Chasing the Trickster Tour

Title: Chasing the Trickster

Series: The Cernunnos Series #1

Author: April Grey

Genre: Dark, Fantasy, Paranormal

Publisher: Eternal Press

Ebook/Paperback

Pages: 236

Purchase:

Amazon | Eternal Press | Barnes and Noble |

Book Description:

One Man, Two Women, Two Gods...who will survive the Trickster's snare?

Ghostly images materialize in Nina Weaver's photos. Goons try to kidnap her. When her photographs are stolen and her best friend is shot, she realizes that she has no one to turn to but her ex-lover, Pascal ""Goofy"" Guzman. Together they go on a desperate road trip in search of answers. The truth is darker and more terrifying than Nina could ever have imagined. After their love re-ignites, they fall into the Trickster God's trap.

Excerpt:

She stared at the photo on the gallery wall and silently swore. All semester ghostly images had marred her work. And now not only a strange inclusion ruined her photo, but the pin light needed to be repositioned as well. She found a ladder in the hallway supply closet. Balancing precariously on the top step, she noticed that the imperfection had changed into the image of a vehicle, and it was on fire. She could see the superheated air wavering up off of the flames. The crackling and sudden heat of a blaze forced her to lift a hand to guard her face. It was going to explode. She was quite sure of it. And then she was falling backwards, falling down…

About the Author:

April Grey's urban fantasy novel, Chasing The Trickster, is published by Eternal Press. Her short stories have been published in such print anthologies as Demonmind's Halloween 2010, The Best of Everyday Fiction 2, Northern Haunts, Ephemera and Terrible Beauty, Fearful Symmetry. Many of these stories can be found in her collection, The Fairy Cake Bake Shoppe available through Amazon and Smashwords.

She and her family live in Hell's Kitchen, NYC in a building next to a bedeviled garden. Gremlins, sprites or pixies, something mischievous, lurks therein. Someday she'll find out.

Blog |Facebook | Twitter | Smashwords | Website |

_________________________

The author would love also if you could post the below on your post, it is to promote a writing class she is teaching. You do not have to; again this is completely voluntary on your part.

Writing Class - Jan 28 - Feb 10

Writing for e-zines 13 SPOTS LEFT
April Grey. The best piece of advice I ever had as a budding novelist was to also write short pieces. The benefits of publishing short stories and/or non-fiction articles with e-zines (and other publications) are huge. You can make a name for yourself as a writer, create a platform, improve your craft and get paid by selling to e-zines. This course will teach the beginning writer how to research markets, evaluate their own work, write a cover letter/follow up query and track their stories. Students will sub... {more info}
Duration: 13 days. $20/$30 (Craft, Plotting, Characterization, Industry, Genre, Intermediate) http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/workshoplist.php

Interview and Guest Post by David Brown, Author of A World Apart

Today I will be featuring an interview and guest post by David Brown, author of A World Apart.

Interview:

What are your favorite book(s)? 

I’ve always loved the fantasy genre and when I read J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings it quickly became my favourite book. However, Tolkien was surpassed a few years ago when my brother handed me two small books – one red and one green – and told me they made up a novel entitled Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. Since reading those little books I have my own copy of Murakami’s masterpiece and despite an average film adaptation in recent years, this remains the finest book I have ever read.

Who is your favorite author?

There are so many I love but I’ve read more books by Terry Pratchett than any other author. His Discworld novels are imaginative, quirky and very funny. He is an inspirational writer though I could never write anything as funny as him.

Where do you get your inspiration from? 

I’ve always loved history and this was integral when it came to my world building. Not only did my passion for history help me shape the fictitious world where my books are set but it gave me ideas for stories as well. There are so many fascinating characters in history, be the conquerors or philosophers, you are never short of ideas. I have also found inspiration in films, RPGs and especially with music such as The Decemberists.

Where is your favorite place to do your writing?

I tend to write at my best when I am not at home. My wife and I will often head into town a couple of times a week and seek out a coffee shop where we’ll squirrel ourselves away for a few hours. No matter how busy it is I find the words flow easily. I write my novels on a Netbook for two reasons. 1) It’s smaller and more portable, 2) My laptop is pretty old and the battery lasts less than five minutes! I should really think about getting a new one.

