Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year


Thank you all for a fabulous year.  2012 saw the debut of my new Ivy Granger urban fantasy series and the continuation of the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal series.  Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger #1) released July 2012, Brush with Death (Spirit Guide #4) released October 2012, and Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5) released November 2012.  Shadow Sight also contracted for an audiobook edition to release Spring 2013.

I am so happy with feedback regarding the Ivy Granger series.  Amazing readers like you have kept Shadow Sight on Amazon's Top 100 Urban Fantasy books every week since its July release.  Wowzers, thank you!

I would also like to thank all of the authors who were generous with their time and came to visit From the Shadows this year.  Hugs and thank yous to Amanda Bonilla, Andrew Valentine, Angela Corbett, Ashlynne Laynne, Barbara Ashford, Cat Hellisen, Daniel Arenson, Deborah Coates, Donald Allen Kirch, E.S. Moore, Faith Hunter, James Lyon, Jefferson Smith, Jess Haines, Joseph Nassise, Juliet Dark, Kate Evangelista, Kelly Hashway, Kimberly Sabatini, Laura Kaye, Lauren Hammond, Lynda Hilburn, Marta Acosta, Michele Vail, Nina Post, Ruth Frances Long, Ruth Warburton, Suzanne Johnson, Suze Reese, Suzy Turner, Tera Lynn Childs, and Wendy Higgins. (Did you miss one of these fab interviews or guest posts? Click on the author name to visit the article in our archives.  Easy peasy!)

Happy New Year. xx

**Update**

I have just discovered that both the Ivy Granger series (for Shadow Sight) and Spirit Guide series (for entire series and Brush with Death) have won awards in the 2012 PRG Reviewer's Choice Awards.  Thank you all!

Also, it's official, 2013 will bring The Pirate Curse (Spirit Guide #5), Ghost Light (Ivy Granger #2), Club Nexus (Ivy Granger #2.5), and Shadow Sight in audiobook format.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Bite Before Christmas Giveaway Winner


Congratulations Library Lady winner of The Bite Before Christmas Giveaway at From the Shadows.  Library Lady will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card (or book up to $10 value at The Book Depository) and a holiday grab bag of goodies (holiday candy, book swag, and more!).

Thank you to all who entered.  Happy Holidays!

*All winners selected using Random.org*

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Final Days of 2012 Giveaway

With only 12 days of 2012 remaining, it's time to finish up those reading challenges, catch up on those favorite series titles, and get ready for all of the fabulous new releases coming 2013.  It's time...for a giveaway.

Final Days of 2012 Giveaway

We are giving away Two Ravens and One Crow, an Iron Druid Chronicles novella by Kevin Hearne, Blood and Mistletoe, an Ivy Granger urban fantasy novella by E.J. Stevens, and Have Stakes Will Travel, stories from the world of Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter.


Recipient must be able to accept Kindle ebooks gifted through Amazon.  Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  Giveaway ends December 31st midnight EST.

Blessed Solstice, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!  xx E.J.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Guest Blog: Joseph Nassise (King of the Dead)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Joseph Nassise.  Joseph is the author of the Great Undead War series, Templar Chronicles, Riverwatch, Eyes to See and King of the Dead.

The Road to Redemption

I spent some time this past week talking to various English literature and creative writing classes at the Christian high school just down the street from where I live.  The kids were very enthusiastic and I really enjoyed the time we spent together talking about the writing process and how one goes about becoming a writer.

As part of my introduction to each class, I noted that most of my work falls into a genre commonly known as urban or contemporary fantasy and defined that genre as fantasy set in a modern setting, often with supernatural elements.  Inevitably, at some point in the discussion with each class, one of the students asked why I wrote the kind of fiction that I did.

I explained that the vast majority of my work deals with the issue of redemption, that journey from personal darkness back into the light.  Sometimes that journey is almost literal, such as Jake Caruso’s journey beneath the foundations of the Blake family mansion and into the tomb of the Na’Karat in RIVERWATCH or Cade Williams repeated journeys into the Beyond searching for the lost soul of his wife Gabrielle in the Templar Chronicles series.   My most recent book, King of the Dead, is no exception.  In fact, the entire Jeremiah Hunt Chronicle is set up around this very process.

When we first meet Jeremiah in the opening scenes of EYES TO SEE, he is a less-than-likeable character.  Okay, I’ll admit it – he’s pretty much a total jerk.  For years he has been focused on discovering what has happened to his daughter, Elizabeth, to the detriment of all else.  He has lost his job and his wife as a result of his obsession and somewhere along the way he began to lose his humanity as well.  He withdraws from associating with others and begins his slide into darkness, culminating in his Faustian bargain with the Preacher to give up his sight.

EYES deals with the search for his daughter and his need to rely on the help of others to get him where he wants to go.  For a man who has been alone and walking in darkness (literally) for several years, this is no easy task.  In KING OF THE DEAD, Jeremiah continues walking the path he has set for himself, though not without a few detours along the way.

As I explained to the kids the other day, I write about redemption and restoration because I think that is part of our human condition.  It is a path that all of us – man, woman, child – must take at some point in our lives and therefore one that touches every reader in one way or another.

