Ivy Granger Box Set Pre-Order Sale

Love urban fantasy deals? The upcoming Ivy Granger Psychic Detective Box Set is on sale for 99 cents!  That's right.  If you pre-order now, you'll receive the first three award-winning Ivy Granger novels and a bonus prequel short story delivered to your ereader on October 24th—all for just 99 cents.  (Regular Price $9.99)

Pre-Order Now For 99 Cents

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Ivy Granger Psychic Detective Box Set by E.J. Stevens.

Ivy Granger Psychic Detective box set includes Books 1-3 and Bonus Prequel short story.

Enter an award-winning urban fantasy world where monsters roam the streets and things aren't always what they seem. Demons, ghosts, vampires, and necromancers—Ivy dodges the city's deadliest villains while solving its darkest cases. Will she save the day or die trying?

FROSTBITE (Bonus Prequel: Ivy Granger #0.5)

Everyone knows that there's no such thing as ghosts, but when a client claims that her house is being haunted, Ivy tries to keep her mind open and her weapons handy. If her psychic gifts and recent cases have taught her anything, it's that you're better off arming yourself for the unexpected.

Anything is possible in Harborsmouth.

SHADOW SIGHT (Ivy Granger #1)

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.

GHOST LIGHT (Ivy Granger #2)

Ivy Granger is back, gathering clues in the darkest shadows of downtown Harborsmouth. With the lives of multiple clients on the line, she's in a race against time. Ivy finally has a lead to the whereabouts of the one person who can help her control her wisp abilities, but will she put the needs of her clients above her own?

If Ivy doesn't find a solution soon, she could wind up a ghost herself.

BURNING BRIGHT (Ivy Granger #3)

Things are not going well at the offices of Private Eye. Jinx is having demon problems, the city is overrun with pyromaniacal imps, and Ivy's wisp powers are burning out of control, attracting the attention of both the Seelie and Unseelie courts. It's the worst possible time for the Green Lady to call in a favor, but Ivy's bound by her deal with the glaistig. Too bad there's no wiggle room in faerie bargains.

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

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

 Praise for the Ivy Granger series:

"I absolutely love this series!"
-My Urban Fantasies

"Highly recommended to adult urban fantasy fans."
-Rabid Reads

"The Ivy Granger series is fantastic!"
-Book Bite Reviews

The award-winning Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series is known for heart-pounding action, quirky characters, and supernatural horrors. Take a trip to Harborsmouth where you'll encounter bloodsucking vampires, psychotic faeries, sarcastic gargoyles, temperamental witches, and our favorite snarky, kick-butt heroine.

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Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: October 24, 2019

This box set is already a steal at $9.99, but if you pre-order now, you can grab the Ivy Granger Box Set for just 99 cents!  Spread the word.  Tell your friends.  This is a great way to dive into this award-winning urban fantasy series.

Want to win fun prizes?

Come back on October 24th for the Ivy Granger Box Set Release Party and enter to win an Amazon Gift Card and signed Ivy Granger swag. 

Q+A with Morgan Sylvia (Abode)

Please welcome today's guest, Morgan Sylvia! Morgan is the author of upcoming horror novel ABODE.

Q+A with Morgan Sylvia

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Morgan:  I am not sure, exactly, but I was pretty young. My mother was a librarian, and I was an only child in a fairly remote area, so, needless to say, I started devouring books at a very young age. I was also very much into horseback riding at the time, so I think my earliest works were probably horse stories. I was actually published in second grade, when one of my unicorn stories was selected for a Young Maine Authors Compilation. By the time I was in high school, I was writing short stories and some not-so-short stories. I still have notebooks full of my writing from those days. So, yes, I literally do have a trunk of old stories. Some of it makes me cringe, some makes me laugh, and some is in a pile to be revisited.

EJ:  What brought you to the horror genre?

Morgan:  I think it was just a combination of having a love of books and literature and a fascination for dark, spooky things. Fear is a very powerful emotion—in fact, it’s one of the strongest emotion a human can feel. When a story can really tap into that, it’s very powerful. I didn’t start out writing horror: my earliest work was fantasy and fanfic-type stuff. I can’t put my finger on any one book or movie that made me cross over to the dark side. It was just a steady progression as my tastes got darker.

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

Morgan:  BS detection. I’m pretty good at spotting it, but I try to look for the positive in people, and that occasionally bites me in the ass. If I could be a paranormal creature, I’d probably go for being a werewolf.

