Friday, 6 September 2013

Friday Follies Featuring Alexandra Anthony

Morning lovelies! Today, we've got the lovely Alexandra featured today. Be sure to give her a warm welcome!



Before we get started, tell us a bit about yourself. Anything about your non-writing life.
I’m a stay at home Mom that also home schools my daughter.   I’m a huge Walking Dead Fan (as well as being a bit vamp crazy).  In my spare time (HA), I like to sit down and read - my TBR list is about a mile long at this point.  It’s a positive and negative about being an author – finding terrific books that you can never read!
Summer is just about to conclude here in the Western Hemisphere, so what is the craziest thing you’ve done all summer? Did you camp out in your backyard like I did, with severe weather warnings looming about?

Hmm, the craziest thing I did this summer was attending Fandomfest - and standing in line for over seven hours to meet Norman Reedus.!  It was well worth the wait – he was awesome to his fans!

Do you have any summer traditions, or a ritual to break in the season?
My daughter’s birthday is July 6th, so we always set off fireworks for her birthday/July 4th Holiday
Do any of your vamps walk during the day? And if they do, how would they pass a bright summer day?

Yes, all of my vamps are day walkers.  Their eyes are sensitive to light, but with sunglasses, they manage to do everything their human counterparts do…just a little better!

How would Josephine Anderson spend a hot summer’s weekend?

I would say she’d probably spend it with Stefan…but I doubt he’d keep you cool!

Summer is one of the seasons where weather can impact everything whereas plans are concerned. What do you do, when you’re rained out?

I always have a contingency plan.  This July 4th it rained off and on, so we set up umbrellas and stood under them while we fired them off.   I suppose you could say I’m a bit of a control freak!

Tell us about your latest release.

Odyssey (The Vampire Destiny Series Companion Book 1) was just released on Wednesday.  It’s my hero, Stefan’s POV for Fated and Illusion.  We also see a bit of Stefan prior to his human death and his struggle with immortality.

Here is a the blurb for Odyssey:

In this first Companion Piece to The Vampire Destiny Series, we follow our hero, Stefan Lifsten, from the time of his human death, through his early years as a vampire until he meets Josephine Anderson, his fated mate.

We’ll travel along with him during his initial struggles to accept his immortality, his betrayals by friends and foes, and experience his joy of meeting the woman from his vision…experiencing Fated and Illusion through his eyes.

This book is a Companion to The Vampire Destiny Series and will feature missing scenes and character information.  While this book can be read as a stand-alone book, it is highly recommended that you read Fated and Illusion to fully experience this book.

This book contains sexy vampires, graphic language and highly erotic scenes that are not for those 18 and under or are of the faint of heart.  Consider yourself warned.



Here is a small excerpt from Odyssey:

1862, Amsterdam
Nearly 500 years had passed.  Alone, I traveled and watched nations rise and leaders fall.  I had seen death and destruction.  Adapting with the changing times, I marveled at the inventions of technology and along the way, I accumulated great wealth.  I had only been in Amsterdam for three years when I met Lukas Meijer.  He was the proprietor of a small bookseller near my home.  We had struck up a strange friendship over numerous discussions of philosophy and world events when I frequented his storefront.  I did not make it a habit to search out and befriend humans, yet this eccentric man had managed to pique my interest.  Perhaps it was his sharp wit.  Or possibly the fact he sensed I was something more than human and accepted me for my differences.  Regardless, I came to enjoy my discussions and time spent with this strange man that also did not seem to fit the mold.
He was nearly a decade older than me in human years and for a mortal being, he was strikingly handsome, almost aristocratic in nature.  His angular face held an intelligence I had not encountered in centuries.  His pale blue eyes were quietly watchful, observing and cataloging.  He also had an acidic tongue and was quite open with his opinions.
He had told me his family had been wealthy and had spared no expense when it came to his education.  They had died when he was a young man and had no siblings.  As open as he was to me, it became clear why he had decided to tell me.  It was clear that Lukas knew I was not human and longed for the same, yet would never ask.
Nothing could have prepared me for this moment as I sat by Lukas' bedside, a battle warring within me.  He was hovering near death; his lungs filling with fluid and his breaths coming in rasping pants.
My head bowed as I inhaled deeply.  When I looked up, I brushed my much shorter hair back from my eyes, and placed my hand on his shoulder. "Lukas, you are dying."
His eyes fluttered closed and his clammy hand grabbed at mine.  "Yes, I am not long for this earth Stefan.  It is time you told me the truth.  You do not have to hide anymore."
His words hit me powerfully.  I made no effort to look away or move.  I simply began to talk.
Years of memories spilled from my lips.  I told him of my homeland, the few things I remembered from my human life.  The recollections were difficult for me to discuss because I remembered so little.  Every detail about my maker, down to my hand in her demise and my witnessing of her murder was told.  I explained my position on the Council, my penalty for Solveig’s misdeeds…they were words I had never spoken aloud to another mortal—or immortal for that matter.
After I finished, I was amazed at his response.  He did not shy away when I told him of what I was or the things in my past.  He simply listened and watched me with his impenetrable stare.  His eyes were soft and filled with empathy as he chose his response.
"I am honored that you told me.  However, I feel as if you are not telling me everything there is to tell.  You are holding something back, Stefan."  Lukas coughed weakly and he gave my hand a squeeze.  "There is something you are looking for or you would have ended this existence years ago."
Leaning back slightly in the chair, I smiled at my dying friend.  He was correct, of course.  There were times I contemplated revealing myself to humans and ending my life.  I had been alone for many years, sent on missions of torture and destruction.  Whenever my spirits flagged, there was something buried deep inside that kept me going.  I delved further into my mind, the vision of the woman that was to be my fate and my destiny easily came to the forefront of my thoughts.  It had been that way since I had envisioned her 50 years ago.  She was impossibly beautiful; with long copper hair that hung in wild waves down her back.  Her vibrant green eyes were large over her prominent, high cheekbones.  She was luminous, absolute perfection.  All other women paled in comparison to her beauty.
My silence had garnered a knowing smile from my dying friend.  “I see I am correct.”