King of the Dead (Jeremiah Hunt) urban fantasy by Joseph Nassise

King of the Dead (Jeremiah Hunt #2) by Joseph Nassise

Joseph Nassise shook up the urban fantasy genre with Eyes to See, a novel New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry called “heartbreaking, deeply insightful, powerful and genuinely thrilling.” In a devil’s deal, Jeremiah Hunt sacrificed his human sight in exchange for the power to see the hidden world of ghosts and all of the darker spirits that prowl the streets. Hunt uncovered a world of murder and magic that took his daughter from him and nearly cost him his life, but that was only the beginning....

Now Hunt is on the run from the FBI, who have pegged him as a mass-murdering dark sorcerer. His flight from the law is diverted to New Orleans when his companion, a potent witch, has a horrific vision of the city under magical siege. When they arrive, they realize that the situation is more dire than they could have imagined: the world of the living faces a terrifying attack by forces from beyond the grave. King of the Dead, the second book in this groundbreaking series, promises more of Nassise’s electrifying writing that will enthrall readers looking for a supercharged, supernatural thrill.


Release Date: November 27, 2012 Tor Books
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.

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

To learn more about Joseph Nassise and his books, please visit his website.  Also, don't miss our interview with Joseph here.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Q+A with Kelly Hashway (Touch of Death)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Kelly Hashway.  Kelly is the author of Touch of Death.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Kelly:
  I've been writing for as long as I can remember, but I got serious about it in 2004 when I decided to try writing a novel (and actually finish it). After writing a very bad first book, I went back to school to learn more about writing for children and teens, and I began seeking publication in 2009.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Kelly: 
I've always loved the paranormal. It's like our world, only better.

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

Kelly: 
I'd to fly because I hate driving, but I think I'm going to go with being a witch of some sort. Being able to do magic would be amazing.

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

Kelly:
  If you enjoy mythology and zombies, then Touch of Death is the book for you. It's Medusa, Hades, and zombies all rolled into one.

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

Kelly:
  This is a tough one for me because I don't usually look for actors who match my characters. I really think the girl on my cover looks like Jodi, though. When I saw her, I thought, "Yes, that's her!" If she can act, I'd cast her. For Alex, I'd need a sexy blond every girl would want to follow her around. I'm not sure who that would be, though.






















Touch of Death (Touch of Death #1) by Kelly Hashway.

Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.


Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.


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

To learn more about Kelly Hashway and her books, please visit her website.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Blood and Mistletoe Giveaway Winners

Congratulations Natalie, Cecilia, and Ashley winners of our Blood and Mistletoe Release Party Giveaway at From the Shadows!

Natalie, Cecilia, and Ashley will each receive an ebook copy of Blood and Mistletoe and an Ivy Granger series swag pack.  Swag pack contains signed Shadow Sight and Blood and Mistletoe postcards, Ivy Granger magnet, Shadow Sight sticker, Private Eye logo sticker, and a gorgeous Blood and Mistletoe poster.

Thank you to all who entered.

*All winners selected using Random.org*

The Bite Before Christmas Giveaway

It's time for our annual The Bite Before Christmas Giveaway!  This year we have some fabulous prizes for our readers.


We are giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card (or book of your choice up to $10 value at The Book Depository) and a holiday grab bag of goodies (holiday trinkets, book swag, candy, and more!).

To enter, leave a comment on this post (please include your email address so we may contact you if you win).  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends December 19th midnight EST.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Q+A with Michele Vail (Undeadly)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Michele Vail.  Michele is the author of Undeadly.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Michele:
  I knew I wanted to be a writer from a young age. I started penning stories and poems around the age of 12. I loved reading and my English and literature classes were my favorite subjects. I was the typical diary-writing teenager, too, and soon my angst and worries found their ways into fictional tales and poetry.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Michele: 
I love stories with supernatural elements. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches ... I loved it all, even before paranormal became so popular within fiction markets. My most recent fascination has been with zombies and reapers, and that's how Molly and her world came about. I wanted to answer the question, "How do you become a reaper?" I really enjoy ancient Egyptian mythology, and I thought: Making mummies is really close to making zombies, right? So that's where my zombie-making mythology begins.

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

Michele: 
Wow. This is a difficult question to answer. I would like to be able to clean the house with a twitch of my nose--much like Samantha from "Bewitched." Immortality would be great, too, simply because I would like to see how the world progresses with technology. I think there may come a day when we can fix the troubles that plague our world ... creating a place where no one goes hungry, war is irrelevant, and chocolate becomes an official food group.

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

Michele:
  It's fun! Imagine a world just like ours only zombies and ghosts are commonplace. You can get a zombie made the same way you might order a custom suit or a flower arrangement. You can purchase machines that harness ghost energy, so you can have after-life servants. Or in the cases of movie stars and rock musicians, dying doesn't mean your career is over. Thrown into the mix is Molly, who has the ability to make zombies, but finds out she has a larger destiny and a secret past.

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

Michele:
  I think Taylor Lautner should turn in his werewolf fur and go reaper. He'd make a great Rath, the boy who is preparing Molly for her eventual transition into reaperhood (and you know, saving the human world in the mean time). As for Molly, Jennette McCurdy has the right kind of attitude and look (I love her as Sam on "iCarly").






















Undeadly (The Reaper Diaries #1) by Michele Vail.

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper-and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she’s shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.

Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with. To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly-against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally.


