Hound's Bite Reviewer's Choice Award Celebration Giveaway

Love urban fantasy?  Want to win swag from the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series?  To celebrate the nomination of HOUND'S BITE for a Reviewer's Choice Award, we're having a giveaway!

Hound's Bite Reviewer's Choice Giveaway

I'm giving away a Hound's Bite Prize Pack, including:

• Barghest / Hellhound 25mm Heroic Scale Fantasy Miniature
• Signed Hound's Bite Mini Poster
• Signed Hound's Bite Postcard
• Ivy Granger Button
• Custom Earbuds (choice of black or teal)

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to US/CA/UK.  Giveaway ends February 21, 2017 midnight EST.

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Unleash the Wild Hunt!

HOUND'S BITE, the fifth full-length novel in the Ivy Granger Psychic Detective urban fantasy series, has been nominated for a 2016 Reviewer's Choice Award.  Voting is open (click here to vote for your favorite paranormal reads of 2016) until February 12, 2017.

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

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

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

Hound's Bite now available in Ebook and Trade Paperback
Amazon | Amazon UK | Smashwords | Kobo | iTunes
 Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Hound's Bite Audiobooks Coming Spring 2017

Note: Blog giveaway winner will be randomly selected using Rafflecopter.  Voting in the awards in no way adds to your chances of winning this giveaway. Best of luck to all of this year's nominees.

REMINDER: All entries will be verified. Please do not claim that you followed/subscribed/commented if you did not do so. False entries will be disqualified and we reserve the right to ban emails from future entries. Thank you.

Author Q+A: Bec R. Robertson (The Fallen Trilogy)

Please welcome today's guest author, Bec. R. Robertson.  Bec is the author of The Fallen paranormal romance series, including FALLEN HEART. 

Q+A with Bec R. Robertson

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Bec:  I first started writing (terrible poetry) when I was about 12 or 13 years old.  Looking back I cringe at the awfulness but the time it was a much needed way to express all those bottled up feelings of adolescent frustration I felt.  As well, another motivating thing for me was my English teacher in high school.  He was one of the only teachers in my rather staid and conversation school that I liked and actually got on with.  He was a rather flamboyant character and he just totally inspired me as he had such a passion for fiction.  When he used to read books out to us he really made them come alive.

EJ:  What brought you to the fantasy genre?

Bec:  I have always been a fan of the fantasy genre, ever since I fell in love with CS Lewis's fantastic Chronicles of Narnia.  I had the seed of an idea in my head before I came to write The Fallen Trilogy series but it was a while before I got down to the nitty gritty of actually committing fingers to keyboard.  When I did, I had the most fun I've had writing in any genre, so you can definitely expect me to return to the genre again, even after the series is all wrapped up.

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

Bec:  I think I would be an angel, as I would like to be able to help people and guide them while also not having to fear death or dying. Angels have always held a particular fascination for me, and I find a lot of the artwork inspired by them beautiful too. This love of angels and the myths and legends surrounding them is partly what inspired me when I sat down to write Fallen Heart.

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

Bec:  If you enjoy urban fantasy that's heavy on suspense, secrets, and lashings of epic romance, you should definitely check out Fallen Heart.  Full of the mythology of angels, demons and other celestial beings, it's perfect for fans of YA fantasy romance and paranormal suspense.

The story is told from the point of view of Bailey, a cute sixteen year old fallen angel sent to earth to guard Celeste, a mortal, and is centered around their forbidden love for one another.  Bailey's passion for Celeste arouses the ire of the Elder Gods, putting her in danger. But to save her, Bailey will discover he must make the biggest sacrifice of all- his own happiness, and possibly even his life...

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

Bec:  I would cast Selena Gomez as Celeste as she would absolutely fit the bill, and for Bailey, I think it would have to be Zac Effron, for his cherubic adorability.

Thank you, Bec, for joining us here at From the Shadows.

You can learn more about Bec R. Robertson on her website.  Learn more about the book FALLEN HEART below.

Fallen Heart (The Fallen #1) by Bec R. Robertson.

What happens when a fallen angel forbidden to love defies the Gods and falls for a mortal girl?

Trained from a young age to take part in the ancient tradition of the Fallen, sixteen year old Bailey is instructed to guard and protect his mortal charge Celeste. When his mission's completed, like all Fallen he'll be recalled to serve one of two Arch Angels - Thorus or the Lightbringer. It's been that way for millennia, or so his Guardian, Ganor says.

What he's not supposed to do is fall in love.

Warned from getting romantically involved with Celeste by an ex-angel, Bailey decides to ignore advice and follow his heart instead. But when he defies the laws of the Unseen Gods and tastes love with a mortal, he sets a chain of disastrous events in motion, placing himself and Celeste in danger. On a mission to protect her, Bailey uncovers a dark secret - Thorus was overthrown by the Lightbringer long ago. Now the Lightbringer reigns supreme and intends to use the Fallen to bring a reign of terror upon earth.

