Tasting Fire

Our guest today is author Shelly Holt, and I'll let her tell you a little about herself... Welcome, Shelly!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My name is Shelly Holt and I live in the middle of the harsh and unforgiving Mojave desert. I write my stories looking out of a window that shows sweeping desert views. Outside is a barren and severe landscape, yet inside my head lives a world filled with exotic shape-shifters come to life, pulled from the pages of myth and legend, ready to entice and seduce any reader brave enough to take them on.

It's funny, I never wanted to be a writer!  In 7th grade English, we were given an assignment.  We were told to write an original poem and turn it in the next day.  I was determined to turn in not a good poem, but a great poem.  I spent the whole night working on it instead of watching my favorite show, The Waltons.  (Hey! it was 1980.)  I turned it in the next day.  Apparently, I succeeded a little too well and was accused of copying it from a book. (1980 remember, no internet yet).  The teacher stated and I quote "this is too good for a seventh grader, where did you copy it from?"  Well, I didn't write for 30 years after that. In my 40's, after a life changing move to rural Nevada as a caregiver to my father, I realized I needed a way to earn a little money on the side.  I did some research on the internet and read all about a certain little book, about a certain little college student and a handsome billionaire with some ahem! (issues.)  I decided after reading that book, I could do that, and Tasting Fire was born. I'll admit it's been strange revisiting a talent buried deep inside for so long, forgotten, but apparently not lost. It's been an important journey and one I am quite thankful for and excited to see where it takes me.

Shelly Holt

 P.S. Mr. Jordan, I really did write that poem!

SHELLY'S JOURNEY

I wanted to write the shape-shifting novel that I had always wanted to read.  I was reading about highly descriptive, very sexy werewolves, but to my frustration as a reader, not a lot of thought was being put into how they came to be.  I personally am having a hard time with my suspension of disbelief.  I have realized lately that it has only gotten worse as I have gotten older. I was able to suspend my disbelief for J.K. Rowling and for Rick Riordan and was able to enjoy their work, but I think in general it's a part of my own aging process and will only get worse the older I get. 

When I decided to write a paranormal romance, I knew I would be competing against hundreds of other books.  I made an executive decision that to stand out, I would have to approach the storytelling from a very different prospective.

I thought back to my absolute favorite series by Sharon Shinn and picked apart what I loved about it.  I decided that her Samaria series had captured and held my attention, due to her highly intelligent premise and world building skills that had created a universe where her angels were not divine, but engineered in a lab by human colonists thousands of years in the future.  It allowed me to suspend my disbelief and fully enjoy her work. 

I decided that would be how I approached my own book as well.  I created a premise where shape-shifters evolved not by magic, but over thousands of years by means of a bacterial infection that combined the DNA of the human victims with that of animals.  I knew that if this infection was too easy to catch, everybody and their grandmother by the 21^st century would be a shape-shifter.  In the plot I decided to make it fairly hard, but not impossible to become infected.  If you take a swim in the healing waters of a hot spring that does contain the thermophilic (heat loving) bacteria and then come into contact with a secondary DNA code while the bacteria is still in your system, your descendants could very well be shape-shifters. 

After I had created the method, I had to chose my shape-shifter to focus the plot on.  I sat down on the floor, and went though my bookshelf full of library discards.  I came across a charming little children's book about snow leopards and their babies that I had forgotten I even had.   I had purchased the book from the library bookstore for a whopping .25 cents and after I fell in love with the cubs in the book, I knew I had found my shape-shifter. 

Tasting Fire has strong spiritual overtones and extraordinarily well developed secondary plots that involve personal growth and fully defined characters.  All of these well designed aspects make for a truly unique paranormal romance.   I will warn readers at this point, if you want a book where the hero and heroine fall into bed within the first two minutes of meeting and have mindless sex, this is not the book for you!  If you are looking for a rich, textured romance, full of world building and character development, and if you want to lose yourself in an original, intelligent, romantic, SEXY, adventure, this is your book!

