Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Q+A with Jill Archer + Fiery Edge of Steel Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Jill Archer.  Jill is the author of Dark Light of Day and Fiery Edge of Steel.

Keep reading for a chance to win a signed copy of Fiery Edge of Steel by Jill Archer!

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Jill:
  I started writing when I was on maternity leave for the first time, a little over ten years ago. I’ve been a lifelong reader, but I had no idea what I was doing when I started writing. My first novel attempt was just a string of scenes with common characters. That “manuscript” is unfinished and likely always will be. My next attempt was a sprawling sf/fantasy behemoth. I made it to the end, but it was completely unmarketable and I 86’d it deep in my desk drawer. My third attempt was Dark Light of Day.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Jill:
  I’ve always been a speculative fiction fan. When I was in elementary school, I read every Ruth Chew book I could find. In middle school, I read a lot of John Saul and Stephen King. In junior high, I read a lot of Anne McCaffrey. In college and law school, it was Anne Rice. There were other authors too, of course. I often wish that I’d kept a reading journal. In any case, I’ve always been drawn (in books, movies, and tv shows) to the strange and unusual, to things that are alien, otherworldly, or supernatural, to fantasy worlds with magic and monsters.

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

Jill:
  I think I’ve said in the past that I’d like my supernatural talent to be stopping time, so that I could get everything done that I wanted to get done. But that wish is a sign of my age and, frankly, pretty boring, right? :-) So I’ll say instead that I’d really love to have the power to make people see an illusion. I’m fascinated by illusionists. In a way, I think all novelists strive to be grand illusionists. But they use words instead of magic.

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

Jill:
  Anyone who has read Dark Light of Day will enjoy seeing Noon’s continued growth as a character. I try to spend as much time developing her internal growth arc as I do the external plot. That said, you don’t have to have read Dark Light of Day to read Fiery Edge of Steel. (Reading DLOD first will give you a greater understanding of the world, the different types of magic, and the character relationships, but I tried to make Fiery Edge self-supporting).

In general, Fiery Edge of Steel would appeal to anyone who likes fantasy with elements of mystery and romance. It’s an adventure tale with lots of action, magic, demons, and a plot twist or two.

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

Jill:
  I usually defer on this question for a number of reasons but figured this time it might be fun to muse about young actresses and the roles they’ve played. So, for Noon, here goes:

I think my top choice (if Dark Light of Day were coming out this summer – ha! ;-)) would be Ellen Page. Why? Well, for starters, I simply adore her. But also because of her work in Inception (she played brainy dream architect Ariadne), Whip It (she played naïve but tough underdog Bliss Cavender), and Juno (she played the titular role and proved she’s equally adept at portraying funny and serious in the same role).

Runner-up: Emma Roberts (Nancy Drew, although Noon is older, edgier, and tougher than Nancy Drew).

Don’t know enough about them but interesting to consider: Victoria Justice (Wren in Fun Size) and Naomi Scott (Mo in Lemonade Mouth).

For Ari Carmine? Hmm… maybe Andrew Garfield (Amazing Spider-Man, although he’d have to bulk up a bit). Possibly Kit Harington (but if his acting style is as quiet, reserved, and reactive as Jon Snow’s is in the show Game of Thrones, it wouldn’t mesh with Ari’s character. :-D)

For Rafe Sinclair? Alex Pettyfer looks like a good match looks wise, but I’m not very familiar with his work (okay, I’ll admit, I did see Magic Mike. And I am Number Four is on my list of movies that I want to see).






















Fiery Edge of Steel (Noon Onyx #2) by Jill Archer

Lucifer and his army triumphed at Armageddon, leaving humans and demons living in uncertain peace based on sacrifice and strict laws. It is up to those with mixed demon and human blood, the Host, to prevent society from falling into anarchy.

Noon Onyx is the first female Host in memory to wield the destructive waning magic that is used to maintain order among the demons. Her unique abilities, paired with a lack of control and reluctance to kill, have branded her as an outsider from her peers. Only her powerful lover, Ari Carmine, and a roguish and mysterious Angel, Rafe Sinclair, support her unconventional ways.


