abby isn't a size 2, 4, 6... Jennifer Lawrence all but laughs at the people who comment on her weight/size. I love her confidence in her body image and how real she is. I bet she'd make a wonderful Abby.
Here are Shiloh's two newest releases:
The Innocent (The FBI Psychics #4.5) by Shiloh Walker.
For a woman he can’t touch, he’ll turn Hell inside out.
There’s only one reason Jay Roberts would set foot in a middle-of-nowhere town like Hell, Georgia. She’s got a bone to pick with her sort-of boyfriend. They only met online, but things got hot and heavy before their cyber link went silent.
She’s here to get in his face for an explanation. But no touching. Her psychic abilities make physical contact…complicated. Yet something about this relationship made her think things would be different. She’s not in Hell twenty minutes before bad vibes have her skin crawling.
Corruption has stained the very fabric of Linc Dawson’s town, and now it’s stolen something very dear to him. The last thing he has time for is nursing Jay’s broken heart.
But Jay isn’t going anywhere. Not only because she’s not giving up on him, because she’s got access to the kind of backup nobody wants on their bad side. And Linc discovers the woman who’s afraid to touch him could actually be his best chance. At salvation, at hope, at life. Maybe even love…
Warning: This book contains a not-so-naive virgin, a pissed-off former cop, lots of frustration, if you know what I mean, and more trouble than either of them know what to do with.
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal Suspense
Add to Goodreads.
Broken Blade (Colbana Files #3) by J.C. Daniels.
Kit Colbana: assassin, thief, investigator extraordinaire. Now broken. She always expected her past to catch up with her but never like this. Haunted by nightmares and stripped of her identity, she’s retreated to Wolf Haven, the no-man’s land where she found refuge years before. But while she might want to hide away from the rest of the world, the rest of the world isn’t taking the hint.
Dragged kicking and screaming back into life, Kit is thrust head-first into an investigation surrounding the theft of an ancient relic...one that she wants nothing to do with. Her instincts tell her it’s a bad idea to just leave the relic lying about, but finding it might be just as bad.
Forced to face her nightmares, she uncovers hidden strength and comes face to face with one of the world’s original monsters.
If she survives the job, she won’t be the same...and neither will those closest to her.
Release Date: January 6, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you Shiloh for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about Shiloh Walker and her books, please visit her website.
Check out this fab Q+A with Shiloh Walker (aka J.C. Daniels)!
Q+A with Shiloh Walker
EJ: When did you begin writing?
Shiloh: I'm a lifelong storyteller. I can recall writing my first story in third grade...not much more after that until middle school, but after that, I picked up the pen and never stopped.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Shiloh: The same thing that pulls me to the other subgenres I write... a story. I write pretty much whatever comes to mind and if the story has a paranormal bent, that's where I'm going. If it's an romantic suspense, that's where I'm going. If it's a contemporary, then I follow that story.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Shiloh: I think most abilities would come with more responsibility than I'd want-I play with that sort of thing when I write, so I don't really want any. But if I had to take something, I'd like the simple and magical ability of cleaning my house with the snap of my fingers--that ability and nothing more because I don't think anything harmful can come from something so simple...but so very useful.
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Shiloh: Well, I've got a couple...my newest is a romantic suspense, the first in my new Secrets and Shadows series. If a person likes that suspense on the dark and moody side, then BURN FOR ME and BREAK FOR ME just might be right up their alley. If paranormal is more what a reader is looking for, then I'd say something similar about THE INNOCENT, one of my FBI PSYCHIC stories, but there's a paranormal element thrown in...psychics, naturally.
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Shiloh: Oh, geez...lol. Again which one? I don't tend to think along the lines of movie stars as far as my books go, so that's a tough one. Since I have so many, and that's not an easy question, I'm going with the one book that comes to mind...it's my contemporary romance, WRECKED and I'd picked Jennifer Lawrence for Abby, and Tom Hiddleston for Zach. Granted, Hiddleston doesn't have tatts, but hey...there's always airbrushing right? And why? Well, he wants to dip into the rom-com type of thing. WRECKED has some light, funny moments and he's definitely pretty enough to be Zach, and I doubt there's a role he can't make shine. The same for Jennifer Lawrence in Abby's role. She's beautiful, and Abby isn't a size 2, 4, 6... Jennifer Lawrence all but laughs at the people who comment on her weight/size. I love her confidence in her body image and how real she is. I bet she'd make a wonderful Abby.
Here are Shiloh's two newest releases:
The Innocent (The FBI Psychics #4.5) by Shiloh Walker.
For a woman he can’t touch, he’ll turn Hell inside out.
There’s only one reason Jay Roberts would set foot in a middle-of-nowhere town like Hell, Georgia. She’s got a bone to pick with her sort-of boyfriend. They only met online, but things got hot and heavy before their cyber link went silent.
She’s here to get in his face for an explanation. But no touching. Her psychic abilities make physical contact…complicated. Yet something about this relationship made her think things would be different. She’s not in Hell twenty minutes before bad vibes have her skin crawling.
Corruption has stained the very fabric of Linc Dawson’s town, and now it’s stolen something very dear to him. The last thing he has time for is nursing Jay’s broken heart.
But Jay isn’t going anywhere. Not only because she’s not giving up on him, because she’s got access to the kind of backup nobody wants on their bad side. And Linc discovers the woman who’s afraid to touch him could actually be his best chance. At salvation, at hope, at life. Maybe even love…
Warning: This book contains a not-so-naive virgin, a pissed-off former cop, lots of frustration, if you know what I mean, and more trouble than either of them know what to do with.
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal Suspense
Add to Goodreads.
Broken Blade (Colbana Files #3) by J.C. Daniels.
Kit Colbana: assassin, thief, investigator extraordinaire. Now broken. She always expected her past to catch up with her but never like this. Haunted by nightmares and stripped of her identity, she’s retreated to Wolf Haven, the no-man’s land where she found refuge years before. But while she might want to hide away from the rest of the world, the rest of the world isn’t taking the hint.
Dragged kicking and screaming back into life, Kit is thrust head-first into an investigation surrounding the theft of an ancient relic...one that she wants nothing to do with. Her instincts tell her it’s a bad idea to just leave the relic lying about, but finding it might be just as bad.
Forced to face her nightmares, she uncovers hidden strength and comes face to face with one of the world’s original monsters.
If she survives the job, she won’t be the same...and neither will those closest to her.
Release Date: January 6, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you Shiloh for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about Shiloh Walker and her books, please visit her website.
Have you read any books by Shiloh Walker?
Monday, May 26, 2014
Book Excerpt + Giveaway: Mary Hades by Sarah Dalton
Today we have a giveaway and book excerpt for you from MARY HADES by Sarah Dalton.
Keep reading for a chance to win signed books, ebooks, and swag!
The wheel lurches forward with a groan.
“There, it’s—” My blood runs cold. The Ferris wheel jerks forward, no longer running smoothly like it did on the way up, but worse than that, worse than the possible failure of the ride, I see a dark shadow, and then I see it.
“No,” I mutter without meaning to.
“What’s wrong?” Seth says.
I shake my head. This can’t be happening now, not on the first date that has made me feel normal.
It crawls up the ride.
Bony fingers cling to the metal framework.
An x-ray of bones shine through its skin. I lean forward and grip the safety bar with my fingers, gripping so hard that the whites of my knuckles protrude through my skin, like the bones of the Thing climbing up to me.
“What do you want?” I whisper.
“What did you say?” Seth asks.
“Nothing,” I reply.
“Are you all right? You look a little pale? It’s the ride, isn’t it? Don’t worry, it gets a bit stiff sometimes, when it’s been inactive for a few minutes. Did I frighten you with what I said? Honestly, it’s fine. Damo knows how to—”
Screeeeeech.
The ride stops so abruptly that I’m thrust forward against the safety bar. My head snaps forward, painfully. One of the bears slips from my grasp and hurtles down towards the black ground below.
“Shit.” Seth grabs hold of my shoulders and pulls me back against the seat. “That’s never happened before. Are you all right?”
The Thing is gone. It has passed on the warning, showing me its hideous face. Now I have to wait for whatever horrible event is about to happen.
Are we going to die?
The Ferris wheel bench rocks back and forth, suspended halfway down the 80 foot full height of the wheel, as boasted on the sign by the ticket booth. Seth holds me tight, his anxious face turned down towards the control booth below.
“Damo?” he shouts. “Damo, what’s happening down there, pal?”
There’s the scrape of a door opening and a small voice calls up. “Summats up, mate. The controls have gone funny. I keep trying to get you down, but then it… it’s like it has a life of its bloody own.”
Seth rubs his chin. The wheel lurches forward again, this time making me cry out and grip onto Seth’s arm tighter.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs. “It’s gonna be all right.”
I shake my head. No it isn’t. When the Things show up, it’s because someone is going to get hurt. It’s not usually me, it’s someone else. Death follows me.
“This is my fault,” I whisper.
“What?” he says.
“Bad things happen… you… you should get away from me.”
Our seat rocks forward, forcing us both up against the safety bar. “This isn’t your fault—”
The bench drops an inch to the left, but my heart drops to my knees. We slide together, hitting the edge. In a moment of utter panic I realise that the chain has come loose at the top. There’s a good chance it will break altogether and we’ll fall…
Mary Hades (Mary Hades #1) by Sarah Dalton.
Not many seventeen year old girls have a best friend who’s a ghost, but then Mary Hades isn’t your average teenager.
Scarred physically and mentally from a fire, her parents decide a holiday to an idyllic village in North Yorkshire will help her recover. Nestled in the middle of five moors, Mary expects to have a boring week stuck in a caravan with her parents. Little does she know, evil lurks in the campsite…
Seth Lockwood—a local fairground worker with a dark secret—might be the key to uncovering the murky history that has blighted Nettleby. But Mary is drawn to him in a way that has her questioning her judgement.