What made you decide to become a writer? 

I was in college in 1998 when I discovered the RPG series, Final Fantasy. I bought Final Fantasy VII on a whim and quickly fell in love with the game. It used gods such as Shiva and Quetzalcoatl to aid your characters in battle and I began reading up on these deities. Through Final Fantasy VII I discovered Odin and Norse mythology which I immediately preferred to the Greek myths I had known at school. From there, I took in the Icelandic Sagas and Beowulf. These influences collectively led to me creating the fictitious world of Elenchera in 1999 and I have been writing ever since.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? 

The editing process I find both enjoyable and difficult. When you are writing your first draft and just getting ideas down there is no pressure. When the next drafts are taking shape the real challenge begins. I think the hard thing is not necessarily the editing as such but knowing when you have reached that point where the book is as good as you’re ever going to make it. Coming to that stage where you can say the book is done is never easy but it’s a wonderful feeling when you get there.

Tell us about your newest book.
A World Apart is the second in the Elencheran Chronicles series. Rather than a continuous narrative these are self-contained novels about different characters and places within Elenchera and its timeline of 47,000 years. A World Apart tells the story of three friends – Demetrius, Eleyna and Halycon – who grow up together in Dove’s Meadow and find themselves in an awkward love triangle in their teens. When Eleyna marries Halcyon, Demetrius leaves the town and starts a new life in the army. A decade later the friends are reunited with Demetrius charged with hunting down and killing a notorious pirate – the Ivory Rose. When Demetrius discovers the Ivory Rose is Eleyna he must choose between loyalty to the republic of Himordia or to the only woman he has ever loved. 

About the Author
David Brown could be considered a fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years developing a 47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When converting his obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous writing and editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined with the critical eye of his wife and a BA Hons in History and English, David's dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt stories and characters.

Although David is inspired primarily by fantasy fiction, he also finds his muse in the form of anime, world cinema, history, and biographies. His own books, Fezariu's Epiphany and A World Apart, and the in-progress Ansel's Remorse and The Stars Beneath the Parapets combine aspects from worlds both old and new into compelling tales of a world not soon forgotten. David himself certainly does not lack a spirit of adventure; in fact, he left his job in 2007 in order to spend a month travelling. Second only to meeting and marrying his wife, David counts this as one of the most amazing experiences of his life.

Book Blurb

Demetrius makes his first mistake when he lets his best friend Halcyon marry Eleyna, the love of his life, without saying a word. On the day of the wedding, he walks away from the Elencheran town of Dove's Meadow and joins the army.

He makes his second mistake when the pirate Black Iris tricks him into letting dozens of men, women and children die in a fire. Demetrius is imprisoned in grief and disgrace.

But he can atone. The Black Iris is dead. The Ivory Rose has risen to the top of the pirates and is leading brutal raids on the coast. If Demetrius can capture and kill her, he'll win his pardon.

And then Demetrius discovers the Ivory Rose is Eleyna. He must decide which will be his third mistake: losing his last chance at a pardon or destroying the one woman he's ever loved.

Website: http://elenchera.com

A World Apart on Amazon US: http://amzn.to/Srahzn

A World Apart on Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/QpppBB

Guest Post about Bloggers:

With a Little Help From My Book Blogging Friends 

Being an indie author is a lonely business. Not only must you take the plunge in being a writer but you choose to go it alone in your writing journey. However, you will need some help along the way and the good news is that there are many people to turn to. When it comes to promoting your work and building your platform, your friends in high places are the fabulous book bloggers.

The worth of book bloggers is beyond the justification of words. These amazing individuals work tirelessly for no financial reward, other than their love of books. They don’t just read and review books, some offer interview and guest post opportunities, they might provide giveaways and after all that they will promote their posts, featuring you, across social media. How much does this cost the author? Nothing. It might seem too good to be true to have such individuals willing to bend over backwards to help you with your writing but, believe me, there are many of them out there.

