HOWLS 'N BITES Book Blitz for Authors A. C. James and Sarah Mäkelä + Pre-Order Sale and #Giveaway!

FALL INTO EVER AFTER Series, a paranormal romance box set, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author A.C. James coming November 4, 2014. It’s only available for 99¢ during preorders—Get your copy before the price goes up to $4.99!

CRY WOLF Series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sarah Mäkelä coming November 4, 2014, will make you howl for more. Get four incredible books for 99¢. It won’t stay that way for long. So preorder your copy today!

ETERNAL EVER AFTER – Book 1:

His past holds a secret that becomes her nightmare.

Arie Cush has a secret that he thought he'd left behind. When his past follows him to Chicago he must protect someone that reminds him of all the painful memories he's tried so hard to forget. But when every touch from her sets his heart and body on fire--he finds it hard to maintain his aloof façade.

Holly Ellis has secrets of her own. An encounter with the handsome stranger who frequents her coffee shop reveals a vampire with baggage. Even though it might be more than she bargained for, she can't resist the one person who understands her. But her life is in danger and a supernatural threat could reveal the underground world of vampires to humankind in this Gothic Cinderella re-telling.

FALLEN EVER AFTER – Book 2:

He can’t lose her when danger strikes again.

Arie Cush wanted Holly from the very first moment he met her. A night at the Hellfire Club (HFC) is filled with old friends and new danger. The long-standing feud between the faeries that run the Chicago Crew and a lethal toxin puts Holly and other fledgling vampires in danger. Can they stop a vampire-fae war that’s been brewing for nearly a century?

BEYOND EVER AFTER – Book 3:

The half-demon unleashed a force that can tear them apart.

On the night, Daeveena, a half-fey, half-demon walked out of the Hellfire Club, she left a tide of destruction, but everyone figured that was the end of it. No one imagined that she would steal something so valuable. Can Arie discover who is harboring her before he loses everything?

As a special BONUS readers get Winter Promises: An Ever After Christmas Story that takes place between book one and book two!

THE WITCH WHO CRIED WOLF – Book 1:

New Adult Paranormal Romance

Be careful what you wish for…

A potion gone wrong: Mia Brooks is a reluctant witch, with powers that she tries to hold in check. But when her magic gets mixed up, supernatural forces are unleashed and suddenly she’s being pursued by werewolves—that she didn’t even realize existed…

Hidden emotions: Ethan Parker, Mia’s brother’s best friend, is home from deployment for the holidays. Mia’s not only hiding from werewolves, she’s trying to keep her feelings for Ethan secret; it would be a disaster if he knew she’s been nursing a long-time crush…

The power of love: things take a terrifying turn when Mia and Ethan are attacked by a werewolf. Ethan is amazed when Mia reveals her paranormal prowess as she tries to shield them from danger. But can she really protect them from the darkness that lurks? And how can he tell her that, for ages, he’s been denying what he really wants? Mia...

COLD MOON RISING – Book 2:

New Adult Paranormal Romance

Passions flare when the cold moon rises…

Kelly: a normal college girl, who knows what she wants—to survive her final exams, and find someone to share her life with. Studying with Jacob is becoming too hot to handle; she’s falling for him, but he’s going too fast…

Jacob: a not-so-typical frat guy, who hides a secret—he’s a werewolf. Whenever the moon is high, he’s driven to shed his human form and satisfy his powerful desires. He craves Kelly, but she’s pushing him away…

Fallout: Jacob can smell Kelly’s arousal, but she insists she doesn’t want sex. A wolf can only take so much before his natural instincts win out. When the tension between them explodes, Jacob has no choice but to walk…

Kidnapped! Kelly is abducted by evil scientists who’ve mistaken her for a female werecat and, despite their differences, Jacob has to try and find her. But it’s a race against time and the lunar tides. The scientists have taken Kelly to their lab and turned her into a shapeshifter for real. The full moon is rising, and soon neither Kelly nor Jacob will be able to control their inner beasts. Who knows what the consequences will be when they are consumed by unquenchable animal lust…

THE WORF WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE – Book 3:

Some magic can’t be unspun…

Meddling in magic…

If Mia Brooks could turn back time, it would be to when she used her fledgling magic to craft a potion for an injured werewolf. It nearly killed the Pack Alpha, and now the lives of her witch mentor, Jessa, and her soldier boyfriend, Ethan Parker, have been changed forever. Jessa is in hospital after a vicious werewolf attack. And, Ethan, having being bitten, is becoming a werewolf himself.

