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Thursday, December 31, 2015

Happy New Year 2015 Recap


2015 has been an amazing year for me.  There have been so many achievements and milestones reached.

2015 Highlights

  • Reaching over 2.5 million views here on my blog, From the Shadows.
  • Paneling and signing books at numerous events, including Anthocon, Author Reader Con NOLA, Authors After Dark, InCONceivable, Speculative Fiction: Southeast, and Hallowread.
  • My video interview at SF:SE on the show Hangin' with the Authors (in which I use jazz hands while describing my books).
  • That awkward moment when Orson Scott Card sat beside me on a panel and poked (harmless) fun at a title from my backlist.
  • The epic thunderstorm that threatened to drown us on our Ghost Tour in New Orlean's French Quarter. 
  • Nearly getting heat stroke on our NOLA Cemetery Tour (and becoming permanent resident).
  • Walking the haunted streets of Ellicott City with Hallowread authors and Dead of Night Paranormal Investigation.
  • Spending time with the Paranormal Romance Guild at Authors After Dark in Atlanta. 
  • Receiving positive feedback on my solo writing workshops (which means that I will be doing more teaching in 2016).
  • Publishing my 14th book (with more on the way for 2016).
  • Birthright making the 2015 Top Ten Best Book Cover list at Hot Listens.
  • Birthright being nominated for Best Book and Best Cover in the BTS Red Carpet Book Awards.
  • Birthright becoming a finalist for Best Book in the BTS Red Carpet Book Awards (I hope to see you all at the awards ceremony in April at TNEE in Atlanta).
...and, of course, meeting and spending time with so many wonderful authors and readers.  

Happy New Year!

Thank you all so much for accompanying me on this incredible journey.  I appreciate your friendship, readership, and support more than you could know.

I hope to continue to stay in touch with all of you in 2016.  You can follow me here on my blog From the Shadows and on Twitter, About Me, Amazon, Goodreads, Pinterest, LinkedIn, BookLikes, Tsu, Google+, Facebook (personal), and my Facebook Author Like Page.  Want book release news and giveaways in your inbox?  Sign up for my author newsletter here.  I promise to never share your email address, and I only send about one newsletter each month.

2016 Appearances

With new live appearances added to my tour schedule, a new release in the Ivy Granger series, and the debut novel in the Dark Arcana series coming, 2016 promises to be another incredible year!

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Q+A with Rachel Marks (Darkness Brutal)

Please welcome today's guest author Rachel Marks!  Rachel is the author of The Dark Cycle urban fantasy series, including DARKNESS BRUTAL.

Q+A with Rachel Marks

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Rachel: 
When I was pregnant with my fourth munchkin I was restless and couldn't find anything good to read. I'd always loved writing poetry and short stories in high school, so I decided to try my hand at a novel. I finished my first manuscript twelve years ago. Needless to say, it took me a few tries to learn my craft and break through into the publishing world (DARKNESS BRUTAL, my debut novel, released July 1st 2015). But that time was what I needed to perfect my art.

EJ:  What brought you to the science fiction genre?

Rachel:
  I've always loved fantasy, cutting my teeth as a tween on Madeleine L'Engle's Wrinkle In Time and C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. I soon moved on to Stephen King, and Anne Rice as a teen, devouring anything creepy or sinister that I could get my hands on. Today I read widely, mixing a lot of High Fantasy, Paranormal, YA Romance, and Historical.

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

Rachel:
  I'd definitely want to be a shapeshifter. I think that it would be very cool to be in animal form and be able to climb trees or fly. And it would help me connect more with nature, which I love. Plus, animals in the wild never have to worry about dieting. ;)

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

Rachel: 
Well, I'm hoping they'll like it! It's definitely written for lovers of the Paranormal and if you don't like weird, you will not like DARKNESS BRUTAL. It's also, as the title implies, very dark. The street kids in the story come from rough places and the main character is no exception. TV's Supernatural meets Oliver Twist in modern day Los Angeles. It's a story with demon hunters, where a homeless teen attempts to save his sister from the curse trying to take over her heart. It's a story of family, both lost and found, with a lot of mystery and a little romance, plus a dash of humor. Hopefully, all together it's a recipe for a sinister and fun read.

EJ:  If your book was being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles and why?

Rachel: 
Recently I was asked this question and so I went on a hunt. Since my story is very diverse, it's been super fun finding just the right cast. After watching the miniseries TUT on Spike TV last week, I definitely think Avan Jogia could play Aidan. He's got everything except the right color of eyes (Aidan has hazel). Kara could be played by a young (and much more edgy) Kristen Kreuk or a young/edgy Vanessa Hudgens, and Rebecca could be played by a red-haired Eleanor Tomlinson.

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

To learn more about Rachel Marks and her books, please visit her website.  You can also explore her world in our Paranormal Road Trip to Los Angeles the setting of Darkness Brutal.

Darkness Brutal urban fantasy The Dark Cycle series by Rachel Marks

Darkness Brutal (The Dark Cycle #1) by Rachel Marks.

Aidan O’Linn’s childhood ended the night he saw a demon kill his mother and mark his sister, Ava, with Darkness. Since then, every three years the demons have returned to try to claim her. Living in the gritty, forgotten corners of Los Angeles, Aidan has managed to protect his sister, but he knows that even his powers to fight demons and speak dead languages won’t keep her safe for much longer.

In desperation, Aidan seeks out the help of Sid, the enigmatic leader of a group of teens who run LA Paranormal, an Internet reality show that fights demons and ghosts. In their company, Aidan believes he’s finally found a haven for Ava. But when he meets Kara, a broken girl who can spin a hypnotic web of passionate energy, he awakens powers he didn’t know he had―and unleashes a new era of war between the forces of Light and the forces of Darkness.

With the fate of humanity in his hands, can Aidan keep the Darkness at bay and accept his brilliant, terrifying destiny?

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.

Have a question for Rachel?  Ask in the comment section below.  We love questions!

Monday, December 28, 2015

Book Giveaway: Fated Dates by Abraham Steele

It's the holidays, and we are giving away free books!

Fated Dates Book Giveaway

We are giving away an ebook copy of FATED DATES, the first book in the Fated Date Agency paranormal romance series by Abraham Steele.

Fated Dates (Fated Date Agency #1) by Abraham Steele

Fated Dates (Fated Date Agency #1) by Abraham Steele.

Bryant had always known that Cade was straight. After years of crushing on his best friend, the bookish young omega was ready to move on. Cade would never be interested in him like that. It was time to move on - time for Bryant to get matched by the Fated Date Agency.

The agency's response only showed Bryant how cruel fate could be. His sexy jock friend wasn't just a crush - he was the only one for him. But Cade was still straight. Bryant couldn't let him know that they were fated mates.