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

Morgan:  Writing it gave me nightmares, so I hope that others will find it scary as well. People keep telling me that my poetic side is very clear in the story, though I don’t think I would consider it literary horror. I think there are elements that may appeal to people—for instance, some of it is quite nostalgic, at least for those of us that grew up in the 70’s and 80’s. I also wrote huge chunks of it in second person. One person described it as being in both 2nd and 1st person. But then, every story is different, and people love books for all sorts of reasons. I hope people like it for unexpected reasons that haven’t even occurred to me, at least on a conscious level.

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

Morgan:  Oddly, for a lot of things I write, I would have a name right off the bat, but for Abode I think I’d rather go for an unknown actor that just fits the role. I can’t think of anyone specific that *is* that character to me.

Abode by Morgan Sylvia

A TERRIFYING HAUNTING

This is the place where the harrowed ghosts of a dozen generations whisper in the shadows of their ancestral home, where one family’s dreams of a new beginning turned into a nightmare that ended in tragedy.

A CURSED BLOODLINE

This is the place where a line of witches bound themselves—in blood—to a primeval entity. Here, nightmare and reality meet beneath frozen skies, and even time and space fall under the power of the demonic being that rules this remote northern wood.

A CHANCE ENCOUNTER

This is the place where the path of a tormented survivor meets that of an unknowing innocent. Past and present collide, and secrets long buried crawl back into the pallid light of day as the shadow of the Beast falls over them both. But even the bloodiest dreams of that demonic being may pale in comparison to what lies buried within the human heart.
This is the place where evil dwells …

ABODE

Release Date: July 15, 2017

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Tales from Harborsmouth Pre-Order Giveaway

Tales from Harborsmouth releases in TWO WEEKS. We're celebrating by giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card and Ivy Granger series swag!

Tales from Harborsmouth (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective #0.5, #1.5, #2.5, #5.5) by E.J. Stevens.

In Tales from Harborsmouth, readers get to delve deeper into the award-winning world of Ivy Granger.

Ivy Granger is a psychic detective with ties to Harborsmouth's paranormal underworld. Too bad those ties tend to ensnare Ivy and her friend Jinx in the Machiavellian schemes of the city's teeming population of bloodsucking vampires and psychotic faeries.

Tales from Harborsmouth is the first time the Ivy Granger novellas are together in one collection and features two exclusive short stories the series prequel Frostbite and the newest Ivy Granger tale Thrill on Joysen Hill.

Featured in this collection:
     • FROSTBITE (Ivy Granger #0.5)
     • BLOOD AND MISTLETOE (Ivy Granger #1.5)
     • CLUB NEXUS (Ivy Granger #2.5)
     • THRILL ON JOYSEN HILL (Ivy Granger #5.5)

Genre: Paranormal Mystery, Supernatural Suspense, Urban Fantasy
Release Date: July 11, 2017

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Pre-Order Tales from Harborsmouth

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Want to read more books in this series? You're in luck.

Books in this Series

Shadow Sight

Ghost Light

Burning Bright

Birthright

Hound's Bite

Want to win fabulous prizes? We've got you covered.

Tales from Harborsmouth Pre-Order Giveaway

We're giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card and signed Ivy Granger swag.  

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends July 3, 2017.

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Book Giveaway: Deadmen Walking by Sherrilyn Kenyon

We have a special book giveaway today from Tor books and New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon.  Keep reading for a chance to win a hardcover copy of DEADMEN WALKING.

Deadmen Walking (Deadman's Cross #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Hell On Earth.

When the Chthonians brought the primal gods to a truce at the end of their great war, part of the pact they forged was that the worst of the evil the gods had unleashed against each other and mankind would be forever banished.

But forever is a long time. And nothing can contain those determined to find a way back.

To catch evil, it takes evil . . .

While Thorn is able to contain the demons unleashed on the ground, the ones who prey on the innocent sailors and sea faring travelers are beyond his reach.

For the sake of humanity, he makes a shaky alliance with an old foe, Marcelina. In the form of the ship they sail upon, she assembles a team under the command of Captain Devlyn Nathaniel Bane, one of the most notorious and bloodthirsty pirates to ever sail the high seas.

Damned and murdered by his own, Bane is out for revenge. With his own secret agenda, he agrees to take charge of the motley crew of pirates and brigands, and to protect the seas from the preternatural terrors that seek to devour every unwary soul they can take.

Theirs is a sacred and deadly task, as they are hunted by their prey and human authorities alike. If they fail, the world will fall to the ancient gods of chaos, and anarchy will reign. Most of all, the Southern gate, where the greatest, most powerful darkness is imprisoned, will be opened and there will be no stopping it.

It’s yo ho ho and a bottle of high seas stakes where the souls of all humanity are the ultimate prize and bargaining chip.