A wolf at the door…

Mia can’t turn back time, but she can try to make things right with the two people she cares about most. She’s keeping Jessa’s shop, Eternally Magick, open, and she’s there for Ethan as his inner wolf grows. But, by the next full moon, his transformation will be complete. Can she really be the mate of a half-man-half-wolf, living within the law of the Pack?

Under his spell…

Struggling to contain his new lupine senses, Ethan goes missing on active duty. When Mia realizes her werewolf lover has been abducted, she knows must harness every magic power she possesses to get him safely back…

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

A.C. James

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author A.C. James writes paranormal romance and erotica, includingEternal Ever After which was featured in the bestselling Spice Box anthology. She pounds out sexy scenes at her keyboard where romance is laced with horror in hot stories of vampires and bad boy werewolves. Her stories feature strong heroines and alpha heroes, with plenty of action, twists, and turns that will keep you turning pages.

A.C. resides in northeast Pennsylvania where she entertains her husband with her imaginative yarns and quirky sense of humor. She spends her time drinking large vats of coffee while taming two toddlers by day and writing by night. Recovering video game beta tester and tech geek who grew-up going to cons and watching SmackDown. There’s probably some cosplay pictures around somewhere of her dressed up as Bloodberry from Saber Marionette J. Just don’t tell anyone.

To learn more about Ms. James visit her website, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Sarah Mäkelä

Sarah Mäkelä loves her fiction dark, magical, and passionate. She is a paranormal romance author, but she's written all over the romance spectrum with cyberpunk, sci-fi, fantasy, urban fantasy...even a sweet contemporary romance!

A life-long paranormal fan, she still sleeps with a night light. In her spare time, she reads sexy books, watches scary movies (and Ghost Adventures), and plays computer games with her husband. When she gets the chance, she loves traveling the world too.

To learn more about Ms. Mäkelä visit her website, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

EVER AFTER Series by A. C. James, available November 4, 2014 at Amazon, Barnes &Noble, Kobobooks, GooglePlay, iBooks, and ARe.

CRY WOLF Series by Sarah Mäkelä, available November 4, 2014 at Amazon, Barnes &Noble, Kobobooks, GooglePlay, iBooks, and ARe.

***click on links above or covers below for purchasing information, remember even pennies per sale using my links help keep this blog alive. Thank you.

   

Unwrapping a Review for NIGHT OF THE FALLEN, book two in the Dark Tides series by Diana Bocco

Having read CITY OF THE FALLEN, book one in the Dark Tides series by Diana Bocco, I was enthralled with the post-vampire world she’d created, and because of the cliffhanger ending, in desperate need to know what happens next. So when I heard NIGHT OF THE FALLEN, book two in the Dark Tides series was releasing, I got so excited to read it, I even squeezed it in while reading another. I wasn’t disappointed – well, I was a little bit, but not in the story. I will explain.

** Spoiler alert: if you haven’t read CITY OF THE FALLEN, book one in the Dark Tides series by Diana Bocco, please don’t read any further because there are spoilers in this review. I highly advise you read this book first and then follow with NIGHT OF THE FALLEN. You’ll be as hooked as me in no time.

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review

Blurb for NIGHT OF THE FALLEN:

Isabelle’s mission seemed so clear: kill the king of the vampires to give humanity a fighting chance. Except she didn’t count on falling in love with him. And she didn't realize he held secrets that could actually end up saving the human race.

As the kingdom falls and Isabelle’s heart is torn between two worlds, everything changes. There’s something more dangerous out there, a plague that might destroy both humans and vampires alike. The only way to survive it might be to find a truce between species.

Peace will require the ultimate sacrifice.

And change the future of the world forever.

*              *                *                *                *

If you read CITY OF THE FALLEN, book one in the fabulous series called the Dark Tides by Diana Bocco then you know we left Marcus and his troops fighting rabids and that Isabelle escaped in a car. They’d each realized they were in love with the other and Belle knows she needs to help Marcus and his scientists solve the problems of the vampires in order to save the human race. In NIGHT OF THE FALLEN, we catch up to Marcus, Miles and his men returning to the compound to find all of the humans under their protection have perished at the hands of the rabids, and Belle is missing. Marcus is beside himself worrying that Patrick may have taken Belle as a means of controlling him and exacting revenge. Relief is his when he’s told a car is missing and now Marcus has a suspicion of where she may have headed.