Helped by her dead best friend and a quirky gay Goth couple, Mary must stop the unusual deaths occurring in Nettleby. But can she prevent her heart from being broken?
The first in a series of dark YA novels, Mary Hades follows on from the bestselling Kindle Single My Daylight Monsters. A spine-tingling tale with romance, readers will be shocked and entertained in equal measure.
Release Date: June 2014
Genre: Horror, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.
The author is giving away an Ultimate Swag Bag, Signed Paperback, and 3 Ebooks!
To enter, use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Keep reading for a chance to win signed books, ebooks, and swag!
Book Excerpt
The wheel lurches forward with a groan.
“There, it’s—” My blood runs cold. The Ferris wheel jerks forward, no longer running smoothly like it did on the way up, but worse than that, worse than the possible failure of the ride, I see a dark shadow, and then I see it.
“No,” I mutter without meaning to.
“What’s wrong?” Seth says.
I shake my head. This can’t be happening now, not on the first date that has made me feel normal.
It crawls up the ride.
Bony fingers cling to the metal framework.
An x-ray of bones shine through its skin. I lean forward and grip the safety bar with my fingers, gripping so hard that the whites of my knuckles protrude through my skin, like the bones of the Thing climbing up to me.
“What do you want?” I whisper.
“What did you say?” Seth asks.
“Nothing,” I reply.
“Are you all right? You look a little pale? It’s the ride, isn’t it? Don’t worry, it gets a bit stiff sometimes, when it’s been inactive for a few minutes. Did I frighten you with what I said? Honestly, it’s fine. Damo knows how to—”
Screeeeeech.
The ride stops so abruptly that I’m thrust forward against the safety bar. My head snaps forward, painfully. One of the bears slips from my grasp and hurtles down towards the black ground below.
“Shit.” Seth grabs hold of my shoulders and pulls me back against the seat. “That’s never happened before. Are you all right?”
The Thing is gone. It has passed on the warning, showing me its hideous face. Now I have to wait for whatever horrible event is about to happen.
Are we going to die?
The Ferris wheel bench rocks back and forth, suspended halfway down the 80 foot full height of the wheel, as boasted on the sign by the ticket booth. Seth holds me tight, his anxious face turned down towards the control booth below.
“Damo?” he shouts. “Damo, what’s happening down there, pal?”
There’s the scrape of a door opening and a small voice calls up. “Summats up, mate. The controls have gone funny. I keep trying to get you down, but then it… it’s like it has a life of its bloody own.”
Seth rubs his chin. The wheel lurches forward again, this time making me cry out and grip onto Seth’s arm tighter.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs. “It’s gonna be all right.”
I shake my head. No it isn’t. When the Things show up, it’s because someone is going to get hurt. It’s not usually me, it’s someone else. Death follows me.
“This is my fault,” I whisper.
“What?” he says.
“Bad things happen… you… you should get away from me.”
Our seat rocks forward, forcing us both up against the safety bar. “This isn’t your fault—”
The bench drops an inch to the left, but my heart drops to my knees. We slide together, hitting the edge. In a moment of utter panic I realise that the chain has come loose at the top. There’s a good chance it will break altogether and we’ll fall…
Mary Hades (Mary Hades #1) by Sarah Dalton.
Not many seventeen year old girls have a best friend who’s a ghost, but then Mary Hades isn’t your average teenager.
Scarred physically and mentally from a fire, her parents decide a holiday to an idyllic village in North Yorkshire will help her recover. Nestled in the middle of five moors, Mary expects to have a boring week stuck in a caravan with her parents. Little does she know, evil lurks in the campsite…
Seth Lockwood—a local fairground worker with a dark secret—might be the key to uncovering the murky history that has blighted Nettleby. But Mary is drawn to him in a way that has her questioning her judgement.
Helped by her dead best friend and a quirky gay Goth couple, Mary must stop the unusual deaths occurring in Nettleby. But can she prevent her heart from being broken?
The first in a series of dark YA novels, Mary Hades follows on from the bestselling Kindle Single My Daylight Monsters. A spine-tingling tale with romance, readers will be shocked and entertained in equal measure.
Release Date: June 2014
Genre: Horror, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.
Mary Hades Book Blitz Giveaway
The author is giving away an Ultimate Swag Bag, Signed Paperback, and 3 Ebooks!
To enter, use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What did you think of the book excerpt?
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Tragic Silence Giveaway Winner
Congratulations Linda G. the winner of our Tragic Silence Giveaway here at From the Shadows! Linda will receive an ebook copy of Tragic Silence by E.C. Hibbs.
Thank you to all who entered!
**Giveaway winner selected using Random.org**
Thank you to all who entered!
**Giveaway winner selected using Random.org**
Friday, May 23, 2014
Character Interviews + Giveaway: Shadows and Light by Melissa Haag
Today we have three fun character interviews to share with you from SHADOWS AND LIGHT a collection of three parnormal novellas by Melissa Haag. There will also be a chance to enter a fab giveaway!
Willam, the hero with a shadowed past from Reap the Shadow, Slay the Light, agreed to speak candidly with the author regarding his thoughts about Pheobe. This interview is spoiler free.
Melissa: You went away to college then moved back to be close to Pheobe. Why?
Willam: I knew what was coming and couldn't leave her to face it alone.
Melissa: That’s the only reason?
Willam: One of a few.
Melissa: Why were you homeschooled?
Willam: When the people around me started to show signs of aggression, I needed to do something to shield them. Isha, my sister, helped me see what it meant to care like that. It was hard to be around other people. But never Isha…or Pheobe.
Melissa: What was your reaction when you first met Pheobe?
**Willam looks down for a moment**
Willam: Shock. I’d never seen anyone so beautiful, so perfect. She didn’t react to me as if I was a pariah. She made room for me and included me. I knew that first day; she was mine.
WarWolf: Half-breed introduces a new, emotionally enhanced werewolf. This spoiler free interview gives us a little insight into just how enhanced Declan is.
Melissa: When Ema first meets you, you’re in a bar crying. Doesn’t seem very manly…
**Declan frowns at me.**
Declan: I'd just lost my father.
Melissa: Um, no. That was several years ago.
Declan: I had a little too much to drink. The beer made my eyes water.
Melissa: Nice try. Are all werewolves so...sensitive?
Declan: There's nothing wrong with having emotions or showing them. If you're sad, what's wrong with crying? If you can't vent it, you can't move forward.
Melissa: All right. What did you think of Ema the first time you saw her?
**Declan grins.**
Declan: Tight.
Melissa: Excuse me?
Declan: You know, emotionally blocked up. She was sitting there so straight and stiff. Barely moving or looking around. No smile or anything. But, man, did she look pretty. There was no way I was going anywhere but to her house.
Melissa: Without giving anything away, what's your favorite memory of your time traveling together?
Declan: That's a tough one. There are so many great moments. If I had to choose...bathtub.
Melissa: Is there anything else you'd like to share with the readers?
Declan: Warlock treehouses' rock!
The author managed to interview the leading man, Racer from Moved, about the circumstances that led up to Gillian’s move. This interview is spoiler free.
Melissa: How did you get talked into renting out the upstairs apartment?
Racer: There wasn't much of a talk. Larry asked if anyone was living in the apartment upstairs. I said no. He told me someone would be within twenty-four hours.
Melissa: Why wasn't there a tenant?
Racer: I like living alone. Tenants are disruptive, needy, intrusive…
Melissa: What was your first impression of Gillian?
**Racer gives me a cocky grin**
Racer: Disruptive. Needy. Intrusive.
Melissa: What about now?
Racer: Close to perfect.
Melissa: Close?
Racer: She still thinks she can wander around on her own, and when I don’t give her the space she needs, she threatens to start acting like an inmate again.
Melissa: Some of her stunts were pretty funny.
Racer: You weren’t on the receiving end.
Shadows and Light by Melissa Haag.
Three paranormal novellas
Reap the Shadow, Slay the Light
I don’t know what I am, but I’m not human…and neither are the creatures that killed my mom. Running will only carry me so far because there’s a darkness within me, ready to destroy me, and a burning light, begging for escape. It’s the light that screams to my pursuers and works them into a frenzy. Though the darkness might kill me, releasing the light might kill us all…
WarWolf: Half breed
Ema fights to suppress her werewolf emotions and deny her warlock powers. It isn’t easy being a half-breed, but she is determined to slide through life unnoticed by either group. When the warlock leaders team up with humans to force paranormal registration, Ema believes she must choose between her two unwanted worlds. An unexpected companion shows her not all emotions are bad, and power has its benefits.
Moved
“Werewolves are real but the legends are wrong…”
It’s the secret Gillian’s father has tried to keep from her and the reason he’s so overprotective. But, he goes too far when he exiles Gillian to a house in the middle of nowhere. Her new landlord, Racer, is more like a cute jailer who has strict orders to keep her safely trapped.
Battle lines between independence and obligation are drawn as Gillian decides just how far she’s willing to go to win back her freedom. And Racer needs to decide what he’s willing to endure to keep her close.
Release Date: May 15, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you Melissa for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about Melissa Haag and her books, please visit her website.
The author is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card and 2 Ebook copies of Shadows and Light by Melissa Haag.
To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. This is a tour giveaway--giveaway winners will be selected by the author or publisher. Giveaway ends May 25, 2014.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Character Interviews
Willam, the hero with a shadowed past from Reap the Shadow, Slay the Light, agreed to speak candidly with the author regarding his thoughts about Pheobe. This interview is spoiler free.
Melissa: You went away to college then moved back to be close to Pheobe. Why?
Willam: I knew what was coming and couldn't leave her to face it alone.
