Human No Longer Backstory by Kathryn Meyer Griffith.

                               

Today it’s my pleasure to feature Kathryn Meyer Griffith, author of Human No Longer. 

Let’s hear from Kathryn…

Human No Longer Backstory

By Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Purchase at Amazon. 

Human No Longer. It’s my 17th published book – yeah! – and my fourth vampire novel. First, let me tell you where I got the idea for it. About five years ago, I was still trying to please the agent (who I no longer have) who’d sold four of my earlier paperback novels to Zebra in the 1990’s and, because she didn’t seem to like any of my new potential concepts, I asked her what she would like to see. Out of nowhere, she said, “You know your 1991 Zebra vampire novel, Vampire Blood? I liked that one a lot. The characters. Well, how about writing me a sort of sequel with basically the same cast, but with this premise: A woman, a mother, after being turned into a bloodthirsty vampire, must learn to adapt to the human world and still be a good mother. You know, how would she deal with everything when she had children she loved; didn’t want to hurt or leave them…but still had the need to feed on blood? Still had all the urges and desires of a vampire?

Yikes. I hated the idea but, to please her, I went ahead and begrudgingly wrote the book. I tentatively called it The Vampire’s Children or The Vampire Mother or something like that. I finished it. Not too happy with it. I had never liked writing what other people wanted me to write. Stubborn, I guess.

My agent, in the meantime, had begun her own online erotic (which I don’t much care to write) publishing company and when I’d gotten done with the novel she was too busy to even read the finished book. She handed it off to an apprentice intern. An intern? What? Who didn’t like it at all. Duh. So, disgusted, I tucked the file away on my computer and, fed up with the whole agent thing, returned to writing what I wanted to write. An end of days novel called A Time of Demons and a new vampire novel where the evil vampire wasn’t a mother. In 2010 I went with a new publisher, Kim Richards at Damnation Books/Eternal Press, and she contracted not only those two books but asked me if I’d like to rewrite, update and rerelease all 7 of my older out-of-print Leisure and Zebra paperbacks going back to 1984. Heck yes, I said! So for the next 2 years I was busy doing that. Some of those books were over twenty-five years old and very outdated. Their rewriting, editing and rereleasing took a lot of work and time.

Then, in late 2012, I decided to take a very old book of mine (Predator) which was contracted to Zebra Paperbacks in 1993 but, in the end, never actually released, and just for the heck of it, as my 16th novel, self-publish it to Amazon Kindle Direct. Just in ebook form. A kind of grand experiment. The first time I’ve ever tried self-publishing. See how it’d sell. Dinosaur Lake. A story about a hungry mutant dinosaur loose in the waters of Crater Lake that goes on a rampage. Hey, I wrote Dinosaur Lake before Jurassic Park, the book, ever came out! Really. I had my cover artist, Dawne Dominique make a cover for it…and it was stunning with a dinosaur roaring on the front. And I did everything else myself. Editing. Proofing. Formatting. With forty years and endless publishers behind me I felt I was capable. And it’d been selling so well I decided to self-publish another one…and I remembered the mother/vampire book. Hmmm. So I revamped (ha, ha, inside joke), polished, and self-published it, as well. I retitled it Human No Longer. Got my fabulous cover artist, Dawne Dominique, to make me a lovely haunting cover with a troubled-looking woman standing outside a spooky house, with two children behind her in its shadows, on the front and voila! All in all, I don’t think the book turned out half bad. In fact, with the changes I made I think it’s not bad at all. Now I just hope my readers will like it.

So that’s the story of Human No Longer. My 17th published novel.

EXCERPT from Human No Longer 

The moon had inched downwards in the sky as she turned and headed towards the farmhouse. It was time to return home to her children.

Awareness of the shadows stalking her, an encircling noose of entrapment, began once she entered the woods. She’d let her guard down again. So foolish of her.

Before she could run, the shadows were on her. A steely hand grabbed one arm, another clamped around the other. Her instincts warned she was in real danger. These were her kind but not like her. There was this stench of malevolence around them. Strong as smoke.

Don’t let them capture you. You must get away.

“Ah,” a voice spoke near her ear, “you are strong. Zebulon said you were. I didn’t believe him. It’s beyond me how you’ve come to be what you are. It’s extraordinarily rare you didn’t die and then became one of us. You’ll come with us. Now.”

“Who are you?” she demanded, not struggling to escape. Be smart. Wait for a chance. Think of Teddy and Sarah. You must protect them.

“I go by Dante. And you?”

She refused to answer. “Can’t you read my mind?”

He didn’t answer for a minute. Then he replied, “It doesn’t matter. All you need to know is you belong to us. We’ll decide what to do with you. Come along.”

“And if I don’t come along as you so nicely put it?”

“Then,” his laugh was somehow sinister, “we’ll have no further use for you. You’ll die here and now. I’m stronger than you. We’re all stronger than you.”

As afraid as she was, the words slipped out, “Did you kill my husband?”

“Your husband?” As if he didn’t know what she was talking about.

“Jeff Sanders. We were attacked in St. Louis beneath a bridge late one night the end of August. He died. I lived. Something, a cloud of shadows, swept in and out and left him dead.”

