Stephanie Julian will give one commenter a free download of choice from her catalogue.
I love summer and this one promises to be an exciting time for me. I’m only two months away from the deadline for delivery of the first book in my three-book, erotic romance series for Sourcebooks Casablanca.
The Forgotten Goddesses are part of my Etruscan Magic series, which include the Lucani Lovers and Magical Seduction series from Ellora’s Cave.
In WHAT A GODDESS WANTS (July 2011), I’ll introduce readers to Tessa, aka Thesan, Etruscan Goddess of the Dawn. She’s a relatively minor goddess in the scheme of things but she loved her job until that Roman cow, Aurora, usurped her position.
Mythology and magic have always been favorite topics of mine. Mix in some hot sex and I’m so there.
The ancient deities were all about sex. They got around more than a shipful of sailors on leave. And usually pissed off more than a few people on the way, which makes for great conflict.
But what happens a few millennia down the line, when most of your people have died out and/or forgotten all about you? Well, the Etruscans have managed to maintain their way of life through the ages. Today, they might live next door to you and you’d never know.
That guy across the street, the one with the dark eyes, Roman nose and fascinating tattoos? Would you be shocked to learn he was a lucani, an Etruscan werewolf?
And what about the beautiful redhead in the house on the corner. She’s really a folletta, an Etruscan fairy. That tattooed outline of wings on her back isn’t really a tattoo.
In SEDUCED BY MAGIC, the first book in my Magical Seduction series, Justin Johannson discovers the truth about who his father really is when a beautiful, naked woman with wings finds her way into his bed. In SEDUCED BY TWO, Nica Donato uses her skills as a strega, an Etruscan witch, to save her lovers.
And in EDGE OF MOONLIGHT, John Simmons meets the woman of his dreams, only to learn she’s more than a little feral. She’s actually a werewolf.
I like to believe there’s magic all around us, that there’s still wonder in the world. That ancient gods and goddesses still roam and that fairies and werewolves are real.
Makes my world a little brighter…by the light of the moon.
Stephanie Julian is the author of the Magical Seduction and Lucani Lovers Series from Ellora’s Cave. Her latest release is EDGE OF MOONLIGHT. WHAT A GODDESS WANTS will be released by Sourcebooks in July 2011. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter and atwww.stephaniejulian.com.
Today’s guest is the talented Wynter Daniels–and she has offered to give one commenter a copy (download) of the Wynter Daniels book of his/her choice! So read on, learn what Wynter hates most about being a writer–and you might be today’s Deadly winner!
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What I hate most about being a writer
I’ve read tons of blog posts where authors enumerate the many perks of the trade. Things like working from home, making your own hours, doing what you love, having an outlet for your creativity. I’m sure you’ve read some of those posts, too.
But what about the other side? It’s not an easy path and it’s definitely not for the hopelessly impatient because a writer can spend months or years waiting to hear about a project being accepted. Or worse, not being accepted.
For me, one of the few negatives about this profession is that the time I used to spend reading for pleasure—one of the pursuits I love most in the world—has been drastically reduced.
Why, you ask? My answer is complex so bear with me. I write until my daughter gets home from school in the afternoon. After I spend time with her, I return to the computer and usually edit because I can’t be particularly creative with the pounding rap music beat that seems to bleed through the walls even when she is several rooms away. (And frankly, it makes my muse run and hide!)
Aside from family and home obligations, there are the writer obligations. When I want to gear a book to a particular publisher or line, I must read what that line is putting out. Not that I don’t enjoy that reading, but it’s have-to reading. Aside from that, I like to pop in to Facebook and Twitter and the numerous blogs I subscribe to so I can keep up with what is going on the publishing world and the lives of my writer and reader buddies. This is a must since writing is such a solitary pursuit and I am a social person by nature. Then there are edits. I don’t mind doing edits. Actually, I sort of enjoy them. Regardless—they are another requirement, a high priority one.