When Noon is shipped off to a remote outpost to investigate several unusual disappearances, a task which will most likely involve trying and killing the patron demon of that area, it seems Luck is not on her side. But when the outpost settlers claim that an ancient and evil foe has stepped out of legend to commit the crimes, Noon realizes that she could be facing something much worse than she ever imagined.


Release date May 28, 2013.

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

To learn more about Jill Archer and her books, please visit her website.

***Fiery Edge of Steel Giveaway***

We are giving away one signed copy of Fiery Edge of Steel by Jill Archer.

To enter, leave a comment on this post and please include your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is open to US ONLY.  Giveaway ends June 13, 2014 midnight EST.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Strange Fates Giveaway Winner

Congrats Shannon R. winner of our Strange Fates Giveaway at From the Shadows.  Shannon will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card from Marlene Perez author of Strange Fates.

Thank you to all who entered!

**Winner selected using Random.org**

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Book News: Hunters' Guild Series

Some of my fabulous Twitter followers may recall me mentioning a Super Secret writing project.  Well, here it is!  It's official.

There is going to be an Ivy Granger series spin-off focusing on the mysterious Hunters' Guild.  

Yes folks.  That's a whole new series set in the urban fantasy world of Ivy Granger.  *squeee!*

Hunting in Bruges, the first novel in the Hunters' Guild series, is scheduled for a 2014 release.  Read on for more details.

Hunting in Bruges (Hunters' Guild #1) by E.J. Stevens.

The only thing worse than being a Hunter in the fae-ridden city of Harborsmouth, is hunting vamps in Bruges.

Jenna, a driven young member of the Hunters' Guild, discovers new challenges to fighting the undead when she steps foot onto the medieval turf of an ancient vampire lord.  As if a 700-year-old vamp wasn't bad enough, Jenna has a horde of ghosts to contend with.  It's not long before the Hunter becomes the hunted. 

Now on the run, Jenna must put her combat training to the test as she struggles to unearth the truth about an ancient enemy.  Determined to prove herself and advance within the ranks of the Hunters' Guild, Jenna delves into a bloody local history that only raises more questions--but some secrets are best left buried. 

Hunting in Bruges is the first novel in the Hunters' Guild series set in the world of Ivy Granger.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press
ISBN #: 9780989488709
Release Date: 2014



Sign up for E.J.'s newsletter and follow E.J. on Twitter for book updates.  To learn more about the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series, visit the official Ivy Granger series website.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Q+A with Kriston Johnson (Awakened)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Kriston Johnson.  Kriston is the author of Awakened.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Kriston:
  I first started writing in 2007. I wrote adult, contemporary romance, short stories. Needless to say, that did not last long, as fantasy and paranormal are my true passion.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Kriston:
  I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not into the paranormal. I have been fascinated by it from an early age. It probably freaked out my parents a little bit; I’ve always been drawn to all things creepy.

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

Kriston: 
I would want to be able to freeze everything around me in place, just like Piper Halliwell. In fact, I wish I were Piper Halliwell!

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

Kriston:
  Awakened is a fantasy tale about a girl with an uncertain future, and a boy with an unsettled past. We get to watch them grow as their tale unfolds before our eyes and each of them come to terms with their fate.

Basically, an immortal mad man, who wants to use her to open a portal to the underworld, hunts Jade across her realm and into his. In doing so, she would release every demon her ancestors ever slay back on to earth.

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

Kriston:
  Liam Hemsworth as Gabriel, Chris Hemsworth as Dezmond, and Alexandra Daddario as Jade.

Gabriel and Dezmond are brothers, and I think the brotherly bond between Liam and Chris would come across the screen very naturally. Plus they are both super hot!

I would like Alexandra as Jade because I think Alexandra can play a tough girl, and still keep a feminine side. After watching her in Percy Jackson it is very easy for me to picture her fighting with a sword in her hand.






















Awakened (The Legends of Elyndia #1) by Kriston Johnson.

Can fighting for the right side be the wrong thing to do?

Draven, the tyrant ruler of Elyndia for the last one thousand years, searches for the one who can fulfill his prophecy.


The Paladins, an elite band of warriors sworn to protect their way of life at all cost, search for the one with the ability to bring their world crumbling down.


An innocent girl, tormented by demons only she can see, lives on the brink of insanity and longs for a life of peace.