The vampire didn’t respond at first as if he were mulling it over.

“Well, did you?”

“Most likely. We dispatch so many of you. You’re our nourishment. We travel all over your world.” He snapped his fingers and the crack ricocheted around them. “You can’t expect me to recall every last pitiful one and where.”

The heartlessness in his voice made her instantly loathe him, as his grip tightened.

“How did you find me?”

“What you are called to us once your change was complete. It’s the way we knew you existed. Distance doesn’t matter.”

“Are you…am I…a vampire?”

“A vampire?”

“A vampire,” she hissed.

Another disgusted laugh. “Vampire? That’s what your kind think we are, except we’re so much more. We’re from another…place.”

His free hand waved in front of her face. “A vampire is a creature you humans made up. We’re not dead or undead, nor one of your devil’s disciples or any of those ridiculous things. One day we’ll rule this planet and all you cattle on it.

“I’ll give you a choice. You join us or not. It matters little to me either way. We just can’t have you out in the world running free. Alerting people to our existence before we’re ready for that to happen. It puts us in danger. If you’re not with us, you’re our enemy–and our enemies we do not allow to live.”

She didn’t want to join him. Them. She wanted to scratch his eyes out and break his neck. Jeff had been more than this monster’s nourishment; his death more than a consumed Happy Meal to her, to Teddy and Sarah. Damn if she was going with them!The rage, fear and loss of the last month boiled over inside her and ignoring the words and warnings, she tore from their grasp and fled. Her body, lifting from the ground, moved faster than the wind through the night trees.

Behind her she heard their curses and pursuit.

She thought of the farmhouse, longing for the safety of its walls, and suddenly she was there in her kitchen. Her enemies left behind somewhere in the woods.

She got away this time. How? Could they track her? Find her? She didn’t know.

She held her breath, listening, for what felt like an eternity. Nothing. After a while she thought she might be safe. No one had followed her.

She consciously cloaked her thoughts, her very being, and shutting her eyes, leaned against the wall so she wouldn’t sink to the floor.

About Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Since childhood I’ve always been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. I began writing novels at 21, over forty years ago now, and have had seventeen (ten romantic horror, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance and two murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press and Amazon Kindle Direct.

I’ve been married to Russell for almost thirty-five years; have a son, James, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois called Columbia, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha, live cats Cleo and Sasha (Too), and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

All Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s Books available at Amazon.

       

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:

Evil Stalks the Night (Leisure, 1984; Damnation Books, 2012)

The Heart of the Rose (Leisure, 1985; Eternal Press Author’s Revised Edition 2010) 

Blood Forge (Leisure, 1989; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition, 2012) 

Vampire Blood (Zebra, 1991; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition, 2011)

The Last Vampire (Zebra, 1992; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition 2010) You Tube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZU77j_q4S8

Witches (Zebra, 1993; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition 2011)

The Nameless One (short story in 1993 Zebra Anthology Dark Seductions; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition, 2011)  

The Calling (Zebra, 1994; Damnation Books Author’s Revised Edition, 2011)

Scraps of Paper (Avalon Books Murder Mystery, 2003…soon to be an Amazon Kindle Direct ebook)

All Things Slip Away (Avalon Books Murder Mystery, 2006; Amazon Kindle Direct paperback & ebook 2012)

Egyptian Heart (The Wild Rose Press, 2007; Author’s Revised Edition, Eternal Press 2011) My self-made

You Tube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cogCNYKzPqc

Winter’s Journey (The Wild Rose Press, 2008; Author’s Revised Edition, Eternal Press 2011) You Tube Book Trailer address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZYCs2DVhHg

The Ice Bridge (The Wild Rose Press, 2008; Author’s Revised Edition, Eternal Press 2011) You Tube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28HZqu-my1g

Don’t Look Back, Agnes novella & bonus short story: In This House (2008; ghostly romantic short story out; Eternal Press 2012) You Tube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3q9rZryFMo

BEFORE THE END: A Time of Demons (Damnation Books 2010) You Tube self-made Book trailer with original song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0-U9c2Lwfo

The Woman in Crimson (Damnation Books 2010) You Tube Book Trailer Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcRBvDI5G4Y

The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Fiction: Volume 1 (I did the Introduction)

Dinosaur Lake (from Amazon Kindle Direct 2012)

4 Spooky Short Stories (Amazon Kindle 2012)

Telling Tales of Terror(I did the chapter on the Putting the Occult into your Fiction)

Human No Longer (Amazon Kindle 2012)

Kathryn's Websites

http://www.myspace.com/kathrynmeyergriffith (to see all my book trailers with original music by my singer/songwriter brother JS Meyer)

http://www.bebo.com/kathrynmeyerG  

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1019954486 

http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith 

http://www.goodreads.com/profile/kathrynmeyergriffith 

http://www.jacketflap.com/K.griffith 

http://www.shoutlife.com/kathrynmeyergriffith 

http://romancewriterandreader.ning.com/profile/KathrynMeyerGriffith  

http://www.romancebookjunction.ning.com/profile/kathrynmeyergriffith                                

Falling in Love was Not one of his Plans. Warrior Lover by Karilyn Bentley.