Friends sometimes give me books as gifts or I might purchase something one of my writer buddies penned. Unfortunately it takes me months or longer to get to those for-pleasure books. So you see, I don’t have enough time to indulge in an afternoon on the couch very often, lost in a world of zombies or vampires or secret agents. But every now and them I steal away for a decadent treat—a purely-for-pleasure read. I have to. That’s what it’s all about. The beautiful thing is, reading any book can be construed as research. All in all, I have the best job in the whole world and I love it.
So go ahead. Take a couple hours and do your homework. I promise you’ll feel better if you do.
Thanks to the lovely and talented Cynthia Eden for inviting me over today. Her books are some of my very favorite indulgences!
Wynter’s bio: Wynter Daniels lives in Central Florida with her husband of more than twenty years and their two nearly grown children. They are all the slaves of two very demanding cats.
After careers in marketing and the salon industry, Wynter’s wicked prose begged to be set free. She currently writes spicy contemporary stories for Ellora’s Cave, Red Sage Publishing and Loose Id.
Hi, my name is Angie Fox and I write a series about a preschool teacher turned demon slayer who has to run off with her grandmother’s gang of geriatric biker witches. But what cracks me up is that nobody ever asks me about that.
Biker witches? Sure! Demon slaying preschool teachers? Why not? What readers most want to know is why the hero of the books, Dimitri, is a shapeshifting griffin.
My answer is always – why not? Don’t get me wrong – I love werewolves and vampires and all kinds of heroes. But frankly, I’m surprised we don’t see more griffins in paranormal books.
Aside from being sexy as all get out, griffins are known to be loyal, intense and strong. Griffins were even a symbol of marriage in the Medieval church because they mate for life. I can’t think of a better quality for a hero to have. And while griffins may not be your classic Alpha “my way or the highway” type of guys, they are tough and absolutely willing to leap tall mountains (literally) for the women they love.
In honor of Dimitri, and griffins everywhere, I’m giving away a copy of my latest book, A Tale of Two Demon Slayers. Just tell us the one quality you think a hero has to have. One random commenter will win a signed book!
Thank you so much for having me on your blog during Deadly Days in June. I’m giving away not one, but TWO books… Shadow Bound, my July release, and Shadow Fall, my August release, to a lucky, random commenter.
The world I’ve created for my characters is pretty dark and twisted (my poor parents) and it got me thinking about influences. How writers, particularly of fantasy or paranormal romance, come up with their worlds, and then enact stories of passion, mayhem, and magic in that setting.
For example, I’ve had this floater idea in my head from a short-lived TV series called Night Visions (2001). (I had to look it up on imdb.) It was a Twilight Zone/Amazing Stories kind of series, and the episode I caught was called, A View Through the Window, starring Bill Pullman. The premise is that in the middle of the desert, the US Army has discovered a “window” into another world. It’s lush green, with trees and grass, a picturesque cottage, tree swing out front. The family that lives there belongs to a simpler time. Bill Pullman is enamored and tries to get through the window. The eldest daughter, in particular, entrances him. Finally he locates a gap, runs toward this vision of wonderfulness, and uh… has a little violent surprise waiting. The epilogue is awesome, too.
I love LOVE the play on the perfect ideal vs. the monster within, and nine years later, I could still have fun riffing on “What Ifs…?” for this storyline. I think that dichotomy is what makes vampires, weres, and other paranormal beings so fascinating. They turn the norm on its head and dare to frighten as much as delight. I go a wee bit darker myself with demons, wraiths, and a badass banshee. Oh, and Death himself shows up as well 🙂
Here’s the text from the back cover of Shadow Bound:
Death
Some people will do anything to avoid it. Even trade their immortal souls for endless existence.
Wraiths
Secretly, inexorably, they are infiltrating our world, sucking the essence out of unsuspecting victims with their hideous parody of a kiss.
Segue
Adam Thorne founded the Institute to study and destroy his monster of a brother, but the key to its success is held in the pale, slender hand of a woman on the run. There is something hauntingly different about Talia O’Brien, her unknowing sensuality, her uncanny way of slipping into Shadow.
Twilight
This is the place between life and what comes after – a dark forest of fantasy, filled with beauty, peril, mystery. And Talia is about to open the door.