Release Date: May 9, 2017
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Deadmen Walking Hardcover Book Giveaway

We are giving away a hardcover copy of Deadmen Walking by Sherrilyn Kenyon to one lucky reader!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is open to the US and Canada.  Giveaway ends May 8, 2017 midnight EST.

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Have you read any of Sherrilyn Kenyon's books?

Club Nexus Ivy Granger Urban Fantasy 99 Cent Deal

CLUB NEXUS is on sale for a limited time.  This week you can grab an ebook copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and iTunes for just 99 cents!

Club Nexus (Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective #2.5) by E.J. Stevens

A demon, a human, an Unseelie faerie, and a vampire walk into a bar...

This Ivy Granger series special contains four intertwining stories set in Club Nexus, the hidden haunt of Harborsmouth's paranormal underworld.

ICED
A bargain gone wrong leads a highborn Unseelie faerie to life as an enslaved bartender with a taste for revenge.

DUSTED
Being a highly skilled predator doesn't necessarily put you at the top of the food chain at Club Nexus. A southern vampire with a hankering for blood and wanton violence may have bit off more than he can chew.

DEMONIZED
The demon attorney we love to hate has his eye on a certain rockabilly human. Too bad she's brought a crossbow loaded with holy water dipped bolts for this night on the town.

JINXED
Just when Jinx needs a carefree girl's night out with Ivy, a smoking hot demon tries to buy her a drink.  She really is the unluckiest human on the planet.

Club Nexus is a great introduction into the award-winning urban fantasy world of Ivy Granger.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Dark Fantasy
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Whispersynch ready. Add audio for $1.99. 

Whitechapel Paranormal Society Book Excerpt: Eeper Weeper

On October 12th we'll be unveiling the covers to Eeper Weeper and One for Sorrow, the first two books in the Whitechapel Paranormal Society series, the new Victorian Gothic horror series by E.J. Stevens.  Today we have a sneak peek ARC book excerpt for you.

