From the Shadows

Air Novella: Exclusive Excerpt + Book Giveaway

2012-02-08T00:01:00.018-05:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author J.D. Richard! J.D. is sharing an exclusive excerpt from her novella Air and giving away the choice of one large-print paperback or one PDF of Air to two lucky winners.

Air by J.D. Richard

Prepare to feast your mind on the death defying, thrilling, and unexpected! Smarty and Speedy are two boys in the wrong place at the wrong time. They become the unwitting executors of a supernatural artisan's estate. Consequently, the two must flee in terror for their lives from a threat that is set upon them—which they cannot see or touch. Three years later Essie, a runaway, balks at inheriting her cousin's three-year-old son. She is sure that the way to deliverance from her drifter existence lies in attending the prestigious Mann University. Yet, the seemingly ordinary child, with an aura in the magic rings around his neck, and his insightful German shepherd protector defy that logic.

Air Excerpt - Exclusive for From The Shadows

. . . She was about to lower the car seat and interrupt the baby's play for transfer. Then she stopped mid-task.

The new vision in front of Juliana altered her present reality. As it started, she recognized the painting that was hanging on the stone wall in front of her. Its presence identified the exact location of the scene that she was viewing.

Welcome visitors that walked from the entryway and foyer into the living room of her house always mistook the work as masterfully, singular, modern art. Indeed it was. The painting was Juliana’s own oil on canvas rendering of air and energy licking one another into flames.

For simplicity, she told everyone that asked that the work was simply one interpretation of what she had envisioned a person seeing from within the majesty of her husband’s forge.

Juliana’s mind parted the perspective. She went from being her own eyes as an onlooker in her vision to having a tasteless, soundless, odorless, and numb side view. With such limitation, she knew that she was seeing herself in the future.

Her future self sat in anticipation when two male intruders entered the living room by the front door. They had the same gait and build of the once passed-out, robed figures from the cavern. A corner of Juliana’s mind recalled Gifre’s mention of sending them for her.

Her future self stood to back away from the invaders. One of them, with blond hair and dark eyebrows, quickly advanced forward to grab her by the neck. He had her pinned against the fireplace, still strangling her.

The baby’s curious stare materialized before Juliana's lowered eyes, signaling her mind’s return to her present reality. The last cycle of the mobile tune stopped in mid-play. The car seat had fallen from her hand the short distance to the hardwood floor. . . .

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

To learn more about J.D. Richard and her books, please visit her website.

**Air Novella Giveaway**

We are giving away winner's choice of one large-print paperback or one PDF of Air by J.D. Richard to each of two contest winners.

To enter, please comment on this post including your email address so we may contact you if you win. You do not have to follow or subscribe to From the Shadows to enter. This giveaway is international (ebook copies) with the choice of paperback copies open to the US, UK, and Canada. Giveaway ends February 23rd midnight EST.

Q+A with Angela Corbett (Eternal Starling)

2012-02-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Angela Corbett! Angela is the author of Eternal Starling.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Angela: I started writing poetry when I was eight. I wrote poetry and short stories until I took a journalism class in high school and fell in love with writing the news. I worked as a journalist in high school and college, but after college I realized how much I’d missed writing fiction and started working on novels again. I got the idea for Eternal Starling in 2008, wrote it in 3 months, then spent a year revising and a year querying before I was offered a three-book deal with Pendrell Publishing.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Angela: I love reading paranormal and fantasy novels because the world provides a different type of escapism for me than contemporary novels. When I want to escape and get completely lost in another world, I read and write paranormal.

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

Angela: Well, I’d like to be immortal like a vampire, but wouldn’t be a fan of drinking blood. I like paranormal characters that have other talents as well, like Mercy Thompson. Not only can she shift into a coyote, she also has amazing martial arts skills and she’s smart and funny.

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

Angela: The Emblem of Eternity trilogy is about true love and soul mates, but even more than that, it’s a story about who Evie is, and how her choices will affect herself and the people in her life. I wanted to write a story about love that transcends time, and I wanted it to be different from other books I’d read, so I came up with a mythology of my own. People who like love triangles, lots of romance, and strong heroines will enjoy Eternal Starling.

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

Angela: Evie-Amanda Crew. She looks a lot like Evie in my head, and I think she would do a great job showing Evie’s blunt, sarcastic personality. Alex-Dave Giuntoli. Alex is intense and loyal. I think Dave Giuntoli would play Alex well. Emil-Jonathon Groff. I think he’d do a good job showing the combination of Emil’s sexy, flirty nature, and his mysteriousness.

Eternal Starling (Emblem of Eternity #1)

A love so strong, even eternity can’t separate them.

Evie Starling has lived a relatively uneventful life hanging out with friends, gossiping about boys, and driving her 1966 Mustang. All of that changes when she moves to Gunnison, Colorado, to start college and meets two mysterious men.

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie—but they each have their own reasons for wanting to be with her. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was. Soon, Evie finds herself in the middle of an age-old battle between the Amaranthine Society—the soul protectors, and the Daevos Resistance—the soul destroyers. With a past she doesn’t understand, and a future rife with danger, Evie has to decide who she can trust. But Alex and Emil aren’t the only ones who want Evie, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.

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

To learn more about Angela Corbett and her books, please visit her website.

Q+A with E.S. Moore (To Walk The Night)

2012-01-25T00:01:00.010-05:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author E.S. Moore! E.S. is the author of To Walk the Night.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

ES: I've written ever since I was little, but near the end of high school into college, I completely abandoned it. Outside of family and maybe a teacher or two, there was no support for me. It wasn't until 2006 that I decided to give this writing thing a try again. It's what I've always wanted to do.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

ES: I've always been a fan of paranormal in general, but it wasn't until I saw The Dresden Files television show that I got interested in paranormal outside of horror. Up until then, it was all Stephen King, Brian Lumley, and Konntz with a lot of fantasy thrown in. I got into the show, decided to pick up the Butcher books, and I never looked back.

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

ES: I think I'd have to go with being able to see and talk to ghosts. There's just something about the idea that appeals to me. It's not even the ability to talk to friends and family that have passed that is the most interesting to me, but rather, hearing the tales of those long gone that draws me to the idea.

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

ES: I hope readers will love it because while it is urban fantasy, I brought a little of my horror background into it. It creeps in from book one and the farther into the series you go, the more it will appear. I hope that readers will find the familiar in the books, as well as something just different enough to hold their interest.

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

ES: This is actually a hard one because I don't watch a ton of TV or movies these days, so my knowledge of actors and actresses is limited! But I'll give it a try anyway...
Ethan is probably the easiest because I saw this guy in my head when writing the character. Fran Kranz seems like the perfect actor to play him. His character on Dollhouse has a few similarities to Ethan.
As for Jonathan and Kat, I really have no idea. It would be easy to go and choose people straight out of movies like Underworld, but I won't do that. I'd want someone entirely different, someone who might never have played a vampire or werewolf before.
So, I suppose those two roles would have to be a gut feeling after seeing someone try the characters on? Perhaps the readers will be able to come up with a good actor and actress to handle the parts because I sure can't!

To Walk The Night by E.S. Moore

Even a vampire has to face her inner demons…

Kat Redding is the very thing she hunts: a vampire, thirsting for blood, capable of killing any creature unlucky enough to get in her path. The difference is, Kat kills her own kind in order to protect human Purebloods. She’s good at what she does. Good enough to earn the nickname Lady Death—and the enmity of every bloodthirsty being around. But now a vampire Count is intent on merging his House with a werewolf cult to create a force of terrifying power.

Kat can’t allow that to happen. Even if it means taking on a den of weres and a vampire more ruthless than any she’s encountered before. She has the weapons, the skill, and a few allies. But that may not be enough to eliminate the Count before her own dark nature rises to the surface—and costs her whatever is left of her humanity…

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

To learn more about E.S. Moore and his books, please visit his website.

Eyes to See Giveaway Winner

2012-01-20T10:07:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Kate Lang winner of our Eyes to See Giveaway at From the Shadows! Kate will receive a print copy of Eyes to See by Joseph Nassise.

Thank you to all who entered!

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

Q+A with Juliet Dark (The Demon Lover)

2012-01-18T00:01:00.008-05:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Juliet Dark! Juliet is the author of The Demon Lover.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Juliet: When I was nine years old. I wrote a 90 page, crayon illustrated epic entitled "The Adventures of the Magical Herd."

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Juliet: I've liked the paranormal since watching Dark Shadows in my childhood. In my "realistic" books there are often references to fairy tales and myths. It seemed natural that the next step was to write about a world in which the fairy tales and myths are real.

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

Juliet: A witch. I would choose the ability to heal.

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

Juliet: Well, I certainly enjoyed writing it! When I started THE DEMON LOVER I'd been looking for paranormal books that were intelligent, sexy, and written for adults. I found a few (the Sookie Stackhouse books, the Dresden files) but not as many as I would have liked, so I thought there might be room for another. I hope that THE DEMON LOVER appeals to an adult audience who like well written, bookish, sexy, magical books.

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

Juliet: Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica on True Blood) would be amazing as Callie McFay. My stepdaughter (and Demon Lovah advisor) suggests Peter Mooney from Camelot for Liam and Sean Bean for Frank. And I was thinking Archie Panjabi for Soheila.

The Demon Lover (Fairwick Chronicles #1) by Juliet Dark

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly erotic dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of writing her bestselling book, The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. After all, Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she finds herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.

But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: He’s not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the incubus, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this demon lover from her heart.

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

To learn more about Juliet Dark and her books, please visit her website.

Spirit Storm Giveaway Winner

2012-01-17T19:38:00.000-05:00

Congrats KtTurner winner of our Spirit Storm Book Birthday Giveaway at From the Shadows! KtTurner will receive her choice of ebook or print copy of Spirit Storm by E.J. Stevens.

Thank you to all who entered!

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

Friday the 13th Urban Fantasy Freebie

2012-01-13T08:40:00.001-05:00

January is Urban Fantasy Month here at From the Shadows and we're celebrating with author interviews, giveaways, and now a free Kindle book on Amazon.

The Heretic by Joseph Nassise, an internationally bestselling urban fantasy thriller, is FREE this weekend on Amazon. Happy Friday the 13th!

The Heretic (Templar Chronicles, #1) by Joseph Nassise

A former SWAT officer turns modern Templar Knight in this exciting new urban fantasy series for fans of Jim Butcher, Rob Thurman, and Patricia Briggs!

A chance encounter with one of the Hellspawn left Cade Williams with certain unique traits, including the ability to walk between the lands of the living and those of the dead. Now, as commander of the Echo Team, the special operations unit within the Templar hierarchy, he has devoted his life to using his "gifts" to protect mankind from the things that lurk in the darkness.

When a Templar commandery is invaded and its occupants mercilessly slaughtered, Knight Commander Williams is called in to hunt down those responsible. His investigation quickly leads him to a cabal of necromancers known as the Council of Nine.

There's only one problem.

The necromancers are allied with the same supernatural creature that left Cade for dead five years before. A creature so powerful that the Templars know it only as the Adversary.

In order to stop the killing, Cade will be forced to face his own personal demons. Not just those deep inside his heart, but also the one that left him scarred, body and soul.

The same demon that has already beaten him once before...

Check out E.J.'s interview with Joseph Nassise and our Eyes to See giveaway here.

Q+A with Amanda Bonilla (Shaedes of Gray)

2012-01-11T00:01:00.019-05:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Amanda Bonilla! Amanda is the author of Shaedes of Gray.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Amanda: I started writing when I was around 18. I'd write on an off, but I didn't start seriously writing with a goal of publication until three years ago.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Amanda: I have a really over-active imagination. The paranormal and urban fantasy genres were a natural direction for me. I grew up watching sci-fi and fantasy movies, cartoons, television shows. My mom is a huge fantasy reader. I remember watching re-runs of Dark Shadows with her when I was tiny. Fantasy has always been a part of my life.

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

Amanda: Oooh. What a great question! I think if I could be any paranormal being I I'd like to be some sort of faerie creature. I'd like my magic to be connected to nature and there's something so ethereal about the Fae. It would be great to live in the forest, unseen.

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

Amanda: Shaedes of Gray will appeal to urban fantasy and paranormal romance fans alike. There's plenty of action and mystery splashed with a healthy dose of romance. If you like snarky alpha females with raging potty mouths and fight scenes with plenty of sword play, you'll like this book.

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

Amanda: My husband weighs in on this daily! LOL! He'd like to see Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica from True Blood) as Darian. I always picture someone with features like Scarlett Johanssen. For Xander, I'd totally cast Charlie Hunnam (Jax from Sons of Anarchy). He's just gorgeous, and he sort of reminds me of Xander. Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights, X-Men Origins) is definitely my choice for Tyler. *Swoon* He looks exactly how I picture Ty. And for Raif, Henry Cavill might make a decent Raif, though we'd have to lighten his hair a bit. For Azriel, I'd cast Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes). He looks exactly how I picture him as well. (Wow, talk about a heavy on the testosterone cast! Hehe.)

Now, if I could just get a movie in the works, I'd be set!

Shaedes of Gray (Shaede Assassin #1) by Amanda Bonilla

In the shadows of the night, Darian has lived alone for almost a century. Made and abandoned by her former love, Darian is the last of her kind-an immortal Shaede who can slip into darkness as easily as breathing. With no one else to rely on, she has taught herself how to survive, using her unique skills to become a deadly assassin.

When Darian's next mark turns out to be Xander Peck, King of the Shaede Nation, her whole worldview is thrown into question. Darian begins to wonder if she's taken on more than her conscience will allow. But a good assassin never leaves a job unfinished...

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

To learn more about Amanda Bonilla and her books, please visit her website.

Q+A with Joseph Nassise + Eyes to See Giveaway

2012-01-04T00:01:00.051-05:00

Please welcome today's paranormal author Joseph Nassise! Joseph is the author of the Templar Chronicles (Heretic, A Scream of Angels, A Tear in the Sky), Riverwatch, American Horror, More Than Life Itself, Shades of Reality, and Eyes to See.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Joseph: I started writing my junior year in college. I wrote my first book, Riverwatch, long hand on legal pads just to prove to myself I could do it and then let it sit in a shoebox for eleven years before my wife convinced me to do something with it. When Pocket Books bought the mass market paperback rights shortly thereafter, I decided to give writing a more concerted effort and I’ve been.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Joseph: I’ve always been a genre reader, mainly science fiction, fantasy and horror, so when it came time to try my hand at writing I simply gravitated toward what I knew. I was reading a lot of horror at the time and so my first novel happened to be a horror novel. The success of that book, including nominations for both the International Horror Guild Award and the Bram Stoker Award, made me realize that I have some affinity for works involving the supernatural and paranormal.