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

To learn more about Michele Vail and her books, please visit her website.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Blood and Mistletoe Release Party

Blood and Mistletoe, a novella in the bestselling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series, celebrates it's official release today.  Let's PARTY!






















Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5) by E.J. Stevens.

Holidays are worse than a full moon for making people crazy. In Harborsmouth, where many of the residents are undead vampires or monstrous fae, the combination may prove deadly.

Ivy Granger, psychic private investigator, returns to the streets of Harborsmouth in this addition to the bestselling urban fantasy series.

Holidays are Hell, a point driven home when a certain demon attorney returns with information regarding a series of bloody murders. Five Harborsmouth residents have been killed and every victim has one thing in common--they are fae. Whoever is killing faeries must be stopped, but they only leave one clue behind--a piece of mistletoe floating in a pool of the victim's blood.

The holidays just got interesting. Too bad this case may drive Ivy mad before the New Year. Heck, she'll be lucky to survive Christmas.

Blood and Mistletoe is an Ivy Granger series novella.

BONUS:  Blood and Mistletoe contains an Ivy Granger series Pronunciation Guide.


Previous books in this series: Shadow Sight (Amazon / Goodreads)

**Blood and Mistletoe Giveaway**

We are giving away an ebook copy of Blood and Mistletoe AND an Ivy Granger series swag pack to three lucky winners!  Swag pack contains signed Shadow Sight and Blood and Mistletoe postcards, Ivy Granger magnet, Shadow Sight sticker, Private Eye logo sticker, and a gorgeous Blood and Mistletoe poster.

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below. (We are trying something new this time. Let us know what you think!)  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends December 5th midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more chances to win, visit E.J. on Twitter and enter the Blood and Mistletoe Twitter Party giveaway all day November 20th.  Use hashtag #BloodAndMistletoe and come join the party!

 Blood and Mistletoe now available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other fine retailers.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Guest Post: Suzy Turner + The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Suzy Turner.  Suzy is the author of Raven, December Moon, The Lost Soul, and The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw.

Keep reading for a chance to win fabulous prizes!

The man who inspired The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw

Earlier this year, I was invited to work on a movie called The Right Juice. It was a 'Brit flick' being filmed in the Algarve, where I've lived since I was ten (26 years). I was incredibly nervous but super excited at finally doing something I could only dream of, after all, it's not every day you get the chance to work on a movie. I was the Script Supervisor. It was a tough job for such a newbie but very satisfying.

Why am I telling you all this? Because it is where I got the inspiration to write my latest book, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw (a Morgan Sisters novel). It wasn't my experiences behind the scenes that inspired me but a guy I met. Granted, I did have some awesome experiences that would make a great book... but that'll be another story altogether!

Mark Killeen is an English actor who is buff, gorgeous and one of the most down to earth people I've ever met. A guy who loves to laugh, and to make people laugh. We instantly became pals and shortly afterwards I knew I wanted him to be in my next book. Okay, perhaps that wasn't quite possible so I'd have to create a character based on Mark, a character living in the capital of England. Declan Alexander isn't the leading man, per se, but his role is a crucial one.

Like the man he's based upon, Declan Alexander is a proud Londoner, in every sense of the word. But he's not your average guy, no. Declan is half angel and he spends much of his time helping those in need in London, England and beyond.

In the very first Morgan Sisters novel, Declan volunteers to look after the two adopted daughters of his close friend Patrick Morgan. But what Patrick doesn't know, is that Declan is, in fact, helping the girls join an ancient foundation that helps fight crime...






















The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw (Morgan Sisters #1) by Suzy Turner.

Adopted sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane are polar opposites, but when the same strange 'tattoo' suddenly appears and winds its way up their bodies within days of each other, they soon realise there's more to their relationship than they could ever have imagined.
Sent off to London for two weeks of 'work experience', the Morgan Sisters soon find themselves being initiated into the ancient Praxos Foundation, one that protects the innocent while fighting evil, both human and supernatural.
At the same time, Lana Beth and Emma Jane must also investigate why the sweet but sometimes pesky ghost of Josiah Grimshaw just won't leave them alone.

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

To learn more about Suzy Turner and her books, please visit her website.

**The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw Tour Giveaway**

Author Suzy Turner is giving away fabulous prizes to celebrate the release of The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw.  Enter the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win a bracelet, keyring, Amazon gift card, and copies of The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Brush with Death Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Tanya1224, Nezu, and Diletta Dike Brizzi winners of our Brush with Death Release Party Giveaway at From the Shadows!  

Tanya will receive a signed trade paperback copy of Brush with Death by E.J. Stevens, Spirit Guide series trading cards, and a signed Brush with Death postcard.

Nezu and Diletta will receive an ebook copy of Brush with Death and signed Brush with Death postcard.

Thank you to all who entered!

**Giveaway winners selected using Random.org**

Q+A with Andrew Valentine (Bitter Consequence)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Andrew Valentine.  Andrew is the author of Bitter Things and Bitter Consequence.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Andrew: 
I wrote my very first book when I was 5 years old, called The Gods of the Monsters.  It was mostly a picture book, but some actual words did manage to make it onto the page.  Actually, not every word that made it onto the page was a real word in English.  The real ones included “monster” and “run” and “escape.”  But there were also a lot of almost-words, like “ahh!” and “n-n-no-noooo!!!”  You can probably imagine what the pictures were like based on that.