Melissa: That’s the only reason?
Willam: One of a few.
Melissa: Why were you homeschooled?
Willam: When the people around me started to show signs of aggression, I needed to do something to shield them. Isha, my sister, helped me see what it meant to care like that. It was hard to be around other people. But never Isha…or Pheobe.
Melissa: What was your reaction when you first met Pheobe?
**Willam looks down for a moment**
Willam: Shock. I’d never seen anyone so beautiful, so perfect. She didn’t react to me as if I was a pariah. She made room for me and included me. I knew that first day; she was mine.
WarWolf: Half-breed introduces a new, emotionally enhanced werewolf. This spoiler free interview gives us a little insight into just how enhanced Declan is.
Melissa: When Ema first meets you, you’re in a bar crying. Doesn’t seem very manly…
**Declan frowns at me.**
Declan: I'd just lost my father.
Melissa: Um, no. That was several years ago.
Declan: I had a little too much to drink. The beer made my eyes water.
Melissa: Nice try. Are all werewolves so...sensitive?
Declan: There's nothing wrong with having emotions or showing them. If you're sad, what's wrong with crying? If you can't vent it, you can't move forward.
Melissa: All right. What did you think of Ema the first time you saw her?
**Declan grins.**
Declan: Tight.
Melissa: Excuse me?
Declan: You know, emotionally blocked up. She was sitting there so straight and stiff. Barely moving or looking around. No smile or anything. But, man, did she look pretty. There was no way I was going anywhere but to her house.
Melissa: Without giving anything away, what's your favorite memory of your time traveling together?
Declan: That's a tough one. There are so many great moments. If I had to choose...bathtub.
Melissa: Is there anything else you'd like to share with the readers?
Declan: Warlock treehouses' rock!
The author managed to interview the leading man, Racer from Moved, about the circumstances that led up to Gillian’s move. This interview is spoiler free.
Melissa: How did you get talked into renting out the upstairs apartment?
Racer: There wasn't much of a talk. Larry asked if anyone was living in the apartment upstairs. I said no. He told me someone would be within twenty-four hours.
Melissa: Why wasn't there a tenant?
Racer: I like living alone. Tenants are disruptive, needy, intrusive…
Melissa: What was your first impression of Gillian?
**Racer gives me a cocky grin**
Racer: Disruptive. Needy. Intrusive.
Melissa: What about now?
Racer: Close to perfect.
Melissa: Close?
Racer: She still thinks she can wander around on her own, and when I don’t give her the space she needs, she threatens to start acting like an inmate again.
Melissa: Some of her stunts were pretty funny.
Racer: You weren’t on the receiving end.
Shadows and Light by Melissa Haag.
Three paranormal novellas
Reap the Shadow, Slay the Light
I don’t know what I am, but I’m not human…and neither are the creatures that killed my mom. Running will only carry me so far because there’s a darkness within me, ready to destroy me, and a burning light, begging for escape. It’s the light that screams to my pursuers and works them into a frenzy. Though the darkness might kill me, releasing the light might kill us all…
WarWolf: Half breed
Ema fights to suppress her werewolf emotions and deny her warlock powers. It isn’t easy being a half-breed, but she is determined to slide through life unnoticed by either group. When the warlock leaders team up with humans to force paranormal registration, Ema believes she must choose between her two unwanted worlds. An unexpected companion shows her not all emotions are bad, and power has its benefits.
Moved
“Werewolves are real but the legends are wrong…”
It’s the secret Gillian’s father has tried to keep from her and the reason he’s so overprotective. But, he goes too far when he exiles Gillian to a house in the middle of nowhere. Her new landlord, Racer, is more like a cute jailer who has strict orders to keep her safely trapped.
Battle lines between independence and obligation are drawn as Gillian decides just how far she’s willing to go to win back her freedom. And Racer needs to decide what he’s willing to endure to keep her close.
Release Date: May 15, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you Melissa for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about Melissa Haag and her books, please visit her website.
Shadows and Light Giveaway
The author is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card and 2 Ebook copies of Shadows and Light by Melissa Haag.
To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. This is a tour giveaway--giveaway winners will be selected by the author or publisher. Giveaway ends May 25, 2014.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Which novella are you most looking forward to reading?
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Goodreads Giveaway: Burning Bright by E.J. Stevens
Goodreads.com is giving away 3 paperback copies of BURNING BRIGHT, the third full-length novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens. Enter to win!
Enter to win
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Burning Bright
by E.J. Stevens
Giveaway ends August 17, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Q+A with Terry Maggert (Mask of the Swan)
Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Terry Maggert! Terry is that author of The Forest Bull and Mask of the Swan.
E.J. When did you begin writing?
Terry: I’ve always written, even since childhood, but everything changed for me when I began to explore writing horror and fantasy. My first novel was actually a grim romance, but I decided it was a bit too odd for public consumption. I blame that on monster movies I watched as child (and too much food coloring or paint chips in my diet).
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Terry: I grew up on fantasy and science fiction—love it, have always loved it, and I’ll never stop reading it. I’m old enough to remember when vampires were bad, then good, then bad, and now, maybe somewhere in the middle. I fell in love with Anne McCaffrey’s dragons a long time ago, and that started me on the road to devouring all of the fantasy I could read. I really like clever stories—to me, being clever is much harder than being detailed, and a lot of paranormal stories are actually quite complex. I hope that my books meet or exceed that standard. As for my own series--I’m not a true Southerner, but I found that I love the culture. I mean, sweet tea? Biscuits? Pinto beans? I accept! There was one “southern” thing that was completely new to me-- roadside crosses at places where people died in car accidents. I started wondering, “What if someone, or something used a roadside cross for a very dark reason?” I wrote a story about a ghoul and her human helper, who roam the American Midwest using a roadside cross to lure teenagers to their death. From that, I created characters that would hunt that ghoul, but with a dollop of humor and a relationship that is unusual, to say the least.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Terry: Oh, without a doubt I would like the power to make my six year old eat on command. Trust me, I’d be a kajillionaire.
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Terry: It’s funny, it’s sexy, and it has characters from today as well as the past that make us realize the world is a lot more complicated than we might think. I like villains who want to be good, and heroes who enjoy being bad. Delphine is one character who took me by surprise—I love her and the conflict that she feels. She has to feed from humans, but she doesn’t want to, and deep down, I think she has a very pure soul. Elizabeth is evil. Period. But why she’s evil interests more than just the fact that she is consistently trying to create chaos. I like that Waleska is stunningly beautiful but has terrible manners, and Risa is smart but loves bad music, and Ring loves them both and knows just how damned lucky he is.
It might seem unusual to write about three lovers who really fit, but when you see how their lives are woven together, it works. They love each other because they understand how hard it is to kill. Another point to my story is my belief that we expect a certain degree of cruelty from beautiful women. I hope that my stories address that assumption by showing that evil can be beautiful—or in other words, don’t judge a book by its cover (unless I’ve written it!).
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Terry: Ring looks like Jim Caviezel, but much funnier and not as serious. I mean, he’s in a three-way, there isn’t much reason to mope. Waleska, or Wally, as we know her, is the perfect tall blonde with freckles, and she’s crude and funny. Without hesitation, I would cast Jennifer Lawrence, I know she could pull it off. Elizabeth is beautiful but cold—I see Kate Beckinsale pulling that role off quite well. For Risa—that’s probably the toughest, because she’s an Israeli, she’s smart, dusky, and has the kind of intelligent beauty that is more subtle. Risa is also quite petite, so Natalie Portman or Mili Avital would be great in that role. The blonde bombshell, Delphine, is really tough, but in a pinch, I think I would ask Scarlett Johannson to dye her hair and have at it.
Mask of the Swan (The Fearless #2) by Terry Maggert
Killing immortals is easy. Becoming one is hard. When three lovers (Ring, Waleska, and Risa) take a vacation after losing a fight with an elegant monster named Elizabeth, their time for healing is cut short by a new threat, and this time, innocent blood will spill. Reaching for the crown of Hell, Elizabeth gathers Archangels around her to fuel her power-mad ascent-but she has powerful enemies who will fight her every step of the way, including Delphine, the 2400 year old succubus hooker who knows that inside her beautiful body rests a very human soul. Joined by an honorable priest who finds himself in the middle of a war he never knew existed, and a demigod and his partner, the stage is set for another round in the battle to determine how much of Ring, Waleska, and Risa is still human, how tough their immortal side can be-and how far they are willing to go to protect the people they love from the reaches of a creature who would burn their world to ashes.
Release Date: February 5, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you Terry for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about Terry Maggert and his books, please visit his website.
Q+A with Terry Maggert
E.J. When did you begin writing?
Terry: I’ve always written, even since childhood, but everything changed for me when I began to explore writing horror and fantasy. My first novel was actually a grim romance, but I decided it was a bit too odd for public consumption. I blame that on monster movies I watched as child (and too much food coloring or paint chips in my diet).
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Terry: I grew up on fantasy and science fiction—love it, have always loved it, and I’ll never stop reading it. I’m old enough to remember when vampires were bad, then good, then bad, and now, maybe somewhere in the middle. I fell in love with Anne McCaffrey’s dragons a long time ago, and that started me on the road to devouring all of the fantasy I could read. I really like clever stories—to me, being clever is much harder than being detailed, and a lot of paranormal stories are actually quite complex. I hope that my books meet or exceed that standard. As for my own series--I’m not a true Southerner, but I found that I love the culture. I mean, sweet tea? Biscuits? Pinto beans? I accept! There was one “southern” thing that was completely new to me-- roadside crosses at places where people died in car accidents. I started wondering, “What if someone, or something used a roadside cross for a very dark reason?” I wrote a story about a ghoul and her human helper, who roam the American Midwest using a roadside cross to lure teenagers to their death. From that, I created characters that would hunt that ghoul, but with a dollop of humor and a relationship that is unusual, to say the least.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Terry: Oh, without a doubt I would like the power to make my six year old eat on command. Trust me, I’d be a kajillionaire.