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

Joseph: This was a tough one, but in the end I think I’d like to be a human dowsing rod, able to find whatever was missing simply by following some innate sense that tells me where to look. It’s the kind of thing that’s unlikely to dominate your life and it wouldn’t prevent you from having normal relationships with the people that surround you, the way other powers like seeing the future or being able to sense thoughts would.

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

Joseph: EYES TO SEE is the story of Jeremiah Hunt, a man who has given up everything, including his sight, in order to discover what has happened to his daughter, Elizabeth, who disappeared from their home five years before. Jeremiah is a difficult character, but an interesting one and his ability to see the spectral world around him, and communicate with the ghosts that inhabit it, make him very different from the usual urban fantasy fare.

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

Joseph: Jeremiah Hunt – Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Clearwater – Blake Lively, Dmitri Karpov – Oleg Taktarov, The Fetch – Andy Serkis, The Preacher – Lance Henriksen.

Eyes to See (Jeremiah Hunt #1)

In an urban fantasy that charts daring new territory in the field, Jeremiah Hunt has been broken by a malevolent force that has taken his young daughter and everything else of value in his life: his marriage, his career, his reputation. Desperate to reclaim what he has lost, Hunt finally turns to the supernatural for justice.

Abandoning all hope for a normal life, he enters the world of ghosts and even more dangerous entities from beyond the grave. Sacrificing his normal sight so that he can see the souls of the dead and the powers that stalk his worst nightmares, Hunt embarks upon a strange new career—a pariah among the living; a scourge among the dead; doomed to walk between the light of day and the deepest darkness beyond night.

His love for his departed daughter sustains him when all is most hopeless, but Hunt is cursed by something more evil than he can possibly imagine. As he descends into the maelstrom of his terrifying quest, he discovers that even his deepest fears are but prelude to yet darker deeds by a powerful entity from beyond the grave…that will not let him go until it has used him for its own nefarious purposes.

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.

**Eyes to See Giveaway**

We are giving away a copy of Eyes to See by Joseph Nassise 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. You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is to US mailing addresses only. Giveaway ends January 19th midnight EST.

Ivy Granger Psychic Detective Agency

2012-01-02T14:15:00.001-05:00

Happy 2012 everyone! It is Urban Fantasy Month at From the Shadows and I have something to reveal from my upcoming urban fantasy series.

I've been dying to share this new graphic logo for 'Private Eye' the psychic detective agency featured in my new Ivy Granger series.

*squeee!* Isn't it cool? Look for 'Private Eye' stickers and other fun Ivy Granger series swag later this year!

Shadow Sight, the first book in the Ivy Granger series, to release in 2012.

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

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 fey? 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 Fey this evil stalks the waterways of your city, you have to make hard choices.

The lesser of two evils...

Spirit Storm Book Birthday Giveaway

2012-01-01T00:01:00.013-05:00

Wow, Spirit Storm released one year ago. Apparently, time flies when you're in your writing cave! To celebrate the anniversary of Spirit Storm's release, we are having a giveaway.

**Spirit Storm Giveaway**

We are giving away winner's choice of ebook or print copy of Spirit Storm by E.J. Stevens to one lucky winner!

To enter, leave a comment on this post (please include your email address so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to follow or subscribe to From the Shadows to win. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends January 15th midnight EST.

Happy Birthday Spirit Storm!

Monster YA Giveaway Winner

2011-12-29T08:08:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Christina winner of the Monster YA Giveaway at From the Shadows! Christina will receive print copies of Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens, Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick, and Supernaturally by Kiersten White!

Thank you to all who entered!

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

Bite Before Christmas Giveaway Winner

2011-12-16T08:37:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Barb, winner of our Bite Before Christmas Giveaway at From the Shadows! Barb will receive print copies of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, and Legend of Witchtrot Road, the first three books in the Spirit Guide series by E.J. Stevens.

Thank you to all who entered.

Didn't win? Don't miss our Monster YA Giveaway. Enter to win print copies of Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens, Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick, and Supernaturally by Kiersten White. (Int'l, ends 12/28)

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

Monster YA Giveaway

2011-12-12T00:01:00.012-05:00

It's time to Rwar! in the holidays with our Monster YA Giveaway at From the Shadows.

This giveaway is EPIC, it's HUGE, it's...a MONSTER. Be sure to enter, before it's too late. mwahahahahaha!

We are giving away print copies of Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens, Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick, and Supernaturally by Kiersten White!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower or subscriber to enter. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL (to anywhere Amazon or The Book Depository ships). Giveaway ends December 28th midnight EST.

Bite Before Christmas Giveaway

2011-11-25T00:01:00.010-05:00

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

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

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

Death's Hand Swag Giveaway Winner

2011-11-23T07:06:00.007-05:00

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

Thank you to all who entered!

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

Author Newsletter Sign Ups

2011-11-18T13:40:00.000-05:00

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Holidays!

Paranormal Guest Author: Chris Kariotis

2011-11-14T00:01:00.001-05:00

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

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Chris: Ten years ago. Mostly poems.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

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

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

Chris: Shapeshifting, because I like wolves and lions.

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

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

EJ: Where can we purchase Bleeding Words Magazine?

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

Bleeding Words Magazine

Your Path to Gothic and Paranormal Literature

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

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

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

11-11-11 Sale

2011-11-11T09:12:00.001-05:00

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

Happy reading!

Death's Hand Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaway

2011-11-09T00:01:00.003-05:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excerpt:

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

**Death's Hand Swag Giveaway**

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

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

All Hallow's Read Giveaway Winner

2011-11-08T15:20:00.000-05:00

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

Thank you to all who entered!

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

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

2011-11-07T00:01:00.013-05:00

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

EJ: When did you begin writing?

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

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Celtic Rose by Jill Ranney-Campbell

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

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

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

Everafter Giveaway Winners

2011-11-06T08:37:00.001-05:00

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

Thank you to all who entered!

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

Paranormal Guest Author: Kiki Hamilton (The Faerie Ring)

2011-11-03T00:01:00.016-04:00

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

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Kiki: I started seriously writing about six years ago.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T00:01:00.020-04:00

Happy Halloween!

Halloween greetings from your favorite Spirit Guide series characters:

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Can you match the characters to the monsters?

Hint: Check out the character pics below.

Don't miss our All Hallow's Read Giveaway here.

All Hallow's Read Giveaway

2011-10-29T15:25:00.000-04:00

All Hallow's Read, the creation of author Neil Gaiman, is a fabulous new Halloween tradition for book lovers. You can learn more about All Hallow's Read on the official All Hallow's Read website.

We are celebrating All Hallow's Read here at From the Shadows with a giveaway. All Hallow's Read requires that a spooky book be given freely during the Halloween season. We have a spooky poetry collection perfect for Halloween.

Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens

A collection of dark faerie tales inspired by folklore, myth and legend told in the haunting lyrical style of dark poet E.J. Stevens. Filled with poems about vampires, werewolves, and other paranormal creatures of the night.

Take a journey into the pages of Shadows of Myth and Legend and discover what creatures lurk in the shadows.

Includes:
Queen of Elphame, Vampire's Thrall, Exile, Jiang Shi, Love of a Shifter, Last of the Rowan Berries, Shadow Queen of the Sidhe, Spriggan Guardians, While You Lay Sleeping, Loup Garou, Elven Bride, Zombie's Cold Embrace, Unicorn, Barghest and Mauthe Doog, To See a Fetch, Gargoyle Sentry, Siren Song, The Reaper, Warding charm, Possession, Woman in White , The Phoenix Cycle, Fafnir the Wyrm, Vampire Court, Basilisk, Goblin King, Curse of the Seer, The Dullahan, Prince of Lies, The Morrigan, Sating the Selkie, The Winter Queen, Grindylow, Ghost Ship, Garden Pixie, Banshee at Water's Edge, Hippocamp, Wendigo, Kiss of the Korrigan, Swan Maiden, Kraken

**All Hallow's Read Giveaway**

We will be giving away a copy of Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens to one lucky winner!

To enter, leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends November 7th midnight EST.

Paranormal Guest Author: Keri Arthur (Riley Jenson, Dark Angels)

2011-10-27T00:01:00.050-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Keri Arthur! Keri is the author of the Nikki and Michael series, Myth and Magic series, Ripple Creep Werewolf series, Damask Circle series, Riley Jenson Guardian series (Full Moon Rising, Kissing Sin, Tempting Evil, Dangerous Games, Embraced by Darkness, The Darkest Kiss, Deadly Desire, Bound to Shadows, Moon Sworn), and Dark Angels series (Darkness Unbound, Darkness Rising).

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Keri: I actually started writing when I was about 12, after I'd read a book where the author killed off a character I loved. I was so incensed I rewrote the book and made the character live! I've been writing 'seriously'--that is, with the aim of getting published--for about 20 years, and was first published with ImaJinn (a US small press) in 2001.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Keri: I've always loved reading fantasy novels, and the first three books I wrote were all fantasy romances. Then I read Children of the Night, by Mecedes Lackey, fell in love with Andre, and knew that's exactly what I wanted to write.

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

Keri: I'm not actually sure I'd want to be a paranormal--this world isn't ready for them! lol As for a supernatural talent, again, I'm not sure I'd want one. Such gifts always have their downsides, and to be honest, I'm happy just being me, as I am!

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

Keri: My upcoming Dark Angels series is set in the same world as the Riley Jenson series, so old friends are occasionally revisited. Plus, Risa can kick arse almost as well as her aunt Riley, and she has the help of a seriously sexy Aedh, as well as a reaper.

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

Keri: I'd love my books to be made into movies, and honestly, as long as the actors were appropriate (for example, Riley has red hair and can kick male arse, so the actress has to at least look like she could do that--no wimps allowed!) then I wouldn't care.

Darkness Unbound (Dark Angels #1) by Keri Arthur

Risa Jones is as extraordinary as her heritage. Born from a lab-enhanced clone mother and an Aedh father, she can not only talk to the souls of the dying and the dead, but she can see the reapers and walk the gray fields that divide this world from the next.

They are skill she rarely uses, however, preferring to concentrate on the business she shares with her two best friends. But when her mother asks her to help the parents of a little girl locked in a coma, she reluctantly agrees. What she discovers scares the hell out of her. Because the little girl’s soul no longer resides in her body, and it wasn’t death and the reapers that took her.

Someone had ripped her soul from her flesh.

As it turns out, a creature consuming the souls of the innocent–and not so innocent–is the least of her problems. Because someone wants to rip open the gates that divided hell from earth, and Risa is a key component in their plans. And the only person standing between her and disaster is a reaper who isn’t exactly on her side.

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

To learn more about Keri Arthur and her books, please visit her website.

Fading Into Magic Giveaway Winner

2011-10-26T09:25:00.010-04:00

Congratulations Mary winner of our Fading Into Magic Giveaway at From the Shadows! Mary will receive an autographed copy of Fading Into Magic by Vone Savan.

Thank you to all who entered!

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

Teen Read Week Book Giveaway Winner

2011-10-25T09:11:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Nina of Death Books and Tea winner of our Teen Read Week Giveaway at From the Shadows! Nina will receive TWO copies of Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens; one copy to read and one to donate to the library, school, teen book club, or youth center of her choice.

Thank you to all who entered!

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

Paranormal Guest Author: Nell Stark + Everafter Giveaway

2011-10-24T00:01:00.001-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Nell Stark! Nell is the author of Running with the Wind and Homecoming and is co-author of the Everafter series which includes Everafter, Nevermore, and Nightrise.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Nell: I began writing as soon as I was literate. I honestly don't remember a time when I wasn't composing stories: first by hand on lined paper, then on my family's clunky Apple IIE, and later on more sophisticated computers. Everywhere I went as a child I saw stories, and I always wanted to write them down. At age 16 I finished my first novel, which turned out to be an earnest but really quite awful "epic" fantasy story, the protagonist of which was my idealized self. During my college years, I began to refine my skills in earnest through coursework and workshops. Later, as a doctoral graduate student, my first manuscript (a traditional romance) was accepted by Bold Strokes Books. I met my partner and everafter collaborator, Trinity Tam, through my publisher. Trin and I began work on the everafter series late in 2008.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Nell: I came to paranormals via fantasy, which I discovered at age 8 when my mother handed me a copy of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. She wasn't sure I was ready for Middle Earth, but I quickly became hooked. After years of reading fantasy, I branched out into urban fantasy and paranormals. I've enjoyed writing the everafter series because creating paranormal characters is an intriguing way to explore the human condition. Vampires and were-creatures are in many ways "more human than human," in that they are compelled to surrender to their animal appetites. Vampires thirst for the very essence of life, while Weres don't just act like animals--they become them.

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

Nell: If I were asked to choose between life as a vampire or as a were-creature, I'd choose the latter. I would not want to miss out on having the chance to experience the world through animal-caliber senses!

However, if I could have any supernatural ability, I'd choose the ability to heal.

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

Nell: As a paranormal romantic thriller, everafter combines the best features of three genres. It features a lesbian romance between paranormal characters as well as an action-adventure plot set in contemporary New York City. Its two sequels, nevermore and nightrise, introduce additional challenges for the central couple and also allow readers deeper access into the underground society of vampires and wereshifters.

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

Nell: I love this question!

If everafter were made into a film and I could call the casting shots, Valentine Darrow would be played by Katee Sackoff, and Alexa Newland would be played by Rachel McAdams.

Everafter (Everafter #1) by Nell Stark and Trinity Tam

How far would you go to save your lover’s soul? When medical student Valentine Darrow is bitten by a Vampire on her way home to propose to her lover, Alexa Newland, her life becomes a nightmare. She is consumed—both by a craving for human blood, and by an obsession to find her attacker and bring him to justice. Alexa is determined to be everything that Valentine needs, but when Val's appetite outstrips Alexa's ability to nourish her, Alexa risks her life to save her lover. Will Valentine be able to control her thirst—for blood and for vengeance? And can Valentine and Alexa's relationship endure against seemingly impossible odds?