Book Excerpt: Eeper Weeper

     “I didn’t hear you come in, my dear,” Doctor Hadley said, looking up from his paperwork.
     “You were quite engrossed in your work, father,” I said.
     It was true.  Doctor Jameson Foster Hadley was always obsessed with documenting the progress, or failures, of his latest experiments.  He was driven by what he claimed was his duty to God and crown and all humankind.  He would solve the mysteries of the human brain and fix all that he saw as evil and flawed in the many patients who filled the asylum outside these office walls.
     “Are you wearing the shoes that I bought you?” he asked, eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the lower portion of my dress, as if he could force the fibers to part with his will and show him whether or not I had indeed offended him.
     I went rigid, every muscle tensing as I prepared myself for what might follow.  I was wearing the shoes in question, but I’d forgotten to screw the metal plates back onto the bottom of each shoe, a mistake that could be seen as dangerous rebellion, or worse.  I forced breath into my lungs and bowed my head dutifully to the man I now called father, the man who was my salvation and my greatest enemy.
     I chose my words carefully all too aware of what this monster was capable of.
     “I am sorry, father,” I said, casting my eyes to the floor.  “I reached for my old shoes out of habit.  It won’t happen again.”
     “No, I dare say it won’t,” he said, piercing me with his gaze.
     I held my breath, waiting for him to call for the orderlies to take me to the basement where I’d be subjected to endless questions.  There would be no comfort, no food, no sleep within the stone walls of my father’s laboratory.  But fatigue and hunger were not the worst of my fears.  I’d faced that much on the streets after my parents died.
     It was what came after, when I was weak and tired and restrained, that was what turned my blood to ice in my veins.
     I focused on the mundane sensation of pain where my corset dug into my ribs on one side.  The bruise that blossomed there was just one more black mark upon my character.  Doctor Jameson Foster Hadley had quite particular views on proper womanly behavior, and deep inhalations were not to be tolerated by the fairer, weaker sex.
     Indeed, as with the metal plates on my shoes to warn of my presence, the poor fit of my corset was calculated with the utmost scientific precision.
     I knew all of this to be true.  For although I’d often questioned what was real and what was delusion since entering the asylum’s unscalable walls, the proof of my treatment plan was all around me.  My father had dedicated fifty-one percent of his office—such a large amount of space when one considers the number of unfortunate souls under his care—to the charts, diagrams, and sketches of the devices and techniques currently in use upon my person.
     But even more terrible were the detailed sketches for the procedures and gadgets that loomed in my future like a scalpel held aloft in the operating theater.  Before my parents’ deaths, I’d believed that knowledge held the power to dispel fear and worry.  The good doctor’s diagrams, always in full view, were evidence of my childish innocence.  Knowing and anticipating the horrors to come was much worse than any level ignorance, no matter how low.
     So I focused on the pain below my breast and tried to empty my mind.  Whatever was to come would come.  It was best not to think on it.
     “My dear, I am disappointed, but you say that you put on the incorrect shoes out of habit,” he said, tapping his desk with the tip of an ink stained finger.  “I would not wish to alter this behavior too greatly, not when habit and routine are the greatest methods by which we can restore the damaged mind.”
     I risked a quick glance from his hands to his face, tears rising unbidden to join the hope that swelled inside my bruised chest.  Had I truly escaped from this encounter unscathed?  I measured my breathing by the ticking of the brass clock atop the mantelpiece before responding.  A misstep now would destroy the limited goodwill my earlier comment had earned.
     “I am sorry, father,” I said.  “I will build a new habit with the shoes you’ve bought me.”
     “And these new shoes, are they quite comfortable?” he asked.
     My hand tightened into a fist at my side, but I kept my tone even as I replied, “The shoes only pinch if I walk quickly…which I know only from when I hastened to put out my light at the scheduled hour.”
     He nodded, a satisfied smile on his lips as he made a notation in his ledger.  I fixed the docile gaze of a dutiful daughter onto my face and waited for him to blot the page.       Finally, he looked up from his desk and gestured for me to take the tray of discarded tea things, which had been the reason for this visit inside his domain.
     But as I moved forward, he caught my wrist.
     “If you promise to be good, I’ll let you join the patients in the garden,” he said, eyes alight.  “You will be good, won’t you, Josephine?”
     “Yes, father,” I said.
     I would behave, but I daren’t hope that I would ever be good again.  All that was right and true and innocent had died in the fire that killed my family.  But I’d learned how to survive, first on the streets and now under the care and tutelage of my benefactor.  I was his ward and I’d learned to do his bidding.  I created a façade of grace, calm, and benevolence, but Doctor Hadley was a perceptive man.  He’d made studying anomalous behavior his life’s work, which made him a difficult man to fool.
     But I would pretend to be good, and hope that news of my “episodes” did not reach him.  So far, I’d managed to bribe the staff with cakes and other sweets that I’d saved from my supper.  I was too thin already, so I could scarcely afford to give them up, but without a means of bribery, I was as good as ruined.
     I was the doctor’s success story.  He’d taken me in and made a proper woman out of me, driving out ill habits and unsuitable behavior with various experimental therapies.
     My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth as I cleared away the morning’s dishes from his desk.  He turned back to his work, dismissing me from his presence.  I was once again unremarkable, a fixture in the room.  If I were lucky, oh so lucky, I would remain that way.  To be in that man’s notice was a position so dire, I’d not wish it on the lowliest sinner, no not even the Devil himself.
     I moved steadily to the door, practice and determination the only thing keeping the tea things from shaking noisily on the tray.  I bit my lip and slid the door open wider, careful not to open it past the point at which it creaked.
     I knew all the sounds of this room, all the whispers, moans, and cries of this entire rambling monstrosity of an estate.  From the kitchens to the basement laboratories to the endless, winding halls of cell doors, this place was my home and my prison.
     It didn’t matter that I was the doctor’s adopted daughter and not an inmate.  My actions were just as scrutinized, my freedom just as limited.  I was an ongoing experiment in a fancy hat and pretty dress.
     If I was to survive, then I had to keep the doctor from learning the truth.  I had to keep secret the thing the staff had already begun whispering about in the shadows.  The great and prestigious man of science, Doctor Jameson Foster Hadley had somehow made a mistake.  I wasn’t good and I wasn’t normal.
     His experiment had failed.

[cover coming 10/12/16]

Eeper Weeper (Whitechapel Paranormal Society #0.5) by E.J. Stevens

The great and prestigious man of science, Doctor Jameson Foster Hadley had somehow made a mistake. I wasn’t good and I wasn’t normal. His experiment had failed.

The tedium and terrors of Josephine "Jo" Hadley's existence within the stone walls of London's Bethnal Asylum are interrupted by a strange visitor, Cora Drummond, a woman who demands to interview one of the asylum's most insane residents. The patient's rantings include tales of ghosts and demons, but it is the bizarre, near-riotous muttering of prophetic nursery rhymes that follow Jo throughout the asylum wards that is most illuminating to Miss Drummond.

Eeeper Weeper, chimney sweeper. Had a wife, but couldn't keep her...

Days later, Jo and her adoptive father receive an invitation to attend an exclusive tea at the prestigious Whitehall Club. But the request for Jo's attendance is more than it might seem. She has caught the attention of a secret branch of government working directly for the queen.

Will Jo Hadley's unusual talent for inciting prophetic nursery rhymes prove useful to the crown? She is given one chance to demonstrate her worth to the Special Paranormal Research Branch, but this is one mission that even the most highly trained operatives might not survive.