When the only item allowing Bailey to exist in the earth realm disappears, he must race against time to protect Celeste and save a world on the brink of crisis. But if Bailey wants to rescue humanity from darkness and ensure the safety of the girl he loves, he might have to make the greatest sacrifice of all – his own life.

Add to Goodreads.

Do you have any questions for Bec?

One Smoking Hot Fairy Tail Book Excerpt + Giveaway

This month is Faerie Celebration Month at From the Shadows and today we have a special ONE SMOKING HOT FAIRY TAIL by Kevin James Breaux book excerpt and giveaway for you.

Keep reading for a chance to win a One Smoking Hot Fairy Tale prize pack, including a signed book, postcard, bookmark, and $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Book Excerpt: One Smoking Hot Fairy Tail

     Sitting in her shadow-soaked bedroom, Moselle Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair repeatedly glanced at her smartphone, eager for it to ring. A candelabrum burned seven small red flames, illuminating her room just enough for her to not only spy two of her Abyssinian cats as they chased each other across the marble floor, but to also see what she was mixing.
     Moselle poured jojoba oil from a large container into a small, dark glass bottle with a glass rod applicator. Ten drops of jasmine oil from the flowers she had handpicked in her garden the night before splashed into the bottle as she pondered how much ylang-ylang oil she should add to the mix, desiring nothing but the most erotic scent to seduce the man she had been dating.
     At the chime of her smartphone, Moselle set the bottles aside and pressed the answer button with the tip of her index finger’s nail.
     “Greetings, Father.”
     “You sound disappointed, my daughter.” Moselle’s father’s voice was deep and steeped with his strong Egyptian accent.
     “No, no, no… not at all.” Moselle cleared her throat and presented him with the respect he was due. “How may I serve you, Father?”
     “I am pleased to inform you that everything has gone as designed with the new Club Afterlife,” he said. “This opening is already being touted as a once-in-a-lifetime, red carpet event.”
     “Blessings be, Father.”
     “Have you made travel arrangements yet, Moselle?”
     She took a second to compose her words before speaking.
     “I have not. Father, it is a great honor to attend, not only as the subject of all of the advertisements in your recent campaign, but as your loving daughter, still I have a request.” She sat up. 
      “You know full well your mother is currently unable to entertain,” he stated, clearly assuming she was going to ask if her mother could be at the opening.
     “Oh, yes that. I haven’t broken bread with Mother since last year’s birthday party. I do miss her.”
     “Birthdays?” She heard her father’s dissatisfied tone. “Moselle, you know I find them a foolish distraction.”
     “Yes, I know.”
     “Good,” he replied quickly. “I will send the private jet to Los Angeles in two days. It will transport you to New York City for the event.”
     “Father, my request,” she reminded him. “I have met someone very special, a young man whom I have been dating. He works at the advertising agency you hired for the new club.”
     “Tell me again, Moselle, why do you find them so interesting?” Her father’s tone was filled with frustration and annoyance. “What could you possibly have in common with this… this American?”
     “He is strong, handsome, and funny, Father.”
     “He is not one of us.”
     “I do not care about that. He warms my soul with his humor and kindness. When we work together preparing your advertisements, I find myself inexplicably drawn to him. I have not felt this way in ten or more years.”
     “Moselle!”
     Her father’s raised voice startled her so badly her body froze. She had not angered her him in many, many years, not since long before she had moved out of his home into her own.
     “Why do you tell me this?”
     “I would like him to accompany me to the grand opening as my date,” Moselle answered timidly.
     The phone went silent, and Moselle waited patiently.
     “So be it,” he conceded. “Invite him, but he will need to find his own means of travel to New York. Understood?”
     “Yes.” Moselle beamed.
     “Did you pass along my request to your other friend?”
     “I spoke to Sabrina earlier; she accepted the invitation already.”
     “She is well now, you say?”
     “As well as can be,” Moselle admitted.
     “Good, then, regardless, this will be an opening night for all to remember. Safe journey, my daughter.”
     “Safe journey to you too, Father.”
     Moselle watched the slender metal hands on her wall clock tick forward another notch as she hung up. The hand’s movement boomed in her ears like the footsteps of a titan. It was nearing nine o’clock at night; she had hoped her new boyfriend would have called by now. She unconsciously tapped the bottom corner of her smartphone on the table, harder and harder until… Snap. The protective case broke.    
     “Curse this devil’s game.” Moselle ran her finger over the jagged crack. “My phone, a sacrifice to you, Hathor. See it not wasted.”
     Moselle pressed the speed-dial graphic, a tiny photo associated with his name: Jackson Abernathy.
     “Hello.”
     “Jackson, darling, it is Moselle Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair.”
     “Hey, Moselle…” He paused a moment before finishing. “What’s happening?”
    Jackson’s voice did not ring with the excitement she had yearned for, and she had a clear guess why.
     “Are you still at work?”
     “Yeah, I’m putting the finishing touches on that freelance project I did with Candice Swanepoel.”
     Moselle finally heard a hint of excitement in his voice, but it was not for her.
     “You work too hard and play too little.” Moselle stood feeling suddenly jealous; she was more driven than ever to see Jackson now.
     “To be honest, I need the extra money. I lost a few bucks on the game last night.”
     Moselle admired herself in the full-length mirror attached to the inside of her closet door as she listened. She examined her eye makeup, which included a coat of sparkling purple mascara that complemented her dark eyes.
     “All I am suggesting is that you take a short break.”
     “I took a break earlier when you sent me that one text message. The one with the picture attached. What did it say again?”
     “It said that tomorrow marks a full month on the calendar since you asked me out. It said to prepare for a night filled with earthly delights.”
     Jackson laughed. “Moselle, you are unlike any other girl I’ve ever known.”
     “You are right, Jackson. All you have known are girls, scatterbrained models with apathy toward most things. I am a woman, one who knows what she wants.”
     “Well… I wanted to finish this project and then get a jump-start touching up that advertisement of you in the silver bikini with the—”
     “Jackson.” Moselle’s voice rose in frustration. “Such labor should be done during the hours our beloved sun is high above us.”
     “You’re right, but wouldn’t your father be even more impressed with me if I handed him extra work?”
     “While I find it pleasing that you strive to win my father’s approval, Jackson, I must ask you this: would you have me spend the next few hours alone while you stare at my likeness, or would you gaze upon me in person over a few drinks?”
     “Would you like to go out for coffee, Moselle?”
     “I would love to.”