And yet... he couldn't let him go.

Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance
Add to Goodreads.

To enter, please leave a comment below.  This giveaway is 18+ and is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends January 11, 2016 midnight EST.

Happy holidays!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Shattered Lives Series Ebook Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Lysa J. the winner of the Shattered Lives Series Ebook Giveaway here at From the Shadows!  Lysa will receive one ebook from the Shattered Lives series (Broken Dreams, Fractured Hearts, Awakened Desires) by Rissa Blakeley.



Thank you to all who entered.  I enjoyed reading your creative ideas of how you would survive a zombie apocalypse!

**Winner randomly drawn using Random.org**

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Posts of Christmas Past: E.J's Vegan Gingerbread Recipe

I'm busy with last minute baking, so I thought I'd share a post from last Christmas. 


This gingerbread is delicious!  And as a bonus, check the blog comments for my vegan coconut milk whipped cream recipe! YUM NUM NUM.

Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Cover Reveal Sign-Ups: The Magician and Hound's Bite

BOOK BLOGGERS: There is still time to sign up for the cover reveals for my 2016 releases.

I am organizing two cover reveals, one for THE MAGICIAN, the debut novel in the upcoming Dark Arcana urban fantasy series January 19th, and one for HOUND'S BITE, the fifth full-length novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series on February 9th.  The sign-up form will include opportunities to sign up for either or both cover reveals. Each cover reveal will come with cover art, book blurb, a Rafflecopter giveaway, and optional easy to copy and paste HTML for the post.

THE MAGICIAN Cover Reveal

The Magician Cover Reveal and giveaway is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19, 2016.  Giveaway is international and will run from January 19 to February 2.  Winner will receive a signed THE MAGICIAN postcard and a $10 Amazon Gift Card.  An email with the Rafflecopter giveaway link, media kit, book cover art, and optional HTML for the blog post will be sent to all participants January 5th.

The Magician (Dark Arcana #1) by E.J. Stevens

When members of tarot's Major Arcana begin manifesting in the mortal world, magic is in the air and change is in the cards.

Cover Reveal: January 19, 2016
Release Date: September 20, 2016
Cover art is by digital artist Ruxandra Tudorica of Methyss Design.

HOUND'S BITE Cover Reveal

The Hound's Bite Cover Reveal and giveaway is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, 2016.  Giveaway is international and will run from February 9 to February 23.  Winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card.  An email with the Rafflecopter giveaway link, media kit, book cover art, and optional HTML for the blog post will be sent to all participants January 26th.

Hound's Bite (Ivy Granger #5) by E.J. Stevens

Ivy Granger thought she left the worst of Mab's creations behind when she escaped Faerie.  She thought wrong.

In a cruel twist of fate, Ivy has unleashed a powerful horde of unseelie beasts upon her city, turning her homecoming into a potential slaughter of innocents.  Now Ivy must gather her allies to fight a reputedly unstoppable force—The Wild Hunt.

Will the training Ivy received in her father's court be enough to save her city, or will Harborsmouth be forced to kneel before the Lord of the Hunt?  She is willing risk her own life, but some sacrifices come at a cost worse than death.  When an ally is bitten by one of The Wild Hunt's hounds, Ivy must face the possibility that winning this battle may mean killing the one person she has come to love most.

Cover Reveal: February 9, 2016
Release Date: July 12, 2016
Cover art will be consistent with previous books in the Ivy Granger series.


Monday, December 21, 2015

Book Giveaway: Daybreak (The Girl from the Stars)

It's the holidays and we are celebrating here at From the Shadows with book giveaways.  Who doesn't love free books?

Daybreak Ebook Giveaway

We are giving away 3 ebook copies of DAYBREAK, the first book in The Girl from the Stars science fiction series by Cheree Alsop.

Daybreak The Girl from the Stars science fiction by Cheree Alsop

Daybreak (The Girl from the Stars #1) by Cheree Alsop.

Liora Day, half-human, half-mess with her and you’ll die Damaclan, had been thrown onto a rough path at a very early age. But when she is broken out of a cage by Devren, the young captain of the SS Kratos, she is shown that perhaps humanity does have a heart. The Kratos is set on a mission to rescue fallen surveyors from the Revolutionaries, and Liora is given the choice to follow her Damaclan instincts, or trust Devren’s dark eyes and captivating smile that promise an adventure unlike any she has ever experienced.

Genre: Science Fiction
Add to Goodreads.

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.  Ebooks will be gifted through Smashwords.  Giveaway ends January 5, 2016 midnight EST.

Happy Holidays!

Friday, December 18, 2015

Beyond the Pool of Stars Book Giveaway Winners

Congratulations C and Stephanie B. the winners of the Beyond the Pool of Stars Book Giveaway here at From the Shadows!  C and Stephanie will both receive trade paperback copies of Beyond the Pool of Stars by Howard Andrew Jones.



Thank you to all who entered.

**Winners were randomly drawn using Random.org**

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Q+A with J.D. Brown (Dark Heirloom)

Q+A with J.D. Brown (Dark Heirloom)

Please welcome today's guest author J.D. Brown!  J.D. is the author of the Ema Marx urban fantasy series, including DARK HEIRLOOM, DARK LIAISON, and DARK BECOMING.

Q+A with J.D. Brown

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

JD: 
Hmm, I think it was 2009 or 2010 … My first novel, Dark Heirloom, was originally published in 2012, so I know it was a couple years before then. I used to write poetry in high school and college, but I kept my poems pretty private. They weren’t good.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

JD:
  It’s always been my favorite genre to read, for as long as I can remember. Especially urban fantasy and paranormal romance. But I always wanted to know what happened after the ending; what happened after the vampire or werewolf or whatever bit his lover and brought her over to his world totally and completely. I always felt that would’ve made a better story than repeatedly watching these human girls fall in love with paranormal creatures and never getting to be the creature until the end. That concept was always in the back of my mind while writing Dark Heirloom, and is the reason why the main character, Ema, becomes a vampire in chapter two.

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

JD:
  As long as I’m immortal and not disfigured or brain dead in the process, I’d be happy … So, probably a vampire or a witch, but definitely not a zombie!

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

JD: 
If you’ve been waiting for a vampire series that is all about the vampires (and shapeshifters!) and nothing at all about humans, then the Ema Marx series for you. I’m told the female characters really make this series and I have to agree. They’re flawed and more human than their vampire genetics lead them to believe, but they’re tough. There’s definitely no Bella Swans in this series. It’s a very different kind of vampire story.