Belle hadn’t wanted to leave the compound, but she knew there was very little she could do to save the other humans, and Marcus would want her to protect herself even as she feared for his safety. Using the terrifying knowledge she'd gained of the rabids to traverse the distance between the king’s compound and the house where she’d left her family and friends, Belle makes her way home. Her welcome home carries mixed feelings and even more pessimism when she tells them about the rabids, and tries to convince them the vampires are not the monsters they thought and are actually allies rather than enemies.

When her brother learns the truth about her relationship with Marcus, Belle has to trust him to help her convince the others they must listen to Marcus and allow the vampires to give them protection.

It seems Diana had a lot of problems working her way through this block of the series and postponed the release a couple of times before finally giving us this much. I will warn you that this is only part of the story. The rest will come in a second release in August. Will I be in line to read it? Hell yes! NIGHT OF THE FALLEN by Diana Bocco may not be complete right now but I have no doubt Diana is going to treat us to even more action, romance, and excitement as the vampires and humans team together to fight Patrick and the rabids.

I love this story, I love this series, and if you’re into vampires, post-apocalyptic worlds, and undying love then you need to experience the Dark Tides series starting with CITY OF THE FALLEN and continuing with NIGHT OF THE FALLEN. Yes, the released edition right now isn’t complete but Diana promises if you purchase it now, you will get Part Two in the updated version through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple when it releases in August for FREE. I don’t know how Kobo is handling it but it is available. Any way you do it, it’s worth reading and catching up for when book three comes along. I can't wait.

I highly recommend if you read CITY OF THE FALLEN, you must read NIGHT OF THE FALLEN by Diana Bocco and if you haven’t experienced this amazing story yet – DO! My little bit of disappointment came when the story ended and there was so much more I wanted to have happen. I can’t wait to see what happens next, and book three – I’m already excited for your arrival. I’ll be back to update this review after I’ve read NIGHT OF THE FALLEN, part deux!

Happy Reading Everyone!

NIGHT OF THE FALLEN, a Dark Tides novel by Diana Bocco, self-publish, available now in ebook format at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above or cover below for purchasing information,

remember even pennies per sale help keep this blog alive.

Thank you.

   

Tasty Virtual Book Tour for NIGHT OF THE FALLEN, book two in the Dark Tides series by Diana Bocco + #Giveaway

Night of the Fallen

Dark Tides #2

by Diana Bocco

expected release date, July 10, 2014

Isabelle’s mission seemed so clear: kill the king of the vampires to give humanity a fighting chance. Except she didn’t count on falling in love with him. And she didn't realize he held secrets that could actually end up saving the human race.

As the kingdom falls and Isabelle’s heart is torn between two worlds, everything changes. There’s something more dangerous out there, a plague that might destroy both humans and vampires alike. The only way to survive it might be to find a truce between species.

Peace will require the ultimate sacrifice.

And change the future of the world forever.

About the Author:

I've been a fan of all kinds of dark creatures since I was a kid (even before I discovered Stephen King at the age of 10). If it crawls in the night and tugs at your covers while you're sleeping, chances are I've written about it. It's probably no surprise that I'm a big fan of old buildings, urban exploring, and things that go bump in the night. Oh, and Halloween, of course -- but that should go without saying.

Growing up, I wanted to be Indiana Jones. I ended up not pursuing a degree in Archaeology (although I toyed with the idea for a while) but I did become a huge lover of travel and history. Aside from traveling to all corners of the world, I've also lived in five countries in three continents -- including three years in Siberia and two in Vietnam. I'm currently living in Thailand.

I have a soft spot for animals (which is why you can be sure that in my stories, the dog will always make it) and right now have three wonderful -- but slightly crazy -- dogs in my life. And yes, they move with me from country to country. Too bad dogs can't accumulate frequent flyer miles!

In my other life, I also write nonfiction: articles, books, and even quizzes for the Discovery Channel website. I really can't help it -- I'm a nerd at heart and love research and discovering new things. Could be the Indiana Jones in me, pushing me along.