As I got older, I entered into an even more frightening phase in writing: romance.  I wrote my first romance novel when I was 11, called “The Little Black Books.”   They were all black, hence the name.  Do you know those small Mead notebooks, the size of a deck of playing cards?  I picked one up and filled it with imagined scenes of the kids in my neighborhood on “dates.”  These were highly romanticized dates—the older kids walked hand-in-hand on the beach, all dressed in white linen.  The younger kids played truth or dare in basements.  In retrospect, these books were really very chaste (lots of handholding and a little bit of kissing), but to my friends, it was absolutely scandalous.  And they couldn’t get enough of them.  In fact, I had friends who bought me more of those little Mead notebooks just so I would write sequels.  That could have been first series, if I had followed through!

Then, as a teenager, I started dating for real and all the romanticized images went out the window.  I suppose you can say my dating career influenced my return to the horror genre.
What brought you to the paranormal genre?

My professional writing for horror and paranormal romance began when I was going for my masters degree in psychology.   I was reading all these dense texts by Freud and Jung and others, and I just needed a break.  So I picked up an Anne Rice novel—Interview with the Vampire.  And I was blown away.  I thought immediately… “ppppfffftttth!  I could do this.”

Kidding around aside, Anne Rice’s work is incredible.  She’s brilliant and engaging and sensual… I was hooked.  I finished up my masters, but decided instead to focus on paranormal fiction rather than psychological fantasies.

The book I completed at that time was Bitter Things—my award-winning debut, which was published by the National Writers Press a mere 12 years later.  But they say that’s about how long overnight success takes.  Based on the success of that book, my publisher asked me to write another, which became Bitter Consequence.

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

Andrew:
  I write mostly about vampires, although there are some other supernatural elements to the novels.  While the vampires in my stories are not limited by some traditional impediments (like in my books, holy water doesn’t burn them; they can cross running streams of water; or they can’t enter a home unless they’re invited in).  I would like the supernatural talent to be able to cast no reflection in a mirror.  Especially on the mornings after I’ve been out all night.  Uggh…

Actually, I have a better one, and it’s one you don’t see too often.  It doesn’t appear in any of my books or stories, but I could really use it.  If I could have one supernatural talent, I’d like to be able to lay my hands over any mechanical or technological device and have it work properly.  Just like that.   My BlackBerry is a disaster.  My computer is frozen all the time.  Some unknowable red light glows on my dashboard.  A simple laying of hands, as the faith healers call it, could solve all that.

And I would call myself… Technocrati!  No.  How about… Technomorph?  The Technocrat?

Maybe I’ll just stick with Andrew Valentine.

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

Andrew: 
Here’s a short synopsis:  Immortal love.  Immortal evil.  A woman must save her husband from an evil blood-goddess to prevent a supernatural war on the streets of modern New York in this groundbreaking tale of erotic horror.

It’s fun, exciting, sexy and smart.  It’s clever, with interesting plot points and characters with unique but relatable motivations.  It can be considered a sequel, or either can be a stand-alone.  So if you want don’t want to commit to several books, you can get a satisfying read out of just one.

I live and write in Westchester County, NY.  I was born and raised in Queens and Long Island and work in and around NYC.  There are also a lot of locations from these places that appear in my book.  As a matter of fact, we just took a bunch of publicity photos in the Cloisters in NYC—which is a medieval monastery, deconstructed in France and reconstructed, brick-by-brick, in Manhattan.  A silver sword plays a big part in the book, and we used one as a prop in these photos, and I had a lot of fun fighting imaginary zombies and vampires in this castle-like place.
So, while it’s complete and total fiction, there are elements of Bitter Consequence that are autobiographical.  There’s even a plot point that has to do with vampires in Italy--yes, ok, you’re right.  That IS an unfortunate coincidence with the Twilight series.  But my Italian-connection is different because it is directly based on my own family history.  The events in Bitter Consequence that take place in Italy are based on supposed events that happened to my own ancestors hundreds of years ago.

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

Andrew:
  The main character is Michelle Torro.  When I wrote this character, the TV show Friends was very popular and Courtney Cox was my physical inspiration for Michelle.  Today, I think Michelle could be played by Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall / Black Swan / Friends with Benefits), because she can be tough and unrelenting, or sweet and loving.  And she’s drop dead gorgeous.  Otherwise, I’m a big fan of Krysten Ritter (who plays the title character in The B in Apartment 23), especially her work in Breaking Bad, where she played a recovering junkie in Season 2.  As that character, Ritter shows intelligence, a willingness to manipulate when needed, and an easy, sexy charm, and in Apartment 23, she portrays great humor—all of which are hallmarks of the Michelle Torro character.

Jong Lee, Michelle’s arch nemesis—I originally wrote this character thinking of Lucy Lui, back in her Alley McBeal days.  Today I think Maggie Q would be an excellent Jong Lee.  Her turn in Live Free or Die Hard showcased her ability to play a hard-as-diamonds assassin, but her run as Nikita reveals the range of emotion she could bring to the character of Jong Lee.
Scott, Michelle’s husband, could be played by Ryan Gosling (Crazy Stupid Love / Drive)—because he can play vulnerable, while still retaining a rugged exterior.   Gosling can do so much with an economy of words, as seen in Drive, which would help make a great juxtaposition to some of the more verbose characters in the Bitter Consequence book (movie). The fact that he’s in amazing shape doesn’t hurt.