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

JD:
  This is tough. I spent so much time making my characters unique, that I honestly can never chose an actor or actress. But if I had to… I’d cast Mila Kunis or Jenna Dewan as Ema Marx. Why? Well, Ema is Romany-American and I think both Kunis and Dewan could pull that off, but I think Kunis could really capture Ema’s sarcasm and personality.

As for the guys, Jalmari and Jesu…? I honestly have no clue. Maybe Luke Evans and Henry Cavill? I think those men have the acting talent to pull off complicated anti-heroes and would both look sexy as vampires, haha. Maybe I should leave casting to the professionals.

Dark Heirloom J.D. Brown

Dark Heirloom (Ema Marx #1) by J.D. Brown

"You're a vampire" is so not what Ema Marx wants to hear when she wakes from a two-day coma in a cryptic yet exquisite castle in northern Finland. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like why she's able to see in the dark and walk through solid objects. What she doesn't understand is why the other vampires expect her to have all the answers. It's their fault she turned into one of them...right?

Jalmari's hatred for his old-man intensifies when he's ordered to bring that troublesome girl to their castle. He has a clan to run; there's no time for babysitting newborn vampires no matter how they were converted to their culture. But when a two-thousand-year-old premonition threatens to take the crown and his life, Jalmari sees no other choice than to take out the catalyst, Ema Marx.

Fortunately for Ema, she could also be the clan's only savior. The race to figure out her vampiric origins is on. And maybe she'll get the hang of the blood-drinking gig along the way.

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.

Thank you J.D. for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

If you would like to learn more about J.D. Brown and her books, please visit her website.  Have a question for J.D.?  Please ask in the comment section below.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Shadow Sight and Blood and Mistletoe Ivy Granger Kindle Deals

The SHADOW SIGHT and BLOOD AND MISTLETOE Black Friday and Cyber Monday 99 cent Kindle deals have been extended, but they are ending soon.


For a limited time grab a Kindle copy of SHADOW SIGHT, the first novel in the award-winning IVY GRANGER urban fantasy series, for $0.99/£0.99!

But that's not all. If you purchase a Kindle copy, the Audiobook is just $1.99. That is only $2.98 for the Kindle AND the Audiobook!


Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective #1) by E.J. Stevens

Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective #1) by E.J. Stevens

Shadow Sight is the winner of the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Paranormal Fantasy Novel and nominated for Best Urban Fantasy Series. Birthright, the newest book in the Ivy Granger series, has been nominated for Best Book in the 2015 BTS Red Carpet Book Awards.

Amazon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Regular Price: $3.99
Sale Price: $0.99


A perfect holiday read at a great price...

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

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

Holidays are Hell, a point driven home when a demon brings psychic detective Ivy Granger a case involving the bloody murders five Harborsmouth residents.  The victims are all fae, and each crime scene contains a disturbing clue—a piece of mistletoe floating in a pool of the victim's blood.

The holidays will never be the same again.

Amazon Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Regular Price: $2.99
Sale Price: $0.99

These deals end 12/16 midnight EST.  

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Book Giveaway: Shattered Lives Series by Rissa Blakeley

Need a post-apocalyptic, new adult, zombie romance series to snuggle up with over the holidays?  We have you covered!

Broken Dreams Shattered Lives new adult zombie by Rissa Blakeley

Broken Dreams (Shattered Lives #1) by Rissa Blakeley

Elaina Cooper’s world was turned upside down on what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. She was about to marry Henry Daniels, the man of her dreams -- or so she thought. Just as she was to walk down the aisle, screams pierced the air.

In the days that followed, questions lingered in Elaina’s mind. Why did Henry seem to know so much about what was happening? And why did she feel like he was keeping secrets from her? Henry knew that his haunted past would eventually catch up to him…in more ways than one. Through all of this, he must face his demons, and Elaina must decide whether she can accept who he is. Henry is determined to fight to the very end to make their sexy, mercurial relationship work no matter what staggers in their path.

Along with their ragtag band of survivors, they must travel south to face Henry’s fears. There will be joys and loss but, in the end, is love enough to hold them together?

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Apocalyptic, Zombies, New Adult
Add to Goodreads.

Shattered Lives Series Ebook Giveaway

We are giving away one ebook from the Shattered Lives series (Broken Dreams, Fractured Hearts, Awakened Desires) by Rissa Blakeley.

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 18+ and is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends December 24, 2015 midnight EST.

What would you grab during a zombie apocalypse?

Monday, December 7, 2015

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Soul's Harbor with Angela Dennis

Paranormal Road Trip: Washington D.C. with R.S. Belcher

Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.

This week's stop is Soul's Harbor and our special guide is Angela Dennis author of the Soul's Harbor Pride series, including DANCE WITH THE DEVIL.

Soul's Harbor's Top 5 Spooky Places

Soul’s Harbor is a small island off the coast of South Carolina and it is crawling with lion shifters. Among the North American Prides, Soul’s Harbor is known for its violent history and somewhat unstable inhabitants. But even before the Pride took over the land, local folklore was filled with tales of ghost sightings and other strange happenings. As for haunted places—they’re all over—but here are the top five.

Winter Plantation – When Reginald Winter was appointed Alpha of his own Pride, he took the monetary allowance given to him by the Conclave and, combining it with his own familial inheritance, bought the island of Soul’s Harbor.  His first project was to restore the Civil War era plantation house back to its original splendour. But the more he worked, the more the house seemed to resist. Contractors and carpenters began to report hearing screams and having to avoid flying objects. But even when three workers fell to their deaths from the roof, Reginald refused to stop. The house was eventually rebuilt, but the stories of its supernatural inhabitants continued to escalate, culminating in the death of his wife. Refusing to accept the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death, Reginald blamed it on his first enforcer and rival, Anthony.  This decision led to the destruction of the Pride and bloody feud which would destroy the sanity of both men.

Fort Espy – Long before the Pride came to Soul’s Harbor, it was a military base. Confederate soldiers occupied the island, securing the coast for trade. Unbeknownst to their commanders, several of the soldiers were also using the Fort as a base for bootlegging moonshine.  They had a hidden still in the underground caverns. One night after imbibing too much of their own product, one of the soldiers thought he saw a Union soldier in the caverns. He fired his weapon, igniting the still.  The fire spread through the caverns to the Fort and fifteen men perished. Rumor has it you can still see the drunken soldier wandering the ruins, drinking his moonshine and mourning the loss.

Caverns beneath the Winter Plantation – When he brought the Pride to Soul’s Harbor, Reginald was faced with a dilemma. Many of his lions didn’t feel comfortable shifting in the open without a secure compound where they would be protected from human detection. So Reginald created a series of underground tunnels where his Pride could shift without fear of detection. Years later when his daughter, Jillian, returned to the Pride she came across the body of a lioness in the caverns. Murdered, her body ravaged beyond recognition, she was never identified and was buried in an unmarked grave in the woods. It is said her spirit still wanders the tunnels trying to find its way home.