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

To learn more about Nell Stark and her books, please visit her website.

**Everafter Giveaway**

We are giving away three copies of Everafter by Nell Stark and Trinity Tam!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is international. US winners will have their choice of ebook or paperback. International winners will receive an ebook copy. Giveaway ends November 5th midnight EST.

Paranormal Guest Author: Sophie Jordan aka Sharie Kohler

2011-10-20T00:01:00.020-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Sophie Jordan! Sophie also writes under the name Sharie Kohler and is the author of the Firelight series (Firelight, Vanish) and the Moon Chasers series (Marked by Moonlight, Kiss of a Dark Moon, To Crave a Blood Moon, My Soul to Keep, Night Falls on the Wicked).

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Sophie: I write off and on since I was in junior high. I only determined to write with the serious goal to become published, however, in my late twenties.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Sophie: I’ve always been a fan of the horror genre and interested in paranormal lore. Honestly, there weren’t too many paranormal books I’d read when the idea for a “lycan” story came to me and I quickly got to work on it. That book became MARKED BY MOONLIGHT, the first book in my Moon Chasers series. When I wrote that book I had no idea it would even become a series! And now here I am on book five.

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

Sophie: Hm, tough … I think I’d like be an empath like the heroine in my third paranormal novel, TO CRAVE A BLOOD MOON. She’s just the most distinctive protagonist I’ve creatied and her supernatural “gift” made her wonderfully complex.

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

Sophie: NIGHT FALLS ON THE WICKED is a blending of several paranormal “creatures” that I’ve thus far introduced in my series. Lycans, hybrid lycans, witches, demons … in each Moon Chasers book, the world has expanded. So with NIGHT FALLS ON THE WICKED, book #5, the world really explodes and the stakes are higher than ever. And of course … there’s steamy romance. Always got to have that!

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

Sophie: Oh, I’m a HUGE fan of Mila Jovovich. I love all her Resident Evil movies. She’s the ultimate kick-ass heroine and just has tremendous presence. She’s really lovely with her exotic looks, too … oh, and it doesn’t hurt that she’s a great actress! I can see her perfectly in the role of any of my heroines.

Night Falls on the Wicked (Moon Chasers #5) by Sharie Kohler

Sharie Kohler returns to the shadowy world of the Moon Chasers, where a seductive witch stalked by demons finds protection in the arms of a lycan on a mission of blood vengeance. . . .

Darby lives her life below the radar, moving from town to town in the coldest climates, eluding the demons that hunt her—and never allowing herself to get close to anyone. Now, in frigid isolation, Darby waits tables in a small town and tries to forget who she is—what she is—and the danger forever nipping at her heels. Until a new danger finds her—a lycan pack whose distant howls have the locals on edge. But the call of the lycans has also drawn a handsome, menacing stranger. . . .

For years, Niklas has searched for the bloodthirsty pack that murdered his mother and infected him. Darby is overwhelmed by his raw appeal and dangerous strength. Niklas senses her need and vulnerability . . . and together they give in to the hungry attraction blazing between them—but desire this fierce brings dangers of its own. When Darby is targeted by the lycans, the stakes are higher than ever—and Niklas is not about to lose another woman he loves to their evil bloodlust.

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

To learn more about Sophie Jordan, aka Sharie Kohler, and her books please visit her website.

Paranormal Guest Author: Kristen Painter (House of Comarré Series)

2011-10-17T00:01:00.029-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Kristen Painter! Kristen is the author of Heart of Fire, Dark Kiss of the Reaper, and the House of Comarré series which includes Blood Rights, Flesh and Blood, and Bad Blood.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Kristen: I've been writing all my life in some form: poetry, short stories, non-fiction articles. I began writing with the goal of publication about six years ago.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Kristen: I love the open-endedness of the What If that paranormal offers. There are truly no limits in that genre, only those you impose on yourself.

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

Kristen: I'd love to be able to teleport, mostly because I hate waiting. lol

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

Kristen: I hope they enjoy it because it meets their reading need - to be swept away into another place, to forget about life for awhile, or just to experience something new.

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

Kristen: That's a tough question. There aren't any actors in Hollywood that immediately come to mind, so I'd probably want unknowns.

Blood Rights (House of Comarré #1) by Kristen Painter

The lacy gold mapped her entire body. A finely-wrought filigree of stars, vines, flowers, butterflies, ancient symbols and words ran from her feet, up her legs, over her narrow waist, spanned her chest and finished down her arms to the tips of her fingers.

Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle’s body bears the telltale marks of a comarré—a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world…and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks.

Now Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign.

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

To learn more about Kristen Painter and her books, please visit her website.

Teen Read Week Book Giveaway

2011-10-16T00:01:00.002-04:00

Teen Read Week is an annual event to promote teen literacy. I feel strongly about the importance of reading, especially for young adults (#YASaves), so we are celebrating Teen Read Week with a book giveaway. Yay!

We are giving away TWO copies of Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens. One copy for you and one for the library, school, teen book club, or youth center of your choice.

To enter, please comment on this post and include your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is to the US, UK, and Canada only. Giveaway ends October 24th midnight EST.

Chosen By Fate Giveaway Winner

2011-10-15T17:26:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Crystal of My Reading Room winner of our Chosen by Fate International Giveaway at From the Shadows! Crystal will receive a copy of Chosen by Fate signed by the author, Virna DePaul, with trading cards.

Thank you to all who entered.

**All giveaway winners selected by E.J. using Random.org**

Paranormal Guest Author: C.C. Hunter (Shadow Falls Series)

2011-10-13T00:01:00.013-04:00

Please welcome paranormal guest author C.C. Hunter. C.C. is the author of Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

CC: Some writers will tell you that they were born with a pen in their hands and by the time their umbilical cord fell off, they’d finished the first draft of their first novel. Not me. I was raised in the south, where all my family tried to one-up each other with their stories, I grew up surrounded by storytellers. And while I was good at it, I was also dyslexic, and writing was not my strong suit. (Now, standing up and telling my story to an audience? That I could do with no problem.) I was twenty-three before I told my husband I wanted to be a writer. It took years…lots of years, spent teaching myself how to put my talent of telling a story on paper. I think I may be finally catching on, too.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

CC: Ghosts. LOL. Seriously, I’ve always loved ghost stories. I think I love them so much because of all the spooky paranormal elements, this is the one I come closest to believing really exists. And my first novel with any paranormal element in it was one about a girl whose mom dies and comes back to warn her about bad things that were going to happen to her. Back in 2006, the paranormal genre was really getting hot. I had sold one sweet romance to Silhouette years before and wanted to get back into writing novels. I had been writing Single Title romances, humorous romantic suspense, but humor wasn’t the hottest genre and I couldn’t seem to sell them. I signed with my agent and she recommended I try to write a book with a paranormal element in it. I wrote a proposal about Faes and ghosts. It didn’t sell, but it got the attention of several editors. Rose Hilliard at St. Martins was one of them, and she loved my voice.

I went on to sell six humorous romances and Rose watched my career from afar. About two years ago, Rose went to my agent and asked if I would try writing a YA paranormal series. I was leery at first—not about the paranormal element but about the YA. Ahh, but once I got started I totally loved it.

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

CC: Good question. And to be honest, I get asked this one a lot, so you’d think I’d have my answer down pat, but I really don’t. LOL. I guess it’s just that it’s so hard for me to choose. Now, when I was writing Born at Midnight, and creating the Shadow Falls universe, I did a lot of research. And because writers like to tweak details to match their vision, I’ve made some changes to the mythology for many of my supernaturals. Some of them, like vampires, shape-shifters, and werewolves, can be scary but once you get to know them as characters, you’ll realize they all have some good qualities. I think that’s what makes it so hard for me to choose—I don’t want to be unfaithful to any of my characters. LOL. But if I had to choose, I’d probably go with either a witch or a fae. I think these characters offer the most options . . . although I think it would be totally cool to be able to fly like a vampire does. LOL.

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

CC: I read once that your characters should be the type of person that someone wouldn’t mind being locked in a closet with for several days. Because basically, that’s what a reader is doing. Shutting out the rest of the world and spending hours, sometimes days, with your characters. So I can tell you that I think Kylie and the rest of the crew at Shadow Falls are good closet buddies. They are interesting, courageous, mysterious (so you won’t get bored), and have lots of heart. Their experiences in their world can teach us a few things about living in the real world. Things about romance, friendship, family, and about learning to accept ourselves and the other people in our lives for what they are.

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

CC: This question is always so hard for me to answer. I mean, I could toss out names like Zac Efron, Amanda Seyfried, Chace Crawford, but in truth, the roles of Kylie and the all the crew at Shadow Falls are already taken in my mind. I know the expression on Kylie’s face when she’s really frustrated, and Amanda doesn’t make that expression. I know how Lucas walks, with his quiet, silent movements and his how body tenses when people get too close, and Zac doesn’t do that. I know the sexy twinkle Derek gets in his eyes when he looks at Kylie, I know how he sounds when he laughs, and that’s not Chace. I actually have a film agent shopping around the series and all I can say is that it’s going to be hard to find people to play these characters the way I see them in my head.

Awake at Dawn (Shadow Falls #2) by C.C. Hunter

Now that she’s settled in at Shadow Falls Camp, Kylie Galen’s determined to discover the extent of her supernatural abilities. But with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about die, a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, and her sixth sense telling her someone is watching her, Kylie’s quest for answers is quickly put on hold.

To make matters worse, just when she’s about to give her heart to Derek, a half-fairy, he starts pulling away. When Lucas, a werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past, returns, Kylie’s feels more conflicted than ever. Her weekend with her mom should have been the just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Someone from the dark side of the supernatural world has plans for Kylie--and it'll take all her resources to get back to Shadow Falls alive...

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

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

Pandora's Box Giveaway Winner

2011-10-11T09:43:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Wicked Leanore winner of our Pandora's Box Giveaway at From the Shadows! Wicked Leanore will receive an ebook copy of Pandora's Box (Road to Hell #1) by Gracen Miller and a fabulous skull cameo pendant!

Thank you to all who entered!

**All From the Shadows giveaway winners selected using Random.org**

Fading Into Magic Giveaway

2011-10-10T00:01:00.001-04:00

Feeling lucky? Madame Anca predicts a fabulous prize in the future of one of our readers.

Fading Into Magic (Fading Into Magic #1) by Vone Savan

After entering a mysterious tent at the annual Augury Carnival where the words: Come Inside and Discover Your Fortune are persuasively written, seventeen-year-old, Madeline Morgan and her best friend, Dara, come face to face with Madame Anca, an ominous fortune teller who portends the girls’ futures. For Dara, the experience is superficial. But for Madeline, things are different. Her fortune promises that she will soon find true love.

Spurred by Madame Anca’s enticing prediction and a coincidental attraction to an elusive new stranger, Madeline starts to believe that true love might actually exist. But love—like most things—isn’t always what it seems…and for Madeline, this discovery takes her on a dark and mystical journey that forces her to deal with the illusions of love and her own inner strength.

**Fading Into Magic Giveaway**

We are giving away an autographed copy of Fading Into Magic by Vone Savan to one lucky winner!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is to US mailing addresses only. Giveaway ends October 25th midnight EST.

To learn more about Vone Savan and his books, check out his author interview here or visit his website.

Legend of Witchtrot Road Blog Party Giveaway Winners

2011-10-08T09:32:00.001-04:00

Thank you all SO much for partying with us this week and making our Legend of Witchtrot Road book launch a success. You all ROCK!

Our release party giveaways have ended. Now for our WINNERS.

Congratulations Library Lady, Jennifer, Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club, lovestodive, Coreena McBurnie, Renee Rearden, and Darlene winners of our Legend of Witchtrot Road Release Party Giveaway at From the Shadows!

Library Lady will receive our GRAND PRIZE:
3 Books: Signed copies of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, and Legend of Witchtrot Road
1 Spirit Guide Tote Bag stuffed with goodies (see below)
1 "I Smell Dead People" T-shirt (Size XL)
3 Postcards (She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, Legend of Witchtrot Road)
2 Bookmarks (She Smells the Dead and Legend of Witchtrot Road)
10 Spirit Guide Series Trading Cards
1 Oversize Legend of Witchtrot Road Postcard
1 Legend of Witchtrot Road Sticker
1 Legend of Witchtrot Road Poster

Jennifer, Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club, and lovestodive will receive FIRST PRIZE:
1 Signed trade paperback copy of Legend of Witchtrot Road
1 Ebook copy of Legend of Witchtrot Road
1 Spirit Guide Series Swag Pack (Postcards, Bookmarks, Trading Cards)
1 Legend of Witchtrot Road Swag Pack (Postcards, Bookmarks, Sticker)

Coreena, Renee, and Darlene will receive SECOND PRIZE:
1 Ebook copy of Legend of Witchtrot Road
1 Spirit Guide Series Swag Pack (Postcards, Bookmarks, Trading Cards)
1 Legend of Witchtrot Road Swag Pack (Postcards, Bookmarks, Sticker)

Thank you to all who entered!

Winners of our Legend of Witchtrot Road Twitter Party giveaways announced here. Our #WitchtrotParty was fabulous fun. Follow E.J. at @EJStevensAuthor for upcoming Twitter chats and giveaways.

Didn't win? Don't miss the Goodreads FirstReads Giveaway, 1,000 Follower Extravaganza Giveaway at A Cupcake and a Latte, and A Month of Treats: Halloween Character Interview + Giveaway at For What It's Worth for more chances to win Spirit Guide Series books and swag.

Additional giveaways coming soon to Rabid Reads, Parajunkee's View, Good Choice Reading, and SeeitORreadit!

**All winners selected using Random.org**

Paranormal Guest Author: Amber Argyle (Witch Song)

2011-10-06T00:01:00.001-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Amber Argyle! Amber is the author of Witch Song.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Amber: I've been inventing stories for as long as I can remember. I didn't actually start writing them down until junior high. I couldn't seem to write during high school or college--too much reading and writing for classes. I didn't have anything left over for being creative.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Amber: The first time I read an YA epic fantasy, I was hooked. That week, I started writing. I've never looked back.