Eeper Weeper is a prequel short story in the Whitechapel Paranormal Society series by award-winning author E.J. Stevens. One for Sorrow (Whitechapel Paranormal Society #1) takes place six years after the prequel short story Eeper Weeper (Whitechapel Paranormal Society #0.5). The Whitechapel Paranormal Society series is a Victorian Gothic horror (dreadpunk) series set in London's East End.

Release Date: June 2017
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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
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Have a question for Khai? Ask away in the comment section (PG-13 questions please) below.

Q+A with Rachel Marks (Darkness Brutal)

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

Q+A with Rachel Marks

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

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

EJ:  What brought you to the science fiction genre?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
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Have a question for Rachel?  Ask in the comment section below.  We love questions!

Q+A with Steve McHugh (Hellequin Chronicles)

Please welcome today's guest author, Steve McHugh!  Steve is the author of the Hellequin Chronicles urban fantasy series, including Crimes Against Magic, Born of Hatred, With Silent Screams, and Prison of Hope.

Q+A with Steve McHugh

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Steve:  I’ve written since I was very young and always loved doing it, but it wasn’t until my daughter was born ten years ago when I was 25 that I got really serious about it. I joined a critique group and wrote my first book which won’t be seen by anyone ever. From there I started on my second, which turned into Crimes Against Magic, my first published book.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Steve:  I’ve always loved Urban Fantasy, mythology, monsters, magic all those kinds of things and figured I’d put them all together to make a story I wanted to read. I read a lot of stuff in that genre; Jim Butcher, Mike Carey, Kelley Armstrong, so it was one I’ve always wanted to do something in. And four books later it looks like I’ve got a good few books left in that genre yet.

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

Steve:  Picking only one is hard, but I’d probably go with the ability to control time and space. Why? Because if I'm going to get powers I want them to be the most awesome powers you can imagine. And controlling time and space is pretty much the upper echelon of power.

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

Steve:  It’s action/packed, with some brutal fight scenes, but it’s also got a lot of humour between Nate (the main character) and his friends. And at the core of it all is a crime mystery, a who-done-it, that I think is pretty fun.

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

Steve:  Before I saw Daredevil I would have said that Antony Starr from Banshee would make a great Nate. But I think Charlie Cox has that combination of friendliness to those he cares about and viciousness to those who cross him that Nate has. I think he’d be good in the role.

Michael Fassbender would make a great Hades. He’s got the right look for him and I think he’d be pretty cool as Nate’s friend and all round terrifyingly powerful badass.

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

Prison of Hope (Hellequin Chronicles #4) by Steve McHugh.

Long ago, Olympian gods imprisoned the demon Pandora in a human—Hope—creating a creature whose only purpose was chaos and death. Remorseful, the gods locked Pandora away in Tartarus, ruled by Hades.

Now, centuries later, Pandora escapes. Nate Garrett, a 1,600-year-old sorcerer, is sent to recapture her and discovers her plan to disrupt the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, killing thousands in a misplaced quest for vengeance.

Fast forward to modern-day Berlin, where Nate has agreed to act as guardian on a school trip to Germany to visit Hades at the entrance to Tartarus. When Titan King Cronus becomes the second ever to escape Tartarus, Nate is forced to track him down and bring him back, to avert a civil war between those who would use his escape to gain power.

Prison of Hope is the fourth book in the highly acclaimed and action-packed dark urban fantasy series, the Hellequin Chronicles.

Release Date:  April 14, 2015
Genre:  Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
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To learn more about Steve McHugh and his books, please visit his website.

Shadow Sight Limited Time Kindle Deal

I am excited to announce that SHADOW SIGHT, the first novel in the Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective urban fantasy series, will be reduced in price from $3.99 to 99 cents on Kindle for a limited time.

This is the first time ever that this book has been offered at a reduced price and this deal will only last a few days, so if you've been wanting to give the Ivy Granger series a try, now is the perfect time!

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

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

Some things are best left unseen...

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

Demons are never a good sign...

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

There's blood in the water...

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

The lesser of two evils...

Release Date: July 2012
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
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About the Ivy Granger Series:

The Ivy Granger series is an urban fantasy series written by E.J. Stevens. The series is told in the first-person point-of-view of Ivy Granger, a psychic detective with ties to the paranormal underworld of Harborsmouth--ties that ensnare Ivy and her friend Jinx in the Machiavellian schemes of the city's teeming population of bloodsucking vampires and psychotic faeries.

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Please note that this sale is scheduled to take place October 7-10, 2014.  Retailers can change prices at any time, so be sure to check the price before purchasing.