Lester’s Cove – Named after an infamous ship captain, Lester’s Cover is known for its flickering lights, ghostly apparitions, and enormous ghost ship. Legend has it that Captain Lester was travelling down the coast of South Carolina when he came upon a pirate ship smuggling goods off the island. Steering his vessel toward them, Captain Lester opened fire, killing several men, but doing little damage to the other ship. Irate, the pirates set out after him, boarding the civilian captain’s ship and running it aground in the cove...after killing everyone a board.  Lester’s spirit still wanders the cove taking out his revenge on everyone he meets.

Clear Creek Chapel – Located in the ruins of Fort Espsy, Clear Creek Chapel was both a place of refuge for the soldiers and a clandestine meeting place for lovers. In the early years of the war, Elizabeth Sinclair, the daughter of the local plantation owner, fell in love with a confederate soldier stationed at Fort Espy.  When she found herself pregnant, she convinced her lover to flee with her to the North. The night they had planned to meet, she waited for him in the chapel until sunrise, but he never came. At dawn she left the chapel heartbroken. As she stepped onto the porch of her family’s plantation house, she heard a gun discharge in the distance. Unbeknownst to the young lovers, Elizabeth’s father had discovered their plan and shared that knowledge with her lover’s commanding officers. Elizabeth’s young lover was jailed and executed for treason that very night. Legend has it his spirit wanders the chapel, waiting for his lover and child.

Thank you Angela for giving us such a haunting tour of Soul's Harbor! 

To learn more about Angela Dennis and her books, please visit her website.  Also don't miss our Q+A with Angela Dennis here. You can add Dance with the Devil here on Goodreads.

Dance with the Devil Soul's Harbor Pride Angela Dennis urban fantasy paranormal romance

What did you think of Angela's picks for spooky places?

On our last Paranormal Road Trip we visited Inner Sea with Howard Andrew Jones.  Next week we begin our holiday hiatus from our Paranormal Road Trip series, but don't worry, we have some fantastic guest posts and giveaways in store for you!  When we return after the holidays, we'll be traveling to Horry County, South Carolina with Jay Wilburn.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Q+A with E.A. Weston (Lupo Legacy)

Q+A with Emily Cyr author of The Lightning Legacy paranormal

Please welcome today's guest author, E.A. Weston!  E.A. (aka Elizabeth Kelly) is the author the Blackrock series, the Avalon series, and Lupo Legacy series.

Q+A with E.A. Weston

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

EA:
  I began writing poetry when I was a teenager, where I entered a competition and won a place in a book of anthologies. I used to write songs a lot but did start my writing career until November 2013, after I saw a news story about cyber bullying I couldn’t get it out of my head, which lead me to write my first book.

I wrote my first book Scarred Hearts, which is part of the Blackrock series, in three weeks. It was self published in January 2014 and I haven’t looked back since ;)

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

EA: 
I enjoy reading paranormal books and wanted to write in this genre for along time. I began reading Barbra Erskine books by accident while I was on my lunch break years ago. She writes time slip and ghost stories with historical events mixed in. I always found her books interesting and often wanted to emerge myself in her worlds.

My first Paranormal book, Killian, took me about six months to write because I wanted it to be perfect and I was also writing the Blackrock series at the same time. Killian is one of two series’ that I have always wanted to write it is set in the fictional world of Avalon in the fairy realm.  Once I have my fairy series complete I will move on to my other project (may already have notes upon notes written).

The other paranormal series that I have written is called the Lupo Legacy series. This series is written like a TV show, with six episodes released in 2014 and another six coming in November / December 2015. This is my werewolf shifter romance that follows a family of werewolves that come from an ancient royal bloodline of Italian wolves. Emery is 19 when we meet her but doesn’t know that she has a spirit wolf living inside of her until number of circumstances for the change on her. She has many trials not only in love but in dealing with what she now is.

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

EA:
  I think I would have to be a fairy. I love the mystery that surrounds them and the of course the magic! Where could you go wrong, you even get wings!!

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

EA:
  My upcoming release is season 2 of Lupo Legacy. It begins just where season 1 left off with Emery forced into hiding to protect what she is. Asher and his wolf are missing their mate and he is trying to solve the mystery of where she went and how he can find her, but a series of threats are made against her life, which has him feeling useless in the fight against the unknown.

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

EA: 
Oh wow that is hard. I honestly have no idea who I would cast in any of my books. My characters are so diverse and they are all made up with no ‘real life’ person in mind when I develop them. But if anyone has any ideas I’ll gladly listen.

Thank you E.A. for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

Bite Me Lupo Legacy 1 by E.A. Weston paranormal romance

Bite Me (Lupo Legacy #1) by E.A. Weston.

Emery Whitechurch is in love, in love with her best friend of thirteen years, Asher Carter. He doesn’t know, but Emery holds out hope of telling him one day and having their happily ever after. When Emery’s cousin Teegan, arrives for the summer she not only brings her smart mouth but a secret so wild Emery is shocked to the core.

Episode one of Lupo Legacy - Bite me, follows Emery and Teegan as they become friends again over the summer bonding over a broken heart and the loneliness it brings. After Teegan is attacked in the woods behind their house, she spills her secret forcing Emery to rethink her whole life and what it means to be in her family.

Lupo Legacy is a serial new adult paranormal romance with twists and turns that will draw you in and keep you guessing until the last episode. There are six episodes total.

Release Date: November 2014
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance
Add to Goodreads.

Want to read Bite Me, the first book in the Lupo Legacy series?  You're in luck!


To learn more about E.A. Weston and her books, please visit her website.

Have a question for E.A.?  Ask in the comments below.  We love comments!

Monday, November 30, 2015

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Inner Sea with Howard Andrew Jones + Giveaway

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Los Angeles with Jamie Schultz

Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.

This week's stop is the Inner Sea and our special guide is Howard Andrew Jones the author of the Pathfinder Tales fantasy novel BEYOND THE POOL OF STARS.

The Inner Sea's Top 5 Spooky Places

It might seem that a fantasy world like Golarion is so rife with the supernatural that you’d trip over it around every corner, but there’s a difference between the everyday use of magics—employed much like modern folks might use cell phones or microwaves—and the eerie, spine-tingling sense that something’s afoot “man was not meant to know!” Here are five spots in and around Sargava, the breakaway colony of the demon-haunted Chelaxian Empire.