What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Coming up next is the second book in The Dark Hart Chronicles, Rapture.  It will be out in the late fall/early winter of this year.


Thanks for hanging with us today! I hope you had fun, and we’re glad to have had you over.

Friday, 30 August 2013

Friday Follies: Featuring Sarah Cass

Sorry guys, I really love this pic. It's been that kind of week.

So glad to have you here today, Sarah!

Before we get started, tell us a bit about yourself. Anything about your non-writing life.
I’m the mother of 3 kids, each with special needs. I have two children with Cystic Fibrosis and one with Autism.  They are the light of my life and make my every day worth it.
Beyond that I’m a knitter, a crocheter, a sewer, a photographer, a singer and a dancer. I love all the creative arts and do whatever I can with them when I can.
I blog about it all on my personal blog: Redefining Perfect (http://redefiningperfect.com)

Summer is just about to conclude here in the Western Hemisphere, so what is the craziest thing you’ve done all summer? Did you camp out in your backyard like I did, with severe weather warnings looming about?

Unfortunately for me, this summer was pretty mild. Our truck had broken down and I had no transportation or anything like that. If you’d asked me last year I’d have plenty to tell you. I did a zip line course, I’d dyed my hair with purple highlights, I did rock climbing - I had a lot of fun last summer.

Does your family have any summer tradition, or ritual to break in the season?
Summer is the time of the neighborhood hangout.  It starts once the weather is warm enough to gather outside.  All the kids play together and the adults hang out and chat, play cornhole (bean bag toss) or euchre.  I live in the best neighborhood.
Here’s a scenario for you: Your family is just about to chillax while you’re about to dunk the turkey in the deep fryer. Moments after placing the lid on, you realize the propane tank runs empty, and you don’t have another to replace it with. Oh, and the propane store is closed because it’s a holiday, what do you do?

Cry.

LOL. I don’t handle sudden changes in plans well and I usually cry and throw a fit…THEN I get around to resolving it.  So most likely after I pitch a fit I’ll get the turkey out of the fryer fast as possible and set it up to be roasted instead.

Of course, I don’t cook turkey in a fryer so that would never actually happen. ;)

You seem to write with an avid interest in the old west; what do you find most appealing about that time frame?
Everything.  I’ve been fascinated with the old west since I first picked up the Little House series when I was four.  It started with the clothing. Oh, how I LOVE the clothing of the era. The bustles, the skirts, the corsets, the hats – I love it all.  After that I love cowboys, I’m fascinated with Native Americans, and I don’t even care that it was a dirty, smelly, dangerous time…that just adds to my love of it.

What would be the customary drink for that era, on a hot day?

Water with a touch of ginger to prevent stomach cramps, because most likely on a hot day you were working hard to put food on the table in some fashion.  During celebrations or on special occasions lemonade might be provided.

What would be your choice of drink for a real hot, and muggy day in the mid-west?

Water is the best bet. I’m truly addicted to pop, but this year I’ve made a concerted effort to drink more water and it really is best with as hot and muggy as it gets around here.

Okay, one last what if scenario. You’re at the beach, or on a cruise with that special someone in your life. You’re enjoying the peace of be child free for a few days, and are in the company of other adults. As you’re going down a water slide, you lose your bikini top, or have some kind of wardrobe malfunction along those lines. What do you do? 

I would scoop my knockers up off the ground where they scrape after 3 kids and laugh it off.

Okay, seriously, I would laugh it off, even as I covered myself up.  Truth is, though…until after a good diet or plastic surgery I doubt I’d be wearing a bikini top to lose…but I’d still manage to make a fool of myself in some other way…like falling face first into a buffet or something equally goofy. :D

Summer is one of the seasons where weather can impact everything whereas plans are concerned. What does your family do when you’re rained out?