When it comes to life, I'm pretty fearless. I figure life is too short to live it too safely -- so I take risks and I try to have fun, whether that means snowshoeing in the middle of Siberia or going ghost-hunting in an abandoned asylum. And yes, I've done both.

If you’d like to learn more about Diana and her books, please visit her website, and follow her on Facebook, and Goodreads.

Tour Wide Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NIGHT OF THE FALLEN, book two in the Dark Tides series by Diana Bocco, available July 10, 2014 in ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on links above for purchasing information,

remember even pennies per sale help keep this blog alive.

Thanks.

A Visit with Tori L. Ridgewood, author of WIND AND SHADOW, book one of the Talbot Trilogy + Review, Excerpt, & GIVEAWAY!

I’m doing something a little special today. First, I’m giving a brief review of the first book in an extraordinary new trilogy from Tori L. Ridgewood called the Talbot Trilogy and then I was fortunate enough to get Tori to answer a few questions for me. Tori has also been kind enough to give us a peek into book two of the Talbot Trilogy and also has a wonderful giveaway in store for you featuring this exciting new paranormal romance. So hang on to your panties and join the fun.

***eCopy provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for WIND AND SHADOW:

Rayvin Woods, photographer and natural witch. She just wanted to start her life over again after a series of misadventures. She didn't count on rekindling a lost love when she came home to Talbot...or battling a malevolent vampire and his coven for her life.

Grant Michaels, police officer. He thought Rayvin was a murderer. He will do whatever it takes to protect the community he loves from danger...but will he learn to trust his heart, and the word of a witch, before it's too late?

Malcolm de Sade, cunning vampire, imprisoned underground for a year by Charlotte Fanning and Pike Mahonen ("Mist and Midnight", Midnight Thirsts). His accidental release unleashes his hunger and ambition on a small, sleepy town…

***

Facing the past can be a nightmare. It's worse when a vampire is stalking you.

*               *               *                *               *

WIND AND SHADOW by Tori L. Ridgewood is more than just your typical paranormal romance – it’s suspenseful with a mystery that will keep you on the edge as some surprises come to light.

Rayvin Woods, a natural witch, has returned to town after ten years away and her welcome is not altogether a good one especially when she learns there’s a vampire on the loose. And wow, what a villainous, evil vampire Malcom de Sade is. But Rayvin has even more problems awaiting her than the contemptuous bad guy ever. She has to deal with Grant Michaels whose hate for her is sealed in a false truth that makes him the most misguided of heroes.

WIND AND SHADOW, book one of the Talbot Trilogy by Tori L. Ridgewood is most definitely action-packed, exciting, as well as complicated with its many twists. There were a couple of times, when the story slowed a bit but it actually allows you to catch your breath and get ready for more. I would like to have known more about Rayvin and Grant’s history but I understand there’s only so much time for everything and with everything else that happens in this first book, perhaps we can catch up with their backstory later. Of course, I’m looking forward to Charlotte and Pike from MIST AND MIDNIGHT returning to town. I suggest you all catch up with this novella that started it all.

Tori definitely knows how to write great characters and I’m eager to read more of this exciting trilogy so I’m going to certainly recommend WIND AND SHADOW by Tori L. Ridgewood to everyone who enjoys a truly exciting, and adult paranormal romance with a lot of excellent urban fantasy attributes.

Now that I’ve had my say about this exciting new book, please join me in welcoming Tori Ridgewood, author of WIND AND SHADOW, book one of the Talbot Trilogy to Unwrapping Romance … 

Amy:  Welcome Tori, it's an absolute delight to have you with us today, and I'd like to thank you for taking time out of your busy day to join us.  

Perhaps you'd like to tell us a little bit about yourself for those who don't know you yet.

*Tori:  I’m 6’ 1.5”, I have dark brown hair (most of the time) that I prefer to wear short, and I’ve worn glasses since I was ten. I’ve been married since 1997, I have two school-age children, and I’m a full-time secondary school teacher. I enjoy traveling, collecting and making miniature furniture, rolling candles from beeswax sheets, scrapbooking, cross-stitch and quilting (mainly small projects), as well as writing plays for my students and the occasional poem. I’m a huge movie buff, too.