Chelish Fleet Wreckage

In Desperation Bay, off the very coast of tropical Sargava, lies the wreck of a vast fleet sent to the bottom during a long and brutal fight with pirates paid to defend the homeland. It molders still, and is said to be the home to ghosts and other troubled undead, and the lair of monsters ready to rend the flesh of explorers eager to loot the sunken treasures.

Fortress of Fangs

High in the Bandu Hills sits a lonely outpost. Fangs and horns of hundreds of great beasts are worked into its crenelated heights—nothing besides remains, save for the lonely wind, and the shattered remnants of the city the fortress must once have shielded.

Arena of Crown’s End

Crown’s End is the most unsavory settlement within Sargava, and is infamous as a home for pirates, scoundrels, and black marketeers. It’s also a minor stop in the fighting circuit of the southern coast, and its arena is built into the ruin of an ancient temple. No one seems to know what exactly was stored within the temple in ancient days, but here are dim hallways and subterranean chambers that even stalwart guards fear to enter, owing to strange noises and moans from creatures that cannot be seen.

The Stasis Fields

Deep in the highlands of Sargava intrepid explorers chanced upon a hidden labyrinth of caves. They sought a lost treasure and instead discovered what some theorize must have been a vast underground prison. Whoever set the prison in place has long since vanished, but the prisoners—all of them mighty warriors of frightening aspect—remain in stasis.  No one can say when, and if, they might return to life, and what they would do if they walked free…

Kaava Lands

Haunted both by carnivorous lizards and head-hunting boggards, the Kaava Lands are no place for the faint of heart. Yet hidden in the cool green depths are said to be ruins of great civilizations, among them a wondrous city of the lizardfolk lying beyond the Pool of Stars, a fabled lake shining in the jungle depths.

Thank you Howard for giving us such a haunting tour of Inner Sea! 

To learn more about Howard Andrew Jones and his books, please visit his website.  You can add Beyond the Pool of Stars to your TBR list here on Goodreads, and don't miss your chance to win a copy of Beyond the Pool of Stars below!

Beyond the Pool of Stars Pathfinder Tales fantasy by Howard Andrew Jones

 Beyond the Pool of Stars Giveaway

We are giving away TWO trade paperback copies of Beyond the Pool of Stars by Howard Andrew Jones.

To enter, please a comment on this post and include your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.  Giveaway ends December 13, 2015 midnight EST. **This giveaway is now over.**

Fortress of Fangs, Arena of Crown's End, The Stasis Fields, or Kaava Lands—which Inner Sea location do you think sounds the spookiest?

On our last Paranormal Road Trip we visited Los Angeles with Rachel Marks.  Next week we'll be traveling to Soul's Harbor with Angela Dennis.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

Friday, November 27, 2015

The Bite Before Christmas Giveaway

The Bite Before Christmas paranormal book giveaway at From the Shadows win blood and mistletoe

Happy Black Friday!  In addition to the annual Black Friday Shadow Sight 99 cent Kindle deal, it's time for our Bite Before Christmas Giveaway.

Kick back, relax, and grab a slice of pie.  We're making it easy to enjoy these Black Friday events.

Bite Before Christmas Giveaway

We are giving away winner's choice of a signed trade paperback copy or signed postcard and ebook copy of BLOOD AND MISTLETOE!

Blood and Mistletoe Ivy Granger urban fantasy novella

Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.2) by E.J. Stevens.

Holidays are worse than a full moon for making people crazy. In Harborsmouth, where many of the residents are bloodsucking 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.

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends December 8, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Burning Bright Audiobook Release Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Alisha S. the winner of the Burning Bright Audiobook Release Party Giveaway
Burning Bright Ivy Granger Psychic Detective Urban Fantasy Audiobook

Alisha will receive a signed BURNING BRIGHT postcard, BURNING BRIGHT audiobook download from Audible.com, and custom E.J. Stevens earbuds.

Earbuds E.J. Stevens Audiobook


Thank you for all for entering, and don't forget to come back tomorrow when we kick off our annual The Bite Before Christmas Giveaway.

Happy Holidays!

*Giveaway winner randomly selected using Rafflecopter*

Monday, November 23, 2015

Shadow Sight 99 Cent Black Friday Urban Fantasy Deal

It's time for the annual Ivy Granger SHADOW SIGHT Black Friday Week book sale.


For a limited time, SHADOW SIGHT, the first novel in the award-winning Ivy Granger urban fantasy series, is at the low price of 99 cents.  Just in time for the holidays!

Send your virtual stocking stuffers, load that gift Kindle, or stock up on holiday vacation reading.  But act fast, this sale will be gone before you can say ho! ho! ho!  Here is all you need to know about Shadow Sight and the Ivy Granger series.

Shadow Sight Ivy Granger paranormal urban fantasy by E.J. Stevens

Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective #1) by E.J. Stevens

Welcome to Harborsmouth, where monsters walk the streets unseen by humans…except those with second sight, like Ivy Granger.

Some things are best left unseen...

Ivy Granger's second sight is finally giving her life purpose. Ivy and her best friend Jinx may not be raking in the dough, but their psychic detective agency pays the bills—most of the time. Their only worry is the boredom of a slow day and the occasional crazy client—until a demon walks through their door.

Demons are never a good sign...

A demon attorney representing the water fae? Stranger things have happened. And things are about to get very, very strange as a bloodthirsty nightmare hunts the city of Harborsmouth.

There's blood in the water...

Kelpies have a reputation for eating humans. Unfortunately, Kelpies are the clients. When an Unseelie faerie this evil stalks the waterways of your city, you have to make hard choices.

The lesser of two evils...

Release Date:  July 24, 2012
Genre:  Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.


Books in this series: Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger #1), Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5), Ghost Light (Ivy Granger #2), Club Nexus (Ivy Granger #2.5), Burning Bright (Ivy Granger #3), Birthright (Ivy Granger #4).

Praise for Shadow Sight and the Ivy Granger series

"This must-read urban fantasy series is entertaining and fun! ...Ivy continues to be a supremely likable kick-ass heroine."
-Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews

"These books are always well written... Highly recommended to adult urban fantasy/fantasy fans!"
-Rabid Reads

"If you've been looking for an enjoyable urban fantasy I would definitely recommend checking it out."
-RhiReading

"The writing is strong, the characters are genuine, and the action is fast and furious. ...A good series for urban fantasy fans."
-If You Only Knew

"The worlds are well developed, the characters are brilliantly done and the story is enchanting.  ...Ivy is one of my all-time favorite Urban fantasy characters."
-The Reading Diaries

"As I followed Ivy through the case, building her army of misfits, I started to figure out, “Oh shit, this is going to be huge!”  When the final scene starts to unfold, I was glued to my spot, listening intently as the battle began!  Shadow Sight was a great start to a new series that I look forward to reading, or shall I say listening to!" [audiobook review]
-Paranormaly Yours

"This book reminded me why I love urban fantasies"
-The Reader's Hollow

Saturday, November 21, 2015

The Left-Hand Way Book Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Stephanie B. the winner of The Left-Hand Way Book Giveaway at From the Shadows!  Stephanie will receive a hardcover copy of THE LEFT-HAND WAY by Tom Doyle.

