Boskone 53 Recap

Last week, I had the pleasure of a being a guest at Boskone 53 in Boston.  Here are some of the highlights.

PANELS

Panels, panels, panels!  Here are my top three panels from Boskone 53 in no particular order.

The Ripper panel with Dana Cameron, Christopher Golden, Leigh Perry, Christie Meierz was ghoulish, and ghastly, and absolutely delightful. 

Dating 101 in Urban Fantasy with Darlene Marshall, Lauren Roy, Max Gladstone, and Charles Stross was fun...even if Charlie Stross did give me a nasty case of the plague. 

Dark Fairy Tales with John Langan, Jack M. Haringa, Hillary Monahan, and James Moore explored the darker, non-Disneyfied side of fairy tales.  Thought provoking and fun panel with a great lineup of panelists.

DEALER ROOM

I helped with the Broad Universe table in the dealer's room on Friday, and had a great time meeting members and talking books.  Broad Universe promotes women in speculative fiction.  You can learn more about Broad Universe on their website.

AUTOGRAPHING

My autographing hour was early Saturday morning, so I was incredibly grateful for all of the readers who came out for this event and to John Langan who shared the hour. 

BOOK PARTY

Thank you to everyone who came out for the Boskone Book Party and visited my table.  It was wonderful sharing my new books with you all!

BOSKONE 53

I met so many amazing readers, authors, artists, and publishing professionals at Boskone 53.  Special thanks to Larissa Glasser, Dana Cameron, Christopher Golden, James Moore, and John Langan for such a fun weekend. 

Additional thanks to Erin Underwood and the Boskone staff and volunteers for their hard work.  You put together a fantastic con!

I was also impressed with the convention hotel.  Thank you to the wonderful staff in the restaurant pub for having yummy vegetarian options.  Boston has no shortage of restaurants, but it is wonderful to have healthy choices at the hotel while on tour.

BOSKONE 54

Considering attending Boskone 54?  Boskone is scheduled for February 17-19, 2017 (Presidents Day Weekend) and includes guest of honor Brandon Sanderson.  You can still get the early bird rate for your Boskone 54 convention membership through the end of February.

Book Giveaway: Grudging by Michelle Hauck

Today we have a special book giveaway for our readers.  We are giving away a signed copy of GRUDGING by Michelle Hauck!

Grudging (Birth of Saints #1) by Michelle Hauck.

A world of chivalry and witchcraft…and the invaders who would destroy everything.

The North has invaded, bringing a cruel religion and no mercy. The ciudades-estados who have stood in their way have been razed to nothing, and now the horde is before the gates of Colina Hermosa…demanding blood.

On a mission of desperation, a small group escapes the besieged city in search of the one thing that might stem the tide of Northerners: the witches of the southern swamps.

The Women of the Song.

But when tragedy strikes their negotiations, all that is left is a single untried knight and a witch who has never given voice to her power. And time is running out.

A lyrical tale of honor and magic, Grudging is the opening salvo in the Book of Saints trilogy.

Release Date: November 17, 2015
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Grudging Book Giveaway

Win a signed mass market paperback copy of Grudging by Michelle Hauck.

To enter, leave a comment on this post.  Please include your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is open to mailing addresses in the US and Canada.  Giveaway ends March 2, 2016 midnight EST.

Q+A with Khai Bayne (Indebted Series)

Please welcome today's guest author Khai L. Bayne.  Khai is author of the Indebted adult paranormal romance series, including A SIN FROM ASHES.

