Friday, November 25, 2011

Bite Before Christmas Giveaway

Black Friday is here again.  Time for our annual Bite Before Christmas Giveaway at From the Shadows!






















We are giving away She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, and Legend of Witchtrot Road, the first three books in the Spirit Guide series by E.J. Stevens, to one lucky winner!  Perfect for the YA book lover on your holiday shopping list.



To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win).  You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!).  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL (to anywhere The Book Depository ships).  Giveaway ends December 15th midnight EST.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Death's Hand Swag Giveaway Winner






















Congratulations Victoria Zumbrum winner of our Death's Hand Swag Giveaway at From the Shadows!  Victoria will receive Death's Hand bookmarks and charms.

Thank you to all who entered!

**All giveaway winners selected using Random.org**

Friday, November 18, 2011

Author Newsletter Sign Ups

Phew! October was insanely busy, but I survived Halloween festivities and the Legend of Witchtrot Road book launch and am ready to celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year (well, *almost* ready).  My early New Year's resolution? To bring you, my dear readers, a fun and informative author newsletter filled with the information that you want to know.

But sorry folks, I can't provide Simon or Cal for Christmas...

We have a new, totally fabulous, sign-up form for my author newsletter.  Sign up today and receive book news, giveaway links, series updates, and more.  Subscribers will also be eligible for special perks like exclusive coupon codes, free reads, and swagtastic gifts, so sign up (and tell your friends!).

Click on the Author Newsletter Sign-up Form Link to view our shiny new form.

The sign-up form is easy peasy and, as always, I respect your privacy and will never share your information.

Happy Holidays!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Paranormal Guest Author: Chris Kariotis











Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Chris Kariotis.  Chris is the author of In the Dark and creator of Bleeding Words Magazine.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Chris:
  Ten years ago. Mostly poems.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Chris:
  The book that still haunts me. “Interview with a vampire”

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Chris:
  Shapeshifting, because I like wolves and lions.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your Bleeding Words Magazine.

Chris: 
Because they'll read many good poems and paranormal stories written by the readers of the magazine (so boys and girls send your submissions now). They'll also read many reviews for books, cd's, movies and more. And an exclusive interview in every issue.

EJ:  Where can we purchase Bleeding Words Magazine?

Chris: 
In ebook from www.smashwords.com and in print from www.lulu.com. Release date November 20.























Bleeding Words Magazine

Your Path to Gothic and Paranormal Literature




The November Issue of Bleeding Words Magazine, available November 20th, features E.J. Stevens (me!) and the Spirit Guide series. *squee!*

Thank you Chris for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Chris Kariotis and his writing, please visit his website.

Friday, November 11, 2011

11-11-11 Sale






















Use coupon code AE68L for 11% off Legend of Witchtrot Road on Smashwords.

Happy reading!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Death's Hand Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaway

We have an exclusive excerpt for our readers from Death's Hand, the first book in the Descent series by S.M. Reine.






















Death's Hand (Descent #1) by S.M. Reine

Policing relations between Heaven, Hell, and Earth is messy and violent, but Elise Kavanagh and James Faulkner excelled at it-- until coming across a job so brutal that even they couldn't stand to see one more dead body.

Now they've been pretending to be normal for five years, leaving their horrific history a dark secret. Elise works in an office. James owns a business. None of their friends realize they used to be one of the world's best killing teams.

After years of hiding, something stirs. Bodies are vanishing. Demons scurry in the shadows of the night. A child has been possessed.

Some enemies aren't willing to let the secrets of the past stay dead...



