Today’s guest is Sandy Lender, author of CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS.  I have to say, I think that is one fabulous book title.  And, yes, I’m a title gal.  Titles draw me in, they make me want to pick up the book, flip it over and dive into that blurb! 🙂

Sandy, welcome to the demon fun!

(A quick note:  Sandy is participating in a blog tour, and I’m happy to be one of the stops on her tour.  During each week of her blog tour, she selects one commenter–from all the blogs she visits–and that person wins a hard-cover, first edition, autographed copy of Choices Meant For Gods.)

“Don’t Set Deals with Demons”

By Fantasy Author Sandy Lender

http://www.todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com

To start today’s Demon Discussion, here’s a brief excerpt introducing one of the demons from my first fantasy novel, CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS. In this scene (already underway) Nigel and Chariss practice their sword technique in the training arena at Arcana. Nigel toys with Chariss because he just wants to get to know her a little better.

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Excerpt:

At one point, she thought Nigel ignored an accidental opening she’d left, and it angered her to think he wasn’t trying his best. Did he think she needed favors to win the match? Did he think she wasn’t an excellent swordsman herself? When she went on the offensive, seriously, he was caught by surprise.

The press, the attack, the speed with which she suddenly came at him stunned him nearly as much as her skill. It took a minute of this onslaught, but she managed to lock the hilt of her sword against his and they struggled closely. She was shorter than him by a good seven inches, and didn’t have nearly the upper body strength he did.

So the last move was a mistake, she thought. She’d wring her way out of it and try another tactic. But she didn’t get the chance.

With his empty hand, Nigel reached his arm around her waist and spun her. Now that her sword arm was free and her back to him, she beheld one of the training monsters rushing toward them.

“By the gods!” she gasped, taking up a stance beside him.

Assuming Mia or Hrazon had entered the arena and conjured this beast, she began the usual two-man assault. Nigel had trained here, too, even if in secret, so he knew how to follow suit.

This quickly proved to be no simple training exercise. In fact, as they pressed the putrid-green and yellow beast with swords clanging against its exoskeleton, Chariss saw its foot—the size of her torso, by the way—land outside the training ring.

That shouldn’t have happened.

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The demon Nigel and Chariss find themselves fighting in this scene is called a ryfel. The ancient (and evil) goddess Julette created these things during the First War in Onweald’s history and they are large, poisonous, mindless beasts that exist solely to rip apart and eat followers of The Master (the society’s highest active god). Think Cthullu with less arms. He he.

At one point in CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS, Chariss (the heroine) becomes annoyed with teen Jake Taiman’s flirtations and starts lecturing him on what his family does and doesn’t expect of him. It’s not a long lecture because, personally, I don’t like reading lectures in books and figured my audience would appreciate an abbreviated one from Chariss. But she does tell Jake to watch out for pretty girls who might be demons in disguise. He tells her, basically, “yeah, I know not to set deals with demons.”

It’s interesting foreshadowing because Jake is slow to follow his own advice, we learn later that his father has already gone across that spiritual divide to disastrous effect, and a young lady who threatens our hero and heroine’s happiness needs some other-worldly dealings. Then, of course, the villain has joined forces with the ultimate demon. (Does he really think that’s going to get him all that he wants?)

In my fantasy world of Onweald, demons are bad. The edras and ryfel that Julette created have ugly, poisonous characteristics. While the ryfel are mindless, lumbering beasts that enter the mortal world by a gifted person’s command, the edras are intelligent enough to carry on conversations. They can solve problems. They can bow down and worship the evil goddess that called them into being. They can hunt down their prey. Luckily, they stink like rotting flesh so you can tell when one’s near at hand. These two examples aren’t the kind of beasts who seduce you with pretty words and lusty desires. These two are the kind of beasts who follow commands from dark forces and attack the innocent. I wouldn’t set any deals with them.

“Some days, I just want the dragon to win.”

Update:  The ARC winner is…Melissa!! Congrats, Melissa!

“The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind ‘cos he was way behind: he was willin’ to make a deal.”

Oh…one of my favorite childhood songs.  🙂  These lyrics are from “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (by the Charlie Daniels Band).  Sometimes, I catch myself singing this song to my son as a lullaby.  Yes, we have odd lullabies in my house.

But the songs draws me b/c I’ve always been intrigued by the idea that the devil–or just demons– can appear and make deals with humans. Deals that don’t end well.  According to legend, if you go to the crossroads,  you can make a deal for just about anything.  Did Tommy Johnson make a deal?  Guess only he knows. And what about Robert Johnson?

I like to read different myths and legends.  Sometimes it’s interesting to see the same basic story, told in different cultures.

Have you heard any good tales? Any good urban legends that you’d like to share?  Leave me a comment–and I’ll pick one person to win an ARC of BELONG TO THE NIGHT. Yep, I’ve got more ARCs just waiting for you!

(By the way, I’ve been at a crossroads in Mississippi, and I sure didn’t stop for long!)

Update:  Time for winners!  The winner of FAERIES GONE WILD is Barb Patric!  And the winner of THE HIGHWAYMAN is bridget3420!  Congrats!!!

I’m actually in the middle of reading Michele Hauf‘s latest release now (FAERIES GONE WILD), and I’ve got to say–it’s great.  🙂  If you’re looking for a hot paranormal author, then should definitely check out Michele’s stories.  Welcome, Michele!