Q+A with Khai Bayne

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Khai:  I've been writing since as long as I can remember. It started out as poetry, and short stories, but one day I decided that I wanted to try something a bit more challenging... and here we are 2 years and a LOT more grey hairs later... I have 3 books out an one on the way.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Khai:  I am the byproduct of a Trekkie and Star Wars Junkie... I tell people all the time that Paranormal and Sci-Fi are in my DNA.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Khai:  There are too many awesome things out there to dream about being. I've thought about being everything from a werepanther to a dragon. I change my mind a lot depending on mood. So I would say today, after my day at work I'd want to be a dragon.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Khai:  My stories are paranormal, but it is not totally in your face. I research different mythologies and customs so that I can make my characters interesting and not run of the mill. Plus with my style of writing, you can "see" what's happening as you read it because when I write I want it to seems like you are mentally journeying through a movie.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Khai:  This would be hard for me... I've always said that I wanted my books to be on a TV show broadcast by BBC so I wouldn't have to deal with censoring. As far as the "People" I would use that is hard because I don't use famous people for my muses. If I could I would try to get the people who I used their pics for inspiration cast as my characters.

Thank you Khai for joining us here at From the Shadows.

A Sin from Ashes (Indebted #1) by Khai L. Bayne

Release Date: April 2014
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Add to Goodreads.

Have a question for Khai? Ask away in the comment section (PG-13 questions please) below.

Hound's Bite Ivy Granger Cover Reveal, Book Excerpt + Giveaway

I am excited to reveal the cover for HOUND'S BITE, the fifth full-length novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.  We also have a giveaway and a sneak peek book excerpt to share!

Cover Reveal: Hound's Bite

Hound's Bite (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective #5) by E.J. Stevens

Ivy Granger thought she left the worst of Mab's creations behind when she escaped Faerie.  She thought wrong.

In a cruel twist of fate, Ivy has unleashed a powerful horde of Unseelie beasts upon her city, turning her homecoming into a potential slaughter of innocents.  Now Ivy must gather her allies to fight a reputedly unstoppable force—The Wild Hunt.

Will the training Ivy received in her father's court be enough to save her city, or will Harborsmouth be forced to kneel before the Lord of the Hunt?  She is willing risk her own life, but some sacrifices come at a cost worse than death.  When an ally is bitten by one of The Wild Hunt's hounds, Ivy must face the possibility that winning this battle may mean killing the one person she has come to love most.

Release Date: July 12, 2016
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
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Ivy Granger World

Books in this series: Shadow Sight, Blood and Mistletoe, Ghost Light, Club Nexus, Burning Bright, Birthright.

Books in the Hunters' Guild spin-off series: Hunting in Bruges.
Reading order can be found on the Ivy Granger World Complete Goodreads page.

Hound's Bite Book Excerpt

     “Are you saying we should run?” I asked, eyebrows raised.  “Because you should know me better than that.”
     “What he’s saying, Princess is that you woke up something too big for the three of us to defeat alone,” Torn said.
     That made me pause.  We’d fought faerie queens, pyro demons, a lovesick necromancer, and a psychotic lamia, to name a few.  I may not have come through those battles unscathed, or with all my guts still on the inside, but with my friends at my side, and a new arsenal of wisp powers at my fingertips, I felt nearly invincible.
     I looked to Ceff, hoping he’d grab his trident and join me for some quick monster cleanup.  I may not be on the clock for this one, but I didn’t let hungry fae prowl the streets of Harborsmouth.  And if Torn was right, I’d somehow let this one follow us out of Faerie.  No way was I turning tail, no matter how tired I was.
     But Ceff didn’t reach for his weapons.
     “We need allies,” he said.
     “And larger weapons,” Torn said, with a wink.
     The cat sidhe looked excited, which was a clue that I wasn’t going to like the answer to my next question.
     “And what monster do we need to gather our allies and weapons against?” I asked.
     “Haven’t you guessed yet, Princess?” Torn asked, eyes gleaming.  “We’re not just facing one howling beast.”
     Ceff turned to me, closing the space between us.  In the moonlight, I could see my reflection in the dark pools of his kelpie eyes—eyes that were tight with worry.
     “What are they?” I asked.
     Ceff’s voice was low and reverent, and tinged with the taint of fear.
     “The Wild Hunt.”

Hound's Bite Cover Reveal Giveaway

To celebrate the Hound's Bite cover reveal, we are giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends February 23, 2016 midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you think of the cover?