Kali, Michelle’s chief antagonist – I think Frieda Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire / Rise of the Planet of the Apes) would do a terrific job as Kali, mostly because I wrote it thinking of her.   She has a wonderful speaking voice, which is noted in the book, and she’s one of the world’s great beauties.  She also has a quality that draws you in and makes you care about whatever character she’s playing.

Dave, Michelle’s best friend, could be played by Justin Long (Live Free Die Hard / New Girl / Drag Me to Hell)—because he can be so easily written-off as a likeable but nebbish individual due to his boyish good looks, but underneath he has untapped reserves of strength and character.  He’d make an excellent counter balance to Ryan Gosling’s Scott in the film version of Bitter Consequence.

Xiamora, Michelle’s and Kali’s blood-mother—this is a character written for Zoe Saldana (Avatar / Columbiana / Star Trek), and not just because she’s from Queens, like me!  Like so many of the actors and actresses listed above, she has a great emotional range—but yet, she can convey the ancient, almost Zen-like wisdom Xiamora works toward.  And just because I think there’s an opportunity to gush, here, I just love the way she enters the bar in the Star Trek re-boot by JJ Abrams.  Talk about your heavenly bodies…  Ok, I’m a jerk.  I’ll stop now.  Zoe.  Sigh.
























Bitter Consequence by Andrew Valentine.

In order to save her husband and herself, Michelle slays an ancient undead queen, inheriting her power, her people and her progeny.   What Michelle can’t know is that her triumph sends violent ripples through the supernatural world.

Across town, in a nightclub dedicated to dark desires and pulsing sexuality, the ancient blood-goddess Kali is struck down as a result of Michelle’s instinctual act of self-preservation.  Kali survives and awakens, with a physical need for revenge and an immortal thirst for power—the death of the ancient queen gives Kali’s own nefarious plans a chance for new life.


Michelle and this new, cunning immortal are thrust against each other, not in a battle for survival alone, but for the power to rule an unstoppable army of the dead.


Now she is entangled in a web of deceit where lives, loves and destinies are changed forever or lost completely—and all actions produce bitter consequences.


Thank you Andrew for joining us here at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Andrew Valentine and his books, please visit his website.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

All Hallow's Read Giveaway Winner


Congratulations Daniela winner of our All Hallow's Read Giveaway at From the Shadows.  Daniela will receive an ebook copy of Shadow Sight, the first novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series, by E.J. Stevens.

Thank you to all who entered.

*All winners selected using Random.org*

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Month Before Halloween Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Stephanie winner of The Month Before Halloween Giveaway at From the Shadows.  Stephanie will receive a Halloween goodie bag stuffed with signed Spirit Guide and Ivy Granger swag, creepy skull rings, candy, and more.

Thank you to all who entered.

*All winners selected using Random.org*

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Q+A with Nina Post (One Ghost Per Serving)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Nina Post.  Nina is the author of The Last Donut Shop of the Apocalypse, The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse, and One Ghost Per Serving.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Nina: 
I began writing when I was seven, when I wrote little stories (probably about ghosts and monsters) for my parents. By the time I was fourteen, I had decided that I wanted to be a writer, but sometimes these things get away from us. I didn't really focus on writing until 2011, which was when I started The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse. My husband encouraged me to submit it, and it turned out that several publishers were interested. I encourage any writer to prioritize their writing and focus on it. Determine what's important to you, ignore any external influences that try to discourage you, and work on it consistently.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Nina:
  I've always loved books and movies in that genre, and was especially influenced by movies like Ghostbusters in writing my debut novel, The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse. At the time, I lived in a frequently odd high-rise condo tower, filled with residents and employees who were by turns annoying, grotesque, or endearing. I imagined this setting with fallen angels bound to the building and monsters who got sucked into the city through the building's unusual HVAC system.

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

Nina: 
Invisibility, like Rex in 'Ghost'! To be sneaky and gather information.

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

Nina: 
My second published book, One Ghost Per Serving, is a fun story about a self-doubting father who embarks on a quest to win a seemingly impossible contest, and discovers he's the only one who can stop a supernatural pathogen from spreading throughout the food supply.

I think that readers will enjoy reading about Eric struggling to overcome his flaw of not believing in himself, to regain the respect of his wife and his acerbic twelve-year-old daughter, and to win this yogurt contest despite the best efforts of a pathologically self-absorbed rich guy. I think they'll also like Eric's daughter, Taffy -- an aspiring scientist who does not suffer fools and is obsessed with zoonotic diseases and foodborne pathogens. And I hope they like my spirit support group, inspired by Japanese yokai.

I think readers will also enjoy it because even though there are paranormal elements, you'll also be asking yourself, could this happen? How far away from reality is this, really?

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

Nina: 
I would want to cast Ian Somerhalder as Eric Snackerge, because he quickly came to mind when I began fleshing out the character. And I would cast Amy Sedaris as Willa, because she's amazing and physically similar to the petite, bellicose HVAC professor in my book.























One Ghost Per Serving by Nina Post.

Eric Snackerge has had a rough time lately. After being possessed by a mischievous spirit, he lost his scholarship and got blamed for a scandal that left him blacklisted from the legal profession. Now he’s working two minimum wage jobs and is desperate to show his wife and daughter that he can put his life back together — before his best-friend-turned-enemy swoops in and steals his family away.