There are sadly some authors that do not recognise the worth of book bloggers, some that can’t look beyond their magnum opus which they believe any blogger should be honoured to read. The truth is that many book bloggers receive dozens of requests to review books each day. It’s unlikely that they will have time to read every book and that’s fine. The majority of book bloggers do not earn their livings through their blogs. Many go out to work and still find the time to blog, others are raising families yet somehow snatch some reading and blogging time before the end of the day. How they do it perplexes me.

Whenever I hear tales of book bloggers being treated disrespectfully it both angers and saddens me. One of the best pieces of advice I can offer to indie authors is to not only write books but to read and review them as well. The best writers are readers and by being a book blogger you can not only give something back to the indie community but you can see both sides – an author’s viewpoint and a book blogger’s viewpoint. Personally, I have received the emails that are cut and paste jobs sent to multiple contacts, no attempts to even find a blogger’s name and even worse the writers that do not read a blogger’s review policy. These policies are crucial and will prevent you not only wasting a book blogger’s time but your own. Always read them carefully. Bloggers will be grateful that you did.

I have benefitted greatly from being an author and book blogger. I run a blog with my wife and we have reviews, interviews, guest posts and giveaways which we both find rewarding. You can take note of authors that approach you in a polite manner and who found an opportunity to appear on your blog. Follow the examples of those who were pleasant to you and not those that have shown a complete disregard for a blogger and the chances are you will be warmly received. If for whatever reason a blogger cannot accommodate you, don’t take it personally. Always be gracious regardless of the outcome. The truth is that book bloggers are very busy people and cannot possibly review every book or host every author.

There are many links on how to approach book bloggers in the correct manner but what I will say is always remember that you need the blogger more than they need you. Book bloggers provide a fantastic service to indie authors and deserve our respect. At the end of the day they can make the difference for you when it comes to promoting yourself and your work. Every appearance you make on a book blog involves a sacrifice of the blogger’s time and space. Treat them as well as they have treated you and I’m sure they’ll be happy to have you back in future.

Shapeshifters and Damaged Actresses

Demon's Curse by Alexa Egan

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.

Summary: A rising star on the Covent Garden stage, Bianca Parrino believes she has everything she wants. Independence. Wealth. And a life finally free of her violent, abusive husband. But when her close friend, Adam, is murdered, and Bianca is suspected in his death, she is unwittingly drawn into the search for his killer, and soon must question everything she believes—about her friend, about herself, and about a world she never knew existed.

A member of the mysterious race of shape-shifting Imnada and part of an elite military unit, Captain Mac Flannery gathered intelligence during the Napoleonic wars. As a result of a savage massacre, Mac and the men he served with are cursed. Now one of them has been found murdered, and Mac suspects the existence of the Imnada has been discovered at last. His only link to unearthing the truth is the beautiful actress who turns up unexpectedly at Adam’s funeral.

Before long, Mac has more to contend with than Bianca’s overt mistrust, his ill-fated attraction to the haughty and beautiful actress, and his ongoing search for an end to the curse. Because Adam’s killer is back, and Mac is next on his list.

Review: A sweet romance with two damaged characters that aren't too damaged to love with some paranormal elements thrown in.

I am not sure if I would have liked this better without the paranormal elements. This book was a pretty standard romance (besides the paranormal elements) and I think it could have worked just as the two characters getting together because of Bianca's friend's murder and them trying to find the killer and falling in love. The paranormal elements played a big part in this book, but still felt unnecessary somehow. It was almost like an afterthought that the author added in. The mythology that was created was pretty interesting although confusing at times.

I really liked the romance between Mac and Bianca. They were both damaged characters trying to get on with their lives as best as they could. Bianca was a great example of an abused woman who was doing the best she could to get on with her life and kept the trauma deeply hidden. I liked that she was still a strong person even while dealing with a severe trauma. Their romance was a bit too lust based at first for me, but they did come to care for each other and Mac was great with dealing with Bianca's trauma. I believe Mac will help her through her trauma.

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those that enjoy historical paranormal romance.