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

Amber: I'd like to fly. Wouldn't that be soooo cool. I'd never be stuck in traffic again.

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

Amber: So far, readers have loved Witch Song because it's so different from everything out there. The medium for the Witch's magic is singing. Their magic changes the seasons, instantly grows and controls plants.

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

Amber: I really have no idea. Anyone have any ideas?

Witch Song by Amber Argyle

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons--but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

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

To learn more about Amber Argyle and her books, please visit her website.

Legend of Witchtrot Road Twitter Party Giveaway Winners

2011-10-05T14:02:00.001-04:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you ALL for an AMAZING book launch yesterday.

Legend of Witchtrot Road has been receiving fabulous positive press from early reviewers. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews and feedback!

Our Legend of Witchtrot Road Twitter Party is now over and it is time to announce THE WINNERS.

@JanaRathouska (Jana Rathouská), @KnightTrilogy (Katie M. John), @LadyVampire2u (Lady Vampire), @artdem83 (Diana Giote), @autumneffect (Shannon) will each receive an ebook copy of Legend of Witchtrot Road and a signed Legend of Witchtrot Road postcard from the author.

@KristinaD77 (KristinaDjordjevski) will receive a signed trade paperback copy of Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens and a swag pack filled with postcards, bookmarks, and trading cards.

Winners please message E.J. with your email and mailing address here.

Congratulations winners!

Didn't win? Don't miss our Legend of Witchtrot Road Release Party Giveaway here at From the Shadows, the Goodreads FirstReads Giveaway, and 1,000 Follower Extravaganza Giveaway at A Cupcake and a Latte for more chances to win Spirit Guide series books and swag.

Additional giveaways coming soon to For What It's Worth, Rabid Reads, Parajunkee's View, Good Choice Reading, SeeitORreadit, and more.

Legend of Witchtrot Road Release Party + Giveaways

2011-10-04T00:01:00.025-04:00

Time to PARTY! Today is the official US Release of Legend of Witchtrot Road, the third book in the Spirit Guide series.

Are you EXCITED? You should be! We have some fabulous Spirit Guide Series book and swag giveaways here at From the Shadows, Goodreads, and on Twitter. So many chances to win!

Check out Legend of Witchtrot Road Release Party Central to keep track of events and giveaways.

The BOOK...

Legend of Witchtrot Road (Spirit Guide #3) by E.J. Stevens

The night of Samhain may be behind them, but Yuki and her friends have only begun to face the challenges of their paranormal gifts. Tensions are rising--in the pack, at school, and within their tightly knit group of friends.

The tragic death of Wakefield High student Dylan Jacobs has emotions boiling over. The J-Team, Yuki's arch nemesis, have turned the entire football team against her. They claim that Yuki is a witch and blame her for the death of their fellow teammate. Will Yuki be able to solve the mystery of Dylan's death, and the legend of Witchtrot Road, before tempers flare and things turn violent?

Surviving agitated ghosts, irritated witches, angry werewolves, and the horrors of high school has never been so hard.

The GIVEAWAYS...

GRAND PRIZE (1 Winner):

3 Books: Signed copies of She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, and Legend of Witchtrot Road
1 Spirit Guide Tote Bag stuffed with goodies (see below)
1 "I Smell Dead People" T-shirt (Size XL)
3 Postcards (She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, Legend of Witchtrot Road)
2 Bookmarks (She Smells the Dead and Legend of Witchtrot Road)
10 Spirit Guide Series Trading Cards
1 Oversize Legend of Witchtrot Road Postcard
1 Legend of Witchtrot Road Sticker
1 Legend of Witchtrot Road Poster

FIRST PRIZE (3 Winners):

1 Signed trade paperback copy of Legend of Witchtrot Road
1 Ebook copy of Legend of Witchtrot Road
1 Spirit Guide Series Swag Pack (Postcards, Bookmarks, Trading Cards)
1 Legend of Witchtrot Road Swag Pack (Postcards, Bookmarks, Sticker)

SECOND PRIZE (3 Winners):

1 Ebook copy of Legend of Witchtrot Road
1 Spirit Guide Series Swag Pack (Postcards, Bookmarks, Trading Cards)
1 Legend of Witchtrot Road Swag Pack (Postcards, Bookmarks, Sticker)

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends October 7th midnight EST.

and MORE GIVEAWAYS...

Don't miss our LEGEND OF WITCHTROT ROAD BOOK BIRTHDAY TWITTER PARTY happening ALL DAY on Twitter. More fab prizes all day long!

Also giving away one signed copy of Legend of Witchtrot Road on Goodreads.

Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens now available in Trade Paperback on Amazon and Ebook editions on Amazon (Kindle), Amazon.UK (Kindle), Smashwords (PDF/Epub/Kindle/NOOK/and more), and Barnes and Noble (NOOK).

Paranormal Guest Author: Lia Habel (Dearly Departed)

2011-10-03T00:01:00.001-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Lia Habel. Lia is the author of the new steampunk zombie romance novel Dearly, Departed.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Lia: I've always written - but only to entertain myself. I kept a story journal all throughout high school, and I even remember writing a story during free play time in first grade. I never imagined that I had the skill necessary to become a published author, however.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Lia: The way I was raised - which sounds pretentious and somehow generationally goth, but it's not. I was raised by a mother who was very into horror films and books, and who saw no need to shelter me from her hobby. She was under the shocking impression that if I was scared by something I saw, I'd excuse myself from the room. I seldom made that choice, and I'm benefiting from it today. I grew up with vampires, zombies, ghosts, and iconic characters like Jason and Freddy as part of my cultural landscape. Other girls had The Baby-Sitters Club; I had King and Craven.

Where I differ from my mother - even today - is that she's honestly *scared* by this stuff. That's why she watches it, after all! Because I grew up with it (and probably because I'm inherently weird), I just *love* it. I've always sympathized with the monsters, even preferred them to the "handsome" heroic characters. So now I write about monsters making good and getting the girl - because prettyboys have enough people on their side.

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

Lia: I'm actually quite happy being human. I certainly don't want to be anything immortal; immortality has always struck me as a terrifying concept. (Eventually you would get so BORED.) Maybe something to help me in my "service" to my beloved monsters? The ability to speak any monstrous language at will, or see or sense otherwise subtle paranormal beings?

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

Lia: Because it's a Big Old Book (tons of story) about a futuristic Victorian society with zombies! And the zombies are the best part. I love my dead crew to death (ha, ha) and have so much fun writing them. They're not angsty teen paranormal characters - they're incredibly strong, resilient, and fiercely loyal to one another. I think they embody the idea of "'till death do us part" more strongly than any living marriage ever could. They have great senses of humor. And it's all made more tragic by the fact that eventually we'll watch them rot apart - they're not sanitized, and there is no hope of a happy immortal ending.

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

Lia: I've thought about this question a lot, and I've still only come up with a few! I'm terrible with faces and names, and I don't tend to imagine actors when I'm creating or writing my characters. It's a bit difficult to match them up after the fact.

Nora Dearly - Definitely Emily Browning. Nora is a teenage girl with a baby face, no curves, tiny voice, teensy height - she's like a mouthy china doll with a gun.

Bram Griswold - Gaspard Ulliel. Just make him really, really pale and put him in uniform. Specifically this picture:

Renfield Merriweather the Third - Matthew Gray Gubler. WITH the long curly hair. My skeletal nerd zombie.

Vespertine Mink - Gemma Ward. Blond bully, but there's much more to her.

Dr. Victor Dearly - Who wants to see Michael Caine as a posh zombie doctor with a cybernetic leg? I DO!

Dr. Baldwin Samedi - Aaand who wants to see John Hamm as a zombie engineer who can remove his own head? I REALLY DO.

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune, and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, steampunk meets romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

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

To learn more about Lia Habel and her books, please visit her website.

December Moon Giveaway Winners

2011-10-02T07:26:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Naj and Brandy Barber Bates winners of our December Moon Giveaway at From the Shadows!

Naj will receive an Ebook copy of December Moon by Suzy Turner.

Brandy will receive a paperback copy of December Moon by Suzy Turner.

Thank you to all who entered!

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

From the Shadows Blogoversary Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-01T09:39:00.002-04:00

Congratulations InlovewithTwilight7 winner of our From the Shadows Blogoversary Giveaway! InlovewithTwilight7 will receive her choice of $10 Amazon Gift Card or $10 book from The Book Depository.

Thank you all for entering!

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

Paranormal Guest Author: Virna DePaul (Para-Ops) + Chosen by Fate Giveaway

2011-09-29T00:01:00.002-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Virna DePaul. Virna is the author of the Para-Ops series, which includes Chosen by Blood and Chosen by Fate.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Virna: I began writing fiction towards the end of 2006.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Virna: I started writing contemporary romantic suspense, my first love, and continued to write for about three years before I realized two things: 1) the market was very hot for paranormals, much more so than for straight romantic suspense; and 2) I'd begun reading paranormal romances and loved the genre almost more than romantic suspense--I just never thought I could write it. I decided to try my hand at a BIG series that would combine elements of both the genres that I loved. When I thought of the Para-Ops series, I envisioned X-Men meets Romancing The Stone.

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

Virna: I would love to be able to heal others. There's so much unnecessary pain in the world. Some pain is necessary to grow and evolve, but so much pain and suffering isn't. I'd love to bring peace and second chances to others.

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

Virna: My Para-Ops series is an action-packed and sensual combination of paranormal and special ops thrills. I like to call it "special ops with fangs." Book 1, Chosen By Blood (Berkley) has a strong thriller plot, yet has been complimented for its complex world-building and emotional, compelling characters. Book 2, Chosen By Fate, which comes out in October, focuses more on the main romance and secondary relationships but also has a lot of action!

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

Virna: For Knox Devereaux, the Para-Ops team's half-human, half-vampire leader, I think I'd choose Eric Bana. He can play someone both elegant and old world, but also sexy and kick ass. That's the combination that is uniquely Knox. For Dex Hunt, the team's werebeast, maybe Sam Worthington--I think he can match Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in toughness and sexiness. And for Wraith, the team's ghost? Maybe Angelina Jolie (though she'd have to tinge her skin blue and cut her hair and dye it white) because she can portray that blend of angsty bitch and vulnerable female all at once.

Chosen by Fate (Para-Ops #2) by Virna DePaul

Although he keeps company with a vampire and a were, human Shaman Caleb O'Flare can definitely hold his own. But neither his psychic ability nor his healing powers can help his sexy-as-hell teammate, Wraith-a ghost with no memory of her human existence, who cannot experience touch without pain. No wraith has managed to exist past its tenth year, so her time is about to run out. She wants only two things before accepting her fate: to learn her human identity, and experience one night with Caleb...

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

To learn more about Virna DePaul and her books, please visit her website.

**Chosen by Fate International Giveaway**

We are giving away one copy of Chosen by Fate signed by the author, Virna DePaul, with trading cards!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends October 14th midnight EST.

Paranormal Guest Author: Gracen Miller + Pandora's Box Giveaway

2011-09-26T00:01:00.018-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Gracen Miller! Gracen is the author of Fairy Casanova, Elfin Blood, The Devil's Den, and Pandora's Box.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Gracen: Thanks for having me today, E.J.! It’s an honor to be here. I began writing in sixth grade when my English teacher gave us a writing assignment for homework. Like everyone else in the class, I groaned and complained about having to use my imagination. I couldn’t believe she’d given us such a complex assignment and worried I wouldn’t find sufficient inspiration. I dragged my feet that afternoon stepping out of the car and entering my mother’s workplace—I spent every afternoon doing homework in the restaurant office where she worked.

I sat down at that desk unknowing my life was about to take a dramatic turn. I took up pen and paper, thinking how much I hated English and disliked Mrs. S for issuing such a stupid assignment. I looked out the window and stared at the well-manicured Golf Course (my mother worked at the local Country Club as a waitress), with a certainty darkening my heart that I would fail this project miserably and my mother would be furious. Surprised, an idea quickly rose in my mind about Atlantis rising from the ocean and its inhabitants harnessing supernatural powers. And, of course, along with those supernatural powers the Atlantians concocted an evil plan to take over the world…what else do you do with supernatural powers, right? LOL With gusto I wrote a poorly crafted “play”, but I was excited by the detail illuminating in my mind.

The next day all of our stories were read out loud in class. I fidgeted and worried to the point of nausea that everyone would laugh at my story. No one laughed, but sat as silent as church mice as I read. Mrs. S took a paper vote at the end of class on the three favorite stories and mine was one of the three, which meant the next day I had to pick individuals to play the parts of my characters. My characters would be acted out in front of the entire classroom. Wow! Not only had I enjoyed the assignment, but apparently all of my peers loved it too! Talk about mind-blowing to an 11 year old! Much like a drug, writing dug its claws into me and I have forever been addicted.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Gracen: The paranormal has drawn me for as long as I can remember. I’ve been watching horror/paranormal movies since I was a child. I grew up with greats like The Twilight Zone and Tales from the Darkside. My best friend, Angela, and I would rent B-rated horror movies the weekends we were together and veg out in front of the TV eating popcorn and nachos. It seemed normal to merge paranormal and romance together when I started writing. I love the world building that comes with the paranormal too. It’s so much fun seeing where my imagination can take me!

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

Gracen: What a tough question. Hmm…well, I always prefer to fiddle with my paranormal creatures so they don’t fit the standard mold. Those that are members of my Road to Hell series fan page call me “Momma Hellhound”. They also gave me a forked tail that I poke people with and a magical pitchfork so that I can zap naughty hellhounds into submission. LOL But I don’t want to be a dog. How unglamorous! ;-) I think I’d want to be a magical demon, because being naughty is so much fun. I would cast spells, all types of spells, and I’d be able to kick butt with ease. Make mortal and immortal men quake in fear at the utterance of my name. *cheeky grin* What’s the point in having supernatural talent if you can’t frighten people, right?