Amy:  Sounds like you keep very busy. Making miniature furniture sounds very interesting. I love dollhouses so I’d love to see your creations sometime.

I'm always intrigued about why some authors write paranormal. I understand why we read them (I'm addicted) but I have to wonder if the reason is perhaps the same. So why do you write paranormal? 

*Tori:  I write it because I’m fascinated by the supernatural in all ways. I love watching documentaries and reading studies about ghost hunters and cryptozoology as much as I love reading paranormal fiction and watching movies in the same genre. There is something so appealing about exploring this as-yet unknown element of our world, and I do it in fiction. My writing reflects the books, films, and research that I enjoy. The spells, for example, are real, though their efficacy has yet to be scientifically documented. When I write about the paranormal, I’m expressing wishful thinking that something more than the mundane can exist. It’s a heartfelt desire for adventure and magic, an appreciation of the mystical and mysterious, and a love letter to my favourite supernatural writers and filmmakers.

Amy: Wow, you’ve really delved deeply into all that makes your story so amazing. I would imagine the research alone makes your time enjoyable.

WIND AND SHADOW is your first full-length novel and the first book in the Talbot Trilogy. What inspired you to create this world of witches and vampires? 

*Tori: Part of it had to do with an unusual event that happened in the small town of Cobalt, Ontario in the late 1980s. The town was a hub of silver mining in the early part of the twentieth century, and tunnels run beneath houses and roads as well as in the bush outside of town limits. Lacking regular maintenance, one of those tunnels caved in around 1987, causing a hole big enough in a main street to swallow a car. It was advertised as the World’s Biggest Pothole until engineers were able to repair and reinforce it. But as I was living near Cobalt at the time, the event always fascinated me. After I moved back to the region as an adult, I kept thinking about it. What if it hadn’t been as simple as distressed and rotten pilings, or water seepage through pavement and rock? What if a creature had been trapped down there and seen an opportunity for escape? It wasn’t until I was on maternity leave with my second child that I finally started putting the ideas together. And the first answer came out of my love for horror fiction -- the creature who was trapped in the mine was a vampire.

That my protagonist is a witch came out of my love for and interest in witchcraft and Wicca, both in fiction and in my life. Magic(k) is compelling, but I don’t believe there are enough positive images of witches in fiction. I wanted my heroine to be intelligent, strong, and talented in ways that she’d have to keep secret -- Rayvin’s magick could make her a target for scientific researchers, given that it includes telekinesis and psychic abilities. It’s fun to imagine a world in which magick can happen as it does in Hollywood movies, in combination with the rituals and spells worked by real-life Pagans.

Amy: Fascinating inspiration and Rayvin is wonderful heroine. I love the movies featuring witches and it’s what immediately drew me to read WIND AND SHADOW.

Is paranormal romance where you see yourself staying as a writer or do feel you might dip into another genre, say suspense or contemporary, some day? Afterall, those elements already exist within WIND AND SHADOW so the leap would be small.

*Tori: I’m not confident that I would be able to do suspense anytime soon, though I appreciate the compliment. I don’t often read pure mysteries, though many of my favourite books include that element in the plot. Wind and Shadow takes place in the present day, and I am beginning to research current trends in language for a YA novel, but I also love historical periods and would enjoy writing a period story as well. My options are wide open!

Amy:  Ah ha, with all of the research you’ve done, a historical featuring the world of witchcraft would certainly be one I’d read.
Last question because I know you're busy, what do you read for fun and if you could be ANY character in ANY book (not necessarily your own), who would it be and why?

*Tori:  I read historical romances, paranormal romances, comedies, science fiction and fantasy, YA novels, anthologies, and non-fiction (biographies, research into the paranormal or life issues, and historical accounts). I also love fairy tales, ghost stories, travel stories, and the occasional crime novel.

If I could be any character in any book, I’d love to be Anne of Green Gables. I’ve been through my share of embarrassing situations and dreamy moments, but there is something about her forthright nature and imagination that I wish I could experience in her shoes. That, and her red hair. Anne experiences and endures much in her youth before going to live with Marilla and Matthew near Avonlea, but she never stops dreaming and believing that she will be happy. Her imagination causes her no end of trouble, but it also saves her from despairing (even when she’s in the depths of despair). She gives all of herself to everything she undertakes, appreciates the beauty of nature around her, and shines in crisis situations. I wish I could be Anne in her puffed sleeves, reciting “The Highwayman”, feeling Gilbert’s eyes on me and trying hard not to notice because I can never forgive him for calling me “Carrots” . . .