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Burning Bright by E.J. Stevens

It's time for a cover reveal!  Feast your eyes on the cover for BURNING BRIGHT, the third full-length novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens.

Keep reading for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Cover Reveal

Burning Bright (Ivy Granger #3) by E.J. Stevens.

Burning down the house...

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

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

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

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

Release Date:  June 17, 2014
Genre:  Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
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Previous books in this series: Shadow Sight (Ivy Granger #1), Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5), Ghost Light (Ivy Granger #2), Club Nexus (Ivy Granger #2.5).

Burning Bright Cover Reveal Giveaway

We are giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner!  

To enter, please use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends May 30, 2014.


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About the Author

E.J. Stevens is the author of the Spirit Guide young adult series and the bestselling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series. When E.J. isn't at her writing desk she enjoys dancing along seaside cliffs, singing in graveyards, and sleeping in faerie circles. E.J. currently resides in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.

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

Q+A with Skyla Dawn Cameron (Demons of Oblivion)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Skyla Dawn Cameron.  Skyla is the author of the Demons of Oblivion series (Bloodlines, Hunter, Lineage, Exhumed, and Oblivion).

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Skyla:  Pretty much as soon as I could hold a pencil.
From the moment my mother came home with me from the hospital, she would read to me, and I learned to read when I was about two and a half. Immediately I began telling stories, whether with my hundreds of Barbie dolls (all of which I still have!) or writing them down. I won several poetry contests in middle school, was an editor and writer for my high school’s newspaper later on, and pursued writing full time as soon as I graduated.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Skyla:  I was a weird kid.  Like, really weird. Sees-and-talks-to-people-who-aren’t-there weird. I was also allowed to watch anything (my favourite show when I was seven was David Lynch’s Twin Peaks). I’ve basically had a paranormal bent to my work for as long as I can remember.
As an adult, I’d say paranormal—like a lot of genre fiction—gives us a lens through which we see and experience the truth in a way reality doesn’t. My favourite show continues to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer, even so many years after it’s been off the air, and one of the reasons was how masterfully Whedon showed emotional truth in the fantastical.

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

Skyla:  Who says I don’t have any supernatural talents? ;-)
Honestly, I’m simple sort of girl: I like the powers of a witch. Cursing is big in my family.

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

Skyla:  I think the thing that makes this series a tough sell is also its greatest strength, which is the diverse cast of characters.
I imagine for a reader it could be a challenge going from narrator to narrator in the first three books—which are tied together but could be read as standalones—as it took a bit of an adjustment for me to write them. A narcissist vampire assassin to a demon-hunting nun to a socipathic quarter-demon mercenary? Yeah. Whiplash. But I strove with each book to give damn near every reader someone to root for, from the truly violent characters to the softer ones, so that if you’re thinking “Yeah, the nun main character really isn’t working for me”, there would still be someone snarky on the sidelines to bring a bit of fun. Once the full cast is assembled for the latter part of Lineage (book three) and for the entirety of Exhumed (book four), I think the diverse variety of characters previously introduced come together as a strong ensemble and play well off of one another.

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

Skyla:  The Demons of Oblivion series has a rather large cast of characters—the first three books alternate narrators (look, I get bored a lot, okay?)—which should mean a huge list here of potential actors but I’ve always been at a loss for a few of them.
While she doesn’t look exactly like Zara Lain, Sasha Barrese as the demon bartender Casey in the show Supernatural makes a very strong contender. Tall, hot, and kickass, just give her blue eyes and make her a vampire assassin.
Henry Cavill would make a good, very pretty warlock Nate O’Connor. Mmm, sexy brooding...
If we’re talking contemporary actors, I’d like to see what Megumi Okina could do with my sociopathic merc Peri Takata. (If I’m not limited to contemporary, you can’t go wrong with Meiko Kaji.)
For Nicolette, a tall pacifist vampire with a sunny disposition, picture Jenna Elfman from her Dharma and Greg days.
The witch Mishka Thiering would be Amanda Seyfried, who could do both vulnerable and manipulative witch wonderfully.
The characters from Hunter present the largest challenge for me, however I just saw the latest ep of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. the other night and I was quite taken with Pascale Armand. She has both a strength and vulnerability that would fit Ryann.
The psychic, Elliot Rhys, also has a very specific look I always drew a blank on but I actually think Fran Kranz (of Dollhouse, Cabin in the Woods, and Much Ado About Nothing fame) could pull that character off well even if he looks nothing like him.

Bloodlines (Demons of Oblivion #1) by Skyla Dawn Cameron.