Today it’s my pleasure to Interview Karilyn Bentley, author of Warrior Lover. Before the interview let’s learn a little bit about this book...

As a Watcher, a guardian warrior of the Draconi, Enar has never fit in with his kind. When he sees Lily--the ideal Watcher's woman--he instantly claims her, believing she will bring him the acceptance he craves. Falling in love with her was not part of his plan. As her town's outcast, Lily wants nothing more than to escape. When Enar locks a necklace around her throat and declares she belongs to him, she jumps at the chance to leave. Her excitement soon becomes trepidation when Enar won't tell her what to expect in his world. But even her worry can't overcome her growing attraction to him. Soon Lily learns what life as a Watcher's claim entails, and refuses to submit. To keep Lily, Enar must turn his back on everything he thought he wanted. Will he choose his people? Or the other half of his soul?

GIVEAWAY! To celebrate her latest release, Karilyn will be giving away a PDF copy of WARRIOR LOVER to one lucky commenter.

Interview time!

SKY:   What inspired you to write this book? 

KARILYN:   It’s the second in the Draconia Tales trilogy. Enar and Lily are introduced in the first book, Magical Lover, and I couldn’t leave them without finishing their HEA. In the original version of ML, Enar stole every scene he walked into, which caused me to have to rewrite all his scenes. I finally decided the poor guy deserves his own story!  

SKY:   How did you come up with the title? 

KARILYN:   Enar is a Watcher, a race of warriors, so the title refers to him since this is predominately his story. But as Lily learns to tap into her inner strength and fight for what she wants, the title also describes her. 

SKY:   Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story. 

KARILYN:   I love the book cover! The cover model holding the sword represents Enar, since he carries a sword as his main weapon. The colors are great and I love the little dragons on the Draconia Tales banner. They represent the dragons prominent in the series. And did I mention the hot cover model? :-)

SKY:   Are you currently working on another story? If so, we'd love some details.

KARILYN:   Yes, I am! I’m working on Dragon Lover, the third book in the Draconia Tales series. This is Fafnir and Aryana’s story. They appear previously in the series and now get to have their own story. Fafnir is stuck in dragon form and wants to be turned back into a human. But will Aryana accept him when she realizes his true identity?

SKY:  Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.

KARILYN:    I primarily write in my office, which faces north and overlooks my street. It’s nothing fancy, but can make for some interesting neighbor watching. I’ve also been known to take the laptop and sit in bed writing. While I wouldn’t mind writing outside, the glare from the sun prevents me from seeing the computer screen. I haven’t figured out how to get around that! And I think I live in the allergy capital of the world, so extended stays outside at certain times of the year aren’t good for me. :-)

SKY:   How long have you been writing? How long have you been published? 

KARILYN:   I used to make up stories all the time as a child. My high school English teacher called one of my assignments too creative and said I should take creative writing. Once I got in college, I stopped writing (too busy with a biology degree) but ideas kept running around in my head. Back in 2001-2002 I worked in a cube, got tired of seeing three brown walls each day and wanted a job where I could work from home. That’s when I remembered all those stories hiding out in my mind. I’ve been writing ever since, but didn’t get published until 2009, when I placed in the Got Wolf contest at The Wild Rose Press. My novella won 4th place and started my writing career. I still work the day job, but I no longer have to look at brown, cloth, cube walls. 

SKY:   What genre/genres do you prefer to write? Are there other genres you’d like to write in the future? 

KARILYN:   I prefer writing fantasy and paranormal because I love the woo-woo aspects of the world. I like creating my own little world to live in where with a wave of your hand you can wash the dishes or vacuum the floor or dust. A girl can dream, right? As of right now there isn’t another genre I’d like to write in. That could change since, according to my hubby, on occasion I do change my mind. :-)

SKY:  Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas or novels? Why? 

KARILYN:   Most of my stories end around 65 – 72K words. Not sure why this is. In some ways a novella is easier for me to write as far as the word count goes. It’s also harder to write since you can’t dive as deeply into the characters. But it really comes down to what the characters want. 

SKY:   Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.  

KARILYN:   Yes, all of my books are in a series. The Draconia Tales are fantasy novels while the novellas feature werewolves. I do have another book that I’m currently writing in the Draconia Tales series, but although I love my werewolves, none of the secondary characters are clamoring for their story. Not sure if I will be writing anymore of those (see above for liable to change my mind! :-)). 

SKY:  Thanks so much for joining me today, Karilyn. This book sounds amazing! 

Purchase Warrior Lover at Amazon.

Visit Karilyn at her Website ~ Facebook and Plotting Princesses blog

Don’t forget to comment for a chance to win a PDF of Warrior Lover!

Teenage Cancer Survivor? Looking for Contributors.

As many know I’ve dealt with a lot of cancer in my family.

Well, over a year ago an elementary school friend got in touch with me at Facebook. He and another one of my childhood friends had suffered through cancer as teenagers and went through chemotherapy together. Sadly, she passed away at 19 years old but he survived. 

My friend walked away from the experience with one thought in mind. “My age group needs more support.”

Though years have passed, he continues to worry about teenagers suffering from cancer. Now it is his mission to see a book published that touches on that very subject. It turns out; he would like me to ghost write it. 