When seventeen-year-old Jade Rosenberg reads from an antique book, she has no idea she just read an incantation awaking her inherited power. But when opposing—and equally terrifying—groups invade her home, she learns she is descended from an enchanted realm and a member of a powerful race thought to have been hunted to extinction.


Ripped from her world, Jade is forced to seek refuge from those who want her dead. She is given one of two options and the time has come for her to make a choice: assassinate their sworn enemy…


Or sacrifice her soul.


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

To learn more about Kriston Johnson and her books, please visit her website Words Escape Me.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Book Trailer Reveal: Runes by Ednah Walters

Today we are sharing a link to the new book trailer for Runes by Ednah Walters.  Follow the link to check out the Runes book trailer on YouTube.






















Runes by Ednah Walters

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.


Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.


To learn more about Ednah Walters and her books, please visit her website or check out this interview with Ednah Walters here at From the Shadows.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Interview and Giveaway at Twilight Sleep

Check out E.J.'s interview today at Twilight Sleep.  We're discussing movie casting, comfort food, and the zombie apocalypse.  Twilight Sleep is also giving away a digital audiobook download of Shadow Sight.  This is one interview you don't want to miss!

E.J. was also featured in the Indie Author Love post this week at Twilight Sleep.  Check it out and see why E.J. Stevens is Twilight Sleep's favorite indie author.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Q+A with Marlene Perez (Strange Fates) + Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Marlene Perez.  Marlene is the author of the Dead Is series (Dead Is the New Black, Dead Is a State of Mind, Dead Is So Last Year, Dead Is Just A Rumor, Dead Is Not An Option, Dead Is a Battlefield, Dead Is a Killer Tune), and Strange Fates.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card!

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Marlene:
  I’ve written since second grade when we had a unit on journal writing, but I’ve written seriously since the late 1990s. My first young adult novel, Unexpected Development,a contemporary coming of age story, came out in 2004, then the first book in the Dead Is series, Dead Is the New Black, in 2008. Two more contemporary yas followed. Strange Fates is my first adult/New Adult urban fantasy novel.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Marlene:
  I trace my love of the paranormal and urban fantasy back to my early childhood. I’m the youngest of twelve children and my older sister used to babysit me. She and her best friend watched Dark Shadows religiously. Not exactly kindergarten viewing, but I loved it. And since I had all those older siblings, I read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings when I was in elementary school. A Wrinkle in Time is one of my all-time favorite books, so that was another influence. I also love to read fantasy, paranormal, and urban fantasy.

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

Marlene:
  I'd like to be able to divide into several mes, just to get everything done. Or a supernatural power to make people kinder to each other.

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

Marlene: 
I think they’re going to love Nyx Fortuna, the immortal main character in Strange Fates. I love him. He’s a bit of a smart-ass, drinks too much, but has a good heart. He also has questionable taste in women. His aunts, the three remaining Fates, have been hunting him since his birth and when the book starts, he’s just arrived in Minneapolis to avenge his mother’s death and find the thread of fate, which will finally end his life.

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

Marlene: 
This is a great question! I love to dream about this. The first three books in my teen Dead Is series have been optioned for TV by the Disney Channel, so I’ve spent a lot of time on that one. There’s a book trailer for Strange Fates and it was fascinating to take a look at a head shot and just KNOW that the person was or wasn’t right for the role. I had a great time playing casting director, but I don’t think I could narrow it down to just one guy. For Nyx Fortuna, I could see Tyler Hoechlin (he plays Derek on Teen Wolf) or Ryan Guzman (Step Up Revolution) in the role, but there are so many great actors, it’s hard to choose.























Strange Fates (Nyx Fortuna #1) by Marlene Perez.

The first in a line of three exciting new urban fantasy novels blending elements of Greek myth and forbidden romance against the backdrop of Minnesota's magical underworld.

Brooding, leather jacket-wearing Nyx Fortuna looks like a 20-something, and has for centuries now. As the son of the forgotten fourth Fate, Lady Fortuna, he has been hunted his entire life by the three Sisters of Fate that murdered his mother.