Amy:  I’m always amazed at how many authors of romance turn to ANNE OF GREEN GABLES for their choice. I think we’ve all been inspired by that story in some fashion.

Tori, thank you so very much for joining us today and for sharing WIND AND SHADOW with us. Congratulations on your new trilogy and I'm sure my readers are as excited as I am to read more. 

*Tori:  Thank you so much for having me! I’d love to share an excerpt from the coming sequel, BLOOD AND FIRE: Book Two of the Talbot Trilogy, due out at the end of February, 2014.

Amy:  Indeed, I know I’m adding it to my TBR list. If you all would like to read Chapter One from BLOOD AND FIRE, book two of the Talbot Trilogy by Tori L. Ridgewood, please feel free to click HERE and then come right back because Tori has a giveaway for you.

Tori, thank you so much for joining us today and I wish you the greatest success with this new and amazing trilogy. If you’d like to learn more about Tori and her stories, feel free to visit her at her blog, and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

In the meantime, Tori has a giveaway to present.

*Tori:  My pleasure. Cheers.

I’d love to offer all North American readers a chance to win an autographed paperback copy of WIND AND SHADOW. To be entered in the giveaway, you must answer this question correctly:

What is the name of the prequel novella that leads into the Talbot Trilogy, and who are the main characters?

Amy:  Well, you heard the lady. If you’d like a chance at winning a signed print copy of WIND AND SHADOW, book one in the Talbot Trilogy by Tori L. Ridgewood, simply answer her question in a comment and be sure to leave a valid email address so I can contact you when you win.

(there's a very big hint and link in my review.)

Formula for entry:    

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR PLAYING. 

This GIVEAWAY is open to US and Canada entries only except where prohibited.

This GIVEAWAY will run until 11:30PM EST on Sunday, December 15, 2013 at which time I will use a randomizer to pick one lucky entry to win Tori’s amazing book. The winner will notified by email hence the need for a valid email address and announced in a special post on Monday. If for any reason, I cannot contact the winner or don’t hear back by end of day on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, another winner will be randomly selected from the remaining entries.

Good Luck and Happy Reading Everyone!

About the Author:

After her first heartbreak, Tori found solace in two things: reading romance novels and listening to an after-dark radio program called Lovers and Other Strangers. Throughout the summer and fall of 1990, the new kid in town found reading fiction and writing her own short stories gave her a much needed creative outlet. Determined to become a published author, Tori amassed stacks of notebooks and boxes of filed-away stories, most only half-finished before another idea would overtake her and demand to be written down. Then, while on parental leave with her second baby, one story formed and refused to be packed away. Between teaching full-time, parenting, and life in general, it would take almost seven years before the first novel in her first trilogy would be completed. In the process, Tori finally found her stride as a writer.

At present, on her off-time, Tori not only enjoys reading, but also listening to an eclectic mix of music as she walks the family dog (Skittles), attempts to turn her thumb green, or makes needlework gifts for her friends and family members. She loves to travel, collect and make miniature furniture, and a good cup of tea during a thunderstorm or a blizzard. Under it all, she is always intrigued by history, the supernatural, vampire and shapeshifter mythology, romance, and other dangers.

WIND AND SHADOW, a Talbot Trilogy novel by Tori L. Ridgewood, Melange Books, available now in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

***click on the links or cover below for purchasing information

   

Unwrapping: Interview with KC Klein + Giveaway

I'm very excited today, I know it's Wacky Wednesday but this is special because we have a very special guest with us - KC KLein, author of DARK FUTURE, a sci-fi/urban fantasy romance. DARK FUTURE is her very first published novel and she's agreed to give away one e-book copy to one lucky commenter.  So I hope you will make her feel very welcome.

When I first read the back cover of DARK FUTURE, I knew I was interested but had no idea just how much I was going to enjoy this action-packed, fast-moving story.  Kris Davenport was just living her life, working hard to become a full-fledged doctor when one night her future self pays her a visit. Her life was about to change in ways she couldn't fathom. This is a once-you-start-reading-you-can't-put-down book ... in fact, I was up until nearly 5:30 AM reading it because I just had to know what happened next. I want to thank KC for sending me this fascinating, humorous yet dark and gritty romance ... it's a great read!