BOARD GAMES!  I have a bunch of them, and seem to have a predilection for getting every version of Trivial Pursuit I can because I’m determined to have enough versions of the game that everyone can manage to do well. Lol.  The kids favorite is Sorry and Uno, mine is Trivial Pursuit (obviously) and Scrabble.

Tell us about your latest release. 


Derailed is the second book in my Dominion Falls Series (Dark Territory, book 3, will be out in September). 

Blurb:
The sins of a past she can’t remember could destroy a present she’ll never forget.
The crimes of her forgotten past threaten the very life Jane Doe has learned to cherish.

Jane is out of time. With a warrant on her head, a maniac out for her blood, and a secret baby on the way, something has to give.

Without Cole Mitchell's help to find the answers, there may be no hope left.

Cole has nowhere left to hide. He unwittingly let Jane into his heart, and is ready to share the secret of his dark past.

Fate has a way of playing its hand, and tragedy strikes. With the world crumbling around them, it's easy to lose faith. If they can't forgive past sins, they have no hope for the future.

Because the noose waits for no man or woman.
 
Buy Links:
Secret Cravings Website -  http://bit.ly/12J4bO9
Amazon -  http://amzn.to/1ahJIu4
Barnes & Noble -  http://bit.ly/1bkEnQw
All Romance Ebooks -  http://bit.ly/170laAc
Bookstrand – http://bit.ly/1diptbG
Goodreads - http://bit.ly/14UlKhj

Excerpt:
“Jane.”
She yelped when he grabbed her wrists and yanked her close. Like a startled deer, she froze in place. Then a small gasp of air and she sagged. “I’m sorry. My head. It’s racing. I don’t know what to think.”
“First off, stop worryin’ about Graham. He ain’t sendin’ no telegram.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Sure I do. After Michael broke his nose, he shut up real fast.” Cole laughed when her jaw dropped. When the amusement started to light up her features, it warmed him all the way to his toes. “Yeah. Graham was running his mouth, and Michael beat on him. He got knocked out cold.”
“Michael?” Through her tears, a laugh escaped. “He’s half Graham’s size. Goodness, he’s barely bigger than I am. How did he do that?”
“He said something about five brothers and a mean older sister.”
She shook her head with a sigh. “That is no guarantee, Cole. He could just be biding his time until he has something to get me on. He doesn’t care for me.”
“Let me worry about Graham.” He tugged her close, shoving the papers from his lap. Once she was settled there, he smirked. “Now ya got some stuff here that you gotta go through, and it’s all reading. That should excite ya.”
“You know what, Cole? I’m not excited. The more I learn about myself, the more trouble I seem to be in. I really am at a point where I don’t care anymore.”
“That don’t sound like the Jane I know.”
She snorted. “No one knows me. Not even me.”
“Bull.”
“I’m not in the mood for arguing with you.”
“But arguin’ is what we do second best.”
“Cole.”
He grinned at the small twitch he saw at the corner of her mouth. “And much as I’d love to remind ya what we do best…I don’t think you could handle it right now.”
“Please.”
“Besides, if we got ourselves hurt again because of our…best…Daisy would be awful mad.” He chuckled when she turned away as far as she could to hide her smile. “But that ain’t ever stopped me before.”
She let out a small squeal when his hand slipped under her skirt and along her thigh. Swatting at his hand, she playfully beat at his chest when he leaned in to capture her lips.
Her lips were warm and inviting. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed her touch until she was there. He pulled her close and traced the seam of her lips with his tongue. She opened up to him so fast it took his breath away, and he shifted to lay her down on the floor.
She planted her hands on his chest and pushed him back. “Wait.”


What can we expect to see from you in the future?

As I said, Dark Territory (Dominion Falls Book 3) will be out in September. Once that series is complete I’ve been contracted for a contemporary romance series set in a small town in New York State.  Each story is shorter, about 30k, and every one of them is set around a holiday, so you can expect a story from me at each major holiday for the next year.

I also have a horror short story that is supposed to be out in an anthology sometime this year, but I don’t have a release date.

I have a few other pieces in the works, but they’re all WIP’s and not contracted yet. They run the gamut from Urban Fantasy to Steampunk.


Thanks for hanging with us today! 


Friday, 23 August 2013

Friday Follies... Hell yeah!



Don't you just love Fridays?

So we're looking to do something different around her on Fridays, and I hope you'll be down with the idea.

The thought is to keep things light and fun, and still give you guys and gals an opportunity to be discovered. I mean let's face it; it can't always be about business. And while we spend most of our weeks: writing new words, promoting, editing, etc.... Why not have prospective readers tap into a more candid perspective about you and your books.

I'm in need volunteers who want to be interviewed/featured. The interviews will be random, so there's a chance it might be directed to you the author, or one of your characters, or maybe even a combination of the two.
;-)

If you're interested in being featured, please drop me a line at: layna (dot) pimentel (at) gmail (dot) com.