After three hundred years of unlife, vampire Zara Lain has seemingly done it all, and she's now making a living as a successful thief-turned-assassin. Her newest assignment seems simple enough--kill the aging leader of the O'Connor Coven and his only heir, and she'll have another ten million in the bank.But in the dangerous world of the supernatural, few things are ever "simple."When a massive assault decimates the continent's population of powerful witches and warlocks, and its orchestrator has vampires being hunted down and captured, Zara realizes the tables have turned and now she'll be playing the hero. Forced to join with a smart-mouthed fellow vampire, a demonologist who's also a fan of hers, a recently widowed--and frequently brooding--warlock, and her best friend's mom, Zara's grudgingly willing to do what she can to save the day.If only people would stop ruining all her outfits...

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

To learn more about Skyla Dawn Cameron and her books, please visit her website.

As a special treat, Bloodlines is free for Kindle October 28th - November 1st!

Q+A with Georgia McBride (Praefatio)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Georgia McBride.  Georgia is the author of Praefatio.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Georgia:  I began writing seriously in 2007 with PRAEFATIO.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Georgia:  I try to write contemporary things, but every time I do, a vampire jumps out from behind the curtains. It’s very hard to stay on the contemporary path. I think fantasy is in my bones.

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

Georgia:  I used to say I would want to fly. But now I suffer from terrible vertigo, and I don’t think that would be a good thing. I would love to be able to time travel.

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

Georgia:  I hope readers will like a book where being paranormal isn’t the twist, and where they quickly appreciate the book being about something altogether different than they assumed.

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

Georgia:  Oh my. I should be so lucky. I think Grace could easily be played by someone like Isabelle Fuhrman or Rachel Hurd-Wood. Gavin is a tough one. Maybe Zach Efron or Sterling Beaumon.

Praefatio (Praefatio #1) by Georgia McBride.

Seventeen-year-old Grace Ann Miller is no ordinary runaway...

After having been missing for weeks, Grace is found on the estate of international rock star Gavin Vault, half-dressed and yelling for help. Over the course of twenty-four hours Grace holds an entire police force captive with incredulous tales of angels, demons, and war; intent on saving Gavin from lockup and her family from worry over her safety.

Authorities believe that Grace is ill, suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, the victim of assault and a severely fractured mind. Undeterred, Grace reveals the secret existence of dark angels on earth, an ancient prophecy and a wretched curse steeped in Biblical myth. Grace’s claims set into motion an ages-old war, resulting in blood, death and the loss of everything that matters. But are these the delusions of an immensely sick girl, or could Grace’s story actually be true?

Praefatio is Grace’s account of weeks on the run, falling in love and losing everything but her faith. When it’s sister against brother, light versus darkness, corrupt police officers, eager doctors and accusing journalists, against one girl with nothing but her word as proof: who do you believe?

Release Date: May 21, 2013

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

If you'd like to learn more about Georgia McBride and her books, please visit her website.

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

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

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

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

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

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Release date May 28, 2013.

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

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

***Fiery Edge of Steel Giveaway***

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

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

Q+A with Rinda Elliott (Dweller on the Threshold)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Rinda Elliott.  Rinda is the author of Dweller on the Threshold.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Rinda:  I finished my first book eighteen years ago. I wrote this horrible conglomeration of every Harlequin Presents novel I'd ever read. It received a nice two page rejection from Harlequin and I wrote on and off for a few years. I picked it up again seriously much later. I signed with my agent, M iriam Kriss, in 2008 and we've been actively marketing my work since.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Rinda:  I've always loved paranormal books. As a teenager, I read romances and horror novels--not as much fantasy. But I loved paranormal elements, so when I found the mix, I loved them! One of my first paranormal romances was The Wizard of Seattle by Kay Hooper. This one also had a strong female lead--something else I love. Later, when I discovered urban fantasy, I was completely hooked. Where else can you get fantasy, horror, humor and romance in such a nice, tight package?

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

Rinda:  I'd like to have the ability to heal. Immortality could be a trip, too.

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

Rinda:  I do hope readers enjoy Dweller on the Threshold. If they enjoy fantasy, horror, humor and romance, this could be right up their alley. I've also always been drawn to books that surround a cast of characters who end up forming tight, family-like friendships. This series incorporates that and they get to fight scary bad guys at the same time.

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

Rinda:  I simply can't find the right people. But this made think. I might hold some kind of contest for readers once they have read Dweller on the Threshold. I'd love to hear suggestions. Both Beri and Nikolos would be a challenge. Beri has unusual looks, is over six feet tall and strong. She can be kind of snarky, but her well of compassion is endless. Once you've earned her loyalty, you've earned it for life. Nikolos... well, my editor calls him sex on legs. He's a tall Minoan warrior who has gone through the absolute worst of what life has to offer (Many times!) to right a horrible wrong.