As you can imagine, I’m beyond flattered and taking this project very seriously. However, I have a lot to learn.

My reason for posting this?

I’m looking for those who have either faced cancer in their teenage years or know someone who has that might like to contribute. Please feel free to pass this message along. 

I can be contacted at Sky@SkyPurington.com. 

Thanks so very much. 

 ~Sky

The Weird Embarrassment Factor. VampCon by Armand Inezian.

 Today it’s my pleasure to feature Armand Inezian, author of VampCon, a Dark Fantasy Thriller.

GIVEAWAY. Comment for a chance to win one print edition AND one eBook edition. Print editions ONLY available to winners in the Continental USA (aka “lower 48”). eBook editions available to winners anywhere. Print edition winners may substitute eBook versions. 

Publisher: Greyhart Press, Bromham UK.

ISBN: 978-1478279525

ASIN: B009FMWCF0

Number of pages: 310

Word Count: approximately 95,000

Cover Artist: Banchick Illustration.

Watch the Book Trailer  

Print editions through Amazon, Amazon UK., ebooks at B&N Nook Reader  Kindle. Diesel eBooks (for iPad and Android Tablets), Smashwords eBooks (for Nook, iPad, and Kobo) and at the Kobo store (for Kobo!)

Book Description

Jonathan Stoker is a reluctant vampire who wants nothing to do with the dark world that turned him. He isolates himself, sucking nonlethal quantities of blood from helpless drunks and making a marginal living. However after he learns that someone he holds dear has been lured to the VampCon, a cut-throat vampire summit, Jonathan is forced to deal with his kind again.

But Jonathan and company quickly discover that the VampCon is much more than a meeting. It’s a conspiracy that holds the key to both the creation and possible extinction of all vampires.

Now Jonathan has no choice but to come to terms with his own dark side while working with a small band of troublemakers to stop a nightmare from coming true.

The weird embarrassment factor of me having written a vampire thriller with lots and lots of adult themes...

Armand Inezian is the author of VampCon, a dark fantasy thriller containing thousands of bullets, hundreds of vampires, two portals to damnation, and one bloody chance at redemption. Available now on Amazon, for Kindle, and for Nook.

Guest Post

The weird embarrassment factor of me having written a vampire thriller with lots and lots of adult themes... 

This is a post about embarrassment which starts with "E" that rhymes with "V" that stands for vampires.

Let's begin with this thought:, I was never a rebel. Growing up, I worked hard to do the right thing. I took a certain pride in following the rules. I never did drugs. Never skipped class. I didn't get in trouble with the law or teachers or with my parents.  My idea of lashing out was being mopey and skipping an occasional homework assignment.

That's my first bit of evidence. The second bit of evidence is that I went to grad school. I have an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. This doesn't mean much to most people. But one thing about MFA programs is that they focus on literary fiction. That's LITERARY with an "L", that rhymes with hell, which is where you going to go if you write a whole bunch of genre fiction about vampires.

Because I got that MFA, I now teach English at a place called Curry College, where some very bright scholars write essays and books about literary themes, rhetorical styles, and tropes in Victorian novels. Please note that these things have very little to do with vampires using automatic weapons. Very little.

So naturally, I wrote a vampire novel.

And now we get to the weirdly embarrassing part which is that my mom, the person who knew me when I was just a wee little boy, has read it. (Hi Mom!)

VampCon is a vampire novel that has some very (shall we say) "non-mommish" scenes, like incestuous relationships, steamy shower sex, blood and gore, and people being eaten alive by monsters. (Sorry for spoilers!) Thankfully my mother has been pretty cool about not bringing the stuff up because, frankly, I think any conversation she and I would have about this would be awkward. And awkward starts with "A" that rhymes with "HEY", as in, "Hey Mom, let's you and I not talk about my vampire novel right now..."

Besides Mom, there's the academic issue- which is to say that it is also weird when colleagues (Yes I have "colleagues". Give me a break, I'm 42 years old and work at a college.)

... Oh where was I... You see, when my colleagues ask me what I'm working on, instead of saying that I'm putting together a journal article on how to better apply laptop PC's to the classroom experience, or a book chapter on postmodern expression in Vietnam novels of the 1970's, I say through the half-gritted teeth: "Oh yeah, I wrote a vampire novel. Heh- heh."

My teeth are half gritted because one thing you can't to get around is the embarrassment factor, or what some people called the tee-hee factor in vampire fiction, which is because so much of vampire fiction is associated with cover art featuring shirtless young men with beautiful abs, or women with taut buttocks in tight pants. Or both!

Here's an analogy: Let's say you were invited to a potluck dinner to which everyone else has brought prime rib, rack of lamb with sautéed kale and eggplant, or beautiful concoctions made out of fish and eggs, and YOU walk in the door carrying plate of TWINKIES. That's me. I'm the Twinkie guy. Except my Twinkies are filled with blood instead of hydrogenated fats. So- in that way- they are healthier.

But here I am with my dark, vampire novel, and- despite the embarrassment factor- I'm proud of it! VampCon took me three years to finish. The plot is solid; the writing would hold its own in any literary street rumble. And those dark elements, the ones I proclaimed as "non-mommish", they need to be there. They help bring out the sharp edges in the story and remind my readers what's at stake for Jonathan (my hero) and his allies.