Interview with Pamela Hutchins, Author of Saving Grace and Giveaway

Today I will be interviewing Pamela Hutchins, author of Saving Grace.

What are your favorite book(s)?

This list could go on for day. I won't even list books in my genre, but go with some of my all time cross-genre favorites: Lonesome Dove, The Great Santini, Where the Red Fern Grows, All the King's Men, Misery

Who is your favorite author?

Larry McMurtry. Except when it's Jennifer Weiner. And only then when it's not Lisa Scottoline.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from constantly re-imagining the little moments in everyday life. What if this took a different time? What if this were not this but that? It's all in the small moments.

Where is your favorite place to do your writing?

At our property in the middle of nowhere in the Hill Country of Texas, when the Blue Bonnets and Indian Paintbrush are in bloom

What made you decide to write Saving Grace?

I lived on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands for six years, and owned a big jumbie rainforest house. It's impossible not to write after the experiences I had there.

What is the hardest part of writing a novel?

For me, it's keeping my confidence up while slodging through a complete first draft. I write in incredible, all-consuming bursts. By the time I get to the end and have battled off my "I can't do this" and "this will never be any good" moments, I've gone 30 days without sleep and am no longer entirely sane (or well groomed!). My family just loves first drafts.

Tell us about your new novel.

If you're inclined to be swept away to the islands to fall in love with a rainforest jumbie house and a Texas attorney who is as much a danger to herself as the island bad guys, then you'll love Saving Grace. In it, Katie Connell escapes professional humiliation, a broken heart, and her Bloody Mary habit when she runs to the island of St. Marcos to investigate the suspicious deaths of her parents. But she trades one set of problems for another when she is bewitched by the voodoo spirit in an abandoned rainforest house and, as worlds collide, finds herself reluctantly donning her lawyer clothes again to defend her new friend Ava, who is accused of stabbing her very married Senator-boyfriend.

I like to think Saving Grace is the book you'd get if Janet Evanovich wrote Wuthering Heights meets How Stella Got Her Groove Back: zany, tropical, intense, and eerie, all at once. 

About the Author. 

Pamela Fagan Hutchins writes award-winning fiction and nonfiction. She is a former Human Resources executive and employment attorney who lives with her husband and two high school-aged kids, plus 200 pounds of pets in Houston, but their hearts are still in St. Croix, USVI, along with those of their three oldest offspring.

Pamela has one novel -- Saving Grace -- and five narrative nonfiction books out with SkipJack Publishing, with three more novels lined up. She is also a contributing author to three anthologies. She won Romance in the 2010 Writers' League of Texas Manuscript Competition for Saving Grace (fka Leaving Annalise), and she also won both Mainstream Fiction (2010, 2011 and 2012) and Narrative Non-fiction (2012) in the Houston Writers' Guild's Manuscript Competitions for Conceding Grace (novel) and How To Screw Up Your Kids (nonfiction book). She won top Ghost Story in 2012 from the Houston Writers Guild.

Visit her website http://pamelahutchins.com, or follow her on Facebookhttp://facebook.com/pamela.fagan.hutchins.author.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Vampire Cover Model Tour: Giveaway

Title: My Vampire Cover Model

Author: Karyn Gerrard

Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Erotic Romance,

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Ebook

Words: 22000

Purchase:

Decadent Publishing | Amazon | B&N |

Book Description:

Life changed for Deanna Brooks the night she attended a book signing for her aunt’s best-selling paranormal romance series. There she met Burney ‘The Cover God’ Sheridan. The model for the series’ fictional vampire hero, Burn is beyond handsome and has an overabundance of Irish charm. He’s too good to be true.

Burn Sheridan, a man with scores of past lives, has a secret: he is a vampire. Meeting Deanna is agony because for the first time in over two hundred years, Burn experiences the rarest of vampiric needs—the mate-of-the-soul connection. Keeping people at a distance has been Burn's existence for centuries, but Deanna makes his pledge of staying detached impossible.

Many obstacles lie ahead and the biggest of all may be Burn himself. Can Deanna and Burn overcome them and find lasting love?