So my contest question is… what dark, troubled, or, eh… beastly hero intrigues you?
Posted in Romance on June 13th, 2010 by Cynthia Eden
Update: Pam P was selected as Sayde’s winner! Congrats, Pam!
Hello everyone! Thanks so much for having me here today! My erotic romance RIDING DOUBLE was just published and although it’s a hot cowboy story, I also love everything paranormal. I’d like to talk today about my latest bad guy: an emotionally damaged alpha werewolf named Stephan Donaldson. Stephan is the right hand guy of the villainous Luna Werewolf Leader. Stephan was taken as a child from his pack and convinced he was going “forest crazy” and the only person who could save him is my heroine Siddalee Walker. But Sidda is in love and mated to another werewolf, super Alpha Jasper Gandillion.
In my Luna series, Siddalee is just finding out that she is a werewolf, but not just any werewolf, she’s an experiment created by villainous Luna Leader Dane Velham in attempt to combine two of the most powerful Luna Packs. Stephan sees her, wants her, and goes after her but is stopped in his tracks by Jasper who won’t let his mate go without a fight.
But what happens when everything Sidda thought she knew about Jasper is turned upside down and the only wolf who knows the truth is Stephan?
Here’s a taste of Sidda, Stephan, and Jasper:
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Sidda ambled to the bar and slid across the deep red vinyl of the stool. Sidda rested her head in her palms hating that her heart still ached, and that the link between her and Jasper singed her with his anger. Soon, very soon she’d be so numb he wouldn’t be able to send her that anger.
“Here you go hon.”
Sidda glanced up. A small blue haired old lady handed her a bottle of whiskey.
“Need a glass? Doesn’t seem like you do but I could be wrong.” She smiled warmly at Sidda.
“No glass. Thanks.” Sidda attempted a smile but by the sympathetic frown on the woman’s face she knew she’d missed the mark.
“Forget him hon. No man is worth that much pain.” The lady patted Sidda’s hand before turning and walking away.
There was no forgetting Jasper, ever. Shit, she wiped the tears from her eyes and with trembling hands unscrewed the cap on the new bottle of whiskey. Alone at the bar she pressed the glass bottle to her lips. The harsh bit of alcohol stole her breath. Her eyes watered and she fought to keep the burning cold liquid down. The fire of the whiskey burned away the cold which had seeped into her body when she’d left Jasper. Taking another sip she sighed. Shit, she hated him for hurting her.
“The key is to not think so much about it.” A scratchy familiar voice had her spine straightening.
She turned just in time to see Stephan slide onto the bar stool beside her. His odd violet eyes shined in the dim light. How oddly beautiful they were.
“Fuck off. I’m in no mood.” Her tone more of a growl than she cared for.
“And I’m supposed to give a shit what kind of mood you’re in?” He grabbed the bottle before she could stop him and turned it up taking a long drink. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down with the deep swig. His throat had been marred on one side from a bite. She idly wondered who had done that to him.
“Your father, sixteen years ago.” He sat the bottle down in front of her. “Drink.”
She fought the urge to gag at the thought of putting her lips somewhere his had been. But then Jasper called to her, his desperate plea for her to return home rang in her head and she snatched the bottle from the table.
“I hate you. Why are you here?”
“You don’t know me, save your hatred until after you’ve gotten to know me.” Stephan’s voice a mere whisper.
“I don’t want to know you at all.”
“Oh but you will. You are my mate. That piece of trash had no right to touch you much less mark you as his.”
Anger surged forward. He was right, Jasper had no right to her, he’d already chosen someone else. She turned the bottle up again.
“What do you want?” She cocked her head to watch Stephan. He took the bottle from her hands and sipped the amber liquid again.
“You.” He stared into her eyes.
A strange heat flushed her skin. Shame spread through her, shit this wasn’t right. She couldn’t feel any type of heat when it came to him. Not after everything she’d learned he’d done. Plus no matter what Jasper had done she loved him.
“Try again. You’ve murdered wolves and people, you’re Velham’s second and earlier you said you planned to whip me like you whipped my mother. You don’t get me.” Her mind fuzzed as thoughts of Jasper alone with that blonde settled into her head.