And true, VampCon is in no way academic. It won't help you learn more about writing or reading or literature, and holds no place in the university library, except as possibly a curiosity, or a recreational aside for your pleasure reading. But reading pleasure is important. I mean have you ever heard of someone buying an essay on philosophy to bring on their flight to Chicago? Nope. What people need on planes, trains, or when in bed is the stuff of pleasure.

And ultimately that's what I want people to get out of VampCon. I want you to take the thrill ride. I want you to walk away having the feeling that you've just sprinted through a most excellent, scary, and yet oddly beautiful haunted house. I want you to feel like you got your money's worth.

So allow me to assure my Mom that I'm still good boy. I work hard; I pay my bills; try to raise my kids right; and I believe the power of being good. And let me assure my colleagues in academia that I believe in Shakespeare, Moby Dick, and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. I value solid research essays and a good lecture.

But I also value a story that thrills, and thrill starts with "T", that rhymes with "V" that stands for VampCon!

About the Author 

Armand Inezian resides in Boston with his wife, two children, and three cats. In addition to writing, he also works two day jobs, one in grants administration and the other in teaching English, and he is grateful for both. He graduated from Emerson College with an MFA in Creative Writing. His short stories have appeared in various literary journals including The Missouri Review and Glimmer Train. In 2003, his short story, Baer, was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Another of his shorts, See Me, won the Glimmer Train Story Open in 2008. VampCon is his first completed novel.

Visit Armand

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Don't forget to comment for a chance to win one print edition AND one eBook edition. Print editions ONLY available to winners in the Continental USA (aka “lower 48”). eBook editions available to winners anywhere. Print edition winners may substitute eBook versions. 

Loving. Protective. Dangerous. Skin Deep by Sarah Mäkelä.

Today it’s my pleasure to interview Sarah Mäkelä, author of Skin Deep (Feral Ink- Book One), a Paranormal Romance. Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and an eCopy of Skin Deep.

Publisher: Etopia Press

ISBN: 978-1-939194-25-1

ASIN: B00A3Y9RTI

Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs

Amazon      BN      Kobo      ARe

Book Description

Angelique had no idea her black panther tattoo would force her to abandon the love of her life—Connor O’Reilly—but she’s determined to keep him safe no matter how much it hurts. Her tattoo doubles as her feline familiar: loving, protective, dangerous, and with a life of its own. It’s also her deepest secret and draws enemies who desire its power for themselves.

Connor has no idea why Angelique left him, but he’s determined to win her back. As a werewolf, he has secrets of his own. Now his alpha is ready to force him to pair with an ex-girlfriend he can’t stand unless he can find Angelique and claim her as his mate. But even as their secrets threaten to keep them apart, hidden enemies seek to destroy their chance at love forever.

Interview time!

SKY:   How did you come up with the title?

SARAH:   I knew since the heroine’s tattoo is a large part of the story that playing off it would be great. There’s a song I listened to quite a bit while writing Skin Deep that fit what the characters were going through called “Concrete Angel” by Gareth Emery feat. Christina Novelli that has a line in it “You think you know me, but what you know is just skin deep.” I heard that line as I was trying to figure out the title, and I thought, “Ah ha! That’s got to be the title.”

SKY:   If you had to sell your book based on one run of dialogue (start quote to end quote), which would it be?

SARAH:   Wow, that’s a tough question. If I had to choose one piece of dialogue, it’d probably be when Angelique is checking Connor out and he says, “That look on your face. You’re almost drooling.”

SKY:   Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.

SARAH:   My book cover is lovely! Valerie Tibbs did a great job. On the cover, there is a very strong, attractive looking man’s torso (which would be Connor, my hero) and a black panther (Kira, the heroine’s magical tattoo, in her real life form).

SKY:   Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.

SARAH:   I’m currently working on Jungle Burn the fourth book and series finale to the Amazon Chronicles series, which comes out in March. It takes place years after the events of the third book and is about the offspring of the couples in the previous books. The heroine will have to decide between two delicious male werepumas.

SKY:   What sources do you use for research?

SARAH:  I primarily use Google and the internet to find information when I do research. If I don’t find what I’m looking for, then I’ll check the library.

SKY:   What genre/genres do you prefer to write? Are there other genres you’d like to write in the future?

SARAH:   I’ve written, and had published, erotic fantasy romance, erotic and mainstream paranormal romance, erotic sci-fi/cyberpunk romance. I’ve written, but not had published, a few urban fantasy novels and a romantic suspense. I’d love to delve a little more into those genres in the future.

SKY:   Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas or novels? Why?

SARAH:   I love writing novels. You’re able to get to know and adventure with a character on a journey that lasts hundreds of pages. For the past two years, I’ve written mostly novellas and short stories, which are great. They’re quicker reads that can be serialized to give you the same flavor of following a set of characters. They’re also faster and easier for me to write and revise. However, I’m hoping to focus a little more on novels this year.

SKY:   Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.

SARAH:   Yes, I do write books in series. I currently have four series with in various stages.