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

Gracen: It’s a great mix between horror and romance, something I don’t get enough of when I’m looking for a book. Madison is a strong heroine, but she’s vulnerable too. Nix is a no-nonsense paranormal hunter who opens Madison’s eyes to the dangerous world surrounding them. But the internal forces outside of their control is the heart of their problem. Nothing is as Madison once believed, her whole life is a lie, but she’s determined not to allow herself or her son be victimized by the cards destiny has dealt them.

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

Gracen: LOL My girlfriend and I were just discussing this the other day. We couldn’t come up with a great pick for the heroine, but the closest “fit” was Charlize Theron. The only why is because she’s blonde and leggy like Madison. No other reason. I prefer an unknown to play Madison’s part, so there are no preconceived notions about the actress. For the hero, Phoenix “Nix” Birmingham, we picked Chris Evans. The why is because he’s easy on the eyes—lol—got great lips and gorgeous eyes, plus he was great in Losers and Captain America. =D

Pandora's Box (The Road to Hell, #1) by Gracen Miller

Where does the road to Hell begin?

What happens when your son turns homicidal overnight and your husband disappears on his way to work? Do you cower in fear or fight for your life? Madison Wescott fights against the odds. Distrustful of a God she doesn't believe in, she finds herself face-to-face with a world she didn't know existed and discovers her own soul is darkened with demonic connections.

With good intentions? Or by demonic design?

Phoenix Birmingham bursts into Madison’s life in a whirlwind of sarcasm and sexual appeal. A hero for the masses—and for her jaded heart—but few will ever know the sacrifices he has made or the sacrifices to come. Discovering her entire life has been influenced by multifaceted paranormal beings, Madison is determined to defeat the apocalyptic blueprint fate has decreed, but only one man dares to challenge the supernatural forces manipulating them. Even with Phoenix's aid, can destiny be denied? Or will demonic design prevail while they pay the crucial price with their souls?

In a small, sleepy Alabama town the battle for mankind's liberty has begun...

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

To learn more about Gracen Miller and her books, please visit her website.

**Pandora's Box Giveaway**

We are giving away one ebook copy of Pandora's Box by Gracen Miller and a fabulous skull cameo pendant!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL! Giveaway ends October 10th midnight EST.

Dark Passages Giveaway Winner

2011-09-24T13:23:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Cecilia H. winner of our Dark Passages Giveaway at From the Shadows! Cecilia will receive a paperback copy of Dark Passages by Kathryn Leigh Scott.

Thank you to all who entered!

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

The BIG News: New Urban Fantasy Series from E.J. Stevens

2011-09-23T00:01:00.003-04:00

Ready for the BIG news? I have a new urban fantasy series and it's coming 2012. *Squeee!*

But E.J., what about the Spirit Guide series? Are you done with YA?

Me? Done with YA? Never! The Spirit Guide series will continue with Brush with Death (book 4) and The Pirate Curse (book 5) releasing in 2012. The Calvin and Yuki Diaries, a Spirit Guide series supplemental novella, is also in the works.

Are you crazy?! You're on tour for Legend of Witchtrot Road, releasing next month, and have 3 upcoming novels, 1 novella, and a blog to maintain?

Well, um, yes. LOL!

So tell us about this new urban fantasy series.

The Ivy Granger series will debut with Shadow Sight (cover and blurb below subject to change prior to publication). Readers of the Spirit Guide series will recognize my penchant for bad puns and quirky characters, but this series is much darker than than my young adult books.

Ivy Granger's second-sight gives her the ability to see the fey for what they are--bloodthirsty creatures with an alien code of conduct and a lack of appreciation for human life (though some are connoisseurs of human flesh). There are a few exceptions to the rule, Ivy's friend Hob hasn't tried to eat her...yet, but now Ivy has to make a choice. Ivy must take sides in the upcoming battle, or watch the people of her city be devoured by something they can't even see.

So much for an easy day on the job...

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

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 fey? 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 Fey this evil stalks the waterways of your city, you have to make hard choices.

The lesser of two evils...

Coming 2012!

Shadow Sight on Goodreads.

Paranormal Guest Author: Merrie Haskell (The Princess Curse)

2011-09-22T00:01:00.014-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal author Merrie Haskell! Merrie is the author of The Princess Curse.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Merrie: I started writing when I was seven years old; I distinctly remember folding a piece of ruled paper lengthwise and making that into a book, and illustrating the cover with markers. It was a book about a princess--I think it was called "The Story of a Princess," in fact. My mom saved it, so I should scan it in for posterity. In any case, it was a pretty dry and linear piece of work, but it did feature a dragon and a three-year engagement. I'm not sure where the dragon came from, but I was reading a lot of Laura Ingalls Wilder at the time, and I believe she had a three-year engagement.

I know I wrote lots of dribs and drabs of things after that, but didn't complete anything else until my 5th grade language arts teacher challenged me to do so. She was an amazing teacher, and pulled my mom aside at the class picnic to tell her to encourage me to write. Though my mom already was giving me the space I needed to be creative, plus the support to buy my first typewriter that year (which I paid for myself with dog-walking money).

It's interesting to me though--that I started writing when I was seven, but I waited nearly twenty years before I got serious about trying to get published. I think it took me until my late twenties to realize the world wasn't going to just offer me publishing contracts at whim based on my... fine taste in books? I don't know what I was thinking, honestly, but when I was younger I harbored fantasies of running into favorite author at some bookstore and having her mentor me and show me the way into publishing, which is... definitely a fantasy!

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Merrie: I rarely have ideas for stories that don't include some science fiction or fantasy or paranormal element. I know that I like the way those otherworldly elements allow you to use allegory and metaphor without being obnoxious, boring, or preachy. Diana Peterfreund's RAMPANT springs immediately to mind--exploring virginity and what our culture thinks it means becomes significantly more intense and interesting if you throw unicorns into the mix.

My otherwise-supportive mother once asked me: "Why don't you write something real?" And of all the defenses that leaped to my lips, including the metaphor/intensification argument I just laid out, the one that won her over was: "I want to show people what's possible."

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

Merrie: I'd like to be able to time travel. Hands down! Given how much I like ordinary, physical travel, I can't see not loving the chance to vacation in the past... I've always thought that storytelling was in some ways a manifestation of my desire to travel in time. I'm not talking about writing, or not just writing, here; I love telling stories about my crazy past and kooky acquaintances, and painting a picture that, however briefly, takes me and my listener back into the moment. I spent a lot of time with my elderly grandparents when I was young, and always felt like 1925 was just a few steps sideways, not "50 years before I was born." They were also storytellers in that vein, so I'd say the inclination for time travel runs in the family.

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

Merrie: I hope readers will enjoy THE PRINCESS CURSE--and I hope it's because of Reveka and Frumos. Reveka is ruthlessly pragmatic about the realities of her world, but unwilling to take no for an answer. I love people like that. Those are the people who can get things done in the world. She's also slightly obsessed with herbs, and I love writing and reading about nerds in love with their favorite subject. And as for Frumos--well, men of mystery are always intriguing!

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

Merrie: Tough question! I don't do much mental casting when I write, and when I do, it's usually "actor X when they were a kid" or "actor Y when they were alive." The biggest problem is, everyone in Hollywood is too pretty to be in my books. I think at one point, Reveka refers to herself as "not homely." So, as long as we agree movies are the book with everyone's prettiness tripled...

But there is an exception: I was actually picturing David Tennant (the 10th Doctor Who) while I was writing Frumos. Of course, he's too old to be Frumos, so possibly Callum Blue (Zod on SMALLVILLE), but he's *also* too old to be Frumos. But I think, based on those two references, you'd have a pretty good idea of who to cast, were you a casting agent.

Reveka is tough. The cover artist, Jason Chan, did a great job capturing the Reveka in my mind (she's based on a friend's daughter). Maybe Chloe Moretz, who is due to play Emily the Strange? Needs hair dye and contacts, but I think she could nail it. Jodelle Ferland? Willow Shields?

For Lacrimora and Otilia (two of the twelve dancing princesses and half-sisters), I have to say Emma Stone and Molly Quinn. With Bryce Dallas Howard as Maricara (the eldest sister) and Spencer Locke as the Princess Consort. And Dot Jones (Coach Beiste on GLEE) as Marjit. Oh, now I'm spending way too much time on this. Sorry!

The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell

Twelve princesses suffer from a puzzling (if silly) curse, and anyone who ends it will win a reward. Reveka, a sharp-witted and irreverent apprentice herbalist, wants that reward. But her investigations lead to deeper mysteries and a daunting choice—will she break the curse at the peril of her own soul?

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

To learn more about Merrie Haskell and her books, please visit her website.

Paranormal Guest Author: Suzy Turner + December Moon Giveaway

2011-09-19T00:01:00.022-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Suzy Turner! Suzy, author of Raven and December Moon, has prepared a special guest post for our readers.

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

Howling deep into the night by the light of a bright, white, full moon. You can almost see him sitting there, his head tilted back as he makes that high pitched sound that sends shivers down your spine. Yes, I'm talking about the elusive werewolf.

If they all looked as gorgeous as Jacob Black, then we wouldn't be at all afraid would we? I know, I know, I'm far too old to be attracted to Jacob (at 35, I'm almost old enough to be his mother!) but it's impossible not to be. He is a fine figure of a man (or a wolf, rather) though, isn't he?! I'll stop talking about Jacob now, this is a post about werewolves after all.

I think I was first introduced to the idea of werewolves back in the 80s when I saw a really silly film with Michael J Fox called Teen Wolf. It obviously planted a seed in my mind because since then I've rather enjoyed reading about them in books or watching werewolf stories on screen. An American Werewolf in London is another, albeit, rather more gory version that I enjoyed as a child (admittedly, I have seen it since and found it disappointing). So, come back to present day and what kind of werewolf flicks / books, are all the rage? Twilight obviously comes up trumps but have you seen The Lost Girl? There is a rather gorgeous character called Dyson (played by Kristen Holden-Ried) who plays the smouldering werewolf to fabulous effect. Being Human is another featuring a werewolf, a ghost and a vampire all living under the same roof.

A few months ago I read my first book centered entirely around werewolves. It was called Blood and Chocolate and I have to say, it left me a little disappointed. Although the story was excellent, I found the main character irritating, especially the way she kept referring to people as boy or girl. She was supposed to be 16 yet came across as much older than her years. But the werewolf aspect was fantastic.

In December Moon, as in Raven, there is one main werewolf. His name is Zoltan and he is your stereotypical wolf man. He's a tough guy who wants nothing more than a good fight. Having said that, Zoltan is a big softy at heart, especially when it comes to his girlfriend, Tabitha, who just happens to be a changeling... with the ability to change into a mountain lion.

If I've tempted your taste-buds, why not check out December Moon. I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

December Moon (The Raven Saga #3) by Suzy Turner

On her 15th birthday, December Moon discovers she is the descendant of a family of witches, kept in the dark her entire life in an effort to protect her. But when Lilly, her best friend, finds herself in danger from one of the world's most evil vampires, December will do everything in her power to stop him. December Moon is a fantasy novel for children and young adults set in BC, Canada.

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 or check out E.J.'s interview of Suzy here at From the Shadows.

**December Moon International Giveaway**

We are giving away two copies, one paperback and one ebook, of December Moon (The Raven Saga #2) by Suzy Turner.

To enter, please leave a message on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends October 1st midnight EST.

Blend Series Giveaway Winners

2011-09-17T10:35:00.001-04:00

Congrats Temperance and Daniela winners of our Blend Series International Giveaway at From the Shadows!

Temperance will receive ebook copies of Human Blend and Earth Blend and Daniela will receive paperback copies of Human Blend and Earth Blend signed by the author.

Thank you to all who entered!

**All giveaway winners at From the Shadows selected by E.J. using Random.org**

From the Shadows Blogoversary Giveaway

2011-09-16T00:01:00.001-04:00

Wow! Has it really been two years? Time to celebrate with a giveaway!

**From the Shadows 2nd Blogoversary Giveaway**

We are giving away an electronic $10 Amazon Gift Card or any book up to $10 value from The Book Depository to one lucky winner!

To enter, leave a comment on this post. Please include your email address so we may contact you if you win. You do not have to be a follower to enter. This giveaway is international (to anywhere The Book Depository delivers). Giveaway ends September 30th midnight EST.

Bonus entries:
+1 GFC Followers
+1 Twitter Followers

Thank you all for two fabulous years!

Paranormal Guest Author: Melodie Campbell (Rowena Through the Wall)

2011-09-15T00:01:00.003-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Melodie Campbell! Melodie is the author of Rowena Through the Wall.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Melodie: When I was 16. I wrote a children's book, Horatio Hedgehog, which won an award and was displayed in the Toronto library.

I picked up writing in a big way in my 30s, when I become a humour columnist and starting writing stand-up for comedians. Then short stories (30 published) and then finally a novel. I have over 200 publications and have won 5 awards for fiction.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Melodie: Well, funny you would ask that! I may have to turn in my crime writer stripes. (I am the General Manager of Crime Writers of Canada.)

Charlaine Harris brought me to paranormal. And Diana Gabaldon, and Susanna Kearsley, with Marianna. I was a confirmed mystery reader, but a closet romantic suspense reader. Mary Stewart's My Brother Michael is still the book I measure all others to. Then I hit the wonderful world of combining suspense with paranormal, and I was hooked. I love the freedom of something out of our world. And while I want a romance in my stories, I crave a lot of plot. Paranormal by its very nature delivers strong plots.

But to explain Rowena: one day I was sitting at my desk, totally overwhelmed with work, family, and parental caregiving, and I thought - if I could walk through that wall over there into another world, I would do it. That night, Rowena got her start.

I needed the wildest kind of escape from mother's palliative bedside. Escape is what I hope to give readers.

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

Melodie: OH - no question - the talent of my heroine, Rowena! The ability to communicate with animals. I am animal-mad, and have some ability to calm dogs, horses and particularly donkeys. But to be able to share thoughts with them - that would be my dream.

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

Melodie: I got my start writing comedy, so it was gratifying when one reviewer called Rowena Through the Wall "Hot and Hilarious!" I wrote this novel as a fun escape novel for women. I wanted it to be funny, sexy, with high adventure and romance - just what I needed for myself! One reviewer called it "Jack Sparrow meets Stephanie Plum" - for me, that was humbling.