One Smoking Hot Fairy Tail by Kevin James Breaux.

Sabrina, a lovely fairy has it all: fame, fortune, and beauty—until her boyfriend Cade, a rebel vampire, films their involvement in a crime as well as the passionate lovemaking that follows.

But Cade loses his camera and the video is posted online, ruining Sabrina’s life. After a year of nursing her wounds, she resurfaces only to find herself hunted for her wings.

The lives of all unearthly beings are at stake—fairies, windigos, mummies, and elemental spirits, caught up in a frightening flood of events that threaten their discovery. Sabrina and Moselle, a sex-starved mummy and the daughter of a wealthy businessman, find themselves in the middle of the conflict, forced to take drastic action to protect their identities and lives.

In trying to save themselves can they also prevent the United States from falling into the hands of an evil mind with horrible intentions?

Add to Goodreads.

OSHFT Prize Pack Giveaway

We are giving away a One Smoking Hot Fairy Tale prize pack, including a signed book, postcard, bookmark, and $25 Amazon Gift Card!

• Signed Book
• Postcard
• Bookmark
• $25 Amazon Gift Card

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to US mailing addresses.  Giveaway ends December 16, 2016 midnight EST.  Good luck!

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What did you think of the book excerpt?  Do you recall the name of the club where the red carpet event is scheduled take place?

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Spokane Washington with Cathy Clamp

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

This week's stop is Spokane, Washington and our special guide is Cathy Clamp author of the Tales of the Sazi series and the spin-off Luna Lake series, including new release ILLICIT.

Spokane's Top 5 Spooky Places

The Sazi of Luna Lake novels are set in rural northeastern Washington in Ferry County. Just to the west of Ferry County, and where the residents go to shop and interact with regular humans is Spokane, which has a rich history of hauntings, owing to the gold mines that made the fortunes, or were the deaths of many fortune seekers.

Clark Mansion.  One such fortune seeker was Patrick (known to his friends as “Patsy”) Clark. At the young age of 18, Patsy made his way to the United States from Ireland and quickly mastered the art of mining. He made his way up through the ranks of some of the most well known mines in western America, including the Comstock lode in Nevada, and the Alice Mine in Montana, until he was ready to be owner of his own mines: The Poor Man mine in Spokane and The Republic mine in Ferry County. Patsy and his bride, Mary, lived in the Clark Mansion until their deaths in 1915 and 1923, when it was sold to investors. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the hauntings began and nobody really knows why they started, as the house was never reported to have been the subject of any tragedies. But former employees of the restaurant that it eventually became report strange happenings. Wine bottles are tossed about, voices of at least three entities can be heard in the basement and cold spots and chilled breezes from nowhere are reported.

Mirabeau Park Hotel.  Set among 76 surrounding lakes and multiple golf courses, this luxury resort in Spokane has several permanent (and transparent) residents. A reported suicide of a guest in a room near the front desk has resulted in a spirit who asks night bellman and maids for extra towels but disappears before they can get a room number. The ghosts of a woman and her two children have also been seen by guests and staff alike, and while most of the sightings have been mundane or simply mysterious, some have been frightening. There are also some rooms that more sensitive employees refuse to enter for reasons they can’t explain.