Thanks for having me on Book' Em North Carolina to share my experiences writing Tasting Fire with your readers today.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Shape-shifters have always walked the earth. Shrouded in myth and folklore, hiding in the shadows, watching and waiting. Advances in modern science are now about to reveal them to the world. Kai Tenzin is the self appointed leader of the Pari people. He and his kind evolved from the most reclusive predators on earth. They live and hunt in the most fearsome and rugged terrain known to man, the Himalayas. Kai leaves his small village where the mountains touch the heavens, determined to do anything to protect his people. When he is forced to enlist the aid of the beautiful American scientist Dr. Rae Hales, the last thing he expects to find is a woman who will ensnare his heart and endanger them all. Their action-packed adventure will take them around the world to discover the truth behind the legends and reveal the future of humanity.  

AN EXCERPT

Nawang Wangdu walked through the hills of Himachal Prodesh, India.  He had to leave Hong Kong quickly.  The elderly Pari felt terrible about abandoning Dr. Hales, but he had no choice.  He had sent several of his men to get her out of Kai's apartment, but Interpol had gotten a hold of her first.  Nawang was a powerful man, but even he could not protect her from entire governments.

He also worried intensely about his son.  Kai had fallen off the face of the earth.  None of Nawang's contacts could locate him in the madness that followed.  Just as in the dream, he could feel the weight of those eighty-two years bearing full force down on him.  His long lost mother had told him it was all baggage and must be left behind.  Nawang would not now, nor ever consider his son's safety baggage, but Nawang had to face facts.  He was an old man.  His money and influence only went so far.  He had to have faith in the universe that it would all work out in the end without him.

The elderly shape-shifter knew in the depths of his soul that his time on earth was drawing to a close.  Nawang had to take care of his assets and disappear.  He gave each of his men two million dollars cash.  The successful businessman bowed low to each one of them.  Nawang thanked them all for their years of loyal service.  He then told all of his men to take their leave of him.  They should all be with their families during this trying time.

 

HOW TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Shelly will award a $20 Starbucks GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://www.goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/09/virtual-book-tour-tasting-fire-by.html

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelly-Holt/443904305648848?ref=stream

Twitter :
https://twitter.com/ShellyHolt9

Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Tasting-Fire-ebook/dp/B0098M7OOQ

 

 

Drasmyr

Today's special guest is Matthew D. Ryan, a published author living in upstate New York on the shores of Lake Champlain. He has a background in philosophy, mathematics, and computer science. He also has a black belt in the martial arts and studies yoga. He has been deeply involved in the fantasy genre for most of his life as a reader, writer, and game designer. He believes he saw the legendary Lake Champlain Monster (a.k.a Champy) once and he has a cat named Confucius.

ABOUT THE BOOK

We vampires do not make easy prey. Our weaknesses are few, our strengths many. Fear is something we do not know, and death but a distant memory. So tread softly, pray to your god, and gird yourself with silver when the moons arise and night’s dark prince awakens. We fear not the wizard, nor the warrior, neither rogue, nor priest; our strength is timeless, drawn from darkness and we know no master save the hot lust of our unending hunger. We long for blood, your blood and no blade, nor spell, nor clever artifice, can keep us long from our prize. Feel our teeth at your throat, your life ebb from you, and know as darkness comes to claim you that the price of your folly is your everlasting soul.

***

In Drisdak, the city on the Sea of Sorrows, the citizens have much to dread. Unease and foreboding has always been associated with the local wizards guild; peasants have an innate distrust of magic and those who use it. But now, something else is on the rise. A mysterious fire at the guild has left two men dead and a third missing. A small matter, you say? Well, one of those men was the guild master, and his successor wants to know what happened to him. Enter Coragan of Esperia, the renowned bounty hunter. If anyone can unravel this mess he can. But is even he prepared to challenge the horrible evil that lurks at the heart of the mystery? An ancient vampire by the name of Lucian val Drasmyr.

AN EXCERPT

There’s a woman in chain mail standing across the room from me; her sword is leveled at my chest. I can smell the enchantment on the blade, it’s a strong one; maybe even strong enough to cause me harm. Still, I’m not too concerned; it’s at least a ten foot lunge and I know I move faster than she does. Indeed, she’s the one who is looking worried. My display of strength and the death of her comrade have shaken her resolve.