The Left Hand Way urban Fantasy by Tom Doyle

Thank you to all who entered!

**Winner randomly selected using Random.org. Winner will be notified by email.**

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Q+A with Serena Gilley (Licked by the Flame)

Q+A with Serena Gilley (Licked by the Flame) paranormal romance dragon shifters

Please welcome today's guest author, Serena Gilley!  Serena is the author of the The Forbidden Realm series, including new release LICKED BY THE FLAME.

Q+A with Serena Gilley

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Serena: 
I started writing as soon as I was old enough to hold a crayon. I loved books and was fascinated by the magical notion that all those confusing lines on the page could somehow tell a story. I was desperate to learn the alphabet, and made my mother spell words for me one letter at a time so I could write stories for her. I never quit making magic with words, although nowadays I use spell-check to help me out instead of my mom.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Serena:
  There's just so much you can do! I love the freedom to create things that have never existed before, and I love the idea of being bound by a completely new set of rules. I've had so much fun imagining what it would be like to be a part of The Forbidden Realm, but even more fun when my magical characters have interaction with regular non-magical folks. There's a lot of freedom in writing paranormal and it really feeds my soul to play "what if?" at the keyboard.

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

Serena: 
I have absolutely fallen in love with my dragon, Nicolai, from LICKED BY THE FLAME. I had so much fun building his world and I am looking forward to revisiting him in future books. I might even do a spin off and write a whole dragon realm series. If I could pick one of my characters to become, it would be a dragon. They are strong and powerful, plus they can fly and shapeshift and communicate telepathically. And breathe fire! Yeah, I would totally be a dragon.

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

Serena:
  A hot, sexy dragon! He's definitely an alpha male, but he gets in touch with his softer side when he falls in love with Lianne. I hope readers love following along on their journey toward each other. There are some exciting "save-the-world" plot lines swirling around them, plus the fairies Raea and Kyne from the first two books in the series are there to lend a hand even as their romance continues to grow. A love building a complicated story with lots of twists and turns, but mostly I think my readers will love the sizzling attraction between Nic and Lianne.

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

Serena:
  What a fun question!  Let's see--who would I cast... Nicolai is special. I'm not sure any one actor really fits my vision of him, but I'd love it if I could do a mash-up! I would probably start with someone who has smarts and a ready-for-action attitude like Daniel Craig, but he's going to look like David Gandy and have sexy tribal tattoos like Dwayne Johnson. For his spunky co-star, Lianne, I would cast Scarlett Johansson. She could give Lianne just the right combo of brains, confidence, and sex appeal, I think. And then I'd invite them all over to my house for a cook-out. Wouldn't that be a blast?

Thank you Serena for joining us here today at From the Shadows!
Licked by the Flame by Serena Gilley dragon shifter paranormal romance

Licked by the Flame (The Forbidden Realm #2) by Serena Gilley.

Shape-shifting Dragon Nic Vladik has infiltrated a human technological organization to monitor their efforts on alternate fuel sources. It seems they have discovered the power being emitted from one of the Dragons' facilities. Nic must keep the humans from learning the truth about this Dragon stronghold at all costs and deter them from tapping into their heat source. That means stopping an incredibly sexy scientist from ruining his race.

Lianne McGowan is a human scientist sent to assist with the site. She believes this heat source will help save the planet and she will stop at nothing to learn more and discover the full truth about what lies beneath this mysterious mountain. But when she meets the sinfully seductive and dangerous Nic and dark forces start to work against them, she begins to realize that there is far more to the story than she ever imagined...

Release Date: July 7, 2015
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.

Have a question for Serena?

Please ask in the comment section below.  We love comments!  Learn more about Serena Gilley and her books on her website.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Los Angeles with Rachel Marks

Paranormal Road Trip: Washington D.C. with R.S. Belcher

Come on boys and ghouls!  It's time to hop on Route 666 for a spooktacular Paranormal Road Trip.

This week's stop is Los Angeles and our special guide is Rachel Marks author of The Dark Cycle urban fantasy series, including DARKNESS BRUTAL.

L.A.'s Top 5 Spooky Places

Spooky Places from DARKNESS BRUTAL (Los Angeles Area):

The Hollywood Sign:

Raised in 1923, and probably the most famous spot in Los Angeles, it was only created to last a few weeks. It once lit up the night and read "Hollywood Land", but in 1949 the "Land" was removed. In the between years, 1932, a very tragic story took place at the letter "H". An unknown actress at the time, Peg Entwistle, climbed to the top of the letter and leapt to her death. Since that day there have been literally hundreds of stories about hikers and trespassers spotting a woman wandering the grounds, dressed in the fashion of the 30s.

Houdini Mansion:

At the hight of his fame, Harry Houdini purchased an extravagant home in Laurel Canyon. It was like a fortress, with towers and hidden passageways, and underground tunnels. This is where he supposedly hid his chest of magical secrets. To this day the chest remains undiscovered, even after a fire burned the strange mansion down in 1959. By 1960 a rumor began circulating that Houdini had in fact not died, but had been seen in and around the property. Some people say he can still be seen in the area today.

Magu Rock (PCH):

Legend has it that a young native woman was brutally murdered by a rich land owner on a property near the location of Magu Rock. Her spirit is said to still roam the shore, like a woman in white with dark holes for eyes.

Griffith Park:

The area of land that incorporates Griffith Park is very large, and many ghost stories were born in one or more of the famous locations on the property once owned by the Feliz family and is said to be cursed because of a family dispute about how the land was passed down. Today it consists of the Observatory, the Greek Amphitheater, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Museum of the American West, the Travel Town train museum, two golf courses, a merry-go-around, countless hiking and horse trails, and the Hollywood sign. The most interesting story to come from the cursed land originates in the picnic area. A haunted picnic table to be exact. In 1976 a young couple was making love on a picnic table when a large sycamore tree fell on them, killing them both. The couples ashes were tossed onto the spot by the family in memory, allowing them to be forever together. And to this day the table and tree are still entwined, because when the city workers went to clean up the fallen branches the tree moaned and shook. It's said the couple became a part of the tree that still hasn't been removed.