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Terry: It’s funny, it’s sexy, and it has characters from today as well as the past that make us realize the world is a lot more complicated than we might think. I like villains who want to be good, and heroes who enjoy being bad. Delphine is one character who took me by surprise—I love her and the conflict that she feels. She has to feed from humans, but she doesn’t want to, and deep down, I think she has a very pure soul. Elizabeth is evil. Period. But why she’s evil interests more than just the fact that she is consistently trying to create chaos. I like that Waleska is stunningly beautiful but has terrible manners, and Risa is smart but loves bad music, and Ring loves them both and knows just how damned lucky he is.
It might seem unusual to write about three lovers who really fit, but when you see how their lives are woven together, it works. They love each other because they understand how hard it is to kill. Another point to my story is my belief that we expect a certain degree of cruelty from beautiful women. I hope that my stories address that assumption by showing that evil can be beautiful—or in other words, don’t judge a book by its cover (unless I’ve written it!).
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Terry: Ring looks like Jim Caviezel, but much funnier and not as serious. I mean, he’s in a three-way, there isn’t much reason to mope. Waleska, or Wally, as we know her, is the perfect tall blonde with freckles, and she’s crude and funny. Without hesitation, I would cast Jennifer Lawrence, I know she could pull it off. Elizabeth is beautiful but cold—I see Kate Beckinsale pulling that role off quite well. For Risa—that’s probably the toughest, because she’s an Israeli, she’s smart, dusky, and has the kind of intelligent beauty that is more subtle. Risa is also quite petite, so Natalie Portman or Mili Avital would be great in that role. The blonde bombshell, Delphine, is really tough, but in a pinch, I think I would ask Scarlett Johannson to dye her hair and have at it.
Mask of the Swan (The Fearless #2) by Terry Maggert
Killing immortals is easy. Becoming one is hard. When three lovers (Ring, Waleska, and Risa) take a vacation after losing a fight with an elegant monster named Elizabeth, their time for healing is cut short by a new threat, and this time, innocent blood will spill. Reaching for the crown of Hell, Elizabeth gathers Archangels around her to fuel her power-mad ascent-but she has powerful enemies who will fight her every step of the way, including Delphine, the 2400 year old succubus hooker who knows that inside her beautiful body rests a very human soul. Joined by an honorable priest who finds himself in the middle of a war he never knew existed, and a demigod and his partner, the stage is set for another round in the battle to determine how much of Ring, Waleska, and Risa is still human, how tough their immortal side can be-and how far they are willing to go to protect the people they love from the reaches of a creature who would burn their world to ashes.
Release Date: February 5, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you Terry for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about Terry Maggert and his books, please visit his website.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
The Midnight Spell Giveaway Winner
Congratulations Yun-a the winner of The Midnight Spell Book Giveaway here at From the Shadows! Yun-a will receive an ebook copy of The Midnight Spell by Rhiannon Frater and Kody Boye.
Thank you to all who entered!
**Giveaway winner selected using Random.org**
Thank you to all who entered!
**Giveaway winner selected using Random.org**
Friday, May 16, 2014
Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Burning Bright by E.J. Stevens
It's time for a cover reveal! Feast your eyes on the cover for BURNING BRIGHT, the third full-length novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.
Keep reading for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Burning Bright (Ivy Granger #3) by E.J. Stevens.
Burning down the house...
Things are not going well at the offices of Private Eye. Jinx is having demon problems, the city is overrun with pyromaniacal imps, and Ivy's wisp powers are burning out of control, attracting the attention of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts.
Along came a faerie queen... It's the worst possible time for the Green Lady to call in a favor, but Ivy's bound by her deal with the glaistig. Too bad there's no wiggle room in faerie bargains.
Ivy must rid the city of imps, keep Jinx from murdering her one solid link to Hell, and fulfill her bargain with the Green Lady--with sidhe assassins hot on her tail.
Just another day's work for Ivy Granger, psychic detective.
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.
Previous books in this series: Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger #1), Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5), Ghost Light (Ivy Granger #2), Club Nexus (Ivy Granger #2.5).
We are giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner!
To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends May 30, 2014.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
E.J. Stevens is the author of the Spirit Guide young adult series and the bestselling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series. When E.J. isn't at her writing desk she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles. E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.
Connect with E.J. on Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Pinterest, and on her Blog.
Keep reading for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Cover Reveal
Burning Bright (Ivy Granger #3) by E.J. Stevens.
Burning down the house...
Things are not going well at the offices of Private Eye. Jinx is having demon problems, the city is overrun with pyromaniacal imps, and Ivy's wisp powers are burning out of control, attracting the attention of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts.
Along came a faerie queen... It's the worst possible time for the Green Lady to call in a favor, but Ivy's bound by her deal with the glaistig. Too bad there's no wiggle room in faerie bargains.
Ivy must rid the city of imps, keep Jinx from murdering her one solid link to Hell, and fulfill her bargain with the Green Lady--with sidhe assassins hot on her tail.
Just another day's work for Ivy Granger, psychic detective.
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.
Previous books in this series: Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger #1), Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5), Ghost Light (Ivy Granger #2), Club Nexus (Ivy Granger #2.5).
Burning Bright Cover Reveal Giveaway
We are giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner!
To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends May 30, 2014.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author
E.J. Stevens is the author of the Spirit Guide young adult series and the bestselling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series. When E.J. isn't at her writing desk she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles. E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.
Connect with E.J. on Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Pinterest, and on her Blog.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Q+A, Book Excerpt + Giveaway: Shadow Fire by Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Kimber Leigh Wheaton. Today we have a special book excerpt from SHADOW FIRE by Kimber Leigh Wheaton and a fun Q+A with the author. We are also hosting a fabulous giveaway. Keep on reading to enter!
EJ: When did you begin writing?
Kimber Leigh: I've always enjoyed writing—used to write all sorts of short stories in high school and college. A couple years ago, my son reached an age where he was more independent. Suddenly I had this free time, and for a while I didn't know what to do with it. The idea for Shadow Fire hit me out of the blue one day. It grabbed ahold, and I was a woman possessed. One month later I had my first draft. There was no planning, no outline. Ashlyn, Zane, and Taranis were in my mind, and their story needed to be told. I loved writing Shadow Fire and Stolen Moon soon followed. Writing has become a passion. Life would be dull without it.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Kimber Leigh: I've had an interest in the paranormal since I was a child. I love all sorts of mythology and folktales. My bookshelves are filled with books on the paranormal that I've collected through the years. I have a novel, Tortured Souls - The Orion Circle Book 1, coming in July about a group of teenage paranormal investigators. In that series I plan to really explore the supernatural world: ghosts, cryptozoology, werewolves, vampires—you name it. I just find the whole supernatural world fascinating.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Kimber Leigh: I'd love to be a shapeshifter. I love animals and think it would be fun to be able to shift into an animal… as long as that shift is under my control and not tied to the moon or other event. I'm thinking a dragon or a griffin—it would be so cool to fly! Besides, can you imagine the look on the neighbors' faces when a giant blue dragon appears in the front yard? Yeah, still think you can steal my trash can?? Go for it! I dare you…
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Kimber Leigh: Shadow Fire is a lighthearted, fun adventure with a touch of whimsy and a sweet romance. It definitely takes its cue from the RPG video games that inspired it. It's the first novel in a series of standalone fantasy romances. No cliffhanger endings here! Written for readers who like their characters silly at times and their 'ever-afters' happy.
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Kimber Leigh: This is a rather difficult question for me to answer. I always pictured Shadow Fire as an animated movie. I also tend to see my characters more as anime than real people.
I think Princess Anna from Disney's Frozen would be a great in Ashlyn's role—no question. Princess Anna not only looks a bit like Ashlyn, but she's loyal, determined, and sweet.
For Zane, I'd have to choose Kratos Aurion from Namco's video game Tales of Symphonia. Kratos is lacking Zane's sense of humor and ethics, but I think he could pull off the role quite well. They're both amazing swordsmen, and Zane shares some of Kratos' wisdom as well as his more serious nature.
Taranis is really hard to cast… slap a red wig on Miroku from InuYasha and he might do a good job as Taranis. Miroku is quite similar to Taranis in many ways. They're both guys who are a bit too fond of the ladies which tends to get them in trouble… but they're also loyal, courageous, and fun-loving.
Every step I take is one step closer to death.
Hiking through the dense underbrush, I try to calm my frayed nerves and control the fear threatening to overwhelm me. Twigs and tendrils of ivy grab at my ankles as I continue to forge ahead, forcing me to wrench away from their skeletal grip. The sunlight is fading, signaling the end of another day, but this is no ordinary day.
A loud crack pierces the air. I freeze in my tracks, my breath catching in my throat. Whipping my head around, I try to locate the source of the sound. My heart pounds in my chest, the erratic rhythm painful. These woods are full of predators, some animal, some monster, but the worst… human. Taking a deep breath, I listen to the surrounding woods: birds chirp, insects hum, and small animals scurry about as if they have no care in the world.
Lungs burning, I force myself to continue walking. I didn't collapse three weeks ago when this whole fiasco started, and I won't give in now. My family needs me to be strong.
The trees become sparser as I approach the edge of the forest. My shoulders slump when I pass the tree house we used to play in so many years ago. Any other day when I'm this close to home after a long day of hunting, I'd smile, breathe a sigh of relief, and perhaps look forward to dinner. Today there will be no raucous family meal, no solace in entering the peaceful village, and nothing to smile about.