Greenwood Cemetery.  While a haunted cemetery might seem almost like the norm in any major city, Greenwood Cemetery goes a step above. A thousand steps, actually. The staircase at Greenwood Cemetery was supposedly the site of satanic rituals in the past and visitors report that they are unable to make it to the top of the stairs because the disembodied faces of the men, women and children sacrificed appear to prevent them from going further as they climb. Those who have made it to the top report shrieks and cries of the dead greet them and rain pelts their skin, although they never get wet. Don’t try to visit this one, though. The thousand step staircase is on private property and access renovations to the cemetery have made the staircase obsolete.

The Davenport Hotel.  Louis Davenport loved the hotel he built in 1914. In fact, he lived there, in Suite 1105, until his death in 1951. He was reported to have said “I never want to leave here,” before he died. And according to staff, he never did. He died in his beloved room, as did his wife Verus, in 1967. Suite 1105 still houses their spirits. During renovations, wiring blew back and forth in the breeze while workers watched. Except there was no breeze. The windows were sealed and the electricity was off to do the work. Party noisemakers are often reported heard near the room. That sort of makes sense, since the first event in the hotel was a New Years Eve party.  There’s also a spirit haunting the mezzanine in 1920's vintage party wear, walking back and forth through a door. Ellen MacNamara supposedly fell to her death through the lobby skylight by walking through the same door. Employees report that Louis Davenport always seems to appear when guests need attending to. One bellman believes that a ‘legacy of supreme hospitality’ isn’t such a bad spirit for a hotel to have.

Monaghan Hall.  No trip down the paranormal highway in Spokane would be complete without Monaghan Hall on the Gonzaga University campus. James Monaghan was another Irishman who made the rags to riches journey because of the mines. Except he wasn’t a miner.  He was a trader and shipper who contracted with the U.S. mail and Army to haul freight, and with steamboat and ferry companies to bring goods to the bustling mine area. By 1909 he was a millionaire. He became a county commissioner and justice of the peace and by the time of his death in 1916 of natural causes, “Spokane Jim” had a funeral procession that was one of the largest in the city’s history. Jim was among the first graduating class of Gonzaga College and was later donated heavily to the Jesuit-run learning institution. There are any number of rumors about how Monaghan Hall came to be haunted.

One of the most widely believed is that a young seminary student hanged himself in the attic and it’s his spirit that roams the halls. But organ music can often be heard as well, and reportedly, it’s the same music heard at Spokane Jim’s funeral. Another tie to Monaghan is that a photograph of the donor, lying in state, was supposedly found by an historical society in a hole in a dirt wall in the basement of the Hall that shows the crucifixes around his coffin upside down. A housekeeper reported that attempts to burn the photograph failed and it was buried there instead. A former director of music, responding to the reports of hauntings, began to sleep on his office couch and was frequently awakened by the sound of phantom flautists and organists and also by doors opening and shutting with nobody there.  There are varying reports of “rituals” being done in the 1970s (although the university does not admit to any sort of exorcism being done) to remove the entities that witnesses reported would cause feelings of tingling skin, paralysis and a strangling sensation.

Thank you Cathy for giving us such a haunting tour of Spokane! 

Learn more about Cathy Clamp and her books by visiting her website.  You can add ILLICIT here on Goodreads.

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

On our last Paranormal Road Trip we visited Houma, Louisianna with Madison Granger.

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

And don't miss our Q+A with Cathy Clamp from our From the Shadows blog archives.  We talk about casting for the first Luna Lake novel FORBIDDEN, favorite supernatural talents, and more!

Mega Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Party Giveaway

 

Mega Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Party Giveaway

First place prize is a $1,000 Amazon Gift Card, but we also have 12 runner-up ebook and paperback prizes!

Enter the Giveaway - Click Here!

Entering will connect you with 21 paranormal romance and urban fantasy authors for more great deals, freebies, and giveaway, so in a way, everyone wins.

Good luck!

Cover Reveal: Treachery (Avalon) by E.A. Weston

I am excited to reveal the cover for TREACHERY the second novel in the Avalon paranormal romance series by E.A. Weston.

Cover Reveal: Treachery

Treachery (Avalon #2) by E.A. Weston

Feelings of unrest and distrust swarm the Tenebrosi training camp, leaving Prince Killian lost as he tries to bring his fairies together.

Staging a battle against an unknown enemy is proving harder than he first thought. With the majority of the fairies of Avalon, in hiding, he must risk the lives of a few to protect the lives of many. Sending scouting parties out of the safety of Tenebrosi is dangerous and deadly, for not all return.

With Avery at his side, tension brews as lives are lost and torn apart, leaving the Prince of Avalon raw with emotion.