(And, guess what?  Michele will be giving out not just one great prize today, but two!!  She will giveaway a signed copy of THE HIGHWAYMAN and a copy of FAERIES GONE WILD. Be sure to comment for your chance to win!)

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I Kissed A Demon (And I Liked It)

Ok, so I didn’t actually kiss one.  That would be…creepy.  But I am coming around, meaning, I’m finally beginning to see the sexy side of demons.

My first paranormal romance, Dark Rapture (pubbed in ‘97) was about vampires.  I lurve me some vampire.  Vampires.  Nom.  I’ve been very happy writing vampires.  They are sexy, aristocratic, never have one of those orange overdone suntans, and even if they do bite on the first date, it’s a kiss to remember.

The paranormal romance genre has exploded over the past few years.  Werewolves are seeing their day in the spotlight.  I never had an interest in the hairy dudes.  Leave them for those authors who write them well.  Until a werewolf walked in as a secondary character in one of my stories.  Oh, man, I love those hairy guys now!

Which brings me to demons.  Demons, to me, used to fall on the same level as werewolves.  No, to be honest, they were actually much lower, the lowest of the low when it came to feasible romantic heroes.  I just could not see not.  Couldn’t wrap my head around a demonic being actually being tender and a love interest.  Case in point: I did the Dark Enchantments series with three friends for Nocturne.  Each of the other three had demon heroes.  I told them “Nope, can’t do it.  Can’t do a heroic demon.”  So in my book, I had a demon hunter who slayed every demon in sight.  And my upcoming July release, The Highwayman, features another demon slayer.  He wields a whip that glows with anti-demon sigils, slicing demon heads off left and right.  Hey, it’s fun kicking demon butt!

But some switch flipped in my brain recently.  I confess, my current work in progress features a demon hero.  A real live, conjured-from-the-depths-of-Hell demon.  I initially balked at this hero.  What the heck?  He should be the villain, yes?  How can some demon whose flesh is forged from black steel and whose black blood runs with a rage for slaying angels ever hold a mortal heroine tenderly and understand the concept of love?  That’s when the switch flipped.  What an awesome challenge!  I’ve always liked dark, damaged heroes, and demons are as dark and damaged as they come.  What a man to try and redeem on the page!  (And if he looks like Gerard Butler?  Oh yeah!)

So I guess what I’ve learned (and am constantly learning) is never say never when it comes to the paranormal and the vast variety of characters a writer can play with.  I’ve expanded my reading interests with this new attitude as well.  Used to be all—wait for it—vampires.  Now I slip some demons into my TBR pile every once in a while, alongside the weres and faeries and shapeshifters.

Demons rock!

Michele

Today’s guest author is D. Renee Bagby. I had the pleasure of cyber meeting Renee through the FF&P RWA Chapter (for those who write fantasy, futuristic, and paranormal romance), and I’ve got to say, she is one busy woman!  Welcome, Renee!

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Proverb: Raise no more [demons] than you can lay [down].

A good saying except, as much as I would like to lay down Melchior, I can’t. Number one he’s fictional… more’s the pity. Number two, even if he was real, I’d have to go through Serenity to get him… I don’t have a death wish, ’cause that chick is scary. And number three, he’s not a demon.

Melchior may look like a demon—a little over seven feet tall, dark blue skin, blue horns that curve out from his neck and rise above his head, red and yellow dual-colored eyes, a forked tongue, and usually seen wearing nothing but a loincloth—but he’s not one. He and his people—the bhresya—are not from any pits of hell and they generally don’t want to corrupt humans. In fact, they want as little to do with humans as possible.

Humans on the other hand, want to see the bhresyas dead. In order to stop the warring, Melchior proposes a peace that will be solidified with his marriage to Serenity, the princess and only daughter of the ruling monarch of Cheslav, the largest human kingdom. While Melchior’s people object to having a human queen, he ignores their apprehension and follows through with his plan.

When his new wife demands his attention and affection, Melchior begins to think he may have made a mistake after all. Plus there are seemingly random attacks happening around his kingdom with no witnesses and no trace of the culprits—not even if they are human or bhresya.

Melchior is facing a battle on two fronts. Neither of which he plans to lose.

Learn more about Melchior, Serenity, and the bhresya at my website where you can read an excerpt and the first chapter and within the pages of SERENITY, available in ebook and print.

D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion…
http://dreneebagby.com

Update:  The winner of the Bath & Body Works gift certificate is…Heather Brewer! Congrats, Heather!  And for all of you who said you hadn’t seen My Demon Lover yet–oh, you are missing out!  🙂

How about a blast from the past?

For today’s post, my topic is “Favorite Demon Movie.”  And my all-time favorite movie?

Please tell me I’m not the only one who remembers this movie.  🙂

And, hey, maybe it’s the nostalgia talking, but when I think about this movie, yes, I think 1st of the demon part, but 2nd, I think of the romance.  Because this movie was a romance at its core.  A funny show, an unusual hero, a heroine who–poor girl–had a few obstacles thrown in her path.  And…you guessed it…a guaranteed happy ending.

Here’s the blurb from imdb: “Denny has yet again been left by her thug boyfriend Chip. It seems as if she is doomed to be stuck with awful guys, this time she has to choose between nerdy Charles and the strange Kaz, who turns into a monster when sexually aroused.”  (Denny would be the heroine.)

Come on–this movie has it all, campy fun, sexually aroused demons, and a happy ending.  🙂

What’s your favorite demon movie?  Tell me and you could win a $15 gift card from Bath and Body Works.(I’ll randomly pick one commenter to win.)