The villagers will be awaiting my return, skulking in the shadows, desperate to catch a glimpse of the walking dead girl.
I've dealt with the whispers and pointing for three weeks with my head held high, my anxiety hidden behind a mask of indifference. I don't want them to see me like this, trembling in fear, broken. They've taken everything I am, every hope, every dream I've had for the future and smashed them to pieces with little hope of salvation. The townsfolk of Verdane decided my fate and they chose death.
The elders told me being Chosen is an honor. Either they are ignorant or apathetic. Every five years for the last twenty, a teenage girl has been chosen by the town, via secret ballot, to undertake this dangerous quest, never to return. Perhaps if the elders had to forfeit their lives instead they wouldn't be so quick to label it an honor, they'd call it what it is…a sacrifice.
Shadow Fire (The Light Chronicles #1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.
Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.
Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.
All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.
Shadow Fire - adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal
As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?
Release Date: February 24, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Add to Goodreads.
To enter, use this Rafflecopter form. This is a tour giveaway. Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Giveaway ends May 25, 2014.
Q+A with Kimber Leigh Wheaton
EJ: When did you begin writing?
Kimber Leigh: I've always enjoyed writing—used to write all sorts of short stories in high school and college. A couple years ago, my son reached an age where he was more independent. Suddenly I had this free time, and for a while I didn't know what to do with it. The idea for Shadow Fire hit me out of the blue one day. It grabbed ahold, and I was a woman possessed. One month later I had my first draft. There was no planning, no outline. Ashlyn, Zane, and Taranis were in my mind, and their story needed to be told. I loved writing Shadow Fire and Stolen Moon soon followed. Writing has become a passion. Life would be dull without it.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Kimber Leigh: I've had an interest in the paranormal since I was a child. I love all sorts of mythology and folktales. My bookshelves are filled with books on the paranormal that I've collected through the years. I have a novel, Tortured Souls - The Orion Circle Book 1, coming in July about a group of teenage paranormal investigators. In that series I plan to really explore the supernatural world: ghosts, cryptozoology, werewolves, vampires—you name it. I just find the whole supernatural world fascinating.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Kimber Leigh: I'd love to be a shapeshifter. I love animals and think it would be fun to be able to shift into an animal… as long as that shift is under my control and not tied to the moon or other event. I'm thinking a dragon or a griffin—it would be so cool to fly! Besides, can you imagine the look on the neighbors' faces when a giant blue dragon appears in the front yard? Yeah, still think you can steal my trash can?? Go for it! I dare you…
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Kimber Leigh: Shadow Fire is a lighthearted, fun adventure with a touch of whimsy and a sweet romance. It definitely takes its cue from the RPG video games that inspired it. It's the first novel in a series of standalone fantasy romances. No cliffhanger endings here! Written for readers who like their characters silly at times and their 'ever-afters' happy.
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Kimber Leigh: This is a rather difficult question for me to answer. I always pictured Shadow Fire as an animated movie. I also tend to see my characters more as anime than real people.
I think Princess Anna from Disney's Frozen would be a great in Ashlyn's role—no question. Princess Anna not only looks a bit like Ashlyn, but she's loyal, determined, and sweet.
For Zane, I'd have to choose Kratos Aurion from Namco's video game Tales of Symphonia. Kratos is lacking Zane's sense of humor and ethics, but I think he could pull off the role quite well. They're both amazing swordsmen, and Zane shares some of Kratos' wisdom as well as his more serious nature.
Taranis is really hard to cast… slap a red wig on Miroku from InuYasha and he might do a good job as Taranis. Miroku is quite similar to Taranis in many ways. They're both guys who are a bit too fond of the ladies which tends to get them in trouble… but they're also loyal, courageous, and fun-loving.
Shadow Fire Book Excerpt
Every step I take is one step closer to death.
Hiking through the dense underbrush, I try to calm my frayed nerves and control the fear threatening to overwhelm me. Twigs and tendrils of ivy grab at my ankles as I continue to forge ahead, forcing me to wrench away from their skeletal grip. The sunlight is fading, signaling the end of another day, but this is no ordinary day.
A loud crack pierces the air. I freeze in my tracks, my breath catching in my throat. Whipping my head around, I try to locate the source of the sound. My heart pounds in my chest, the erratic rhythm painful. These woods are full of predators, some animal, some monster, but the worst… human. Taking a deep breath, I listen to the surrounding woods: birds chirp, insects hum, and small animals scurry about as if they have no care in the world.
Lungs burning, I force myself to continue walking. I didn't collapse three weeks ago when this whole fiasco started, and I won't give in now. My family needs me to be strong.
The trees become sparser as I approach the edge of the forest. My shoulders slump when I pass the tree house we used to play in so many years ago. Any other day when I'm this close to home after a long day of hunting, I'd smile, breathe a sigh of relief, and perhaps look forward to dinner. Today there will be no raucous family meal, no solace in entering the peaceful village, and nothing to smile about.
The villagers will be awaiting my return, skulking in the shadows, desperate to catch a glimpse of the walking dead girl.
I've dealt with the whispers and pointing for three weeks with my head held high, my anxiety hidden behind a mask of indifference. I don't want them to see me like this, trembling in fear, broken. They've taken everything I am, every hope, every dream I've had for the future and smashed them to pieces with little hope of salvation. The townsfolk of Verdane decided my fate and they chose death.
The elders told me being Chosen is an honor. Either they are ignorant or apathetic. Every five years for the last twenty, a teenage girl has been chosen by the town, via secret ballot, to undertake this dangerous quest, never to return. Perhaps if the elders had to forfeit their lives instead they wouldn't be so quick to label it an honor, they'd call it what it is…a sacrifice.
Shadow Fire (The Light Chronicles #1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.
Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.
Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.
All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.
Shadow Fire - adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal
As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?
Release Date: February 24, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Add to Goodreads.
***Shadow Fire Tour Giveaway***
Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash.
To enter, use this Rafflecopter form. This is a tour giveaway. Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Giveaway ends May 25, 2014.
What did you think of the book excerpt?
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Q+A with C.S. Yelle + Taking Angels Book Giveaway
Please welcome today's paranormal guest author C.S. Yelle! C.S. is the author of TAKING ANGELS.
Keep reading for a chance to win Taking Angels by C.S. Yelle!
EJ: When did you begin writing?
CS: 1987 right out of college. After an 11 year break, I have been writing steady since 1998.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
CS: A lot of people around me who I respected really enjoyed that genre. I found it fit well with my Fantasy background so it was an easy transition for me. It definitely made me a better writer.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
CS: I am fascinated with the ability to teleport. To be able to jump from one place to another in an instant would be incredible and for a person who spends many hours driving each week, the time saved would be awesome!
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
CS: Good vs. Evil, True love or forbidden love, everything and everyone you love at risk, oh, and car chases. You have to love a car chase.
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
CS: Britt Anderson – AnnaSophia Robb
Allister Parks – Alex Pettyfer
Kendal – Cameron Bright
Angelina Parks – Emma Roberts
Taking Angels (The Angel Crusades #1) by C.S. Yelle
Britt Anderson went along with everything the doctors said for nearly four years, but she was still dying at eighteen. The cancer had won leaving her without a future, without any options, and without control. No control, except for how she would leave this world. As Britt tries to end her life by going into the frigid waters she realizes her mistake. She struggles to get back to shore, to cry out for help, but her atrophied muscles are useless and the frigid water steals the breath from her chemo-scarred lungs. Despite her father’s attempts to reach her, she flies over the waterfall.
When Allister Parks finds Britt’s fragile body on the riverbank something calls out to him. Ignoring the warnings of his sister, Allister brings Britt back from the edge of death. The only problem is that an Eternal like Allister isn’t allowed to touch those who have already passed from this world. It is forbidden; an infraction punishable by death.
As Britt relishes her new cancer-free life and senior year of high school, her very existence threatens Allister’s place in this world. Allister struggles to keep Britt a secret from the Eternal Council and out of the hands of the only Eternal who already knows the truth: the one who stole her guardian angel.
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you C.S. for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about C.S. Yelle and his books, please visit his website.
We are giving away a Taking Angels ebook to one lucky winner!
To enter, please leave a message on this post and include your email address so we may contact you if you win. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends May 29, 2014 midnight EST.
Keep reading for a chance to win Taking Angels by C.S. Yelle!
Q+A with C.S. Yelle
EJ: When did you begin writing?
CS: 1987 right out of college. After an 11 year break, I have been writing steady since 1998.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
CS: A lot of people around me who I respected really enjoyed that genre. I found it fit well with my Fantasy background so it was an easy transition for me. It definitely made me a better writer.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
CS: I am fascinated with the ability to teleport. To be able to jump from one place to another in an instant would be incredible and for a person who spends many hours driving each week, the time saved would be awesome!
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
CS: Good vs. Evil, True love or forbidden love, everything and everyone you love at risk, oh, and car chases. You have to love a car chase.
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
CS: Britt Anderson – AnnaSophia Robb
Allister Parks – Alex Pettyfer
Kendal – Cameron Bright
Angelina Parks – Emma Roberts
Taking Angels (The Angel Crusades #1) by C.S. Yelle
Britt Anderson went along with everything the doctors said for nearly four years, but she was still dying at eighteen. The cancer had won leaving her without a future, without any options, and without control. No control, except for how she would leave this world. As Britt tries to end her life by going into the frigid waters she realizes her mistake. She struggles to get back to shore, to cry out for help, but her atrophied muscles are useless and the frigid water steals the breath from her chemo-scarred lungs. Despite her father’s attempts to reach her, she flies over the waterfall.
When Allister Parks finds Britt’s fragile body on the riverbank something calls out to him. Ignoring the warnings of his sister, Allister brings Britt back from the edge of death. The only problem is that an Eternal like Allister isn’t allowed to touch those who have already passed from this world. It is forbidden; an infraction punishable by death.