The Amazon Chronicles series is erotic paranormal romance. It’s about a tribe of Amazon women who find their mates in a weretiger and a Pride of werepumas. It’ll be wrapping up in March of this year.

Hacked Investigations series is erotic sci-fi/cyberpunk romance. A freelance hacker and a private investigator become the target of a megacorporation that will stop at nothing to see them dead. I’ll be working on the fourth book in that series later this year.

The Super Powered series is erotic superhero romance. It’s about a growing group of superheroes who discover that being a masked hero doesn’t have to mean lonely nights. I’ll be working on the second book soon.

Feral Ink is my newest series that is a depart from my previous writing, while it’s steamy hot, it’s more mainstream than erotic. Right now it’s mostly focused on Angelique and Connor and dealing with their problems, but other heroines have made themselves known to me as well with tattoo gifts. I’ve started writing the next book.

SKY: Thanks so much for joining me today, Sarah!

About the Author

Sarah Mäkelä lives in North Carolina with her husband and cats. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, computer and console games, and traveling all over the world. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, as well as the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers and the Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal chapters. Find her online at www.sarahmakela.com.

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Interview with Sir Hugh d'Arcy. The Princes Knighted.

Welcome back to A Writer’s Mind’s, END OF THE WEEK CHARACTER BLOWOUT! Yesterday I interviewed the heroine of THE PRINCES KNIGHTED, Sara of Bevelaire (scroll to the next post to read). Today I’m thrilled to interview her hero, Hugh d’Arcy.

GIVEAWAY! Author, Robin Danner, is graciously giving away an eCopy of THE PRINCES BOUND to one lucky commenter. Contest ends Sunday, January 20^th, 12 PM EST.

Before we get started, let’s learn more about The Princes Knighted

Sir Hugh d’Arcy has returned from the battlefield to escort Sara, the princess of Noventia’s sister, to wed another. The mission is his duty, and his personal agony. Sara has never forgotten her love for the boy Hugh once was. When captured, a shocking revelation brings their love to life again. To save all he has sworn to protect, Hugh faces a devastating decision. Can Sara convince him her love is strong enough to overcome any obstacle?

Interview time!

SKY:  Tell us a little bit about you.

HUGH: I’m Hugh d’Arcy, a knight of Noventia and the nephew of the Queen of Isidor. My grandfather, Collin, is the chief advisor to the Noventian prince. I’ve been around the royal family since I was a baby. My father, Lance, died when I was young and my grandfather and aunt raised me. I joined the army at sixteen and was knighted at a mere eighteen. I’ve been busy fighting the rebellion for three years now.

SKY:   Remembering the moment you first laid eyes on Sara, what thoughts come to mind?

HUGH: At the time, I was frantic with worry over Rowena, my prince’s betrothed. I was assigned to protect Sara. She’d obviously been mistreated by the rebels and her face was battered and bruised. I’ve felt responsible for her safety ever since.

SKY:   She has one trait you adored from the start. What is it? Hands down, she appreciates one of your traits…what do you think that is?

HUGH: Sara seems so delicate, but you’d be surprised to learn that she’s actually quite fierce. She is also very stubborn. It’s an interesting mix. No doubt, she appreciates my loyalty to my prince, but knowing Sara she probably called me sweet or something equally trite.

SKY:  She has one trait you’d change if you could. What is it? You figure there’s probably a trait she might want to change about you… care to share?

HUGH: I wouldn’t change a thing about Sara. She’s absolutely perfect just the way she is. If I had to guess, I would say she’d change my determination. (She’ll probably call it stubbornness, but I beg to differ.)

SKY:  Ah, love is in the air. What is the single most romantic thing you’ve done for her?

HUGH: It probably won’t sound romantic, but I’ve watched her sleep. When we were captured, I stayed awake to make sure she was safe.

SKY:  She has a feature that draws your eye every time. Care to share? She can’t stare at you enough… but where is she staring? Now’s the time to gloat about your thick head of hair. *Sky sniggers* Truth! Do you think it’s your eyes? Chest? Etc.

HUGH: This isn’t not a manly response, but it would be her eyes. I could literally watch her face forever. (Hanging head) Did she really say my hair? I wouldn’t be surprised.

SKY:   How do you think Sara would answer the following…  Our favorite thing to do together is…?

HUGH: To keep this safe for children to read and because I know how Sara thinks, I will say that our favorite thing to do together is sit in the rose garden. When we were younger, she made me pick flowers all the time! Thankfully we now have new hobbies, but I won’t go into those here. ; )

SKY:  You and Sara don’t see eye to eye on what issue?

HUGH: We don’t see eye to eye at all! (She’s quite a bit shorter than me.) To be honest, we don’t agree on many things. Sara is idealistic, while I’m a realist. My life as a knight isn’t suited for a delicate girl like Sara.

SKY:   She said one thing to you that you’ll never forget. What was it?

HUGH: “I want to be with you, Hugh. Here, now. I will not watch you march off to war without knowing what it is like to be with you.”

SKY: Thanks so much for joining me today, Hugh. Great interview!

Meet the Author

Robin Danner writes sweet and sexy historicals and lives in Alabama with her husband and three sons. When she is not writing, she enjoys watching reality television and singing karaoke ... quite possibly off-key!