           

She’s got a pretty face, flushed with excitement but strong and in control. It is her neck that really draws me, though, so soft and inviting, filled with the warm blood I desire. The curve of her flesh glistens, waiting for a well-placed gentle kiss.

She’s breathing rapidly now, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Her trek up through the castle has sapped much of her strength. And the fear she feels is naked in her eyes. Now, she’s getting ready to pounce, just a little too much tension in her stance, her eyes just a little too focused. She couldn’t give me more warning if she were to ask my permission first.

           

She moves in with remarkable speed, her blade striking out like a serpent’s tongue. Even winded, she still manages to cut my cape, then prances away with her back toward the wall, ready for anything. Anything, except me.

CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Matthew will be awarding a set of metal miniatures: 3 Nosferatu Vampires (US only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. 

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/09/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-drasmyer-by.html

Author’s Smashwords Page: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/matthewdryan

Author’s Book Page: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/131156

Author’s Blog: http://www.atoasttodragons.com

Author’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000038781652

Author’s Twitter Handle: @MatthewDRyan1

Author’s Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/579148.Matthew_D_Ryan

Author’s Shelfari Page: http://www.shelfari.com/matthewdryan/shelf

The book is available on Smashwords, Amazon, BN and elsewhere for free!

 

 

Walk With Me Through Time

Today's very special guest is bestselling author Jennifer Conner. She has twenty short stories and one full length book on ebook and in print. She writes in Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, and Erotica.

Christmas Chaos was in the Kindle sales top 50 ebooks and #2 in the Romance category.

Her novel Shot in the Dark was a finalist in the Emerald City Opener, Cleveland, and Toronto RWA contests.

Jennifer is an Associate Publisher for the indie e-book publisher, Books to Go Now who resides in the Seattle area. They pride themselves in helping new authors get their foot in the door with well-edited manuscripts, professional covers, and platforms uploads.

She lives in a hundred year old house that she grew up in. Her semi-small town holds an interesting mix of resident hillbillies, yuppies and Navy Seals. And of course Seattle, only a few miles away, is the birthplace of Starbucks so coffee is always on the check list. She blows glass beads with a blow torch, (which relieves a lot of stress and people don't bother you) and is  a huge fan of local soccer teams, the Seattle Sounders, and Kitsap Pumas.

ABOUT THE BOOK

An enchanting time-travel romance for fans of Jude Deveraux and Diana Gabaldon.

Hadley Easton has a family legacy to uphold as a Time-Keeper. He guides people forward -or back- who feel they were born into the wrong time.

Samantha turns his world upside down when she arrives through the front door of the London bookstore. No one arrives through the front door: it’s the time portal.  On top of that, she informs him she’s from the year 2012, over a hundred years in the future.

When Hadley learns the truth, he realizes his time is running out...

AN EXCERPT

Hadley Easton took the watch from his pocket and flipped it open to check the time. He wasn’t sure why— the hands never moved. Time seemed to flow everywhere except inside the portal where the bookstore stood. Here, time felt suspended.

*****

Hadley stood with his back against the wall and stared at the floor. His boots felt nailed down. He wanted to run after the woman. Stop her. Ask her those million questions starting with, how could it be 2012? He couldn’t force his legs to move.

He slid his fingers along the chain and tugged the watch from his pocket again. He popped open the silver case. Once more the hands of the watch were frozen, as they were since he arrived at the bookstore. But now, it was a quarter to one. Time moved ahead ten minutes. The ten minutes he assumed he’d spoken with Samantha. How did that happen? How could it happen? Had he imagined the hands moved? Hadley tapped the glass face with the tip of his fingers.

He gathered his strength and made his way down the stairs to the front of the bookstore. She was gone.

A PRIZE!

Jennifer will be awarding a pocket watch (US/Canada only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. 