As Britt relishes her new cancer-free life and senior year of high school, her very existence threatens Allister’s place in this world. Allister struggles to keep Britt a secret from the Eternal Council and out of the hands of the only Eternal who already knows the truth: the one who stole her guardian angel.
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you C.S. for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about C.S. Yelle and his books, please visit his website.
***Taking Angels Book Giveaway***
We are giving away a Taking Angels ebook to one lucky winner!
To enter, please leave a message on this post and include your email address so we may contact you if you win. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends May 29, 2014 midnight EST.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Chasing Prophecy: Book Blitz Giveaway
Today we shine the spotlight on CHASING PROPHECY by James Moser.
Keep reading for a chance to win one of three $50 Amazon Gift Cards!
Chasing Prophecy by James Moser.
Chasing Prophecy is the story of Mo, a teen boy just trying to survive high school in the mountain town of Boulder Creek, Washington. Boulder Creek is an isolated and mysterious place, proud of its reputation as the “Bigfoot Sighting Capital of the World”. Mo falls in love with a girl named Prophecy who lives with a group that some call a commune and others call a cult. When she disappears, Mo must find the courage to face the monster that her family has become. Chasing Prophecy is a heartwarming contemporary coming of age story. This book chronicles the adolescence of one boy who must transform himself to save the girl of his dreams.
Release Date: January 2, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Thriller, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.
The author is giving away $50 Amazon Gift Cards to 3 lucky winners!
To enter, use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. This is a book blitz giveaway--the winners will be selected by the author or publisher. Giveaway ends May 20th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Keep reading for a chance to win one of three $50 Amazon Gift Cards!
Chasing Prophecy by James Moser.
Chasing Prophecy is the story of Mo, a teen boy just trying to survive high school in the mountain town of Boulder Creek, Washington. Boulder Creek is an isolated and mysterious place, proud of its reputation as the “Bigfoot Sighting Capital of the World”. Mo falls in love with a girl named Prophecy who lives with a group that some call a commune and others call a cult. When she disappears, Mo must find the courage to face the monster that her family has become. Chasing Prophecy is a heartwarming contemporary coming of age story. This book chronicles the adolescence of one boy who must transform himself to save the girl of his dreams.
Release Date: January 2, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Thriller, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.
***Chasing Prophecy Giveaway***
The author is giving away $50 Amazon Gift Cards to 3 lucky winners!
To enter, use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. This is a book blitz giveaway--the winners will be selected by the author or publisher. Giveaway ends May 20th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, May 9, 2014
Ghostlight Audiobook Release + Giveaway
We are celebrating the audiobook release of GHOST LIGHT, the second full-length novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens, with a giveaway!
Keep reading for a chance to win 1 of 6 Ghost Light audiobooks!
Ghost Light (Ivy Granger #2) by E.J. Stevens.
Ivy Granger, psychic detective, thought she'd seen it all...until now.
With a vengeful lamia that only she can see on the city streets, reports of specters walking Harborsmouth cemeteries, and an angry mob of faerie clients at her office door, it's bound to be a long night. Add in an offense against the faerie courts and a few foolish bargains and one thing is clear--Ivy Granger is in some seriously deep trouble.
Ivy Granger is back, gathering clues in the darkest shadows of downtown Harborsmouth. With the lives of multiple clients on the line, she's in a race against time. Ivy finally has a lead to the whereabouts of the one person who can help her control her wisp abilities, but will she put the needs of her clients above her own?
If Ivy doesn't find a solution soon, she could wind up a ghost herself.
"Another brilliant installment of the Ivy Granger series."
-My Urban Fantasies
"I love being told a good story and they just don’t get any better than this. There is romance, action, mystery, plenty of things that go bump in the night, all told with humor and style."
-Paranormal Romance Guild
"I really enjoyed this book—I've really enjoyed this whole series—and can recommend the book, and series, to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, and books that treat the Sidhe in a more realistic manner."
-Now Is Gone
"Ivy Granger is back and better than ever in the second full-length installment of this amazing urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens...It’s an exceptional story and I loved every second of it."
-Twilight Sleep
"If you're a fan of Kim Harrison or Patricia Briggs kind of Urban Fantasy then you will love the Ivy Granger series. Go on give it a go!"
-My Keeper Shelf
Other books in this series: Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger #1), Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5), Club Nexus (Ivy Granger #2.5).
Add to Goodreads.
We are giving away 6 audiobook copies of Ghost Light by E.J. Stevens!
To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to anyone who may download audiobooks from Audible.com. Giveaway ends May 30, 2014.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
Keep reading for a chance to win 1 of 6 Ghost Light audiobooks!
Ghost Light (Ivy Granger #2) by E.J. Stevens.
Ivy Granger, psychic detective, thought she'd seen it all...until now.
With a vengeful lamia that only she can see on the city streets, reports of specters walking Harborsmouth cemeteries, and an angry mob of faerie clients at her office door, it's bound to be a long night. Add in an offense against the faerie courts and a few foolish bargains and one thing is clear--Ivy Granger is in some seriously deep trouble.
Ivy Granger is back, gathering clues in the darkest shadows of downtown Harborsmouth. With the lives of multiple clients on the line, she's in a race against time. Ivy finally has a lead to the whereabouts of the one person who can help her control her wisp abilities, but will she put the needs of her clients above her own?
If Ivy doesn't find a solution soon, she could wind up a ghost herself.
Praise for Ghost Light:
"Another brilliant installment of the Ivy Granger series."
-My Urban Fantasies
"I love being told a good story and they just don’t get any better than this. There is romance, action, mystery, plenty of things that go bump in the night, all told with humor and style."
-Paranormal Romance Guild
"I really enjoyed this book—I've really enjoyed this whole series—and can recommend the book, and series, to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, and books that treat the Sidhe in a more realistic manner."
-Now Is Gone
"Ivy Granger is back and better than ever in the second full-length installment of this amazing urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens...It’s an exceptional story and I loved every second of it."
-Twilight Sleep
"If you're a fan of Kim Harrison or Patricia Briggs kind of Urban Fantasy then you will love the Ivy Granger series. Go on give it a go!"
-My Keeper Shelf
Other books in this series: Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger #1), Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5), Club Nexus (Ivy Granger #2.5).
Add to Goodreads.
***Ghost Light Audiobook Giveaway***
We are giving away 6 audiobook copies of Ghost Light by E.J. Stevens!
To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to anyone who may download audiobooks from Audible.com. Giveaway ends May 30, 2014.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
E.C. Hibbs' Top 10 Favorite Vampires + Tragic Silence Book Giveaway
Please welcome today's paranormal guest author E.C. Hibbs! E.C. is the author of TRAGIC SILENCE.
Since Tragic Silence is a fresh take on vampires, I asked author E.C. Hibbs to share her Top 10 Favorite Vampires. Read on to discover her answers and to win a Tragic Silence ebook!
Count Dracula – Dracula by Bram Stoker
How could I not include this guy? Dracula is one of my favourite classic novels, and even though I love seeing all the different takes on him in movies and spin-offs, it’s the original incarnation of him which I think the most of. The one who wasn’t in love with Mina Harker. But, saying that, my favourite film version of him is the Francis Ford Coppola one with Gary Oldman. That did add the love story, but I didn’t mind because of the way he was played. Another reason I really like Dracula is because even though a lot of vampire tropes originate from him, there are some things in the book which are often overlooked in modern vampires. He never turns into a bat; he instead crawls down walls like a lizard. He can go out in the sunlight. And he does age, but not in the way you might expect.
Eli – Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
This is probably my favourite modern vampire story. The book is amazing and the film adaptation is just beautifully put together. And Eli’s character is the centrepiece of everything for me. Eli is a twelve year-old child who was turned into a vampire by a nobleman centuries before she meets Oskar. The two strike up a friendship which appears to evolve into innocent love. I really like this take on vampires because it shows a friendship between the creature and a human, rather than romance or antagonism. But another reason why I love it is because you’re never quite sure of Eli’s motives. Is she an innocent child trapped in immortality seeking a companion, or is she manipulating Oskar into becoming a caretaker to carry out her vampiric wishes? Eli is ambiguous in more ways than one, and that’s what draws me to her so much.
Carmilla/Countess Mircalla Karnstein – Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu
Carmilla is a vampire novella that came out 25 years before Dracula, and it’s clear that Bram Stoker took inspiration from it. The main character is one of the first female vampires in popular literature, and she has all the cunning and charm of most Victorian vampires. But she also sleepwalks and suffers from very sudden mood swings. I love her backstory and the connection she has with Laura, especially the way they meet and become friends after a carriage accident outside Laura’s house. Carmilla is one of my favourite classic vampires, and writing this has made me really want to read it again!
Selene – Underworld
This was actually a tough one to call between Selene and Viktor, but I decided to go with Selene because of how determined she is as a warrior. I really enjoyed the fact that she wasn’t interested in the finer aristocratic pleasures of being a vampire, and was instead obsessed with avenging the memory of her human family from centuries ago. To this end, she has become vicious and cold, and it’s only through her relationship with Michael that she is able to rediscover the ability to love. She’s very strong and her character arc is great, especially when she has to decide where her loyalties lie.
Sinclair Copley – Blood and Ice by Robert Masello
Sinclair is a vampire who I think slips under the radar for a lot of people. His character is very interesting to watch throughout the story, because of how much he changes. He begins the novel as a typical middle class Victorian gentleman, patriotic and wealthy, but his experiences of battle and vampirism cause him to become bitter and hard. He loses faith in humanity, and so begins to lose his own, with only the sure knowledge that his beloved Eleanor must always be with him. There’s something about him which I really don’t like, but yet I feel sorry for him at the same time.