DARK FUTURE Back Cover Blurb:

Awakened in the middle of the night by a future version of herself, Kris Davenport is given a mission: go forward in time to save the world—and His life. Of course, her future self doesn’t tell her who he is, just sends her into an abyss and straight into an alien invasion.
He turns out to be ConRad Smith, the callous, untrusting Commander of Earth’s army and the world’s last defense. There’s only one way to know for sure if this strange woman is an alien spy—slice her throat. Except, he didn’t anticipate the heat he would feel as he interrogates the hot-tempered, warm-blooded woman. For a man whose sole focus has been survival, she’s more temptation than he can handle. But a world on the brink of destruction leaves no room for love…and time is running out.

Amy:   Without further ado, please welcome KC Klein!

KC:  First, I wanted to thank Amy for having me on her blog. I’m real excited to be here. I always love being able to talk with readers.

Amy:  It's most certainly my pleasure, KC.  After reading DARK FUTURE, I just knew I had to have you visit.  To start, I'm sure the readers would like to know a little bit about you.

KC:  I’m a mother of two beautiful girls, I work outside the home, and actually enjoy going out for a mile run. I’m also fortunate to have been married to my best friend for the past sixteen years.

Amy:  Sounds like a idealic life and now you've added being an author to it as well.  When was it that you knew you wanted to write?

KC:  I truly believe the desire to tell stories are weaved into the very essence of writers. No one would pick this career unless it was something that they were born to do. I still remember being in second grade and reading my first Judy Blume book. It was then when I realized that stories were a way of living outside of myself, and I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since.

Amy:  It's hard to escape that desire, I know.  KC, DARK FUTURE is your first published novel. Is it your first full-length work and what inspired you to write it?

KC:  Yes, it is. It took me close to nine years from conception to publication. So even though it was my first book I rewrote it over three times. I’m so glad I didn’t give up on DARK FUTURE. I think aspiring authors need to learn not to quit, not to throw in the towel even when the first love of the story has worn off.
I was inspired to write this story when, nine years ago, what I was reading wasn’t dark and gritty enough for me. So I wrote what I wanted to read, and DARK FUTURE was born.  : )

Amy:  Well, KC, I, for one, am very glad you never gave up and I agree that quitting is too easy. I like that since you couldn't find the kinds of stories that you wanted, you created your own. DARK FUTURE is very dark, gritty and as you called it, snarky! It immediately had me thinking of The Matrix and Terminator Salvation, did you intend it to be that way when you began writing it or did it just evolve?

KC:  I don’t know what I intended DARK FUTURE to be. Mostly it was me just listening to the characters in my head. In the beginning I was worried that people wouldn’t get the humor in the book, but after a while I stopped worrying. People will either find it funny or not, which is very typical of my sense of humor.

Amy: I caught the humor and appreciated it. It gave Kris an edgy sarcasm that contrasted a near innocence in the hard and rough ConRad. It was obvious he wasn't sure what to make of this woman from the past. Time travel is a difficult subject to tackle and I, for one, am always skeptical about most approaches but was quite pleased with how you handled it.  Did you research the idea or was your approach more a seat of the pants evolution?

KC:  Most everything I do is by the seat of my pants. My one secret weapon is that I keep at it. I’m like a dog with a bone. When I was writing DARK FUTURE I had to find a way of getting my modern, snarky heroine into a world that created my untrusting, callus hero. Time travel seemed the best fit.

Amy: Brava! A girl after my own heart. My favorite lines in DARK FUTURE come from the scene when Kris interrupts ConRad's workout and he, in turn, tells her she needs to workout. 
My mouth fell wide open and my brain had a hard time wrapping around the fact that he had just called me fat and stupid.
"I never said that you were fat. I said YOU - NEED - TO - WORK - OUT."  He spoke as if I was hard of hearing and ... stupid.
How about you, do you have any favorite lines from the book?

KC:  HA! I had a lot of fun writing that scene. Men are great, aren’t they? I can’t remember a favorite line, but one of my favorite scenes is when Kris is getting interrogated by ConRad when she first travels to Dark Planet. I really tried to push the boundaries in that scene. Judging by the reactions (readers either hated it or loved it) I accomplished what I set out to do. Folks, you get a sneak peek of that scene since I put it as a teaser further down in this post. So let me know what you think.