Excerpt:

Deanna tapped her sandaled foot in annoyance. She didn’t want to bother with the guy, but Janice insisted, bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement as they advanced toward the table.

As they moved closer, the model’s masculinity became more potent. She could hear the slight lilt to his deep voice as he answered the ladies questions. His eyes crinkled sexily when he smiled. His teeth were perfectly shaped and a brilliant white.

Deanna glanced at her aunt’s table a few times, hoping to catch her eye, but Carol was busy working her crowd. While Deanna enjoyed an historical romance she’d never quite taken to the paranormal genre. Aunt Carol always mailed her advance copies, but she usually wound up giving them to Janice. She should’ve given the books a chance. Judging from the crowd, paranormal romance seemed popular. There was a steady stream of women coming and going.

Janice clutched her arm. “We’re next!”

Oh, yippie-friggin’-yay. Janice stood next to Burn. Damn, he is tall. A few inches under six-six, anyway, Deanna observed. Janice babbled nonsensical chatter while the model smiled, nodded, and signed a couple of her paperbacks.

Janice put her arm around the man’s trim waist. “Take our picture, Dean!”

Deanna raised the camera and looked up just as Burn’s searing gaze swept over her like a roll of white heat. God, his eyes had turned from black to silver again. Those special magic contacts were amazing. Holding out the camera, she clicked and hoped Janice was in the frame because she couldn’t tear her eyes away from “Sizzle” or “Burn” or whatever his name was. Deanna clicked another for good measure.

Janice took the camera and shoved her toward the leather-clad hunk. Her mouth went dry, and her insides fluttered. For God’s sake, he was only a model. Why was she so flustered?

She stepped next to him and glanced up. Oh hell yeah, very tall. He towered over her by at least a foot. His arm stretched out to clasp her shoulder, and he brought her in tight against his side. Solid, rock-hard muscle. Her insides began to churn in arousal.

“What’s your name, darlin’?”

She couldn’t speak. Deanna was like Ralphie in A Christmas Story, sitting on Santa’s lap. Duh…uh. No words came out.

“Her name is Deanna, but I call her Dean!” Janice sang out.

Burn gently squeezed her shoulder, and it almost brought her to her knees, his touch was so intoxicating.

“Dean. I like that,” he purred.

Dear God. His voice, was he Irish? The tone sounded low, sexy, and rumbled deep in his impressive chest, sending shock waves through her entire body.

Then the unthinkable happened. A wash of scent covered her. Deanna could taste it in her mouth, and feel it on her skin. Was the overpowering aroma his cologne? Some guys liked to drown themselves with those tacky body sprays. Burn must have marinated himself in the swill.

Deanna wheezed and her throat closed up. Her hand clasped her throat. Trying to breathe through her nose was unsuccessful. The only thing she smelled was his spicy, musky, overpowering scent. Her eyes watered and her body trembled furiously.

“Are you all right, love?”

Deanna fell to her knees, fighting for every breath. Strong arms encircled her and carried her from the sales floor through to a door marked Staff Only.

About the Author:

Living in a small town in a corner of Ontario, Canada, I wile away my spare time writing, reviewing and reading romance. As long as I can avoid being hit by a runaway moose here in this wilderness paradise, I assume everything is golden. Originally from the east coast of Canada, I love to set my some of my stories in the Maritime Provinces~

Happily married for a long time to my own hero, a teacher that braves everything that is thrown at him. His encouragement keeps me moving forward.

Facebook | Website | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads |

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lethal Beauty Tour: Giveaway

Title: Lethal Beauty

Series: Elatia, #4

Author: Sara Brookes

Genre: Science fiction, Paranormal, Erotica,

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Ebook

Words: approx. 25K

Purchase:

Decadent | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Bookstrand | Smashwords |

Book Description:

As a covert operative in Elatia’s elite military, Sway Waybourne is used to fending for herself. But a powerful uprising means she’s now responsible for guarding the leader of a neighboring planet. Within seconds of meeting Dason Cavaletti, sparks fly and Sway realizes she’s gotten more than she bargained for.