Marlow – 30 Days of Night
I’m basing this mainly on the film rather than the comics, because I never finished reading the series. But Marlow is one of those vampires who really creeps me out. He’s the leader of the troupe which comes to Barrow, Alaska during the polar night, with the intention of feasting on the trapped residents. I really liked how these vampires are very naturalistic and almost animal-like in their behaviour and actions. There’s no doubt that they are undead, but they don’t have any kind of grace which you might see in other kinds of vampire. But despite clearly being driven by the simple want of blood, they are still cunning enough to plan the entire attack, manipulate living people, and cover their tracks, and that’s all seen most clearly in Marlow. Creepy!
David – The Lost Boys
This is my favourite movie that has teenage vampires as the main characters. David is the leader of the ‘lost boys’: a group of biking kids who constantly hang around the Santa Carla Boardwalk and generally cause trouble. It’s never made clear exactly how old he is, but he has an arrogance about him, which I think is partially from being a ‘bad boy’, and also because a lot of vampires have that trait. The thing which I really like about David is how much he enjoys himself. He never shows any remorse for the things he does, and it’s almost as though he sees killing and danger as a game. In that respect, he behaves a bit like a child, just wanting to have fun forever, and I can see the original links to Peter Pan in him. Plus, when he’s in full-out vampire mode, he looks brilliant. Those eyes have been stuck in my head for years!
My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick
It’s been a while since I read this book, but it had a definite impact on me. It’s set in 17th century Transylvania, long before the vampire became a cloaked, fanged, well-spoken villain. And the vampires in this story have nothing in common with the usual image we give them. These creatures are inspired by the original folklore of Eastern Europe, when they were seen as more like zombies with a bloodlust. There’s nothing suave or cunning about them, but like zombies, they just appear to be an unstoppable force. In that respect, they’re similar to the vampires from 30 Days of Night. But here, they are still bound by the traditional methods of repelling, like not being able to cross running water. It was very refreshing to see!
Lestat de Lioncourt – The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
How can anyone not love the Brat Prince? He’s got to be one of the most charismatic, vain, enthusiastic vampires out there. And all the levels to his character are brilliant. I love how he often contemplates some pretty big philosophical questions in regards to what he has become, which I think are more poignant because it was never his choice to be a vampire. He can be quite brutal, but also selfless, and tragic in how lonesome he tends to be. And he becomes a rock star in the 1980s. That’s just awesome.
Count Franz Szekelys – Blood Sinister by Celia Rees
I tend to think of this book as Dracula for younger readers, because there are a lot of similarities to the Bram Stoker novel. But Blood Sinister is still a good story on its own, and one of its strongest points is the two main characters’ interactions with the vampire. The story jumps between Ellen Laidlaw, a young lady in Victorian London; and her distant descendant, Ellen Forrest, who is seriously ill with a mysterious illness of the blood. Both of them come into contact with Franz Szekelys, who begins as a character very like Dracula, but then is able to integrate himself into modern society. He’s a classic vampire, but creepy in his own right, and it’s nice to see his behaviour change between the two different time periods.
Tragic Silence by E.C. Hibbs
When tragedy strikes Bianka Farkas one night in her native Hungary, she loses more than a friend and her mobility. Some things are harder to understand. Waking up in a hospital, Bee struggles to remember exactly what happened the night she was attacked and witnessed a brutal murder. Memories of a mysterious figure plague her as well as bizarre and terrifying changes in her over the next few years. Facing this new horrifying reality with a surprising ally, Bee finally has the chance to take her revenge but at what cost?
Release Date: November 19, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Suspense
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you E.C. for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about E.C. Hibbs and her writing, please visit her website.
The author is giving away an ebook copy of Tragic Silence by E.C. Hibbs to one lucky winner!
To enter, please leave a comment on this post and include your email address so that we may contact you if you win. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends May 21, 2014 midnight EST.
Since Tragic Silence is a fresh take on vampires, I asked author E.C. Hibbs to share her Top 10 Favorite Vampires. Read on to discover her answers and to win a Tragic Silence ebook!
E.C. Hibbs' Top 10 Favorite Vampires
Count Dracula – Dracula by Bram Stoker
How could I not include this guy? Dracula is one of my favourite classic novels, and even though I love seeing all the different takes on him in movies and spin-offs, it’s the original incarnation of him which I think the most of. The one who wasn’t in love with Mina Harker. But, saying that, my favourite film version of him is the Francis Ford Coppola one with Gary Oldman. That did add the love story, but I didn’t mind because of the way he was played. Another reason I really like Dracula is because even though a lot of vampire tropes originate from him, there are some things in the book which are often overlooked in modern vampires. He never turns into a bat; he instead crawls down walls like a lizard. He can go out in the sunlight. And he does age, but not in the way you might expect.
Eli – Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
This is probably my favourite modern vampire story. The book is amazing and the film adaptation is just beautifully put together. And Eli’s character is the centrepiece of everything for me. Eli is a twelve year-old child who was turned into a vampire by a nobleman centuries before she meets Oskar. The two strike up a friendship which appears to evolve into innocent love. I really like this take on vampires because it shows a friendship between the creature and a human, rather than romance or antagonism. But another reason why I love it is because you’re never quite sure of Eli’s motives. Is she an innocent child trapped in immortality seeking a companion, or is she manipulating Oskar into becoming a caretaker to carry out her vampiric wishes? Eli is ambiguous in more ways than one, and that’s what draws me to her so much.
Carmilla/Countess Mircalla Karnstein – Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu
Carmilla is a vampire novella that came out 25 years before Dracula, and it’s clear that Bram Stoker took inspiration from it. The main character is one of the first female vampires in popular literature, and she has all the cunning and charm of most Victorian vampires. But she also sleepwalks and suffers from very sudden mood swings. I love her backstory and the connection she has with Laura, especially the way they meet and become friends after a carriage accident outside Laura’s house. Carmilla is one of my favourite classic vampires, and writing this has made me really want to read it again!
Selene – Underworld
This was actually a tough one to call between Selene and Viktor, but I decided to go with Selene because of how determined she is as a warrior. I really enjoyed the fact that she wasn’t interested in the finer aristocratic pleasures of being a vampire, and was instead obsessed with avenging the memory of her human family from centuries ago. To this end, she has become vicious and cold, and it’s only through her relationship with Michael that she is able to rediscover the ability to love. She’s very strong and her character arc is great, especially when she has to decide where her loyalties lie.
Sinclair Copley – Blood and Ice by Robert Masello
Sinclair is a vampire who I think slips under the radar for a lot of people. His character is very interesting to watch throughout the story, because of how much he changes. He begins the novel as a typical middle class Victorian gentleman, patriotic and wealthy, but his experiences of battle and vampirism cause him to become bitter and hard. He loses faith in humanity, and so begins to lose his own, with only the sure knowledge that his beloved Eleanor must always be with him. There’s something about him which I really don’t like, but yet I feel sorry for him at the same time.
Marlow – 30 Days of Night
I’m basing this mainly on the film rather than the comics, because I never finished reading the series. But Marlow is one of those vampires who really creeps me out. He’s the leader of the troupe which comes to Barrow, Alaska during the polar night, with the intention of feasting on the trapped residents. I really liked how these vampires are very naturalistic and almost animal-like in their behaviour and actions. There’s no doubt that they are undead, but they don’t have any kind of grace which you might see in other kinds of vampire. But despite clearly being driven by the simple want of blood, they are still cunning enough to plan the entire attack, manipulate living people, and cover their tracks, and that’s all seen most clearly in Marlow. Creepy!
David – The Lost Boys
This is my favourite movie that has teenage vampires as the main characters. David is the leader of the ‘lost boys’: a group of biking kids who constantly hang around the Santa Carla Boardwalk and generally cause trouble. It’s never made clear exactly how old he is, but he has an arrogance about him, which I think is partially from being a ‘bad boy’, and also because a lot of vampires have that trait. The thing which I really like about David is how much he enjoys himself. He never shows any remorse for the things he does, and it’s almost as though he sees killing and danger as a game. In that respect, he behaves a bit like a child, just wanting to have fun forever, and I can see the original links to Peter Pan in him. Plus, when he’s in full-out vampire mode, he looks brilliant. Those eyes have been stuck in my head for years!
My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick
It’s been a while since I read this book, but it had a definite impact on me. It’s set in 17th century Transylvania, long before the vampire became a cloaked, fanged, well-spoken villain. And the vampires in this story have nothing in common with the usual image we give them. These creatures are inspired by the original folklore of Eastern Europe, when they were seen as more like zombies with a bloodlust. There’s nothing suave or cunning about them, but like zombies, they just appear to be an unstoppable force. In that respect, they’re similar to the vampires from 30 Days of Night. But here, they are still bound by the traditional methods of repelling, like not being able to cross running water. It was very refreshing to see!
Lestat de Lioncourt – The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
How can anyone not love the Brat Prince? He’s got to be one of the most charismatic, vain, enthusiastic vampires out there. And all the levels to his character are brilliant. I love how he often contemplates some pretty big philosophical questions in regards to what he has become, which I think are more poignant because it was never his choice to be a vampire. He can be quite brutal, but also selfless, and tragic in how lonesome he tends to be. And he becomes a rock star in the 1980s. That’s just awesome.
Count Franz Szekelys – Blood Sinister by Celia Rees
I tend to think of this book as Dracula for younger readers, because there are a lot of similarities to the Bram Stoker novel. But Blood Sinister is still a good story on its own, and one of its strongest points is the two main characters’ interactions with the vampire. The story jumps between Ellen Laidlaw, a young lady in Victorian London; and her distant descendant, Ellen Forrest, who is seriously ill with a mysterious illness of the blood. Both of them come into contact with Franz Szekelys, who begins as a character very like Dracula, but then is able to integrate himself into modern society. He’s a classic vampire, but creepy in his own right, and it’s nice to see his behaviour change between the two different time periods.