Excerpt:

     Lucinde’s room was colder than the rest of the house. Heavy curtains cast the room in near-complete darkness, and a portable swamp cooler made the air chill and muggy. A white canopy bed blocked the back half of the darkened room.
     There were multiple obstacles strewn across the floor: an overstuffed comforter, rose-colored pillows in varying sizes, and a toy chest. Possible hiding places included the closet and the shadowed area behind a pink trunk with princess costumes draped over the sides. No girl in sight.
     Elise didn’t like the room’s poor visibility. It felt confined. Dangerous. “I’m going to open the window, Marisa.”
     “She won't like it.”
     She moved toward the window, hugging the wall, and stepped over a toy unicorn with blood caking the mane to its neck. Ears perked for any hint of motion, she jerked aside the first layer of curtains, then the second.
     Light filled the room. Someone squealed.
     Elise rounded the bed in time to see bare feet disappearing under the bed. “Lucinde?”
     She dropped to her hands and knees and leaned her cheek close to the carpet. A pair of luminous eyes stared back at her. The girl under the bed looked nothing like Marisa. Her skin was dark, like her father's, and her flat nose was offset by his same expressive lips.
     “Cold,” she hissed. “Cold!”
     Elise's gaze traveled over her bared legs. Her knees were heavily bruised, purple and black and brown on the edges. The flesh on her shins looked like broiled strawberries. “Have you used force to restrain her?” Elise asked.
     “She hurts herself,” Marisa said. “We can't stop her.”
     “Colder!” Lucinde demanded again, sinking further into the corner as though she wanted to hide inside the wall. Elise glanced at the swamp cooler. Colder.
     Lucinde tried to jerk away when she touched her foot, but Elise caught her ankle, pulling her foot into the light. A few remaining flakes of pink nail polish decorated her toenails under caked blood. One nail had been torn out. She released the child’s ankle, and withdrew again.
     “How are you doing?” Elise asked. “Quomondo vales?”
     Lucinde froze. Her eyes widened fractionally.
     “Quomondo vales?” she repeated. “Loquerisne Latine? No? ¿Hablas inglés?”
     “She speaks English,” Marisa said, offended.
     “Of course.”
     Elise pulled the chains of her necklace over head and picked a bronze pendant from amongst the other charms. It caught the sun and scattered gold light on Lucinde’s forehead. The whites of her eyes were almost yellow, shot through with crimson veins, and a long, low hiss issued from between her lips.
     “Crux sacra sit mihi lux,” Elise whispered. Lucinde recoiled, covering her face.
     “What are you doing?” Augustin demanded.
     Lucinde remained flat against the carpet, fingers spread through the dusty shag as though she feared being dragged away. She whimpered like a wounded dog.
     She was so small. Elise was sure she had never been that small.
     Elise leaned closer. “Can you speak?”
     Marisa stepped forward. “Watch out—”
     The girl's foot lashed out and the bedroom exploded into red stars. The pain struck a moment later like being struck in the jaw by a baseball bat.
     She reeled, hand flying to her mouth. Lucinde scurried from beneath the mattress.
     “Colder! Colder!” Her voice was shrill, piercing.
     Lucinde's nails flashed. Elise raised her arm in defense—but the little girl stopped short, swiping the hand inches from Elise’s face. Lucinde’s wrist was roped to the corner of the bed.
     Augustin hauled the exorcist to her feet, dragging her away from Lucinde. She shook his elbow free of his grip.
     “We told you to be careful,” he said, voice rough. “She's not normal anymore.”























**Death's Hand Swag Giveaway**

We are giving away Death's Hand bookmarks and charms to one lucky winner!
















To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email (so we may contact you if you win).  You do not have to be a blog follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!).  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends November 22nd midnight EST.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

All Hallow's Read Giveaway Winner
















Congratulations NoraA winner of our All Hallow's Read at From the Shadows!  NoraA will receive a copy of Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens.

Thank you to all who entered!