Now that Reagan is gone, Killian refuses to give up.
Give up hope.
Give up fighting.
Give up on love.

Vowing to take back his Kingdom, Killian, Avery, and the fairies of Tenebrosi set the wheels in motion for a battle that they may very well lose.

With secrets about to be revealed that no one saw coming…

This is the highly anticipated second book in the Avalon series. A new adult fantasy romance with highs and lows of a new love, while taking place in the fairy world of Avalon and the Human realm.

Pre-order Treachery Now

Release Date: May 3, 2016
Genre: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal Romance

What do you think of the cover?

Q+A with Sascha Illyvich + Slow Burn Giveaway

Please welcome today's guest author Sascha Illyvich!  Sascha is the author of the paranormal romance spy thriller SLOW BURN.

Keep reading for a chance to win Slow Burn by Sascha Illyvich.

Q+A with Sascha Illyvich

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Sascha:  I've been writing since the 2nd grade, but professionally, since I was 21 years old.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Sascha:  My love of the spooky, the decadence often associated with the genre, werewolves...did I say werewolves?

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

Sascha:  I think the ability to fly would be a tremendous time saver...

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

Sascha:  Good question.  I don't know much about Hollywood to be honest, yet I can tell you that Sonja would have to be played by a ravishing, full figured beauty with dark hair, and if I had to guess, Derrick would be played by maybe someone with a little more build and muscle than Bruce Campbell?  Even though Derrick is younger than the talented actor, I'm sure Campbell could rock it.  Chuck Finley is forever.

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

Slow Burn by Sascha Illyvich

Tempting secrets of an angel. Seductive mysteries of the beast.

Derrick, a former spy, has been asked to protect the sultry Sonja, a death metal singer whose magical voice grabs him and won’t let go.


Release Date: September 2015
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance, Spy Thriller
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Slow Burn Giveaway

We are giving away one ebook copy of Slow Burn by Sascha Illyvich.

To enter, leave a comment below and include your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends March 23, 2016 midnight EST.

To learn more about Sascha Illyvich and his books, please visit his website.

Q+A with Khai Bayne (Indebted Series)

Please welcome today's guest author Khai L. Bayne.  Khai is author of the Indebted adult paranormal romance series, including A SIN FROM ASHES.

Q+A with Khai Bayne

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Khai:  I've been writing since as long as I can remember. It started out as poetry, and short stories, but one day I decided that I wanted to try something a bit more challenging... and here we are 2 years and a LOT more grey hairs later... I have 3 books out an one on the way.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Khai:  I am the byproduct of a Trekkie and Star Wars Junkie... I tell people all the time that Paranormal and Sci-Fi are in my DNA.

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

Khai:  There are too many awesome things out there to dream about being. I've thought about being everything from a werepanther to a dragon. I change my mind a lot depending on mood. So I would say today, after my day at work I'd want to be a dragon.

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

Khai:  My stories are paranormal, but it is not totally in your face. I research different mythologies and customs so that I can make my characters interesting and not run of the mill. Plus with my style of writing, you can "see" what's happening as you read it because when I write I want it to seems like you are mentally journeying through a movie.

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

Khai:  This would be hard for me... I've always said that I wanted my books to be on a TV show broadcast by BBC so I wouldn't have to deal with censoring. As far as the "People" I would use that is hard because I don't use famous people for my muses. If I could I would try to get the people who I used their pics for inspiration cast as my characters.

Thank you Khai for joining us here at From the Shadows.

A Sin from Ashes (Indebted #1) by Khai L. Bayne

Release Date: April 2014
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Add to Goodreads.

Have a question for Khai? Ask away in the comment section (PG-13 questions please) below.

Q+A with Lauren Smith (The Bite of Winter)

Please welcome today's guest author Lauren Smith!  Lauren is the author of the Love Bites vampire romance series, including her new release THE BITE OF WINTER.

Q+A with Lauren Smith

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Lauren:  I started writing when I was in the third grade. After watching Leo DiCaprio die in the movie Titanic, I went on a grand quest to re-write the ending so Leo wouldn’t die. Right then and there, I should have known I wanted to write romances. But I took a 20 year de-tour and started writing epic fantasy novels first. I’ve been writing ever since!

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Lauren:  I love ghosts, vampires, shifters, werewolves, and spooky things of any kind! I’m that person on the block who during Halloween does the entire interior of the house as though a Victorian vampire lives there, not a boring 29 year old lawyer. There’s something about the dusty, cob-webbed, candlelit feel of a haunted house that gets me inspired. I believe in ghosts and believe in things we cannot see or understand and I suppose that has always brought me back to the paranormal genre because it gives me a chance to explore plots where say…vampires are real! *wink

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

Lauren:  Animal shape-shifting. Definitely shapeshifting. There would be so many amazing things I could explore and experience if I could shift into any animal.