When Rowena walks through her classroom wall, she falls into an ancient world where the veneer of civilization is thin. She has rollicking adventures, and then is forced to face reality when she goes back through the wall. Inevitably, she is faced with a choice of what world to remain in. Just like we all are, in a way. We can have our fantasy worlds through reading, but we go back to our real lives after.

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

Melodie: Rowena - probably Penny from Big Bang Theory, because she could carry the comedy. She has great comedic timing. Another choice would be Gemma Arterton, or Tina Fey, if she were 10 years younger. But I would love to hear who readers would cast in this role.

Kendra - definitely Alice from Twilight!

Gareth would be Thor!

Thane would be Alcide from True Blood.

And Cedric....well, I see Cedric as Eric from True Blood. Evil, but oh so darn attractive. In fact, I am half in love with my villain. I wonder if other readers will feel that way too.

Rowena Through the Wall by Melodie Campbell

“Is that a broadsword on your belt, or are you just glad to see me?”

When Rowena falls through her classroom wall and lands in an alternate world, she doesn't count on being kidnapped―not once, but twice. Unwanted husbands keep piling up, but that doesn't stop her from falling for the wrong brother. Good thing she has the ability to go back through the wall. Or can she?

Warning: This book is not a 'sweet' romance - it is a sexy, funny, rollicking adventure with a spunky heroine and the medieval 'men' of her dreams!

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

To learn more about Melodie Campbell and her books, please visit her website.

Note: Melodie is offering a special discount for From the Shadows readers.
Want a half price coupon for the ebook version of 'Rowena Through the Wall'? Leave a comment on this post, with your contact info!

Character Interview: Rylie Gresham (All Hallows' Moon)

2011-09-13T00:01:00.020-04:00

Please welcome our very special guest Rylie Gresham from the pages of Six Moon Summer and All Hallows' Moon by S.M. Reine.

SM: Thanks for joining us today, Rylie! Would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself?

Rylie: Okay. Yeah. Hi, my name is Rylie Gresham. I'm about to turn sixteen years old. I hang out in coffee shops and sometimes drink coffee even though my mom said that's why I'm all skinny and short. I like art and movies and hanging out with guys, since girls are catty and weird. I also had a really bizarre summer.

SM: What made your summer bizarre?

Rylie: Well, my parents divorced, and they sent me to summer camp so their lawyers could fight in peace. I guess summer camp isn't that strange for most people, but I used to hate the outdoors, so it was really new and unusual for me. Until... things changed.

SM: That sounds menacing.

Rylie: If you think werewolf bites are menacing.

SM: Whoa! So what you're saying is that you're a werewolf.

Rylie: Yeah, I guess, something like that.

SM: How can you be "something like that"?

Rylie: I'm not like most werewolves. It took, like, three months for me to change after I got bitten. And I don't just change on the full moon. I change on the new moon too. But once I wake up human again the next morning, I can never remember what I did all night. I'm not dangerous or anything, I promise. I did eat a deer once, but that was an accident.

SM: What are you going to do now that you're a werewolf?

Rylie: I'm going to go live on my aunt's ranch. She's out in the country, so it should be safe for me to turn into a wolf twice a month out there. Way safer than in my mom's condo. Plus I'm really strong now that I got bitten, so I bet I'm awesome at ranch type chores.

SM: Does your aunt know?

Rylie: No! Nobody can find out that I've changed. I mean, who would believe me? The only guy who knew was Seth, but I don't know what happened to him.

SM: Who is Seth?

Rylie: Seth is really mysterious, so he's hard to describe. He's got dark hair and broad shoulders and miles and miles of muscly arms. And he's got that smile... Wait, what was I talking about?

SM: How does Seth know about werewolves?

Rylie: He's got a huge secret of his own. I don't think I'm supposed to tell anyone.

SM: What's going to happen now?

Rylie: I don't know. I guess I have to try to finish high school, although that means a whole new set of people to get used to, and a whole bunch of new problems to face. But whatever it is, I can take it on. I mean, I'm a werewolf now. I can just eat anything that gives me trouble.

All Hallows' Moon (Seasons of the Moon #2) by S.M. Reine

Rylie survived becoming a werewolf at great cost. She moves to her aunt’s ranch in the hopes she can enroll in a new high school and quietly continue her life... with a few distinct changes. She transforms into a beast every new and full moon and struggles to control her murderous urges.

Without many werewolves left, it’s hard to stay in hiding. A family of hunters -- Eleanor, Abel, and Seth -- recognize the signs and follow Rylie to her new home. They want to stop her before she murders someone, and the only way to do it is with a silver bullet. Seth soon realizes the werewolf is Rylie, the one monster he failed to kill. Worse yet, he’s still in love with her.

Torn between family and love, Rylie struggles to reconcile her feelings and control the wolf within while Seth fights to do what’s right. But what is right-- obeying desire or duty?

Thank you Rylie and S.M. for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about S.M. Reine and her books, please visit her website or check out E.J.'s interview of S.M. here at From the Shadows.

Don't miss E.J.'s review of Six Moon Summer, the first book in the Seasons of the Moon series by S.M. Reine.

Paranormal Guest Author: Shayne Leighton (Of Light and Darkness)

2011-09-12T00:01:00.028-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Shayne Leighton! Shayne is the author of Of Light and Darkness.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Shayne: I've always loved to write, and actually began writing short stories back in grade school. I remember this one short story in particular that I wrote in the fourth grade about what it would be like to live inside a bubble! That's still one of my favorites. (LOL) But I only began seriously writing pretty recently. "Of Light and Darkness" is my debut novel, and the first full length novel I've ever written. I began writing that one in high school when I was sixteen. It took about four years to get it completed and published and I'm really excited to share this story with everyone!

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Shayne: Again, I've always loved magic and fantasy for as far back as I can remember. Fairy tales were always my favorite. My favorite Disney movie was a film called "Hocus Pocus" starring Bette Midler, about three witches. Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. So I was automatically attracted to the paranormal genre! And you can never go wrong with vampires...they are always sexy! ;) The first vampire I ever fell in love with was Lestat from Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire". Great movie and a fantastic book!

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

Shayne: This was an awesome question! It really got me thinking. My initial reaction was...Vampire! Definitely a vampire because they are just too deliciously bad. But after thinking about it more, I wanted to come up with a more interesting answer. I think I'd love to be a siren. I get to seduce sailors all day, I get to have a beautiful singing voice, and most importantly...I get fins! Sounds fun to me!

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

Shayne: I am definitely aware that bookshelves are absolutely saturated right now with vampire stories. But one thing I must emphasize, is this story is much different than the others. There are so many other fantastic creatures and characters woven in, and if I do say so myself, "Of Light and Darkness" is much darker and more dangerous. I think fans of other paranormal series will really find something they love within this book, but also discover something brand new as well. Plus, it takes place in Prague - which is a city you don't normally hear about much! :-)

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

Shayne: It's interesting you should ask this, because currently "Of Light and Darkness" is in development to be made into a film. My background is primarily in screenplay writing and filmmaking, so this just seemed like a natural next step to take with it. Currently we have Michael Welch from "The Twilight Saga" cast for the role of Aiden in the film and Cassie Scerbo from ABC Family's "Make It Or Break It" is slated for the role of Sarah. If you want to keep up with more casting announcements, check our facebook fan page! :-)

Of Light and Darkness: The Vampire's Daughter (Of Light and Darkness #1) by Shayne Leighton

When one human stands before an army of impossible obstacles, the likelihood of overcoming them in this coming-of-age modern fairytale may result in war between light and darkness.

Abandoned as an infant in Prague, naive and strong-willed Charlotte Ruzikova was raised by one of the last Vampires left alive. As a human, she knows no other home than the one nestled deep in the woods of Eastern Europe, where Witches drew spells of enchantment, Phasers threw tea parties, and Elves are the closest in kin. Charlotte has lived her life in the dark with her Guardian, content to having him to herself and reveling in his attention, until she's realizes she wants more...

Resident medical doctor and Vampire, Valek Ruzik fears the day his ward would come of age and blossom into a fine woman, and he is forced to confront his own motives as time is of the essence once his past catches up to him, and their lives become endangered...

As genocide and war threatens their secret society, the dictator in power is ready to wipe out Valek's race, but Charlotte will not allow that to happen. Fighting for the only one she's ever loved and truly believed in, she will do whatever it takes to save their love...before the sun comes up and light takes over.

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

To learn more about Shayne Leighton and her books, please visit her website.

Paranormal Guest Author: Kathryn Leigh Scott + Dark Passages Giveaway

2011-09-09T00:01:00.015-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Kathryn Leigh Scott! Kathryn, known for her role as the bride of vampire Barnabas Colllins in Dark Shadows, is the author of Dark Passages.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Kathryn: I started writing when I was about 7 years old, and wrote a story about a little girl named Pixie who walks into the woods on the edge of her family's farm and comes across the ruins of a cottage. It becomes her secret dollhouse, which she loves to play in because a good witch appears who gives her dolls the ability to speak. I actually lived on a farm with a derelict cottage in the woods at the end of a meadow. My parents forbid us to play in the woods for fear we would get lost, and made sure we didn't disobey by telling us a wicked witch lived there. I desperately wanted a dollhouse and I guess my imagination took it from there!

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Kathryn: I originally wrote DARK PASSAGES as a coming of age story set in the 1960s. When I finished the novel, I was reading a portion aloud to my husband when it occurred to me, "What if . . . . Meg Harrison was a real vampire?" I made some notes and rewrote the book. Thinking back, it was a natural choice and felt entirely organic to the story. Now I can't imagine the story without those elements. I know it also has much to do with being steeped in Dark Shadows lore and having originated the role of Josette duPres, the doomed fiance of vampire Barnabas Collins. The series is now celebrating its 45th anniversary and is still very much a part of my life.

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

Kathryn: Mind reading! I've thought of the downsides, but they don't stack up against the terrific advantage of knowing what someone else is thinking. Communicating with the dead is also appealing, providing one has a choice on who is called up. I'm not sure I would say no to acquiring any sort of special gift —who wouldn't want to fly or have superhuman strength?

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

Kathryn: If I may say so, I think the very fact that the characters and story were fully formed before the paranormal elements were included give the novel more dimension. It's also a very personal story for me, although it is anything but a "memoir." I draw on what I know and remember, of course, and I believe readers familiar with my nonfiction books about Dark Shadows will enjoy my wild imaginings of what "might've, could've" taken place.

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

Kathryn: Carey Mulligan is the first to come to mind to play Meg Harrison. Young Bella Heathcote, who plays Josette DuPres in the new Warner Bros film of Dark Shadows, would also be a good choice.

Dark Passages by Kathryn Leigh Scott

Dark Passages is a coming-of-age story encapsulating the romance and innocence of JFK’s Camelot era and the tumultuous "dark passages" of Meg Harrison, a vampire raised by her mother to resist the temptation of human blood. Meg arrives in New York determined not to use her vampiric gifts to fulfill her dream of becoming an actress. She joins the cast of the cult hit Dark Passages, only to face her nemesis, a beautiful 300-year-old witch bent on destroying her. Their rivalry leads to a final confrontation as the telekinetic vampire and spell-weaving sorceress engage in a spectacular battle for supremacy. It takes all of Meg’s wit and tenacity to defeat the witch and win the affections of a handsome young mortal with a secret life of his own. In the end, Meg realizes that the powers she always denied within herself are not a curse, but a blessing.

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

To learn more about Kathryn Leigh Scott and her books, please visit her website.

**Dark Passages Giveaway**

We are giving away a paperback copy of Dark Passages by Kathryn Leigh Scott to one lucky winner!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is to US mailing addresses only. Giveaway ends September 23rd midnight EST.

Paranormal Guest Author: Allyson James (Stormwalker Series)

2011-09-08T00:01:00.034-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Allyson James! Allyson is the author of the Mortal series, Tales of Shareem series, Dragon series, and the Stormwalker series including Stormwalker, Firewalker, and Shadow Walker.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Allyson: I started writing stories when I was about eight years old. I'd already read all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and had started on Little Women and Anne of Green Gables. I realized that these novels were make-believe written down, and I was very good at make believe. So I started writing down stuff I made up. I also knew that people wrote books for a living, and the books went to libraries and bookstores. I couldn't imagine a better job.

I didn't start writing seriously for publication until many years later. I tried "real" jobs, but I always came back to writing. One day I said, "Why not?" and I started writing and submitting. It took about six years after that, off and on, to finally sell my first novel (which I did in 2002).

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Allyson: I grew up reading fantasy. I'd read the Lord of the Rings series by the time I was twelve, plus I loved C.S. Lewis's Narnia series. I went from there to fantasy writers such as Terry Brooks, Barbara Hambly, and David Eddings. I've always loved high fantasy and quest fantasy.

I originally wanted to be a fantasy writer, but when I started writing for publication, that market was hard to break into (or so I thought). Plus I always wanted to add romance to my stories, and at the time, romance was a no-no in fantasy (at least, not as much romance as I wanted to include).

So, I decided to be a romance author. I loved historicals (paranormals weren't yet a big thing), so wrote those. I still love historicals and still write them, but as soon as the paranormal romance market really opened up (moving beyond vampire romances), I took it as a green light to write all those stories I'd been saving up.

I kind of had to cajole my editors into letting me write paranormal, because I was doing pretty well at historical, and they didn't want me to stop. But I convinced them, and it's going well! I still write historical, though. Love that too.

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

Allyson: I think shape shifting would be cool. I'd love to have animal senses and be much stronger and faster than I am now (sitting and writing isn't good for your figure). Plus with shifting back and forth, you can take full advantage of your human skills as well as your animal skills. Best of both worlds. And maybe then I'd understand what my cats are constantly meowing at me about.

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

Allyson: Shadow Walker (Book 3 of the Stormwalker series) has plenty of action plus plenty of heartbreaking romance. Janet Begay, a Navajo Stormwalker, has to face the possibility that her boyfriend, Mick (dragon-shifter) might be lost to her forever, and that she will have to lose everything she has and everything she is to save him. Throw in some humor with Coyote, the trickster shape shifter, dragons who either want to help Mick or kill him, and a drag-queen magic mirror, for a fast-paced tale of magic, action, and drama.