**All giveaway winners selected using Random.org**

Monday, November 7, 2011

Paranormal Guest Author: Jill Ranney-Campbell (Celtic Rose)











Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Jill Ranney-Campbell!  Jill is the author of Celtic Rose.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Jill:
  I started writing when I was seventeen, but I created stories to entertain people when I was much younger; probably around eight years old. I had written a trilogy, but all three were only about half way done by the time I was twenty. I would get stuck on one and write on another until I figured out the next scene. All of my manuscripts ended up destroyed and I was devastated. I quit writing but picked it up again a little over two years ago. This time I wasn't going to give up until I was published. And now I am writing on the second book in the trilogy, Celtic Rose II: The Awakening.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Jill: 
Anything strange has always caught my attention. If it had vampires, werewolves, ghosts, or anything like that, it was my type of book or movie, especially if it had romance. I love the idea of supernatural abilities. I grew up always pretending that I had some sort of super power.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Jill: 
For a really cool power I would want to be a shapeshifter. I would love to change into an eagle and fly, or a wolf or tiger so I could protect my family. For a small power I would just love to have speed and agility so I could run over any terrain and not fall down.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Jill:
  Readers will love Celtic Rose, because it is utterly unique. It has several different characters with very different personalities which gives readers at least one personality that they can relate to. The main aspect I wanted in my book was for readers to feel like they are a part of the story.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Jill:
  I really have five main characters to begin with and three more are added later. I have thought of characters for the main five and the protector. For my main character Kallisto I would love for Katie Holmes to play her because she matches the dark hair and eyes and I think she can play the personality. Her love Talus would be Ian Somerhalder from the vampire diaries it would be a slightly softer role than he plays there but in the second book he gets harder. Her brother Kalan would be played by Orlando Bloom he has the playful personality. The character William is red-headed and Scottish so a good fit for him would be James McAvoy. Kalan's love, and the best friend of Kallisto, Ramina was very hard to think of someone for because she is Korean/American but she looks more Indian than anything. I figured I'd go for Ursula Mayes which is a less known model/actress. The protector Gabriel is definitely for Hugh Jackman, he's strong, handsome and plays protective very well.























Celtic Rose by Jill Ranney-Campbell

A curse is placed on a couple and on all who died to avenge them. They are reborn and live several lives finding each other and starting again only to die two years later. They will continue this cycle until the curse is broken Something has happened in this new life. Everything is accelerated and their death is coming quicker than usual. Their quest to find the artifacts that will stop this curse begins in a rush against time. Will they be betrayed by one of their own?


Thank you Jill for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Jill Ranney-Campbell and her books, please visit her website.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Everafter Giveaway Winners






















Congratulations Brandlwyne of Brandyz Books, Jessica aka Frellathon, and Gi-Gi of Imagination Surrounds the World winners of our Everafter Giveaway at From the Shadows!  Brandlwyne, Jessica, and Gi-Gi will receive copies of Everafter by Nell Stark and Trinity Tam.

Thank you to all who entered!

**All giveaway winners selected using Random.org**

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Paranormal Guest Author: Kiki Hamilton (The Faerie Ring)











Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Kiki Hamilton!  Kiki is the author of The Faerie Ring.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Kiki:
  I started seriously writing about six years ago.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Kiki: 
Harry Potter spurred me to start writing and the first thing I wrote was a story for my daughter. It was natural that it was a fantasy. However, I just finished writing a realistic contemporary story, so I’m not tied to just one genre.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be?

Kiki:
  I’d love the ability to do magic.  Is that too broad of a choice? Why? Because with magic you have unlimited possibilities.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Kiki: 
Well, I wrote what I wanted to read, so hopefully it is a story that will appeal to others too.  The story is set in Victorian London and is about a pickpocket who steals the Queen’s ring only to find that the ring is a reservoir that holds a truce between the English royals and the world of Faerie. And everybody wants the ring back.  There is mystery, romance, magic, danger, faeries and London. What’s not to like?

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles?

Kiki:
  I don’t know who I would pick and I sort of hate to put an image in someone’s mind, because that might not be the way that character looks to them when they read the book.  The perfect example for me was Edward Cullen. I had this perfect image of Edward in my mind while I read the book and I can assure you he did NOT look like RPatz. Why?
























The Faerie Ring (The Faerie Ring #1) by Kiki Hamilton

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty… 



Thank you Kiki for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Kiki Hamilton and her books, please visit her website.