Amy: I know the scene and loved it, I hope y'all will, too.  Do you think there will be a sequel?

KC:  A sequel is always possible. I would love to write DARK FUTURE 2. I even have a title for it, The Breaking of Dawn. Of course, that was before the whole Twilight craze, so maybe not.  : )   I believe that Kris and ConRad’s daughter, Dawn, has a story to tell.

Amy:  I was hoping that was the case and I look forward to it happening.  Are you working on anything right now?

KC:  Right now, I am working on a fun, sci-fi, bodice-ripper, anthology with two other very talented authors, Jessa Slade and Erin Kellison. I do believe wine was involved when they invited me to do the anthology, but I accepted so fast they didn’t have time to retract the offer.

Amy:  Sounds like fun and I hope you'll give us a heads up when it's published. One more quick question before we get to the teaser you brought with you. If you could become any character in any book, which character and why?

KC:  Umm, I’m not sure. All the great characters I know have been through some really tough stuff, and I’m pretty much a wimp. I panic over a hang nail and wouldn’t trust myself with much more. I prefer sitting in my yoga pants, in the comfort of my own home, writing about a tortured character then actually being one. HA!

Amy:  LOL! As it should be. Thanks for being so candid.  Folks, KC was kind enough to bring a teaser from her novel, DARK FUTURE, to share with us today. We both hope you'll enjoy it enough to want to read more.

From DARK FUTURE by KC Klein:

“Mmm, you taste human. Like salt or more like … warm sunshine?” He pinned me with his gaze. His eyes spoke a primal language. Desire warred with anger; need against punishment.

I looked away. Embarrassed. Violated. His body crushed mine, suffocating in its nearness. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even breathe without crushing my breasts against him. I always considered myself strong and physically fit, but he subdued me with barely any effort. Heart racing, I panicked.

The feeling of no control would break me—complete powerlessness always did. I used whatever weapon was available; whatever maneuvers would give me a fighting chance. This was no different. I turned my head, opened my mouth against his neck, and … sunk my teeth in.

He cursed. Grabbed hold of my shirt, picked me up, and slammed me back against the wall.

A painful whoosh came from my lungs. My vision rocked—brain swished inside my skull.

“You bit me.” He sounded shocked.

My head hurt so bad I had to blink hard to keep my eyes in their sockets. “You licked me,” I shouted back.

He assessed me, aqua blue eyes hooded with thick, long eyelashes, for what seemed like an eternity. “I will ask you one more time. Who are you?”

“I’ve told you everything.” My voice sounded desperate, tired, even to me. “I went running and fell into the dark … I’m a doctor at a hospital. If you don’t believe me, just call them. I’ve worked there for years.”

He stood still, his body hard against mine, creating an insurmountable barrier. His face so close I could see his pupils enlarge, almost hiding the hard blue of his irises. The rage in him lived and breathed. One hand ran along my scalp in a mock caress, grabbed hold of my hair and pulled.

“Liar,” his voice barely a whisper, the knife was back … shaking at my very exposed, very vulnerable artery. “There hasn’t been a hospital anywhere on Earth since the year 2075.” And in one efficient movement, he drew the knife across my throat.

Amy: Wow! You can't get more intriguing than that!!

KC and I would both like to hear what you think about the scene ... in addition, I was wondering what you would do or say if your future self showed up in your house one night. 

KC is graciously giving away an e-copy of DARK FUTURE to ONE (1) lucky commenter,  So please, include a valid e-mail address in your comment so we can contact you if you happen to be that lucky winner.  If you're worried about spam, please modify your address, example: admin.myblog AT aol.com.
(This giveaway is open only to US entries - sorry. Winner will be randomly selected from comments posted on or before Monday, Dec 12, 2011.) see my FTC guidelines for more information.

I want to thank KC for joining us today and to everyone, happy reading and GOOD LUCK! 

You can visit KC at her website, on Facebook, or at Twitter.

DARK FUTURE is available in Kindle or print at Amazon and all e-book formats at Avon Impulse.

                                         This Giveaway is now closed - the winner (mauratroy) has been notified, thanks to everyone who commented.