The Devil's Gate (Pasadena):

If the stories of disappearances and deaths surrounding the land, and the strange rock formation shaped like a devil’s head don’t make you wary, then the story behind the myths most certainly will.

The land has always had the humans steering clear. Before the dam was built in the 1920s the Arroyo Seco River ebbed and flowed over the area on a seasonal whim. At times it would rage, causing serious flooding, then other parts of the year it would be as dry as a bone. The Native Americans believed that the land was cursed and barred their own from going anywhere near it, many saying there was a dark doorway in the area.

In the late 1940s, a very real reason became evident, and many more people began viewing the dam as a porthole to Hell, as one event after another spread the mythos. These events were said to be triggered by the real-life magic workings of the famous rocket scientist and occultist, Jack Parsons, along with the science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. They believed the dam carried magical properties and powers, as the Native Americans had always said. But they also believed they could harness that power to call up something called, a moonchild; an anti-god that could abolish civilization as we know it.

These rituals and magical spells (dubbed the "Babylon Working") performed at the dam, as well as at Parsons' home, were said to have opened a portal to another world, allowing monstrous demons to come and go as they pleased.

Thank you Rachel for giving us such a haunting tour of L.A.! 

To learn more about Rachel Marks and her books, please visit her website.  Rachel will also return next month for an in depth Q+A to discuss her writing.  (You can read our Q+A with Rachel Marks here.)  You can add DARKNESS BRUTAL here on Goodreads.

Darkness Brutal urban fantasy The Dark Cycle series by Rachel Marks

What did you think of Rachel's picks for spooky places?

On our last Paranormal Road Trip we visited Washington D.C. with R.S. Belcher.  Next week we have a special week of Black Friday bookish deals and giveaways planned. The following week we'll be traveling to Inner Sea with Andrew Jones.

Join us for another spine-tingling Paranormal Road Trip...
if you dare!

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Q+A with Vonnie Winslow Crist (Owl Light)

Q+A with Vonnie Winslow Crist (Owl Light) fantasy

Please welcome today's guest, Vonnie Winslow Crist. Vonnie is the author of The Greener Forest, The Enchanted Skean, Owl Light, and other fantastical books.

Q&A with Vonnie Winslow Crist

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Vonnie:  I've loved words since I was young. An avid reader, I began to write poetry with some seriousness in my late twenties. It wasn't until ten years later that I started writing prose. At first, I tried to write mainstream fiction, but I found I couldn't keep the speculative elements out of the stories. I think I comfortably settled into the "speculative writer" niche in my late forties, and have happily been writing science fiction, fantasy, and horror poetry and prose for the last fifteen years.

EJ:  What brought you to the science fiction genre?

Vonnie:  Truth time here – I'd say Star Trek, Star Wars, and the books of Andre Norton hooked me on science fiction. Of course, once I was bitten by the science ficiton bug as a reader and television and movie viewer, it was only a matter of time before those influences appeared in my writing. I remember a poetry workshop many years ago, led by poet Roger Kamenetz, where the poets had to send in three examples prior to the workshop. Roger handed our poems back to us at the beginning of the session. Scrawled in big letters on the top of my stack of poems was: "Science Fiction poetry – interesting. You don't see this every day." From that moment on, I realized my poetry was speculative in nature.

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

Vonnie:  I'd like long life, though I wouldn't want to be a vampire. Perhaps some sort of Faerie being or person with Elven blood which granted longevity would do the trick. I'd like to know what happens next, and after that, and after that. The future has so many possibilites, I'd like to see a few of my science fiction dreams become a reality.

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

Vonnie:  Owl Light is a speculative story collection, so there's a variety of tales. If one story doesn't quite strike a reader's fancy, I suspect another one will. The book includes steampunk, other-world science fiction, a fractured fairy tale, ghost stories, dark fantasy, and more. It should be noted, every story takes place between dusk and dawn, and every story has one or more owls in it.

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

Vonnie:  Since this is a collection of short stories, there would be lots of roles to cast! That said, I can see: Johnny Depp as the time-traveler, Mr. Hopewell, in “The Clockwork Owl;” Zoe Saldana as the archeologist in the science fiction tale, “Pawprints of the Margay;” Christine Ricci would make a good Darleen in the ghost story, “Bad Moon Rising;” Liam Hemsworth (he played Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games and its sequels) would be a great Fen in “The Burryman,” and for the protagonist, Thorn, in the fairy tale retelling, “Feathers,” I think Game of Thrones' Peter Dinklage would be wonderful.

I guess a few other movie roles I can envision: Selma Hayek as Mari in the Day of the Dead story, “Gifts in the Dark;” Ansel Elgort (he played Gus in The Fault in our Stars) would make a good Duffy in the dark fantasy, “Henkie's Fiddle;” Shailene Woodley (of Divergent, its sequel, and other movies) would be a good fit for sideshow performer Dusana in the mermaid story, “By the Sea;” and last, but not least, Game of Thrones' Emilla Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen) would make a convincing Audra in the Halloween story, “Gabeta.”

The “whys” to all of the above castings are because either past roles, body language, or physical appearance seem to fit my vision of the character. But to be honest, I'm glad I'm a writer not a director casting a movie!

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

Q+A with Vonnie Winslow Crist (Owl Light) fantasy

Owl Light by Vonnie Winslow Crist

In Owl Light, mystery and magic are close at hand. A deer hunter encounters the Daughter of Winter. Ghosts join a holiday celebration. A clockwork owl is the key to preventing murder. A gravedigger unearths a vengeful trow. To save the woman he loves, a dwarf strikes a bargain with faeryfolk. A sideshow attraction wishes to be normal, with unexpected results. And an anthropologist must choose between her modern world and an ancient culture.

These stories and more dare the reader to step into Owl Light, where early stars flicker, owls wake from slumber, and shadows appear where shadows ought not be. But be warned: Owl Light dims to darkness, dreams turn to nightmares, and dawn is more distant than you know.

Release Date: April 2014

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads 

To learn more about Vonnie Winslow Crist and her books, please visit her website or blog, Whimsical Words.  Have a question for Vonnie?  Leave a comment below.

Have you ever had an encounter with an owl?

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Burning Bright Audiobook Release Party Giveaway

Today we are celebrating the audiobook release of BURNING BRIGHT, the third full-length novel in the award-winning Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.  Let’s party!

We have two very special book excerpts to share with you and, of course, A GIVEAWAY!  Keep reading for a chance to win.

Burning Bright Audibooks Now Available
Amazon . iTunes . Audible


Burning Bright (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective #3) by E.J. Stevens, Narrated by Melanie Mason and David Wilson-Brown

Burning down the house...