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour stops can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/09/virtual-walk-with-me-through-time-by.html

 

CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Website: www.jenniferconnerbooks.com

Blog: http://jenniferconnerwriter.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.conner2

Books To Go Now: http://www.bookstogonow.com/sweetjenniferconner.html

And: http://www.bookstogonow.com/historicalromancejenniferconner.html 

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jennilynnjac/

 

Where the Greener Grass Grows

Today's special guest is Lin Brooks. Lin is a lifelong Southern girl who lives in Mobile, Alabama with her family. She is a lawyer, runner, mother, home improvement enthusiast and an avid reader with a bucket list that includes visiting Australia, running a marathon and trying every kind of margarita ever made.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

We interviewed Lin about her writing and herself:

When and how did you become interested in writing?    

I used to hate writing in high school. They never let me write about anything fun. Then, about twenty years ago, I realized that I enjoyed reading and, every time I picked up a book, I had plots swimming around in my head.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t any good at it! All that blank paper was intimidating. So it took another ten years for me to actually finish a manuscript, and another two or three to finish one that I didn’t read later and think “Wow, that’s pretty bad.” I think going to law school helped. There is A LOT of writing involved in law school, and I got a lot of good practice.

How did you select the genre you write in?

I have always read a lot of women’s fiction and romance. My mom and my grandma used to pass around big brown paper bags of romance novels, so that was what was lying around when I was looking for something to read. The genre has grown so much since I was young, and there is such a variety of romance and women’s fiction now that you can write about anything that interests women, which makes it personal to me. There are so many great romance and women’s fiction authors that I can pick up a book by just about anyone and enjoy it, so writing in that area just means that I’m writing about things I know and am interested in.

What books do you read for relaxation? Who are your favorite authors and why?

My favorite author is Stephen King. My husband and I started dating when I was 17, and he was the one that turned me on to him. He can be a little dark (King, not my husband!) and sometimes it’s a little weird, but the main thing I like about King is his ability to entertain. The man can spin a story! The Gunslinger novels are a perfect example of just plain good storytelling. When it is time for bed, I can’t seem to find a good place to put the book down, and before I know it, it’s 3am.

How do you develop your characters?

My main characters are usually someone that I can identify with. When I was in college, I had screenwriting professor who told us to “always write what you know.” That advice stuck. All of my characters have at least a little piece of me in them, because if I can understand them, then I know how they should act in any given situation. From there, I give them a pretty thorough history. Sometimes that history never makes it into the book (and that’s a good thing—I think people lose interest in a story if you try to give them an encyclopedia on all of your characters), but it does motivate them to do and act in a certain way. And that’s what makes the characters interesting. My characters often do things that I don’t expect, and I really like that.  I hate it when a writer has a character do something that doesn’t fit just so the plot will go in the right direction. It feels forced. I have changed many a plot point because my character decided to go off the deep end.

Where do you get ideas for your plots?

I am a moderate introvert, which means that I have several very close friends, as opposed to a lot of sort-of close friends. I am very involved in my friends’ lives and we’re all a little off (in a good way). So there is a lot of fertile ground. Sometimes I will see something, like a newspaper article or a story on facebook, that will trigger an idea, but mostly, my plots are twists on personal experience on the experiences of people around me.

What are you working on next?

I have a straight romance novel coming out early next year. Meanwhile, I have a short(ish) work coming out soon that is a little different for me. It’s called “The Divorcee’s Field Guide: Surviving the Apocalyptic Break Up”. It’s therapy by laughter for women who are recovering from divorce. The book is a perfect example of drawing inspiration from experience. My two closest friends and I are all twice divorced, and we have some doozy ex husband stories. We all three kept thinking we should put them in a book, because no one would believe them. So I finally did. My editor (he’s a guy) is looking over it now. I can’t wait to hear his comments….

  ABOUT THE BOOK

Sending the children off to college is never easy. For Lacey Marchand and Cara Myers, an empty nest is enough to drive them a little crazy -- but sometimes, a little crazy is just what the doctor ordered.

Now that their daughters have left for college, Lacey and Cara have too much time on their hands. With nothing else to do, Cara decides to help single-mom Lacey get a life. And what better way to get a life than a few blind dates?

Lacey, however, can't think of a worse way to spend her weekends. She has her own ideas for curing their empty nest problems -- Cara needs a new career. And a career just happens to be what Lacey understands best.    