Tragic Silence by E.C. Hibbs
When tragedy strikes Bianka Farkas one night in her native Hungary, she loses more than a friend and her mobility. Some things are harder to understand. Waking up in a hospital, Bee struggles to remember exactly what happened the night she was attacked and witnessed a brutal murder. Memories of a mysterious figure plague her as well as bizarre and terrifying changes in her over the next few years. Facing this new horrifying reality with a surprising ally, Bee finally has the chance to take her revenge but at what cost?
Release Date: November 19, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Suspense
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you E.C. for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about E.C. Hibbs and her writing, please visit her website.
***Tragic Silence Ebook Giveaway***
The author is giving away an ebook copy of Tragic Silence by E.C. Hibbs to one lucky winner!
To enter, please leave a comment on this post and include your email address so that we may contact you if you win. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends May 21, 2014 midnight EST.
Who are your favorite vampires?
Monday, May 5, 2014
Q+A with Cecy Robson (Cursed by Destiny)
Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Cecy Robson! Cecy is the author of the Weird Girls series (Sealed with a Curse, A Cursed Embrace, Cursed by Destiny).
EJ: When did you begin writing?
Cecy: May 1, 2009.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Cecy: Patty Brigg’s CRY WOLF. I purchased it to read on a plane ride and instantly became hooked on Urban Fantasy.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Cecy: I’d like the power to kill / eliminate muffin tops. Seriously, mine needs to die and women around the world would thank me.
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Cecy: CURSED BY DESTINY is filled with action, tension, gut-wrenching moments, and inappropriate and often snort-worthy humor. A page turner, it will grip you to the very end. Plus there are cute guys in it.
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Cecy: Celia—Emmy Rossum. She has the ability to portray a wide range of emotions which is necessary for Celia’s character. Celia can be as tough as nails and as fragile as glass.
Taran—Emmanuelle Chriqui. This actress is stunning and solid enough to handle Taran’s fierceness.
Shayna—Jennifer Lawrence. Aside from Celia, Shayna is the most physical. I need an action star with tremendous theatrical range to play my perky sword wielder.
Emme—Ariana Grande. This actress has that innocence about her Emme shares. While doe-eyed like Emme, you can see the spark of her inner strength and hope which Emme represents for the sisters.
Aric—Milo Ventimiglia. This actor practically “growls” in the way he regards the camera. The intensity in his stare is also a necessity to portray this Alpha wolf.
Misha—Taylor Kitsch. I’m not sure if there’s another actor out there with a wicked twinkle in his eyes or grin more befitting Misha.
Cursed by Destiny (Weird Girls #3) by Cecy Robson.
Celia’s a girl in trouble. Her heart is bound to Aric, but he is a pureblood were who must deny her or risk condemning his species to extinction. And that’s just her love life. She’s also been called to take down a group of demon terrorists looking to overthrow the paranormal world. (No pressure.)
In order to bring them down, Celia must ally herself to Misha, the master vampire who has made no secret of his desire for her. And if that weren’t enough misfortune for one girl, a clairvoyant’s prediction could destroy Celia and Aric’s love for good. The only way to protect the world from unbridled supernatural terrorism is for Celia to bind herself to her destined mate. And that doesn’t appear to be Aric…
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you Cecy for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about Cecy Robson and her books, please visit her website.
Q+A with Cecy Robson
EJ: When did you begin writing?
Cecy: May 1, 2009.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Cecy: Patty Brigg’s CRY WOLF. I purchased it to read on a plane ride and instantly became hooked on Urban Fantasy.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Cecy: I’d like the power to kill / eliminate muffin tops. Seriously, mine needs to die and women around the world would thank me.
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Cecy: CURSED BY DESTINY is filled with action, tension, gut-wrenching moments, and inappropriate and often snort-worthy humor. A page turner, it will grip you to the very end. Plus there are cute guys in it.
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Cecy: Celia—Emmy Rossum. She has the ability to portray a wide range of emotions which is necessary for Celia’s character. Celia can be as tough as nails and as fragile as glass.
Taran—Emmanuelle Chriqui. This actress is stunning and solid enough to handle Taran’s fierceness.
Shayna—Jennifer Lawrence. Aside from Celia, Shayna is the most physical. I need an action star with tremendous theatrical range to play my perky sword wielder.
Emme—Ariana Grande. This actress has that innocence about her Emme shares. While doe-eyed like Emme, you can see the spark of her inner strength and hope which Emme represents for the sisters.
Aric—Milo Ventimiglia. This actor practically “growls” in the way he regards the camera. The intensity in his stare is also a necessity to portray this Alpha wolf.
Misha—Taylor Kitsch. I’m not sure if there’s another actor out there with a wicked twinkle in his eyes or grin more befitting Misha.
Cursed by Destiny (Weird Girls #3) by Cecy Robson.
Celia’s a girl in trouble. Her heart is bound to Aric, but he is a pureblood were who must deny her or risk condemning his species to extinction. And that’s just her love life. She’s also been called to take down a group of demon terrorists looking to overthrow the paranormal world. (No pressure.)
In order to bring them down, Celia must ally herself to Misha, the master vampire who has made no secret of his desire for her. And if that weren’t enough misfortune for one girl, a clairvoyant’s prediction could destroy Celia and Aric’s love for good. The only way to protect the world from unbridled supernatural terrorism is for Celia to bind herself to her destined mate. And that doesn’t appear to be Aric…
Release Date: January 7, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you Cecy for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about Cecy Robson and her books, please visit her website.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Q+A with Michelle Krys Author of Hexed
Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Michelle Krys! Michelle is the author of HEXED, the first novel in The Witch Hunter series.
EJ: When did you begin writing?
Michelle: I’ve always wanted to write a book, but I never actually gave it a try until I was on maternity leave four years ago. I was very fortunate that my son slept through the night in addition to taking 3 to 4 hour naps during the day. I suddenly had a lot of free time on my hands, and realized that I would never get a better opportunity to give my dream of writing a book a shot.
I spent my free time that year writing and editing my first novel, which, like many first novels, was truly awful. But I learned a lot from the experience, and got started writing my next book—Hexed. I like to think it’s a significant improvement over my first attempt.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Michelle: My first novel was adult contemporary. I think part of the reason it didn’t take off (other than it being my first novel) is that my heart just wasn’t in it, and that translated onto the page.
After I trunked that novel, I decided my next book would be something I’d want to read myself: that was a YA paranormal romance. That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy adult novels or even contemporary novels, just that it’s where my passion lies. And not only was the process a lot more enjoyable, but the book turned out leaps and bounds better than my first attempt, which I think is pretty telling.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Michelle: It sounds self-serving, but I really would most want to be a witch. Witches get to have magical powers with very limited drawbacks. Unlike, say, vampires, who can’t venture out into the sun and have to survive on blood—yuck.
Unless of course you’re a witch in Hexed, in which case sorcerers are actively trying to kill you. That changes things.
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Michelle: Hexed is a paranormal novel that doesn’t take itself too seriously—if you enjoy a bit of humor and camp mixed in with your action and romance, then you’d probably enjoy my book. (At least I hope so.)
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Michelle: I’ve always thought Tyler Blackburn, who played Caleb in Pretty Little Liars, would make a great Bishop. He has the perfect look and great onscreen charisma. Indie is a much harder character to cast. The right actress would need to have great comedic timing, first and foremost. (And big, curly hair!)
Hexed (The Witch Hunter #1) by Michelle Krys.
If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?
Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.
Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.
Release Date: June 10, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you Michelle for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about Michelle Krys, please visit her website.
Q+A with Michelle Krys
EJ: When did you begin writing?
Michelle: I’ve always wanted to write a book, but I never actually gave it a try until I was on maternity leave four years ago. I was very fortunate that my son slept through the night in addition to taking 3 to 4 hour naps during the day. I suddenly had a lot of free time on my hands, and realized that I would never get a better opportunity to give my dream of writing a book a shot.
I spent my free time that year writing and editing my first novel, which, like many first novels, was truly awful. But I learned a lot from the experience, and got started writing my next book—Hexed. I like to think it’s a significant improvement over my first attempt.
EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?
Michelle: My first novel was adult contemporary. I think part of the reason it didn’t take off (other than it being my first novel) is that my heart just wasn’t in it, and that translated onto the page.
After I trunked that novel, I decided my next book would be something I’d want to read myself: that was a YA paranormal romance. That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy adult novels or even contemporary novels, just that it’s where my passion lies. And not only was the process a lot more enjoyable, but the book turned out leaps and bounds better than my first attempt, which I think is pretty telling.
EJ: If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Michelle: It sounds self-serving, but I really would most want to be a witch. Witches get to have magical powers with very limited drawbacks. Unlike, say, vampires, who can’t venture out into the sun and have to survive on blood—yuck.
Unless of course you’re a witch in Hexed, in which case sorcerers are actively trying to kill you. That changes things.
EJ: Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
Michelle: Hexed is a paranormal novel that doesn’t take itself too seriously—if you enjoy a bit of humor and camp mixed in with your action and romance, then you’d probably enjoy my book. (At least I hope so.)
EJ: If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
Michelle: I’ve always thought Tyler Blackburn, who played Caleb in Pretty Little Liars, would make a great Bishop. He has the perfect look and great onscreen charisma. Indie is a much harder character to cast. The right actress would need to have great comedic timing, first and foremost. (And big, curly hair!)
Hexed (The Witch Hunter #1) by Michelle Krys.
If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?
Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.
Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.
Release Date: June 10, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.
Thank you Michelle for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
To learn more about Michelle Krys, please visit her website.
Is HEXED on your TBR list?