“A lie. I wondered how quick tempered you’d be but you didn’t take my bait earlier.” He grabbed the bottle from her again.
“Stop doing that. I figure I need this entire bottle. Get your own and leave. I have no desire to be drinking and sharing details of my life with you. Go away.” Her head swam.
“I don’t want to leave and you need someone to talk to.” He smiled showing a set of full perfect white teeth. If the man wasn’t a cold blooded murderer she’d have found him pretty damn hot, not Jasper but not bad. She groaned, shit she had to stop thinking about Jasper.
“You see I need someone to talk to also. I found out today that the she-wolf I’d been promised as a child had not died as my Alpha told me. Instead she’s very alive and everything I’ve ever dreamt of. She’s the one who can calm my wolf, make me a better man but she’s mated with another. Well at least she thought she was.”
Sidda’s heart raced. He was talking about her. “Dane told you your mate had died?”
“As a child. When I went to live with him the elders of my pack said I’d have to be killed because my wolf would turn forest crazy before I reached twenty. That I’d destroy my pack and everyone else around. Dane took me in. For my promise of servitude he promised me a female who would calm me, calm my wolf and give me life. But then that wolf was taken.”
“Taken?” Sidda blinked, her vision blurry.
“Yes, taken by the devil to keep me on my path to insanity. But now she’s back and she can save me. Sidda you are mine, you are my savoir.” The sincerity in Stephan’s words startled Sidda. Shit she wasn’t his, she’d given herself to Jasper too many years ago to be anyone but his.
“I’m not, I can’t be. I’ve already mated with Jasper.”
Stephan shook his head. “Not truly. He may have marked you but the bond couldn’t be complete. Not when he’d marked your sister as a child. The first Marking is the bonded one. They are bonded not you and him. You are mine Sidda.”
“I can’t be yours. Now please go away. I just want to be alone.” Tears poured from her eyes. Stephan’s fingers brushed them away before his hand traced her jaw.
“You’re so strong, you can stop me Sidda. I need you more than Gandillion ever will.” His broken whisper made her tears fall harder. Jasper didn’t need her he had her sister.
“Come to me of free will and I will give you everything.”
“I can’t. You’re a monster. I’ve seen and heard about the things you’ve done.” She stared into the abyss of his violet eyes. A storm of emotions raged in them.
“But you can stop me. Don’t you see that? Don’t you know you were made for me? Come to me and stop me Sidda before I destroy everything you love.” He grabbed the bottle turned it up then left.
Sidda sat motionless on the bar stool. Her head still swimming, her eyes blurry and her heart breaking. She slid from the seat, sat down some money on the bar before heading to the car.
Shit what was she going to do? She sat in the car and rested her head on the steering wheel. What the hell was Stephan talking about? She couldn’t be his, she hadn’t been made for him right? She slammed her fist down on the steering wheel beside her head.
“You really want me to add breaking my steering wheel to the list of things I’m going to whip your pretty little ass over?” Jasper growled outside the window.
***
Alpha’s. Gotta love them. As a reader I love reading about a bad guy turning good with the help of the heroine. Stephan was originally supposed to be super bad and super dead by the end of the first Luna book, but as I wrote the scene above I knew I couldn’t kill him off. I began to really like him. He’s so damaged but he believes in Sidda, more than anyone else ever has or ever will. He’s a good, good bad guy that just wants Sidda to save him. Can she? Will she? I’ll keep you all updated on Sidda, Jasper, and Stephan but for now tell me how you feel about bad guys? Do you like them redeemed or do you like em’ bad and unredeemable?
And for one lucky commenter today I’ll be giving away my first ever published book, RIDING DOUBLE an ebook from The Wild Rose Press. It’s not paranormal but it does have two alpha cowboys heating things up. Thanks for having me today. And I look forward to more Deadly Days of Summer!!
I love summer and this one promises to be an exciting time for me. I’m only two months away from the deadline for delivery of the first book in my three-book, erotic romance series for Sourcebooks Casablanca. 