She is a graduate of Troy University and published her first novel not long after earning her degree in Biology. She currently works full-time and shuffles her time between writing, work, and her family. Find out more about Robin at http://robindanner.webs.com.

Visit Robin...

 Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ IsBooks

Contact Robin at bookrobin@aol.com

Don’t forget to comment for a chance to win an eCopy of The Princes Bound! Contest ends Sunday, January 20^th, 12 PM EST.

Interview with Sara of Bevelaire- The Princes Knighted.

Welcome to A Writer’s Mind’s, END OF THE WEEK CHARACTER BLOWOUT! On Monday I invited  Robin Danner over to share a little bit about the cover for her latest release, THE PRINCES KNIGHTED. Now it’s my pleasure to welcome over and interview the characters from this story. Today I’ll be interviewing the heroine, Sara of Bevelaire. Tomorrow, the hero, Hugh d’Arcy.

Before we get started, let’s learn more about The Princes Knighted.

Sir Hugh d’Arcy has returned from the battlefield to escort Sara, the princess of Noventia’s sister, to wed another. The mission is his duty, and his personal agony. Sara has never forgotten her love for the boy Hugh once was. When captured, a shocking revelation brings their love to life again. To save all he has sworn to protect, Hugh faces a devastating decision. Can Sara convince him her love is strong enough to overcome any obstacle?

Interview time!

SKY:  Tell us a little bit about you.

SARA:  Hello, I’m Sara! My older sister, Rowena, is the princess of Noventia. We’ve lived in N’ior, the capital city of Noventia, for about three years now and I’ve never seen a lovelier place. (Our life in Bevelaire was fairly gloomy before we came here.) I recently agreed to marry the Duke of Aronia, but Hugh d’Arcy, the boy I’ve loved since I was sixteen, has just returned to N’ior. 

SKY:   Remembering the moment you first laid eyes on Hugh, what thoughts come to mind?

SARA: My sister had just helped me escape the rebels, but she was captured. I ran for help and that’s when I encountered Prince Talin and his favorite recruit, Hugh. Hugh was such a hero, allowing me to ride his horse with him since I’m deathly afraid of them!

SKY:   He has one trait you adored from the start. What is it? You know without doubt he appreciates one of your traits. Share what you think that is.

SARA: It would definitely be his sweetness. Hugh has always treated me with the kindest regard, even though he was seventeen when we first met. He wasn’t like most lads his age. He was patient and kind and willing to befriend me when I knew no one at N’ior other than my sister. And, he probably wouldn’t admit it, but Hugh has always felt responsible for me. He earned my hero worship at a young age and patiently stepped into the role of my protector.

SKY:  He has one trait you’d change if you could. What is it? Oh yeah, there’s a trait you know he’d change about you…fess up!

SARA: That’s a simple one, his stubbornness! Hugh thinks he knows what’s best for me even though I tell him time and again that I know my own mind. This hearkens back to his protector role. He would probably say the same about me.

SKY:  Ah, love is in the air. What is the single most romantic thing he’s done for you?

SARA: Oh, it would be so hard to name just one! It’s a mixture of many things…the way he looks at me, the way he holds me, the way he tries his best to protect me. Once he was even gravely injured, but he was determined to fight our captors to save me.

SKY:  He has a feature that draws your eye every time. Care to share? His eye constantly roams to a particular part of your person. Tell, tell!

SARA: I’m always been fond of his hair. Hugh has golden brown curls that have a tendency to fall over his brow. My fingers constantly itch to touch them! As for my feature, it may sound trite, but Hugh seems to adore my eyes. They are hazel and he claims that they alternating green and brown hues entrance him. (Blushes)

SKY:   How do you think Hugh would answer the following…  Our favorite thing to do together is…?

SARA: Sit in the rose garden at N’ior

SKY:  You and Hugh just don’t see eye to eye on what issue?

SARA: Hugh thinks he has to be constantly on his guard around me. I just want him to know that I’m not a child anymore and my need for him is that of a woman.

SKY:   He said one thing to you that you’ll never forget. What was it?

SARA:  Hugh revealed the identity of the rebel leader to me, but shush…I can’t say. It’s a secret!

SKY:  Thanks so much for joining me today! 

Readers, be sure to swing in tomorrow as I welcome over the hero of The Princes Knighted, Hugh d’Arcy.

Check Out This Book Cover! Robin Danner's, The Princes Knighted.

Welcome to A Writer’s Mind’s, MONDAY COVERS IT blog feature. Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over author Robin Danner to share with us a little bit about the cover for her latest release, The Princes Knighted. So grab your favorite cuppa and enjoy another gorgeous book cover!

Let’s hear from Robin..

The Princes Knighted is the third book in my latest historical series (and one of the romantic I’ve written so far!) The hero, Hugh, is a knight and has been off to war for three years. His childhood friend, Sara, is about to be married to a duke and Hugh returns just in time to escort her to the home of her betrothed.