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

Lauren:  My new release is called The Bite of Winter. It’s a hauntingly sweet tale of two century-old Irish vampires Ian and Connor who are best friends and yet their relationship is strained because they lost the true mate they shared when she was murdered 80 years ago. When Ian brings home a helpless, homeless, Zoey, a young college age girl who needs their help, she tempts both the vampires back into love and life with her. I think what’s great about this book is that it’s not just hot and sexy, it’s powerful and emotional. It’s about the redemption of souls and the quest for true happiness through love. And it’s fun to picture yourself as lucky Zoey who gets not one hunky vampire in her bed, but two!

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

Lauren:  Jennifer Lawrence would definitely be Zoey, she’s curvy and beautiful in a subtle sort of way. Ian would be played by Liam Hemsworth. He’s got that tall graceful charm and sweetness, but also a sexy irresistible side. Mike Vogel would be the perfect, rough and tumble Connor who’s ready to seduce you right out of your clothes.

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

The Bite of Winter (Love Bites #1) by Lauren Smith.

She is theirs to claim. They are hers to save.

Zoey Blake is about as far down on her luck as she can get. A car crash took her parents, leaving her destitute and on the street. When she’s attacked by another homeless person, her lifeblood drains away as her fading vision is filled with the face of a handsome stranger.

Ian Kennedy, a century old Irish vampire, never could resist rescuing a stray. As a few drops of his blood heals Zoey’s wounds, he realizes she’s a sweet, tempting, flesh-and-blood woman. But there’s one problem. Connor, who made Ian promise decades ago: no more mortal lovers.

After another vampire murdered his soulmate, Connor O’Shea swore never to let amortal woman pay the price for loving him. Until he feels Zoey’s skin and tastes her lips. She makes him want to break that vow.

Zoey finds herself caught in their web of seduction. But as Christmas draws near and her grief deepens, happiness seems far out of reach. And Ian and Connor join forces to prove their love is sacred, special… and forever.
Release Date: November 24, 2015
Genre: Paranormal Romance
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To learn more about Lauren Smith and her books, please visit her website.  Have a question for Lauren?  Let us know in the comments below.  We love comments!

Saving Evangeline Ebook Giveaway and Q+A with Nancee Cain

Please welcome today's guest author, Nancee Cain!  Evelyn is the author of SAVING EVANGELINE.

Keep reading for a chance to win Saving Evangeline by Nancee Cain!

Q+A with Nancee Cain

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Nancee:  I started writing as a teenager. My goal was to make my friends cry with very angsty romances. They were truly horrible. Someday I may post one of them for fun on my blog.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Nancee:  I primarily write contemporary romances, but they weren't going anywhere. So for Nanowrimo 2013, I wrote Saving Evangeline to try something different. I pitched it and it was the one that sold.

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

Nancee:  You'd think since I write about angels it would be to fly. However, I'm scared of heights. I think I'd like to be a witch and have the ability to be invisible and cast spells, make potions.

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

Nancee:  Remi isn't your normal angel. He tends to get in trouble and bend the rules. He smokes. He cusses. He's snarky. But he's also loving and fun. And did I mention he's devastatingly handsome?

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

Nancee:  There's a picture of model Christian Jorgensen shirtless that has the look of Remi. However, I have no idea if he can act. Evangeline would be Odette Annable.

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

To learn more about Nancee Cain and her books, please visit her website.  You can learn more about her new release Saving Evangeline below.

Saving Evangeline by Nancee Cain.

Evangeline is the town pariah. Everyone knows she’s crazy and was responsible for the death of her last boyfriend. Even her mother left her and moved cross-country. Lonely and desperate, Evie decides to end her life.

Rogue angel Remiel longs to return to earth, but there’s just one problem. He tends to invite trouble and hasn’t been allowed back since Woodstock. The Boss sends him to save Evangeline, but there’s a catch: he can’t reveal his angelic nature, and he must complete the task as Father Remiel Blackson.

Forced together on a cross-country trip, a forbidden romance ignites and love unfolds. A host of heavenly messengers tries to intervene, but Remiel and Evangeline are headed on a collision course to disaster. Will his love save her, or will they both be lost forever? 
Genre: Paranormal Romance
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Saving Evangeline Ebook Giveaway

We are giving away an ebook copy of Saving Evangeline by Nancee Cain to one lucky winner!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post and include your email address.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends January 27, 2016 midnight EST.

Do you believe in angels?

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

Q+A with Evelyn Lederman (Worlds Apart)

Please welcome today's guest author, Evelyn Lederman!  Evelyn is the author of the Nightshade series and the Worlds Apart series, including the new release THE MIND CONTROL TELEPATH.