Haven't started reading this series?  You're in luck!  SHADOW SIGHT, the first novel in the Ivy Granger series, is FREE this month on Amazon.com, Amazon.CA, and Amazon.UK.

Download the First Ivy Granger Novel Free

Grab your free copy of Shadow Sight and enter the award-winning urban fantasy world of Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective.

The Magician Cover Reveal Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Anne the winner of The Magician Cover Reveal Giveaway!  Anne will receive a signed cover art postcard and a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

Thank you to all who entered.  I received some fabulous feedback on this cover.  I'm so glad you all like it.

More Dark Arcana series info coming soon!

**Winner selected randomly using Rafflecopter**

Q+A with Lauren Smith (The Bite of Winter)

Please welcome today's guest author Lauren Smith!  Lauren is the author of the Love Bites vampire romance series, including her new release THE BITE OF WINTER.

Q+A with Lauren Smith

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Lauren:  I started writing when I was in the third grade. After watching Leo DiCaprio die in the movie Titanic, I went on a grand quest to re-write the ending so Leo wouldn’t die. Right then and there, I should have known I wanted to write romances. But I took a 20 year de-tour and started writing epic fantasy novels first. I’ve been writing ever since!

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Lauren:  I love ghosts, vampires, shifters, werewolves, and spooky things of any kind! I’m that person on the block who during Halloween does the entire interior of the house as though a Victorian vampire lives there, not a boring 29 year old lawyer. There’s something about the dusty, cob-webbed, candlelit feel of a haunted house that gets me inspired. I believe in ghosts and believe in things we cannot see or understand and I suppose that has always brought me back to the paranormal genre because it gives me a chance to explore plots where say…vampires are real! *wink

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Lauren:  Animal shape-shifting. Definitely shapeshifting. There would be so many amazing things I could explore and experience if I could shift into any animal.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Lauren:  My new release is called The Bite of Winter. It’s a hauntingly sweet tale of two century-old Irish vampires Ian and Connor who are best friends and yet their relationship is strained because they lost the true mate they shared when she was murdered 80 years ago. When Ian brings home a helpless, homeless, Zoey, a young college age girl who needs their help, she tempts both the vampires back into love and life with her. I think what’s great about this book is that it’s not just hot and sexy, it’s powerful and emotional. It’s about the redemption of souls and the quest for true happiness through love. And it’s fun to picture yourself as lucky Zoey who gets not one hunky vampire in her bed, but two!

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Lauren:  Jennifer Lawrence would definitely be Zoey, she’s curvy and beautiful in a subtle sort of way. Ian would be played by Liam Hemsworth. He’s got that tall graceful charm and sweetness, but also a sexy irresistible side. Mike Vogel would be the perfect, rough and tumble Connor who’s ready to seduce you right out of your clothes.

Thank you Lauren for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

The Bite of Winter (Love Bites #1) by Lauren Smith.

She is theirs to claim. They are hers to save.

Zoey Blake is about as far down on her luck as she can get. A car crash took her parents, leaving her destitute and on the street. When she’s attacked by another homeless person, her lifeblood drains away as her fading vision is filled with the face of a handsome stranger.

Ian Kennedy, a century old Irish vampire, never could resist rescuing a stray. As a few drops of his blood heals Zoey’s wounds, he realizes she’s a sweet, tempting, flesh-and-blood woman. But there’s one problem. Connor, who made Ian promise decades ago: no more mortal lovers.

After another vampire murdered his soulmate, Connor O’Shea swore never to let amortal woman pay the price for loving him. Until he feels Zoey’s skin and tastes her lips. She makes him want to break that vow.

Zoey finds herself caught in their web of seduction. But as Christmas draws near and her grief deepens, happiness seems far out of reach. And Ian and Connor join forces to prove their love is sacred, special… and forever.
Release Date: November 24, 2015
Genre: Paranormal Romance
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To learn more about Lauren Smith and her books, please visit her website.  Have a question for Lauren?  Let us know in the comments below.  We love comments!