Dason is curious about the arousal taking over his mind, body, and soul. When he can no longer stand the overwhelming desire, he confronts Sway. But the disturbing news she delivers isn’t at all what he expected. Mating with the gorgeous woman could kill him….

WARNING: Sarcasm galore from a fiery heroine who can take care of herself thank-you-very-much. She won’t take anyone’s guff—even from the leader of the free universe no matter how handsome he is. A unique genetic quirk leads to inventive foreplay, one blazing hot hands-on session in the bathtub and a gender bending encounter that signals this ain’t your father’s Star Trek. No redshirts were harmed while writing this novel.

Excerpt:

“This is…quite the situation.”

She blew out a breath as she slumped onto the far side of the mattress. “You can say that again.”

Sensing her frustration—which matched his own—he reached over and clamped his hand around her ankle. She didn’t fight as he dragged her across the bed and into his arms. “It’s not as if it’s the end of the world.”

“No. It’s just…I’m used to being able to handle any situation.”

“And you don’t know how to handle this.”

“Not really.”

“I’m sure we can come up with ideas. In fact, I’m thinking of one right now.”

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

“Way I understand, it’s the other way around.” Her laughter rang out in the room, shattering the tension. He pulled her closer, content and sated for the moment. “You’re a remarkable woman. Strong, determined, not to mention sexy as sin.”

She squirmed against him and he took it as a signal she wasn’t used to hearing such things said about her. Her reaction made him decide to shower her with attention while they were trapped together.

He was both amused and terrified by her reactions. Her extraordinary skill set was evident and he found her tenacity admirable. She possessed a vulnerability, though she clearly did her best to hide that aspect of her personality. By his guess, she thought it would show a weakness if she let others know about any flaw in her perfection. A good covert operative couldn't have any visible flaws. Otherwise, they weren’t very good at their job.

By the looks of things so far, she was very, very good at her job.

And for reasons he didn’t completely understand, he had begun to fall in love with her.

About the Author:

Sara Brookes is an award-winning romance author has always been fascinated by the strange, the unusual, the twisted and the lost (tortured heroes are her personal favorite). She is an action movie junkie, addicted to coffee and has been known to stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing RPG video games. Despite all this, she is a romantic at heart and is always a sucker for an excellent love story. Born and bred in Virginia, Sara still lives there with her husband and daughter. The entire family is owned by two cats, Galahad and Loki, who graciously allow the family to cater to their every desire.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Special Announcements |

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hundreds of Years Ago...

The Medici Legacy by Greg Ahlgren

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for a review. 

Summary: International thriller. When thirty-something Deputy Inspector Antonio Ferrara of the Italian Polizia di Stato discovers that the seemingly random victims of a Tuscan serial killer are all illegitimate descendants of one Giovanni di Cosimo de Medici, a 15th century Florentine banker, his superior scoffs at his theory, the Italian military police caution him to leave this closed case alone on the basis that it involves an issue of "national security," and even his father uses the occasion to hector him to leave police work and return to the family art business. Undeterred, Antonio enlists the aid of Rachel Fuller, an American Fulbright scholar working on her Medici dissertation in Florence, and together they travel to America to unlock a secret that spans three continents and eight centuries.

Review: An enjoyable thriller with interesting historical elements that could get a tad confusing at time.

I'm still new to thrillers and while I don't think they will ever be a favorite genre of mine, I believe I will read them time to time, especially ones dealing with legends, myth, lore, history, and religion. I was intrigued by this book because it was dealing with the Medici, a family I wish to learn more about. The Medici do play a part in this book, but not the part that I had hoped for.

This book does a good job of leading you in one direction when the opposite is actually true. Perhaps because my mind does not work as Antoino's does, I honestly couldn't get where he was getting his connections from. It was definitely a twisting, winding road to get to the truth at the heart of the matter and I did enjoy getting there. I was not expecting the ending and it certainly was a surprise. Rachel was a decent character although she wasn't the expert that she was made out to be. I expect she was created as a character just for Antonio to get some romance which was fine. 

Rating:






Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those that enjoy historical based thrillers or fiction relating to the Medici.