Q+A with Evelyn Lederman

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Evelyn:  I met Christine Feehan at Romcon2010 and she mentioned her characters talked to her. This was a common theme.  I thought authors were crazy, until it happened to me. On February 23, 2014 I was driving to play tennis when a real conversation that occurred outside Sedona, Arizona played in my head. Then all of a sudden five fictional girls started to talk to me. That was the beginning of the Worlds Apart series.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Evelyn:  First of all, it is a genre I love to read. Paranormal stories are the best escapism around! As an author I am not limited to the ‘real’ world. I get to create multiple worlds, as my characters travel from dimension to dimension. The only limitation I have is my own imagination.

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

Evelyn:  Vampire. There has always been something sexy and alluring about the fictional vampire. Lynsay Sands, Alexandra Ivy, Maggie Shayne, and Amanda Ashley (to name several authors), write about eternal love. Who would not want that?  Secondly, I think it would be fascinating to watch history unfold over time.

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

Evelyn:  My next release will be the fourth book in the Worlds Apart series. Readers have told me to write faster, they want the next installment. I wrote the first book in my Nightshade Saga series between books 3 and 4. I had trapped a woman in the Nightshade dimension and wanted to ‘rescue’ her before I wrote The Mind Control Telepath.

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

Evelyn:  For Alexandra Mann I would cast Lindy Booth, from The Librarians. I think she would be able to capture Alex’s spunk, while being able to fade into the shadows. For Tarsea, I would cast a young Eric Bana. Tarsea is the strong, quiet type. He is controlling and communicates more in a stare, then words.

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

To learn more about Evelyn Lederman and her books, please visit her website.  You can learn more about her new release The Mind Control Telepath below.

The Mind Control Telepath (Worlds Apart #4) by Evelyn Lederman.

JoAnna Carlson learned at an early age how to get everything she wanted- use her special gift. She blindly follows her soul mate to a parallel world, where their corrupt government possesses the same power. Koel Mardroft has desperately searched for his soul mate, only to have their joining threaten everything he has fought against.

Chartail Adholm was made to feel defective because she could not sway people's decisions with telepathic capabilities she had not inherited. Now in the penal world, she discovers she temporarily possesses the power she always abhorred.

Is the mind control telepathic power too much of a temptation for JoAnna and Chartail? Will JoAnna betray Koel, falling victim to the governmental pressures to use her growing talents?

Genre: Paranormal Romance
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Do you believe in telepathy?

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

Book Giveaway: Fated Dates by Abraham Steele

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

Fated Dates Book Giveaway

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

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

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

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

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

Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance
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To enter, please leave a comment below.  This giveaway is 18+ and is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends January 11, 2016 midnight EST.

Happy holidays!

Shattered Lives Series Ebook Giveaway Winner

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

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

**Winner randomly drawn using Random.org**

Book Giveaway: Shattered Lives Series by Rissa Blakeley

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

Broken Dreams (Shattered Lives #1) by Rissa Blakeley

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

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

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

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Apocalyptic, Zombies, New Adult
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Shattered Lives Series Ebook Giveaway

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

To enter, please leave a comment on this post and include your email address so we may contact you if you win.  This giveaway is 18+ and is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends December 24, 2015 midnight EST.

What would you grab during a zombie apocalypse?

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

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

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

Soul's Harbor's Top 5 Spooky Places

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Q+A with E.A. Weston

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

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

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

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Release Date: November 2014
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance
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Want to read Bite Me, the first book in the Lupo Legacy series?  You're in luck!

Bite Me (Lupo Legacy #1) is FREE now on Smashwords.

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

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

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

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

Q+A with Serena Gilley

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

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

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Release Date: July 7, 2015
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
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Have a question for Serena?

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

Paranormal Road Trip: Destination Seattle with Rebecca Zanetti

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

This week's stop is Seattle, Washington and environs, and our special guide is Rebecca Zanetti, author of the Realm Enforcers paranormal romance series, including the new release WICKED RIDE.

Rebecca's Top 5 Spooky Places in Seattle

I chose the city of Seattle for one of the settings in the Realm Enforcers because of the mystery, the oddity, and the rain that is Eastern Washington.  The dark clouds and moody weather made for a good place for the Enforcers to work and somehow remain hidden in plain sight.  There are many spooky places in Washington State, and here are just a few:

Pike’s Street Market:  I know, when you think of Pike’s Street, you think of flying fish and yummy chocolate.  But did you know that it’s actually one of the most haunted places in Seattle…and is built upon an old Indian burial ground?  Rumor has it that ghosts make appearances often—especially during the darker winter months.

The Bottomless Pit – somewhere in eastern Washington:  This is a fun one, because tons of people have supposedly seen it, and there’s even a Wikipedia listing for it.  But where is it?  It’s also called Mel’s Hole, because a guy named Mel found it and spread the word that early settlers threw cows in there, and sometimes just lowered dead animals down…and brought them back up alive.  There have been several art exhibits featuring what Mel’s Hole probably looks like.  Weird, huh?