When Eric learns about an unusual contest, he realizes that winning the grand prize will help him make his daughter’s dreams come true. But he’ll have to overcome his own self-doubt — not to mention the seemingly impossible odds — in order to achieve that goal.

However, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill sweepstakes. Everyone who eats the product develops an insatiable craving for more. Plus, the people behind the contest are dispatching everything from spy cameras to attack helicopters to make sure that Eric doesn’t get any further.

As Eric soon learns, the contest was only the first phase of a much larger plan. If the villains are successful, they will spread a dangerous supernatural pathogen throughout the food supply. But with distribution of the tainted products already underway, does Eric have what it takes to stop their plan and protect his family from being the next victims?


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

To learn more about Nina Post and her books, please visit her website.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Authors Against Bullying Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Ashley Koep winner of our Authors Against Bullying Giveaway at From the Shadows.  Ashley will receive ebook copies of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, Legend of Witchtrot Road, and Brush with Death the first four books of the Spirit Guide young adult series.

Thank you to all who entered.

*All winners selected using Random.org*

Saturday, October 27, 2012

The Month Before Halloween Giveaway Hop



It is time for a spooktacular blog hop.

Here at From the Shadows we are celebrating The Month Before Halloween Giveaway Hop with a Halloween gift bag from Undead Con 2012.  We snagged one of these goodie bags filled with swag before it was sent to New Orleans.

One lucky winner will receive a Halloween goodie bag stuffed with signed Spirit Guide and Ivy Granger swag, creepy skull rings, candy, and more.



To enter, please leave a comment on this post (include your email address so we may contact you if you win).  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends October 31, 2012 midnight EST.

Visit Death Books and Tea, host of The Month Before Halloween Giveaway Hop, for more spookalicious giveaways!

Friday, October 26, 2012

All Hallow's Read Giveaway
















This year we are giving away an ebook copy of Shadow Sight, the first novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series, by E.J. Stevens.

To enter, please leave a comment on this post (include your email address so we may contact you if you win).  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends November 2, 2012 midnight EST.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Touching the Surface Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Holly winner of our Touching the Surface Swag Giveaway at From the Shadows.  Holly will receive a Touching the Surface swag pack from Kimberly Sabatini.

Thank you to all who entered.

*All winners selected using Random.org*

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Brush With Death Release Party + Giveaway

Today is the official release of Brush with Death, the fourth book in the Spirit Guide young adult series by E.J. Stevens.  Time to PARTY!

Keep reading for a chance to win Brush with Death by E.J. Stevens.






















Brush with Death (Spirit Guide #4) by E.J. Stevens.

Samhain was scary, but graduation is downright terrifying.

Yuki and Emma's recent brush with death has unexpected consequences.


Until last winter Yuki could only smell the dead, but the touch of death's embrace has awakened latent powers. With the help of her friends, Yuki must face her new abilities. Will her psychic powers become the curse they all have feared? Curse or gift, Yuki's new vision begins leading her down an unknown path, but is it a road that only she can follow?


Emma's close encounter of the death kind has her questioning her future as well. Until now she had it all; brains, beauty, conviction, fabulous friends, and a scholarship to Tufts Veterinary School. She knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. Emma had a plan for everything, but she never bargained for her own traitorous emotions. When graduation comes, will Emma follow her dreams...or follow her heart?



 **Brush with Death Giveaway**

We are giving away a signed trade paperback copy of Brush with Death by E.J. Stevens, Spirit Guide series trading cards, and a signed Brush with Death postcard to ONE lucky winner and an ebook copy of Brush with Death and signed Brush with Death postcard to TWO lucky winners.  Three winners total!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post (include your email address so we may contact you if you win).  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends November 6, 2012 midnight EST.

Looking for more ways to win?  Don't miss our Brush with Death Twitter Party.  We'll be celebrating and giving away Brush with Death books and swag all day October 23rd.

Brush with Death now available in trade paperback and ebook editions at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine retailers.


Saturday, October 20, 2012

Teen Read Week Giveaway Winner


Congratulation Shadow winner of our Teen Read Week Giveaway at From the Shadows!  Shadow will receive ebook copies of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, and Legend of Witchtrot Road, the first three books in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal series by E.J. Stevens.

Thank you to all who entered.

*All giveaway winners selected using Random.org*

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Cover Reveal: Bitter Consequence

Time for a cover reveal!  Feast your eyes on the cover for Bitter Consequence by Andrew Valentine.






















Bitter Consequence by Andrew Valentine.

In order to save her husband and herself, Michelle slays an ancient undead queen, inheriting her power, her people and her progeny.   What Michelle can’t know is that her triumph sends violent ripples through the supernatural world.

Across town, in a nightclub dedicated to dark desires and pulsing sexuality, the ancient blood-goddess Kali is struck down as a result of Michelle’s instinctual act of self-preservation.  Kali survives and awakens, with a physical need for revenge and an immortal thirst for power—the death of the ancient queen gives Kali’s own nefarious plans a chance for new life.


Michelle and this new, cunning immortal are thrust against each other, not in a battle for survival alone, but for the power to rule an unstoppable army of the dead.


Now she is entangled in a web of deceit where lives, loves and destinies are changed forever or lost completely—and all actions produce bitter consequences.