The cover was created by Lyn Taylor, an artist for Liquid Silver Books. I knew I wanted a blue dress for Sara since in one pivotal scene she is wearing that particular color. Lyn chose the perfect models for my cover and I couldn’t be more pleased! My hero, Hugh, appears in the first two books as well. We first met him as a seventeen year old, but he is twenty-one when he gets his own story in The Princes Knighted. Hugh faces devastating ordeals in this book, and I’m so glad that the model Lyn chose for him perfectly demonstrates that pain in his face. Sara is sweet and angelic, but with a backbone of steel.

I haven’t won any awards for this cover (that I know of, at least!) I’ve been blessed with three totally awesome covers for the entire series so far. 

About the Story

Sir Hugh d’Arcy has returned from the battlefield to escort Sara, the princess of Noventia’s sister, to wed another. The mission is his duty, and his personal agony. Sara has never forgotten her love for the boy Hugh once was. When captured, a shocking revelation brings their love to life again. To save all he has sworn to protect, Hugh faces a devastating decision. Can Sara convince him her love is strong enough to overcome any obstacle?

Read an Excerpt HERE.

Click HERE to Purchase The Princes Knighted.

Visit Robin Danner at her Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Amazon Author Page

Be sure to pop back in this Thursday and Friday as I interview the hero and heroine of The Princes Knighted in A Writer’s Mind’s, END OF WEEK CHARACTER BLOWOUT!

From Small Things Come Big Things. The Wooden Nickle by Alisha Paige.

Happy Saturday! Thanks for popping in to spend a little time with me over the weekend.

This post is solely dedicated to a book I love and an author I’ve come to adore. When I first read, The Wooden Nickle, I didn’t know Alisha Paige. We were simply published through the same publisher. I remember thinking, “This book is amazing! I hope I write like this someday.”

Soon after, Alisha and I became co-authors in the Song of the Muses series alongside seven other very talented authors. Even then we didn’t connect. Life was just too busy.

Several years later, however, we did connect. Wow, was I thrilled! Alisha proved to be warm, friendly and inviting... a true friend.

When she released her latest cover, I was humbled and amazed. 

How incredibly gorgeous is this cover!

About the Story

When Louise steps into a bread line in the middle of a dusty Texas town, the last thing she expects to find is a filthy hobo-boy taking pity on her. But when Cliff offers her his last piece of change, a worthless wooden nickel, her life changes forever. The Depression era coin proves to be worth far more than the five cents etched beside the wooden buffalo as it becomes a symbol of faith, hope and love, weaving in and out of their lives time and time again.

The Wooden Nickel is an emotional gripping tale about a bond between two young lovers trying to find their way in the world. An intense drama, unfolding amid the backdrop of war torn Europe and a naive America, desperately in need of new hope, The Wooden Nickel is an unforgettable romance full of mesmerizing characters, deep longing and eternal hope.

Pick up your .99 CENT COPY for a LIMINTED TIME at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Have a super weekend!

Sky

What Makes People CLICK on a Blog Title. Jesus or the Devil?

Welcome! If this is your first time here lose the frown face. I’m not evil. Nope. I’m just a writer fascinated by what people on the internet are interested in, especially when it comes to my blog.

I wasn’t fibbing in the title when I implied that A Writer's Mind's main click through internet audience for the last six months in 2012 was primarily focused on Jesus or the devil.

Interesting two words to see in your top blog stats, aye?

Yes, I’m human and immediately texted and talked to my closest friends about this. Do you blame me? They were all pretty slack-jawed. I got a general sense of first a good ol' boy slap on the shoulder then a definite, “No worries. I love you!”

I know great people.

Still.

Here’s the thing. It’s not all that bad. At least in my world.

Instead of the whole Jesus, devil thing I chose to focus on blog titles in general. Guess what? They have a 'click-thru’ value. 

What do I mean?

Well, there's a face value behind a title. People search the net for a topic and a link appears on their search engine. Want to know the TOP TWO TITLES beyond devil that have enjoyed over 6 K hits?

Here we go…

I’m so incredibly proud to post these again. Please pay attention to the titles….not only are they worth zillions of clicks but darn are they great posts! To my mind, they are relatable, likable articles that people WANT to CLICK on. For me, I felt I spread the word. Not about other books but about the human spirit and how we have the ability to never give up. Yep, I can get sappy.

The blog post titles that have received the MOST views at A Writer's Mind go out to…

Sky's SHOUT OUT. Heaven is for Real! Is This Jesus?

And...

Stephanie Nielson. Plane crash victim. A story of survival. If we could all be like her.

What titles got over 4 k hits?

I’m in Heat. Are You Really Surprised?

The X-files. Do You Really Want to Know?

My Victorian. My True Ghost Stories. Segment #1.

What titles got over 3 K hits?

Christmas With A Pirate! Hellen Hollick. Blog Event.

A Family Christmas Done Right. Beth Caudill. Blog Event.

I’ve had so many amazing authors visit my blog over the years. What made these topics so ‘clickable?’ Hard to say. I’ve noticed that titles with less words and more punch seem to do the trick. Or could it be something else altogether? The authors posted here are pretty popular. I've read a few of their stories and can see why.

Are you a blogger? Feel free to share some of your 'hit blog titles' in a comment. Be sure to leave your blog URL so readers can check them out.  

Best,
Sky