For Cara and Lacey, coping with the empty nest means reinventing their lives without losing their sanity. Where the Greener Grass Grows is the story of two mothers learning to live, to laugh and to let go.
AN EXCERPT

Lacey nodded at the young man in the ticket booth, the grin still fixed on her face. That had to be one of the more unusual gifts she had ever heard of. At least Cara had a sense of humor about it. “That one’s going on the list.”

Cara dug in her purse for her wallet. “Would that be the ‘gifts guaranteed to piss your wife off’ list or the ‘gifts only a total moron would actually buy’ list?”

“Neither. I was thinking the ‘out of ideas’ list. You’ve been married a long time,” she reminded Cara. Sometimes that was almost impossible for Lacey to comprehend. It had been twenty three years since Cara had given up flirting with every guy in sight and settled down with Brian. How could two people manage to stay in love that long? To Lacey, it was a complete mystery.

“I’ve been married since the frigging stone age,” Cara muttered. “Which means he ought to know better. Fortysomething people in those stupid coffee commercials do things like sit on a deck overlooking a mountain range while drinking cappuccinos or jet off to Paris to exchange anniversary rings while staring up at the Eiffel tower. I get pizza and a wood toilet seat. He just doesn’t give a rip.”

 
HOW TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Lin will be awarding a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $15 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn host.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://www.goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/09/virtual-book-tour-where-greener-grass.html

Connect with Lin at:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005I56O5W

And on her Blog:

http://lin-brooks.blogspot.com

Healing Notes

Today's guest is Maggie Jaimeson. Maggie writes romantic women’s fiction and romantic suspense with a near future twist. She describes herself as a wife, a step-mother, a sister, a daughter, a teacher and an IT administrator. By day she is “geek girl” – helping colleges to keep up with 21st century technology and provide distance learning options for students in rural areas. By night Maggie turns her thoughts to worlds she can control – worlds where bad guys get their comeuppance, women triumph over tragedy, and love can conquer all.

HEALING NOTES is the second book in the Sweetwater Canyon Series of four books.  The final two books will be available in 2013.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Forgiving yourself is the first step, but helping others forgive may be just too hard.

Rachel Cullen grew up in Scotland with a fiddle in her hand from the age of four. She couldn't imagine life as anything but a musician. When her husband brought her to America she was immediately embraced by the Celtic and Bluegrass communities. But after her divorce, Rachel's life is a mess.

A year of trying to prove to herself that she's woman enough for any man, and then a vicious rape while on tour with the band, leaves Rachel reeling. When she meets Noel Kershaw, an English teacher who is poetry in motion, she is definitely attracted. But he has a young child and he's suffering from his own divorce. The last thing Rachel needs in life is more baggage.

First, Rachel must reconcile who she is, what she wants, and how to get there. Maybe then she'll know how to be a part of the family she's always wanted.

AN EXCERPT

After she hung up, Rachel stared out at the river behind the house. She had goose bumps along her arms. She could listen to his voice for a long, long time. Why did this man intrigue her so much? Was it just because he didn’t seem interested? Yes, that must be it.  He was safe. He had a kid and he wasn’t interested.  That meant they wouldn’t get involved.

All conversation stopped as she entered the room and the women looked at her in anticipation. She had the urge to say nothing just to be difficult.

“Soooooo, who’s Noel?” Kat took the receiver from her. “I liked his voice. Sounded real sexy.”

Rachel took a deep breath and pasted a nonchalant smile on her face. “Remember the little girl at the last concert who wanted my autograph? Noel is her father.”

“I see.” Theresa drew out the word as an invitation for more.

“It’s not what you think. It turns out the little girl wants fiddle lessons. Since she saw us play, she’s gotten it in her mind that she wants to learn.  He had no idea who to call, so he thought he’d call the main number for the band to find me. He didn’t even think I gave lessons, just that I could make a recommendation.”

“Uh huh,” Michele said, a note of disbelief in her voice.

“But he is cute, right?” Kat insisted. “And you are interested, and something could be going on, right?”

“Wrong.”

“Ah, come on, Rachel.  How can you not be interested in that voice?”