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

Allyson: Good question. I'm bad at knowing who is who in Hollywood, or who would be right for my books. So if readers have their own ideas about Mick and Janet from the Stormwalker series (or Liam and Sean Morrissey from the Shifter series I write as Jennifer Ashley), have at it. :-)

Shadow Walker (Stormwalker #3) by Allyson James

Stormwalker Janet Begay returns home only to have the ground collapse beneath her-literally. After tumbling two hundred feet underground, Janet is rescued by her dragon boyfriend, Mick. But something dark touches Mick while in the sinkhole, and Janet might lose him forever unless she recruites the most unlikely of allies to stop the growing shadow.

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

To learn more about Allyson James and her books, please visit her website.

Paranormal Guest Author: Stuart Land

2011-09-05T00:01:00.019-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Stuart Land! Stuart is the author of Back from the Dead, Epiphany, Shadow House, and Original Blood.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Stuart: I began several times. First, I was in the sixth grade and wrote a time travel story for a history assignment. The second time I was in Junior high and wrote a story about love lost (I know, who hasn’t). Then a bunch of years went by until I was working in the Hollywood film business as a sculptor. I was on many sets and got see how the preeminent directors and writers of our time created these incredible films I worked on. Ok, so not all were so incredible. I mean, what’s wrong with Neon Maniacs, I ask you? But there was also Aliens, Polterguist II, Predator, Independence day, and everyone’s favorite, Nightmare on Elm street V.

I thought I could write as well, or even better, so bought my first portable computer (the only portable computer) a Campaq portable, the size of a sewing machine, 640 k, with a tiny green screen, no hard drive, and five inch floppies. It looked like the monitor from the Matrix. I remember my first attempt at “serious” writing. I broke out in a cold sweat. I had spent a small fortune on hardware and software, and after a week all I had to show for it was poo. That’s right, not all writers are born to the task. Some of us have to actually work at it.

It was a year or so later, after taking every guru writing course in Hollywood and beyond, reading over a hundred screenplay and loads of books, and studying with directors, actors and writers, that I finally had something I considered readable. That was almost twenty screenplays and five novels ago.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Stuart: I grew up with sci-fi and monsters on TV and in the movies. Later, I worked on some of the most famous sci-fi and monster movies in America cinema, so I guess I always loved the paranormal since it was a large part of my life. However, the stories I write, though many are paranormal, always are very different than anything else out there. Everything I write is really cross-genre and doesn’t fit neatly into just one genre. This makes it hard for people to initially pick up, but every person who has read my books has enjoyed them, with many saying that my stories have allowed them to enter a genre they didn’t care for before.

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

Stuart: This is an unexpected question. But, clever girl, I’m ready for it. In my stories, I like supernatural to be close to natural, but mightily enhanced. In my book, Original Blood, one of the characters is turning into a vampire, and during this transition, she can move really fast, faster than any other vampire. How she uses this to her advantage is the power I’d like.

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

Stuart: My newest novel, Epiphany, isn’t paranormal at all, but reads like one. It’s based entirely on science fact, yet feels so supernatural because I skirt the edge. Here’s the blurb:
Doctor Sam Enright and his geneticist wife, Dorinda, face turmoil in their small town when a dozen adolescent girls show up pregnant at Sam’s office—and they’re all virgins. When their own daughter falls victim to the same fate, the Enrights rush to Homeland Security for answers. As the questions multiply, they realize they are at the vanguard of a worldwide epidemic, and the mystery deepens. As events escalate, a disparate group of international doctors, scientists, and mothers-to-be are brought together at Dorinda’s genetics lab in Middle America. They race to find the cause and meaning of the mysterious pregnancies, but every discovery reveals a new, worse scenario, leaving humanity's very existence in question.

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

Stuart: I hadn’t really thought this out so much, even though I worked in Hollywood a long time. When I write screenplays I think about this, but not for novels. Novels are very specific, whereas screenplays give a lot of latitude as who can play a part. Plus actor and actresses change faster than the weather in San Francisco. Anywho, here are a few choices:

Original Blood (a vampire tail following two women two centuries apart):
Jennifer Lawrence – Zondra
Toss-up between
Natalie Portman - Gailene
Noomi Rapace – Gailene

Epiphany:
Jennifer Hudson - Dr. Dorinda Enright

Original Blood by Stuart Land

Original Blood is the delicious, but tormenting tale of Zondra and Gailene as they’re turned into vampires against their will. Separated by two centuries but bound by familial blood that threatens to destroy the vampire nation, Zondra experiences a mind-bending skewed Cinderella story with hot motorcycles, limitless money, and ancient mansions teeming with the undead, while Gailene must rise from devastation, rage, and vengeance to become a powerful vampire leader in the New World. Both women are forced to overcome their circumstances, one of privilege, one of destitution, to gain the power that will save themselves and the man they both love from the retribution of their creator.

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

To learn more about Stuart Land and his books, please visit his website.

Character Interview: Percone + Blend Series Giveaway

2011-09-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

Please welcome today's special guests Percone of Earth Blend and paranormal author Lori Pescatore!

Lori: Hello and welcome. My name is Lori Pescatore and I am the Author of Human Blend and the newly released Earth Blend. I have with me today one of my characters from the books. He has graciously offered to sit down with me for an interview and talk about the new book. Percone, welcome, thanks for coming.

Percone: You make it sound like I actually wanted to do this.

Lori: Don't you?

Percone: Why would I want to spend time talking to you? You're a human. The people reading this are human. I hate humans.

Lori: Why do you hate us so much?

Percone: Isn't it obvious? You and your kind have polluted this Earth for far too long. You, as an Author, have killed trees to publish your work. The only good thing that has happened is with this e-book thing.

Lori: For those of you who do not know it, Percone is an Earthling. A creature created by the Earth to protect itself from the damage we humans have caused. Percone, I understand why you are upset, but I think the humans have taken quite a stand recently in trying to be more green. Does that not count for something?

Percone: Too little, too late. You are trying to put a band-aid on a wound that is seeping life from the abrasions caused by man.

Lori: Okay, I think we are getting off topic here. We can debate this another time. Let's talk about the book. You were first introduced at the end of Human Blend. Do we get to know you more in Earth Blend?

Percone: At least this time I get a whole chapter devoted to me.

Lori: And you are also in the book in a lot of other chapters as well.

Percone: Not enough.

Lori: Tell us about your Earthling abilities.

Percone: I'm Mother Nature. I can control the elements, although I'm not supposed to unless I am helping save the Earth.

Lori: Something tells me you do not always follow those rules.

Percone: Rules are meant to be broken.

Lori: How do you think people will react to Earth Blend?

Percone: I don't really care.

Lori: Percone, we agreed you would be nice and do this.

Percone: You threatened to kill me off if I didn't do it. I'm preserving face time.

Lori: Should I get someone else to do it? Maybe Eli?

Percone: You would, wouldn't you? You favor him just like Suron.

Lori: Suron is the leader of the Earthlings, correct?

Percone: More like a spokesperson. He is the voice of our Mother Tree.

Lori: I know the first six chapters are actually a prequel to Human Blend. The history of your people is explained.

Percone: Yes, I did like that part. We get to hear how those Blends came to be as well.

Lori: The Blends being part human, part something else.

Percone: I tolerate them more because they are not fully human. We have enough of those. Can we be done?

Lori: One last question... Why don't you wear clothes?

Percone: Why anyone wears those itchy, scratchy things is beyond me. Mother made us this way.

Lori: Some of the Earthlings wear clothes.

Percone: Only the stupid ones.

Lori: I've seen you interact with humans.

Percone: For purely nefarious reasons, I assure you. I thought you said one more question.

Lori: I did not ask any. I only made statements and you responded.

Percone: (mumbling something)

Lori: What was that?

Percone: You can't print what I said and that was another question, I'm done.

Lori: Okay, fine. Is there anything else you want to say before you go?

Percone: Save a tree, buy an e-book.

Lori: Thanks Percone.

Earth Blend (Blend Series, #2) by Lori Pescatore

Earth Blend is the second book in the Blend trilogy and the sequel to Human Blend. In this installment, the mysteries of the Blends and Earthlings are revealed. How can Julie live a normal life when she is anything but normal? Her relationship with Austin is complicated by emerging abilities in them both. Trust is hard to come by as lies and secrets hinder them at every turn. Is the past destined to repeat itself as the Earthlings once again rush to save them? Ensuing chaos breeds fatal consequences.

Thank you Lori and Percone for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

Don't miss Lori's author interview here at From the Shadows discussing her first book in the Blend Series, Human Blend.

**Blend Series International Giveaway**

We are giving away ebook copies and paperback copies of the Blend Series by Lori Pescatore! One winner will win ebook copies of Human Blend and Earth Blend and a second winner will win paperback copies of Human Blend and Earth Blend signed by the author.

To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends September 16th midnight EST.

Forever Freed Giveaway Winners

2011-08-31T09:42:00.000-04:00

Congrats tlynnetolles, Emma Lai, and Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club winners of our Forever Freed Giveaway at From the Shadows!

Tlynnetolles will receive an ebook copy of Forever Freed by Laura Kaye.

Emma Lai and Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club will receive Forever Freed trading cards.

Thank you to all who entered.

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

Paranormal Guest Author: Sang Kromah (Concealed)

2011-08-29T00:01:00.004-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Sang Kromah! Sang is the author of Concealed.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Sang: I actually created the background story as a child, but I began writing the story on a trip to California with my mom. It was the summer before I began grad school and I was supposed to be having fun and concentrating on modeling, but we got to the airport in San Francisco, I saw a girl, who for some reason took me back to the memory of the story I’d created as a child. When we got to the hotel, I began writing ferociously, and three months later, Concealed was born.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Sang: I’ve always been a paranormal fanatic. My parents always wondered what was wrong with me. They told me so many paranormal stories as a young child and when I became obsessed they wondered why. I’m always researching strange happenings and watching scary films (in various languages). I’m just passionate about the genre and couldn’t imagine writing anything else. I’d go crazy!

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

Sang: Oh wow! My younger brother and I ask this question quite frequently. My supernatural talents would be rapid cellular regeneration, so I could be indestructible and to be a healer. It may seem lame, but I could save so many people with my power. I wouldn’t publicize it. To me these two powers go hand in hand, because in order to continue to heal people you’d have to stay alive, and better way to do that than by being indestructible.

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

Sang: Readers will love Concealed, because it’s unique and totally random. It’s an introduction to a side of fantasy that hasn’t quite been seen before with colorful characters that walk the line between good and evil so artfully it makes it hard to tell the difference. It’s a tasteful blend of fantasy, teen angst, mythology, and history rolled into one, and you won’t be able to put it down.

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

Sang: My main character, Bijou is racially ambiguous and is stylish and Bohemian. You know the type, beautiful but insecure. She would most likely be played by Gossip Girl’s Jessica Szohr or Smallville’s Kristin Kreuk. The only other character that I have definitely found a match for is Amina. I watch a lot of foreign television and I watch an Australian soap opera, Home and Away. There’s this actress, Tessa James and I swear it was as if my words came to life and created this girl. Her whole look is Amina, the accent, the feisty yet bubbly attitude is so her.

Concealed (Concealed #1) by Sang Kromah

When sixteen year-old Bijou Fitzroy and her nomadic grandmother leave New York City to live in a home in the sleepy town of Sykesville, Maryland, Bijou thinks she will finally be able to live a normal life and be like everyone else. This move will be permanent, and Bijou cannot be anymore thrilled. After years of being shut away by her grandmother, Bijou will finally able to interact with peers, make friends, go to school, and live like a normal teenager.

Moving around and being homeschooled definitely made it difficult to make friends, but there are other reasons for Bijou’s solitude. With eyes that constantly change from gray to green to a honey-coated shade of brown and an ability to feel exactly what other people are feeling, the concept of obtaining closeness is more of a fable than a reality. Although her eyes are beautiful, their constant shift in color instills a sense of fear within other people and causes them to look away. Bijou’s premonitions, blackouts, and semi-prophetic dreams of a faceless boy don’t help her social musings either. Regardless, she decides to attend the local high school.

Bijou is immediately introduced to Sebastian Sinjin, a quirky and unusually beautiful boy who doesn’t seem to belong in a high school in nowhere Maryland. Sebastian is also special. Instead of looking away from Bijou, he makes direct eye contact with her. And when he shakes Bijou’s hand something dark and familiar to awaken within her as an electric shock surges through her body. Bijou soon finds herself deeply attracted to Sebastian, who remains aloof and often acts like Bijou doesn’t exist.

Despite the pains of having her first real crush, Bijou makes friends quickly and excels in all of her classes…well, all except for Mythology with Mr. Jennings. Mr. Jennings’ class starts off great with endless discussions of djinn and how they conceal themselves from the human eye, but things soon take a turn for the worse when the stories of the mythical creatures begin to take shape in Bijou’s life.

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

To learn more about Sang Kromah and her books, please visit her website.

Paranormal Guest Author: Elizabeth Miles (Fury)

2011-08-25T00:01:00.013-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Elizabeth Miles! Elizabeth is the author of Fury.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Elizabeth: I have always written. As a child, I wrote fiction and non-fiction and what would now be considered “fan fiction” — stories that continued or expanded on the trajectories of well-loved (by me) characters like Laura from the Little House on the Prairie series. In college, I majored in print journalism and I started working for an alt-weekly newspaper after I graduated. That’s still my day job: narrative journalism with an alternative spin. I started writing fiction again in 2010, at the urging of my longtime friend and fellow YA author Lauren Oliver (Before I Fall, Delirium), who was instrumental in helping Fury become a reality.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Elizabeth: I love realistic fiction, but I appreciate the freedom that paranormal provides. Incorporating paranormal elements into a contemporary tale, which is what I feel I did with Fury, gave me the opportunity to heighten certain scenarios, to give (creepy) life to esoteric emotions, to attach real danger to typically cerebral concerns. It allowed me to explore the concept of vengeance from an amplified perspective. Not to mention, it’s fun — both to read and to write. And I like creepy things.