Fed up and out for revenge, Nyx comes to Minneapolis following a tip that his aunts have set up a business there. His goal ­ to bring down his mother's killers and retrieve the thread of fate that has trapped him in the body of a twenty year old unable to age or die.


But when a chance meeting with the mysterious, dangerous and very mortal Elizabeth Abernathy throws off his plans, he must reconcile his humanity and his immortality.


Thank you Marlene for joining us here today at From the Shadows.

To learn more about Marlene Perez and her books, please visit her website.

**Strange Fates Giveaway**

We are giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner.  

To enter, leave a comment on this post.  Please include an email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is international.  Giveaway ends May 23, 2013 midnight EST.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Shadow Sight Audiobook Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Melissa winner of the Shadow Sight Audiobook Giveaway.  Melissa will receive a digital audiobook download of Shadow Sight the first novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.

Didn't win?  Shadow Sight audiobooks $1.99 on sale at Audible.com for readers who have purchased the Kindle edition.  Shadow Sight is Whispersync for Voice enabled, so you can switch seamlessly between listening and reading.

Happy listening!

**Giveaway winner selected using Rafflecopter**

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Q+A with Dianne Sylvan (Of Shadow Born)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Dianne Sylvan.  Dianne is the author of the Shadow World series (Queen of Shadows, Shadowflame, Shadow's Fall, Of Shadow Born).

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Dianne:
  I've been writing almost as long as I've been able to write. The first story I remember clearly was in second grade; it was about birds. Most of my childhood writing involved talking animals. Pretty soon while other kids were playing sports, if I wasn't reading I was making up stories.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Dianne:
  I've always been kind of a stereotypical Scorpio - occult and paranormal subjects have fascinated me since before puberty. Throughout junior high most of what I wrote was high fantasy - quests, unicorns, enchanted whatever - but when I got to college I stumbled into the world of fan fiction and next thing you know I was writing about vampires.

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

Dianne: 
One of my characters is telekinetic; I'd love to be able to move stuff with my brain. Then I could stop wishing my cat would grow thumbs so he could bring me beverages.

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

Dianne:
  Of Shadow Born is book 4 in the Shadow World series, which begins with Queen of Shadows. It's about a society of vampires, more specifically their ruling class. A lot of the story takes place in Austin, Texas, where I live. I think people enjoy the series because the vampires I write aren't the typical "I can't love you, you're human, please allow me to mope alone for all eternity" kind of vampires. They love what they are, and they fight to protect their own kind. The main character, Miranda, is a famous musician, and is a strong, smart woman - not perfect, but growing. Her husband is the most powerful vampire in the South but he's also a computer geek who loves ice cream. I think the characters are the main draw for readers - it's definitely all about how love and death and war change who they are and bring out the best and worst of them.

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

Dianne: 
I've been thinking about this one forever! I actually have a Pinterest board where I collect pictures of people I think fit either the looks or the personality of my characters. Miranda, my heroine, bears a striking resemblance to Scarlett Johansson in Iron Man 2 - if you watch her fight scenes, she's physically perfect for the role. I still haven't found the right face for her mate David. I have a much easier time casting the smaller roles. The bad guy in the first four books, for example, is a dead ringer for Anderson Cooper.























Of Shadow Born (Shadow World #4) by Dianne Sylvan.

Spread throughout the dark corners of our world lies the Shadow World, a society of vampires who feed off the living. In Austin, Texas, one woman must rise from the ashes of tragedy and confront an ancient evil before it destroys everything she holds dear…

After a heartrending night of loss and blood, Miranda Grey-Solomon, vampire Queen of the South, now stands in the ruins of her life determined to pick up the pieces and move on. David, her husband and Prime, is missing and presumed dead, and Miranda is lost without her soul mate by her side…But she has little time to grieve as enemies both old and new emerge to test her yet again.


Between vampires trying to take advantage of a Queen without a Prime, incursions by a mysterious organization of humans calling themselves the Order of the Morningstar, and the continuing threat from those within the Shadow World who have already tried to destroy her, Miranda and her allies are running out of places to turn. In order to save her territory and the ones she loves, Miranda must look to the ancient past, to the first days of the vampire race, and uncover secrets about the Signets that could change the course of history…


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

To learn more about Dianne Sylvan and her books, please visit her website.