“It’s just fiddle lessons for the little girl.  The girl is sweet. I’m happy to work with her. As for the father, nothing is going to happen. Believe me.”

CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Maggie will award one autographed cover flat to a randomly drawn commenter at each blog stop.  In addition, she will award  a $25 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) as a grand prize to one randomly selected commenter on this tour, and a $25 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn host.  You must leave an email address to be entered into any of the drawings.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/09/super-book-blast-healing-notes-by.html

Find out more about Maggie at these websites:

Website: http://maggiejaimeson.com

Blog: http://maggiemeandering.blogspot.com

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-Jaimeson/118916694787820

Twitter: @maggiejaimeson

Oxford Whispers

Today's special guest is Marion Croslydon. Marion is a true citizen of the world. She was born in West Africa, grew up in the South of France, and studied in Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Cape Town, and Oxford before finally settling down in London. This wide variety of cities has provided lots of inspiration for her writing. Talk about culture exposure!

In addition to being an author, she works as an entrepreneur, wife and mother-of-one but spends a good deal of time with books, DVDs and listening to her mp3 player; all for the sake of inspiration, of course. She says her debut series, The Oxford Trilogy, has been a blast to write because she can indulge in her favorite types of music: Country and English rock.

Her main goal as a writer is to make readers dream bigger and cause their hearts to beat a little faster. Since her writing is all about sharing dreams and stories, she loves connecting with fellow readers and authors.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

Oxford Whispers is the story of Madison LeBon, an American student at Oxford University, with psychic powers she prefers to ignore. But when the tragic lovers in a painting begin to haunt her, she must learn to accept her gift. Otherwise, life will imitate art and Madison's own first love will be doomed.

Oxford Whispers is a New Adult Paranormal Romance (Upper-Young-Adult / MatureYoung-Adult). It’s a “college-lit” fiction. I’m sure people can come up with many other names ;-)

So, yes, there’s some Voodoo, a few homicidal ghosts, and some psychic tricks, but the story is also about these “in-between” years.

I dived into Harry Potter. I devoured Twilight. But then what?

I’m not a teen anymore. But in some time-defying ways, I grew up with those heroes. They nurtured my thoughts, my dreams. I cheered for them, cried with them… and fell in love with them (you, broody vampire whose name starts with an “E”, yes you!).

“Coming-of-age” doesn’t only happen in high school. A lot of the excitement, joys and heartbreaks also fill those “in-between years,” when you’re legally an adult but don’t always know how to be one. Or why you should even try to be. But hardly any book deals with this transition into the “big bad” world, about these life-changing, earth-shattering “first-times.” The first time we leave home, our family, our parents, the friends we grew up with, but didn’t always choose. The first home, the first job, the first real love.

So really these are some of the things I wanted to explore through Madison. She’s passed the rebellious teenage years (although hers were very tame because she’s a nerd ;-)). She’s on her own and has to construct her own identity. For her, it will mean accepting where she comes from, her roots, and her heritage.

Independence, uncertainty, building your own life are all themes specific to the New Adult genre.

I’m about to write “The End” on the sequel to Oxford Whispers, Oxford Shadows. The release is scheduled for early May 2013.

Before getting to the last installment in the series, I’m dying to write a contemporary romance (also New Adult). I can’t say too much at this stage but I’m planning to publish it in July 2013, then will come the last episode in the Oxford trilogy in October 2013.

  ABOUT THE BOOK

Two star-crossed lovers in the English Civil War

A painting with haunting powers

A murderous ghost back for revenge

Madison LeBon is dead set against the dead. She has vowed to ignore her Voodoo-stamped heritage and the psychic gift passed down through her Louisiana family. The world of the living is where she wants to belong.

But her resolution shatters when the ill-fated lovers in a painting—the subject of her first history class at Oxford—begin to haunt her. The lovers warn her against their own nemesis, a Puritan from the English Civil War.

In misty present-day Oxford, Madison embarks on a quest to unravel the secrets of the past and understand her personal bond with the painting. To protect herself, she must learn to accept her gift before life imitates art, in all its tragedy.

College becomes more complicated when she falls hard for Rupert Vance, a troubled aristocrat and descendant of one of the characters in the painting.