Bitter Consequences available October 22, 2012.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Teen Read Week Giveaway

Happy Teen Read Week 2012!  We are celebrating Teen Read Week at From the Shadows with a book giveaway.















**Teen Read Week Giveaway**

We are giving away ebook copies of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, and Legend of Witchtrot Road, the first three books in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal series by E.J. Stevens, to one lucky winner.

To enter, please leave a comment on this post and include your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends October 19, 2012 midnight EST.

Friday, October 12, 2012

A Dawn of Dragonfire Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Matthew Napier winner the A Dawn of Dragonfire Giveaway at From the Shadows!  Matthew will receive an ebook copy of A Dawn of Dragonfire by Daniel Arenson.


Thank you to all who entered.

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

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Q+A with Kimberly Sabatini + Touching the Surface Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Kimberly Sabatini.  Kimberly is the author of Touching the Surface.

Keep reading for chance to win fab Touching the Surface swag!

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Kimberly:
  I can't remember when I started to write, but I remember how I stopped. Somewhere between high school and adulthood I became fearful. I was afraid of people reading my words and finding out what was going on inside my head and heart. I was terrified of not fitting in and I stopped writing things that were authentic to me and the writing suffered because of it. Without my voice in my work--it wasn't very good and it wasn't inspiring. So I sort of let it drift away from me. Unfortunately my father died in 2005, but the silver lining was that what I felt inside could no longer be contained and I began to write again. Losing my dad gave me some extra courage to find my voice again.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Kimberly:
  I arrived at the paranormal genre by accident. I needed to write an afterlife story after my dad died and I had no idea what it would be labeled--just that it was what I needed to write.

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

Kimberly: 
Without a doubt, I would fly. I'm fascinated by birds, there is nothing better than a flying dream and I'm still not convinced that I can't do it. I just have to concentrate a little bit harder....

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.
 
Kimberly:
  I think they'll enjoy it because I wrote the book that I needed to write and the reader might be on the same kind of inner journey that I was. I believe that when the right book comes along, we find exactly what we should between the pages. I don't know what will happen when you read my words, but I'd love the opportunity to see if my voice resonates with your voice. I love the idea that I might deeply connect with a person I wouldn't normally have access to. I guess what I'm saying is, I think you should read it because it's loaded with all kinds of unique potential. We might do great things together.

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

Kimberly:
  If my book was made into a movie--honestly--I'd probably wet my pants LOL! I'm not sure I can say with certainty who I'd want to be cast because as a newbie trying to break into the book biz, I'd want to give everyone a chance to play that role--define themselves.
























Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini.

Experience the afterlife in this lyrical, paranormal debut novel that will send your heart soaring.

When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.


Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed.


As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.


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

To learn more about Kimberly Sabatini and her books, please visit her website.

**Touching the Surface Swag Giveaway**

We are giving away a Touching the Surface swag pack to one lucky winner! (ie, bookmarks, stickers, origami cranes)

To enter, please leave a comment on this post (including your email address so we may contact you if you win).  This giveaway is to US mailing addresses only.  Giveaway ends October 24, 2012 midnight EST.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Q+A with Faith Hunter + Haints Excerpt

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Faith Hunter.  Faith writes the Urban Fantasy Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock: Skinwalker, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, Raven CursedDeath's Rival and two short story compilations, Cat Tales and Have Stakes Will Travel. Her Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban, post-apocalyptic, fantasy series—Bloodring, Seraphs, and Host—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage.  A role playing game based on the series, Rogue Mage, is due out in the fall 2012.  Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she writes action-adventure, mysteries, and thrillers.  As Faith and Gwen, she has 20+ books in print in 27 countries.

Interview with Faith Hunter:

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Faith: 
In tenth grade, a teacher told me I had a talent for writing, and that I should make my career. I believed her, and started researching the writing life immediately. It still took a lot of years to find an agent and a publisher, but all the prep time was worth it because, frankly, it took that long for me to hone my craft. Very few of us go into writing with all the skills that the art form requires. By the way: I tracked that teacher down a few years ago and thanked her. She has meant a lot to my life, probably one of the top 5 or 6 people to influence the person I am today.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Faith: 
I always wanted to write fantasy, but I couldn’t find the voice. As Gwen Hunter, I wrote mysteries and thrillers and suspense for nearly 20 years. And then urban fantasy came along, and a tough female character voice—like that in thrillers—was perfect for the genre. Urban fantasy is a thriller, with vamps and weres and witches. Such fun working with twisty story arcs with magic in them.

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

Faith:
  Healing. So I could (sounds corny) help people.

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

Faith: 
Death’s Rival will be out in October 2012, and it takes Jane deeper into her own Cherokee past as well as introduces a new story arc for the series. The cover copy says it all!
Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifting skinwalker you don’t want to cross—especially if you’re one of the undead…

For a vampire killer like Jane, having Leo Pellisier as a boss took some getting used to. But now, someone is out to take his place as Master Vampire of the city of New Orleans, and is not afraid to go through Jane to do it. After an attack that’s tantamount to a war declaration, Leo knows his rival is both powerful and vicious, but Leo’s not about to run scared. After all, he has Jane. But then, a plague strikes, one that takes down vampires and makes their masters easy prey.

Now, to uncover the identity of the vamp who wants Leo’s territory, and to find the cause of the vamp-plague, Jane will have to go to extremes…and maybe even to war.