Hotel Andra in Seattle:  The old building has 119 rooms within 10 stories and is in the middle of Seattle.  I think it was built sometime around 1926. People who have stayed there have reported loud Jazz music coming from the 9th floor, and the staff has never been able to find the source of the music.  Also, folks have reported seeing a female ghost wearing early 1900 clothing and also having their stuff moved around at night.  Creeeepy…

Thornewood Castle - located in Lakewood, Washington:  The castle is a 500 year old Tudor Gothic Historic Site.  Several folks have died there, including the original owners, and they are known to haunt the grounds.  For some reason, they seem to have an affinity for twisting lightbulbs off.

Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery:  No haunted list is complete without a cemetery mentioned, right?  The GAR is up on Capitol Hill in Seattle with more than 500 gravesites.  Rumor has it late at night; people living nearby can hear the battle cries of Civil War soldiers before they fell.

Thank you Rebecca for giving us such a haunting tour of Seattle!  

To learn more about Rebecca Zanetti and her books, please visit her website, and don't miss our interview with Rebecca Zanetti here at From the Shadows.  You can add the Realm Enforcers paranormal series here on Goodreads.

Have you ever visited Seattle, Washington?  Ever had a paranormal experience in Seattle?

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

On our last Paranormal Road Trip we visited Barcelona with T. Frohock.  Next week I'll be in Orlando for Speculative Fiction Southeast 2015, but the following week we'll be traveling to Wolfe Creek with Kaylie Newell.

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

Q+A with Julie Anne Lindsey (Goddess)

Please welcome today's guest author, Julie Lindsey!  Julie is the author of the Calypso young adult paranormal romance series, including her upcoming release GODDESS.

Q+A with Julie Anne Lindsey

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Julie:  I began writing about 6 years ago when my daughter was an infant. She kept me up all night and during the days, I homeschooled her 5 year old brother and potty trained her 2 year old brother. I was spent and desperate for something that was my own. I saw Twilight on Pay Per View and was immediately drawn in. It was the escape I needed. Afterward, I devoured the books and decided I wanted to do the same thing that author had done. I wanted to write something that would make another woman somewhere in the world smile. I wanted to give her a reprieve like Stephenie Meyer gave me. So, I opened Google and typed “How to write a book.” I’ve been trying to figure it out every day since.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Julie:  I love asking What If? A whole lot of my ideas fall into the paranormal spectrum, but I’m cautious about trying to put them on paper. I have a lot of respect for the genre and don’t want to screw it up. That said…I’m new to the industry, so I haven’t been labeled by genre or put into a brand specific cage yet. I’m still able to write whatever I want, and I do. I dabble. I’ve written in different genres as I try to find my voice, or where my style fits best in this life. The Calypso books are my first attempt at paranormal. I love mythology and saw a whole in YA where I thought my stories could fit nicely, I gave it a try. The concept behind Prophecy and Goddess is that Vikings were (are) a specific blood line of demi gods and they live among us. The thing I wanted to explore about that was: What if one young girl discovered their existence? What if she was one of them?

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

Julie:  I want the power of persuasion. If only this was an option *begs*. Here’s why: I have a hard time speaking up, fighting back and getting what I want. I’m not great at peopling, especially in person. Words only work for me on paper. Speaking gets me tongue tied and I know it, so too often I say nothing when I have something I wish I could say. I hate that about me. Not being able to defend my thoughts and opinions in the face of an adversary is the worst feeling ever. I wish I had the ability to get my thoughts into words right when I need them and to make the other person see the validity in my position.

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

Julie:  I think this is a story for readers who enjoy mythology, strong female characters and action. I’ve got true love like Princess Bride. Hot men like the CW and lots of action to pin it together.

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

Julie:  I would cast Jamie Campbell Bower as Liam and Danielle Campbell as Callie.

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

Goddess (Calypso #2) by Julie Anne Lindsey.

Two weeks ago, Callie Ingram was just another high school senior with her sights on a swimming scholarship. Now, she’s the resurrected leader of the Vikings, balancing her classes with learning mythological history—and sparring sessions with her gorgeous demigod boyfriend, Liam Hale.

When Zeus returns to collect the favor she owes him, Callie is tasked with uniting the warring Viking clans and leading them into battle against Gaia’s frost giants. If she fails, everything she risked her life for will be destroyed…and her best friend will die. But one teenage girl rallying all of the vengeful clans won’t be easy. And things only get more complicated when a new prophecy puts her future with Liam at risk. Now, Callie will not only have to win the battle, but she’ll have to take the fate of her heart into her own hands.

Release Date:  October 13, 2015
Genre:  Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
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To learn more about Julie Anne Lindsey and her books, please visit her website.