Things are not going well at the offices of Private Eye. Jinx is having demon problems, the city is overrun with pyromaniacal imps, and Ivy's wisp powers are burning out of control, attracting the attention of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts.

Along came a faerie queen... It's the worst possible time for the Green Lady to call in a favor, but Ivy's bound by her deal with the glaistig. Too bad there's no wiggle room in faerie bargains.

Ivy must rid the city of imps, keep Jinx from murdering her one solid link to Hell, and fulfill her bargain with the Green Lady—with sidhe assassins hot on her tail.

Just another day's work for Ivy Granger, psychic detective.

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Add to Goodreads.

Book Excerpt #1
(Ivy gets wet.)

My first impression of Emain Ablach was that it was wet.  Very, very wet.  But I didn’t have much time to think about that fact.  I was too busy drowning.

I struggled to swim to the surface—wherever the hell that was—the weight of my clothes, leather jacket, and weapons weighing me down.  My lungs burned and my brain screamed at me to find a way out of this wet torment.  I needed air, badly.

I forced my eyes open, salt and whatever else was in the water burning like acid, but being able to see my surroundings didn’t help matters. It did, however, make me glad for quick reflexes and muscle memory.

At the first sign of my assassin stalkers, back in a Harborsmouth alley, I’d grabbed one of my throwing knives.  I may not be able to throw it now, not in this water, but the pressure of the blade in my gloved hand made it easier to face the grinning corpses smiling back at me.

There were hundreds of them.

Bloated bodies in every state of decomposition drifted at the ends of seaweed infested chains that rose up from the ocean floor.  I would have assumed that the people on the ends of those chains were dead, a warning to anyone foolish enough to trespass here, except for the hands reaching outward and the curve of their rotting lips.

Grins like frightened, blue worms curled up toward vacant eyes.  The eyes, or what was left of them, were coated in a white film and looked as though they’d been nibbled on by grazing fish.  The chained corpses may not be able to see, but I had no doubt that they could sense my presence.  Their hands clawed at the water and their faces were all turned in my direction.  Perhaps they could scent me, like sharks on a blood trail.

Now that was a cheery thought.

I kicked away, trying to put more distance between myself and the grasping dead.  I recoiled as my boot hit something squishy.  Mab’s bones, I didn’t realize there was a chained corpse that close to where I swam.  I did not want to touch these things or the chains that bound them.  Those were visions I’d never survive.

The delay alone would kill me.

Heart pounding, I propelled myself upward, but I had a nagging suspicion that I wasn’t going to make it.  I’d sunk too deep into this watery hell.  Already my lungs burned and dizziness sent my head spinning like a ride on an otherworldly merry go round.  My limbs were cold and heavy and I could barely feel the knife in my hand.

How ironic would it be to die here, within spitting distance of a tree that grew magical apples capable of reviving the dead?

Air bubbles sprung from my nose and I fought not to breathe.  Inhaling water would mean my death.  I made one more sluggish stroke through the water and felt strong hands grip my waist and haul me upward.  I was sailing through the water, away from greedy hands and the hundreds of faces that grinned hungrily after me.

My rescuer was a strong swimmer and I doubted Torn would have gone to so much trouble to save me.  I felt a tingle of energy zing through my system, helping me to hold onto the slippery tendrils of consciousness. Ceff, it had to be Ceff.

I gasped as my head broke the surface of the water, gulping air and choking on a mouthful of water.  I coughed up phlegm and who knows what else—with those corpses steeping down below, I didn’t want to think about it—and pushed wet, bedraggled hair from my face.  I was alive, but
it wasn’t pretty.

I grimaced and pushed the floating evidence of my humiliating coughing fit away.  Ceff had a grip on my jacket, still helping to keep my head above the water’s surface.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

With his wet hair slicked back from large, dark green eyes and his chiseled jaw, he looked gorgeous.  He was completely in his element here, unlike his half-drowned girlfriend.

“I just swallowed a gallon of salty corpse tea and sea monkeys,” I said, a rueful grin on my face.  “I’ve been better.”

Book Excerpt #2
(Spiders, why does it have to be spiders?)

“Have you both lost your minds?” Torn asked.

“What would you have us do, leave them here to become spider food?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said.  “Yes, exactly.  It’s the cycle of life, a beautiful thing best left alone.”

I shook my head.

“That could have been any one of us,” I said.  “Hold still, we’re here to help!”

The last I yelled at the cocoon.  I didn’t know if the person inside could hear me, or how far gone they were if they could, but I had to try to comfort them.  Plus, I really didn’t want to risk maiming the person I was trying to save.

“You have no idea what kind of monster is inside that thing,” Torn said.

I scowled at Torn.  No one deserved to be hung out like prosciutto and gobbled up by some huge spider.

“This is a hero’s path,” Ceff said.  “It is highly probable that they are honorable.  If not, at least we tried.”

Torn sighed and shook his head.

“Fine, it’s your funeral,” he said.

“Ready?” Ceff asked, holding the bundle as still as he could.

“I was born ready,” I said, doing my best tough guy impersonation.

I carefully cut away at the tough fibers of the cocoon.  Almost there…

Thousands of baby spider fae poured out of the cocoon, skittering in every direction.  Except it wasn’t a cocoon.  It was an egg.  I screamed—though I’d deny it if I lived long enough for Torn to tell anyone—and stumbled away from the horde of spiders.  So much for my tough guy act.

I stomped on the spiders as I backed away, halting their progress.  A brave one ambled forward and sank it’s dripping mandibles into its nearest kin.  The other spiders followed suit, joining in the feeding frenzy.

“Oh, look, aren’t they cute?” Torn asked, pointing to where baby spiders were busy cannibalizing each other.

“Freaking adorable,” I growled.

I inched further up the trail, relieved to see that most of the spiders were too busy attacking each other to notice my retreat.

“Perhaps we should have listened to the cat sidhe, just this once,” Ceff said, whacking the more determined stragglers with his trident.

“I told you so, Princess,” Torn said.

I flexed my fingers, hands itching to wring the cat sidhe’s neck and wipe that smug look off his face.  Instead, I stormed past him and around the corner.  I’d had it with this place and its creepy inhabitants.  We needed to find Ailinn’s grave, grab a magic apple, and get the hell out of Dodge.

Custom E.J. Stevens Earbuds Burning Bright Ivy Granger Audiobook Giveaway

Burning Bright Prize Pack Giveaway

We are giving away a signed BURNING BRIGHT postcard, BURNING BRIGHT audiobook download from Audible.com, and custom E.J. Stevens earbuds!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to mailing addresses in the US/CA/UK. Giveaway ends November 24, 2015.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Connect with E.J. on Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook, Pinterest, and on her Blog.