The Rogue Mage World Book and Role Playing Game has been Kickstarted and is in production as I write this. I have 2 more Jane Yellowrock books to write, and then I have nothing. No contracts. But I want to do a few more Jane books, and maybe a couple of standalone spinoffs, one with Rick LaFleur as main character and one with Molly Everhart’s witch family. If I can find a publisher for them. The market trends will guide that, of course.

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

Faith:
  I have no idea. I fear I don’t watch movies. Yeah I know. Gasp gasp gasp. But I’m open to any female actress Hollywood can find who is 6 feet tall, Cherokee, and has mad fighting skills. Oh – and yellow eyes.  (rolls my own)




Death's Rival (Jane Yellowrock, #5) by Faith Hunter

Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifting skinwalker you don’t want to cross—especially if you’re one of the undead…

For a vampire killer like Jane, having Leo Pellisier as a boss took some getting used to. But now, someone is out to take his place as Master Vampire of the city of New Orleans, and is not afraid to go through Jane to do it. After an attack that’s tantamount to …a war declaration, Leo knows his rival is both powerful and vicious, but Leo’s not about to run scared. After all, he has Jane.


But then, a plague strikes, one that takes down vampires and makes their masters easy prey. Now, to uncover the identity of the vamp who wants Leo’s territory, and to find the cause of the vamp-plague, Jane will have to go to extremes…and maybe even to war.



Haints Excerpt:

Haints is a short story taken from the e-book compilation released in September 2012 HAVE STAKES WILL TRAVEL. It is written from Molly Everhart Trueblood’s point of view, the story giving us a vision into who and what Jane is, early in her career. 


Haints
by Faith Hunter

“Nothing unusual here, Molly,” she said.
I watched Jane Yellowrock as she crawled across the floor of the old house on all fours. Most adults looked foolish or ungainly when crawling, but Jane was graceful, her arms lifting and moving forward with feline balance, her legs raising and lowering, toes pointed like a dancer, even in her western boots. My friend moved silently in the hot, sweaty room, easily avoiding the bird and mouse droppings, the holes in the old linoleum, and avoiding the signs of recent reconstruction—the broken plaster walls, large holes in the floor, and the shattered remains of the toilet, tub, and kitchen sink in the corner. Her shoulder blades lifted up high with each crawling step, visible beneath her thin T-shirt, her head lowered on the thin stem of her neck, moving catlike. I envied her the grace and the slenderness, but little else. Jane was more alone than anyone I had ever known.
Now she breathed in with a strange sucking hiss. Flehmen behavior, she called it, using her hypersensitive senses to smell things the way a cat would, the way a mountain lion would, sucking air in over her tongue and the roof of her mouth, her lips pulled back and mouth open. Mostly, she did it only when she was alone, because it sounded weird and looked weirder—not a human action at all. But because I had asked her for help, and because no one but me would see her, she did it now, scenting for the smell of . . . of whatever.
As I watched, Jane crawled out of the half-renovated kitchen and into the dining room beyond. We were both dressed in old jeans and T-shirts, clothes that could get filthy and be tossed into the washer, and already Jane looked like something the cat dragged in, which was funny in all sorts of ways. Jane Yellowrock was a Cherokee skinwalker, and her favorite animal form was a mountain lion. She called it her inner beast, which I still didn’t understand, but I figured she’d tell me someday.
I’d met Jane in the Ingles grocery store, when a group of witch haters caught me in the frozen foods section and harassed me. None of us Everharts were officially out of the closet then but most townspeople were okay with my family maybe carrying the witch gene. It was the out-of-towners who had the problem—a group that wasn’t from the religious right, but were just as rabid. I still don’t know what Jane did—she stepped in front of me so all I saw was her back—but the haters departed. Fast. I gave her my thanks and a card to my family café and we parted ways.
The next morning Jane came into the Seven Sassy Sister’s Herb Shop and Café, and nearly cleaned us out of bacon, sausage, and pancakes. The appetite of that morning was because she had just changed back from an animal form and needed calories to make up for the shift, but I didn’t know that then. I just thought it was a crying shame that a woman who was so skinny could eat like that. If I tried to shovel in that much food, even half that much food, I’d weigh four hundred pounds. I think I gained three pounds just watching her eat, that first day.
And then the group of witch-haters from the day before started picketing out front. I guess they were in town and figured they should make the most of it. They were carrying signs about not suffering a witch to live—the usual crappola—and chanting, “Save our children! Save our children!” Two cars pulled by and slowed, as if to turn in, and then pulled on away. This kind of attention was going to be damaging to business.
Jane paid her bill, went outside, and revved up her bike. And revved up her bike. And revved up her bike again. At which point I realized she was doing it on purpose. Then she did something to the engine, and revved it up again. And black smoke came out. So Jane rode in circles around the parking lot, shouting to the witch haters, “So sorry about the noise! I have engine problems!” After about ten minutes of noise, the witch haters left. It was so cool! I thought the twins, Boadacia and Elizabeth, were going to have twin cows.
That’s Jane. A loaner with a cause. Any cause, as long as it’s protecting someone.
She sneezed, bringing me back from my daydreams to my friend crawling around on the floor of a deserted, possibly haunted house.


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

To learn more about Faith Hunter and her books, please visit her website.