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

Elizabeth: I used to hem and haw over this question — invisibility? teleportation? mind-reading? All of those options sounded cool but none them really inspired me. Then, the other day, I was watching Enchanted, gleefully smiling during the singing/dancing scene in Central Park (“That’s How You Know”), and my boyfriend said, “This would be your superpower — the ability to turn normal situations into big musical scenes.” And he’s dead right! Brilliant! I would be the Musical Theater Mage, transforming quotidian life into sweeping, powerful production numbers.

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

Elizabeth: Fury is both scary and sexy, and its characters are real, flawed, and interesting. The idea of karma, the question of whether or not revenge is actually sweet — these are concepts we grapple with daily (whether or not we want to admit that is a different story). Fury offers a fresh, exciting take on paranormal YA lit.

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

Elizabeth: I don’t want to say too much about this because I don’t want to influence the way readers imagine the characters in their heads. That said, I really enjoy Elle Fanning (she was so good in Super 8 and Somewhere!) and I would be honored to have her portray a character in the Fury series.

Fury (Fury, #1) by Elizabeth Miles

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen.

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

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

Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway Winner

2011-08-23T10:07:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Harpreet of A Spark of Interest: Books for Teens winner of our Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway at From the Shadows! Harpreet will receive copies of Spirit Storm (Spirit Guide #2) by E.J. Stevens, Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater, and Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) by Andrea Cremer.

Thank you to all who entered!

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

Happy Birthday (to me)

2011-08-22T00:01:00.003-04:00

I'll be away from my blog (and Twitter, and Goodreads, and email...) much of the day. I've scheduled a mini blog holiday, but the paranormal guest author schedule will resume this Thursday with a visit from Elizabeth Miles, author of Fury.

I'm off to celebrate my birthday and eat LOTS of cake! xx

Darkness Descending Giveaway Winner

2011-08-21T03:01:00.008-04:00

Congratulations NoraA of NoraAdrienne's Reviews winner of our Darkness Descending Giveaway at From the Shadows! NoraA will receive a signed paperback copy of Darkness Descending, the first book in the Vampire Armageddon series, by Devyn Quinn.

Thank you to all who entered!

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

Toxic: Blood Countess Ebook Giveaway Winner

2011-08-20T09:41:00.001-04:00

Congratulations elaing8 of My Love for Books winner of our Toxic: Blood Countess Ebook Giveaway at From the Shadows! Elaing8 will receive an ebook copy of Toxic, the first book in the Blood Countess series, by Eve Langlais.

Thank you to all who entered.

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

Paranormal Guest Author: Violet Yates (Tears of Heaven)

2011-08-18T00:01:00.009-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Violet Yates. Violet is the author of Forgotten Forest of the Innocent, Lost and Found, Leaves of the Fall and Tears of Heaven.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Violet: I started writing stories when I was eight years old. I read Highlights for Children, a children's magazine, a lot back then. I wrote a story about a bunny and submitted it to them. They didn't use the story. Later, after I had my kids, I wrote a lot of non-fiction, like Letters to the Editor. They always were published. I really didn't think seriously about writing fiction until I was in my mid-twenties. I bought numerous notebooks, intending to start, but didn't know where to start. Somewhere around 2001, I jumped in. I wrote my first novel after 9-11 happened- I realized at that point that life was short and it was time to start realizing my dreams. Of course, my first novel was awful. I went back to school after receiving numerous rejection letters and learned how to write better while I was an English major.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Violet: While I was planning on doing an independent study with one of my professors, the idea of using Hawaiian culture came into play. I wanted my book to be unique, and a big part of Hawaiian culture is their gods and goddesses. So I started putting little references here and there about Madame Pele, the Hawaiian Fire Goddess, into my novel. Much later, I realized I could have my character, Lena, take on Pele's powers, and thus, it would be classified as paranormal, but literary as well.

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

Violet: I would love to fly. Really. I have these dreams all the time in which I'm flying... I literally start flapping my arms and soon enough I'm in the air high above everyone else. It's a great feeling of freedom. :)

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

Violet: I think the magnetism of Pele will draw people in. Face it, people like bad characters as much as they like heroines. Lena, who takes on Pele's powers in my novel, is a classic seductress who will stop at almost nothing to take what she wants, and what she wants is Ikaika. She will murder to have him. Whether she gets him is for the reader to discover.

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

Violet: Ever since Twilight made the supernatural come back into vogue, I've thought about this. My problem is that most of my characters are Hawaiian or part Hawaiian at least, and I don't know of any Hawaiian actors or actresses. Whoever played Lena, however, would have to be really beautiful, with reddish black hair and of Hawaiian descent. Kaitlyn would probably be easier to cast, being of Irish descent with auburn hair. Maybe I'd cast Kristen Stewart when she gets a little older? That would certainly create a stir for my book. :)

Tears of Heaven by Violet Yates

Lena Ka'awa takes on the powers of the Hawaiian Fire Goddess Pele, which causes catastrophe for Kaitlyn and Ikaika. Kaitlyn's husband dies in a fiery car accident. Ikaika's wife, Beth, and their child, Aolani, are also killed. Kaitlyn and Ikaika meet up at the graveside and look to each other for friendship and comfort. Aolani is now a ghost with supernatural powers; she 'pushes' Kaitlyn to investigate the 'accident' further, causing them to suspect that Lena killed them. The volcano is about to blow and all their lives are in danger- they need to find out how to appease Pele… will they find the answer in time to save them? Can they fight against the awesome powers of Pele?

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

To learn more about Violet Yates and her books, please visit her website.

Paranormal Guest Author: Laura Kaye + Forever Freed Giveaway

2011-08-15T00:01:00.034-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Laura Kaye! Laura is the author of Hearts in Darkness and Forever Freed.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

Laura: I wrote my first stories as a child. I was an only child and alone a good bit, so I became very good at entertaining myself, and cultivating a vivid imagination was one part of that! The first story I remember writing, although I doubt it was my first, was a paranormal retelling of A Secret Garden. I have no idea whatever happened to the notebook in which I handwrote the story, but I can still see the book in my mind’s eye. In high school, I won a prize for a story called “Peter Save the Tsar,” which was a time travel tale about a modern-day kid who stopped the assassination of the Russian royal family in 1917.

That story also reveals my interest in history, which is where my writing became concentrated once I went to college and graduate school. As a professional historian, writing has been a part of my life for my entire career. But it wasn’t until three years ago that the fiction bug hit me—literally! I hit my head on July 4th and after several weeks of severe headaches and other “post-concussive” side effects, I found myself wanting to write fiction. At the end of August, I started writing the book that became Forever Freed, and the draft was done by November 1.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Laura: Well, as my paranormal retelling of A Secret Garden shows, I’ve been interested in the paranormal since I was a small child. That interest stems from my family, all of whom believe in the supernatural. It was completely normal for my family to sit around my grandmother’s dinner table on a Friday night and tell stories about their houses being haunted, or the evil-eye curse my grandmother believed her mother-in-law placed on her, or the angel that came to my grandmother when she was pregnant with my mother. We all saw instances of odd, unexplainable things happen in some of our family’s houses, particularly my grandmother’s. The supernatural just was. The two authors I remember being totally hooked on the earliest were Anne Rice and Stephen King, so I’ve always been most interested in the paranormal genre. And it’s so totally cool to be writing in it, now!

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

Laura: Teleporting. I would totally love to be able to move from one place to another instantaneously just by willing it. How cool would that be? Poof! And you’re gone. Need to check on someone? You can. Need to get somewhere quick? No problem.

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

Laura: I would love to! Forever Freed is a paranormal romance about a reclusive, empathic vampire who falls in love with a woman he planned to kill and her young daughter, then fights his ancient guilt, bloodlust, lie by omission, and an old vampire rival who threatens everything he holds dear.

One thing I think is interesting and appealing about Forever Freed is that it is first person point of view from the vampire hero’s perspective. And Lucien Demarco is such an amazing, sympathetic, complicated character—his mind is an interesting place to be.

Another enjoyable part of the book is the heroine’s daughter, Olivia, who goes by “Ollie.” Ollie is as central to the plot and to Lucien’s character development as the heroine Samantha is, and Ollie’s often an incredible scene stealer. Not to mention how heart-melting it is to see Lucien and Ollie interact.

Readers will also enjoy the way the paranormal world in Forever Freed is meshed with the real world of contemporary Detroit, and the rationale for that is based on the true history of the city, which I think is pretty cool.

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

Laura: Ooh! I love this question! For Lucien, it’s so easy too! Alex O’Loughlin was THE character in my head the whole time I was writing Forever Freed.

This picture perfectly captures Lucien’s mood and the general atmosphere of the book. And, ya know, IT’S ALEX O’LOUGHLIN!!! (LOL) I’ve always had a harder time picking just the right actress for Samantha Sutton—maybe Amanda Seyfried or Kate Hudson—they both have that pretty wholesomeness about their look that I associate with Samantha. Dakota Fanning when she was young would’ve made a great Ollie, but of course she’s all grown up now! Dakota always had that cute precociousness that is totally Ollie. Thinking about the book being made into a movie is so much fun!!!

Forever Freed by Laura Kaye

A heart can break, even one that no longer beats.

I stalk my new neighbors, a single mother and her child, drawn by the irresistible scent of their joy and love. I crave their blood, starved for some healing respite from my ancient grief. Now to lure them into my grasp.

But they surprise me. Little Olivia accepts me without fear or reservation—talking, smiling, offering innocent affection that tugs at my long-lost humanity. Her mother, Samantha, seeks me out when she should stay away, offering sweet friendship, and calling to the forgotten man within me. They lure me instead.

Ah, Dio, Lucien, run and spare them while you can…

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

To learn more about Laura Kaye and her books, please visit her website.

**Forever Freed Giveaway**

We are giving away one ebook copy of Forever Freed by Laura Kaye to one lucky winner and two sets of Forever Freed romance trading cards to two runners up!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win). You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!). This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends August 30th midnight EST.

Paranormal Guest Author: M.J. Hearle (Winter's Shadow)

2011-08-11T00:01:00.021-04:00

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author M.J. Hearle! M.J. is the author of Winter's Shadow.

EJ: When did you begin writing?

MJ: I've written as long as I could hold a pen. Storytelling fascinated me from a young age, however these early stories were greatly limited by my vocabulary. For example, the narrative rarely extended past 'The cat sat on the mat'. As I learnt new words the stories became more complex, though never ran further than ten or so pages. Originally, I thought I'd exorcise this storytelling impulse of mine through film rather than fiction. Ten frustrating years later, I decided I'd abandon this goal and try writing a novel instead. It would certainly be a lot cheaper than filmmaking and I wouldn't have to rely on anyone but myself (it's tough trying to get people to work for free on a low budget movie). While, it was a little scary at first, the more I wrote the more confident I became and before I knew it I had a finished manuscript, which snagged me an agent and a publishing deal. To say, I was extraordinarily lucky is an understatement.

EJ: What brought you to the paranormal genre?

MJ: I've always been a voracious reader, but the genre I read more than any other was horror. Call me crazy, but I just love being scared. I'm not really a fan of the whole 'paranormal' label. It seems like a marketing term cooked up by booksellers and publishers wary of some stigma carried by the word ‘horror’. I didn’t even know it existed until I started meeting with publishers and found out Winter’s Shadow was a ‘paranormal romance’. I suppose some novels that slip into this genre, might not be overtly horrific, but if a novel has a werewolf or a vampire or some other supernatural creature, and there's a good amount of suspense and bloodshed then it's a horror novel. Even if the central plot line is romantic. You can dress it up and call it something different, but the reason people pick it up is because they’re looking for that illicit thrill. They’re looking to be scared. Otherwise, they’d just buy a bodice ripper. As far as I’m concerned Winter’s Shadow is a horror novel with a strong love story at the centre. Paranormal... It sounds like a psychological condition. Sorry for the digression :)

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

MJ: Immortality. There's a lot I want to get done and not enough time to do it in.

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

MJ: Winter's Shadow is unlike any other novel currently gracing the 'paranormal' section of your local bookstore. No vampires, werewolves, angels, fairies, gods or any of the other various supernatural denizens make an appearance. I've gone to great lengths to create an entirely new mythology, with a new monster(s) for readers to fear and fall in love with. Apart from all the spooky stuff, at its core Winter's Shadow is a love story. I’d tentatively suggest the relationship between Blake and Winter is sketched in a slightly less idealised way than is typical for the genre. Both are a little more broken, a little more real than the characters which generally populate this sort of fiction, which makes their love all the richer.

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

MJ: I think Sophie Turner who stars as Sansa Stark in HBO’s Game of Thrones could do a decent job as Winter, though she might be a little bit too beautiful. Winter isn’t supposed to be stunning but most Hollywood actresses are nothing less than jaw dropping. Ultimately, I’d probably go for an unknown actress, with an emphasis on talent over looks. As for Blake, I wish I could go back in time and cast a young Jeremy Sisto because he would be perfect. He played ‘Billy’ in Six Feet Under, which is incidentally one of the greatest shows of all time.

Winter's Shadow by M.J. Hearle

Blake Duchamp...

He's all that Winter Adams can think of. Ever since their fateful meeting at Pilgrim's Lament. Ever since he looked at her with those emerald eyes. Ever since he saved her life.

But Blake isn't all that he seems. There is a strangeness about him, something dark and otherworldly. Something dangerous. In his attic is a secret he would kill to defend, but Winter seems to have a special ability to make him forget his duty. And he is her only protection against the gathering darkness.

The only problem is, to protect Winter, Blake must risk exposing her to an even greater danger. Himself.

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

To learn more about M.J. Hearle and his books, please visit his website.

Evening With A Vampire Giveaway Winner!

2011-08-09T13:57:00.002-04:00

Congratulations Catie (Forbidden Passions Reviews) winner of our Evening With A Vampire Giveaway at From the Shadows! Catie will receive an Evening With A Vampire prize pack containing a signed copy of Crimson Dawn by Ronnie Massey plus a vampire movie and matching poster.

Thank you to all who entered!

Don't miss our other fab giveaways, including Wolf Days of Summer Giveaway for a chance to win Spirit Storm, Forever, and Wolfsbane (ends 8/22), Toxic International Ebook Giveaway for an ebook copy of the first book in The Blood Countess series Toxic (ends 8/19), Darkness Descending International Giveaway for a signed paperback copy of the first book in the Vampire Armageddon series Darkness Descending (ends 8/20).