With the spirit of a murderer in hot pursuit, Madison comes to realize that her own first love may be doomed…

Based on a real Pre-Raphaelite painting, Oxford Whispers is full of romance, drama and suspense.

Fall in love for the first time… Again

 
HOW TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR

Marion will be giving away a $20 New Adult Reading pack --i.e. selected NA titles on Amazon to one commenter on the tour) Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/07/virtual-book-tour-oxford-whispers-by.html.

Connect with Marion here:

www.marioncroslydon.com

www.twitter.com/mcroslydon

www.facebook.com/marioncroslydon

www.youtube.com/user/marioncroslydon

 

Devotion

Today's guest is Marianne Evans, the award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction, who comes to us through Goddess Fish Promotions.

Evans’s novel, Hearts Communion, earned Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year honors in the Romance category and readers have lauded her work as ‘riveting’, ‘realistic and true to heart’ and ‘compelling.’ Evans has also won acclaim in such RWA contests as The Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence where she has been a finalist twice, and the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence.

A lifelong resident of Michigan, Evans is active in a number of a number of Romance Writers of America chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President. She’s also active in American Christian Fiction Writers and the Michigan Literary Network.

Marianne will award 4 autographed print editions of Hearts Crossing, her award-winning novella and book one of her Christian inspirational Woodland Series (US/Canada only) to four commenters from this tour and her review tour, and a $25 Amazon gift card as a grand prize to one commentator from both this tour and her review tour! Leave a comment - the more you comment, the more likely your chances to win!

ABOUT THE BOOK

From This Day Forward
Christian Music agent Kellen Rossiter has everything he ever wanted: A-list clients from coast to coast, a loving wife who honors and respects him, and a faith life that’s never wavered—until now.Juliet Rossiter has the perfect life: a rewarding schedule serving the underprivileged, a husband who loves her as Christ loved the church, and a blessed future as a mother—at least that's what she thinks.

For Better or WorseBut what happens when their rock-solid marriage begins to crumble under the weight of an unexpected and powerful temptation? How does love survive when its foundation is shaken?

'Til Death Do Us PartWhen human frailty and the allure of sin deal a harsh blow to their relationship, it will take more than love to mend the shattered trust and heartbreak. It will take a lifetime of devotion.

AN EXCERPT

“I can’t find a way to ask you to stay put and listen to me. There’s so much I want to say, but you won’t hear a word of it. I’m trapped. I wish I could help you see, and understand that I know I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life. I know all of this in my heart, but I can’t make you see it.”

The words were spoken in a tender way. She sensed his regret, but his tone held a layer of challenge as well. She retained just enough strength to answer him back. “Let me ask you something. Do you regret betraying our marriage, or do you regret getting caught in the act?”

Kellen’s shoulders bent and his eyes flickered when he paused and shook his head. “No matter what I say, you won’t believe me. No matter what I do, it’ll be wrong.”

He had aged a decade in mere minutes. Lifting her chin, refusing to feel even the slightest degree of empathy, Juliet gathered herself once again. She tried to brush past him but for a second time Kellen stood in the way. She watched him start to reach out again, this time as if wanting to take hold of her arm. When she stepped back, he gritted his teeth and dropped his hand to his side.

“I’m going to ask you—with all that I am—please don’t leave our home.”

Weighted by firm conviction, Kellen’s words fell through her heart but found no room to settle.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create.

Evans’s novel, Hearts Communion, earned Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year honors in the Romance category and readers have lauded her work as: ‘Riveting.’ ‘Realistic and true to heart.’ ‘Compelling.’ Evans has also won acclaim in such RWA contests as The Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence where she has been a finalist twice, and the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence.

A lifelong resident of Michigan, Evans is active in a number of a number of Romance Writers of America chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President. She’s also active in American Christian Fiction Writers and the Michigan Literary Network.

Connect with Marianne:

Website: www.marianneevans.com

Blog: www.marianneevans.blogspot.com

Facebook Reader Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Marianne-Evans/308711716744

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Marmo212

PURCHASE LINK:

http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/devotion-softcover