Dweller on the Threshold (Beri O'Dell #1) by Rinda Elliott.

On a hunt to save her sister, the last thing Beri O’Dell needs is love. Aren’t demons bad enough?

Beri O’Dell is investigating paranormal creatures because she wants to know what she is. Taller and stronger than most men, she astral projects and can peel through dimensional layers to see the creatures and spirits beyond.

She once helped her foster sister, Detective Elsa Remington, track down killers in Jacksonville, Florida, but stopped when a nasty fire elemental turned her strength against her. Now, she finds herself pulled back when something steals Elsa’s soul and puts her into a coma.

With little time to spare, Beri searches for the reason behind her sister’s coma. She has help in her spirit guides Fred and Phro, but others come along for the ride, including a pyro-nervous witch, and an androgynous necromancer.

The last thing Beri needs is to fall in love with a mysterious stranger. But the handsome Minoan warrior Nikolos knows what creature she’s after because he’s battled it before.

It’s bad.

Really, really bad.

He calls it the Dweller on the Threshold.

Warning:

Contains a worried heroine with no time, a witch with fire problems, a pissed-off necromancer, a trapped goddess, and a damned sexy, but scary, warrior. Throw in bloody battles, mass-murderer history lessons and a bit of sexy time and you get the start of Beri’s new life.

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

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

Q+A with Heather Reid (Pretty Dark Nothing)

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Heather Reid.  Heather is the author of Pretty Dark Nothing.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Heather:  My love of words started like most writers I know. It started with a story. In this case, the stories came from the imagination of my great-aunt, Delia. She weaved magical tales to send me to sleep. She wasn’t a writer, she never wrote any of her stories on paper, and she read to me too, but I loved her stories best. Neither of us knew she was giving me the greatest gift of all, the love of storytelling.

At the age of four I started dictating stories to my mother who would illustrate for me. By the age of nine, I was writing plays for friends and binding my own picture books with cardboard and string. At eleven I tried my hand at a first novel. (No, you can’t read it. It’s buried in a deep dark hole somewhere in the Tasmanian Outback and guarded by a three-headed dingo.) It was then I told my parents I wanted to be published by the age of sixteen. I also told them I wanted to be Wonder Woman, a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, a Broadway star, and an archaeologist. Those dreams faded. I never did get that invisible jet, and I would be a lot older than sixteen before I got a publishing deal, but the dream of being a writer stayed with me. After college I decided to stop dreaming and start getting serious. I joined the Society of Children’s book Writers and Illustrators, joined a writer’s group, read books on writing, went to conferences, workshops, and most importantly, I started writing every day. Some of it was crap. Ok, at first, a lot of it was crap, but writing takes work. After over 12 years of studying and writing, my first young adult novel, Pretty Dark Nothing, sold in a two book deal to Month9Books. It’s been an amazing journey and I’m still learning. I write because I have to. It’s a part of what makes me, me.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Heather:  I’ve always loved scary stories and things that go bump in the night. Maybe it was my way of trying to make sense of the nightmares of my youth. Halloween became my favourite holiday complete with an annual party, haunted house, scary movies, and ghoulish punch. As a teenager, if it had a paranormal story line, I would read it. I graduated from Christopher Pike and VC Andrews to Anne Rice, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Poe, and Lovecraft, reading every book I could get my hands on. I didn’t stop at fiction either; I collected many a book on real historical hauntings from around the world. Sometimes I think paranormal chose me, not the other way around.

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

Heather:  I would love to be a shifter, to be able to fly or swim or run with the wolves as I wished. The ability to experience life from so many different perspectives would truly be awesome. Imagine the freedom of it. I could still live a somewhat normal life if I wished, neither ruled by the moon like a werewolf or blood lust like a vampire.

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

Heather:  Pretty Dark Nothing is full of demons, and I don’t mean the hot fallen angel, bad boy types. These demons are the evil, hairy, sulphurous kind, bent on manipulating and destroying Quinn’s life. Throw in some romantic sparks with a psychic amnesic, an ex-boyfriend she can’t quite get over, and suspension from the cheerleading squad for failing grades, all while the demons are pushing her to the brink of madness, and I hope it’s a recipe for something darkly paranormal and not quite typical.

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

Heather:  Juno Temple as Quinn Taylor- Quinn is complex and needs an actress who can play someone descending into madness in a believable way. She needs to have moments of vulnerability as well as strength and stubbornness. It’s a delicate balance. It doesn’t hurt that Juno looks a lot like Quinn. If you haven’t seen the indie film, Little Birds, check it out. Her acting is amazing.

Stephen R McQueen as Aaron Collier – His work in Vampire Diaries says it all. He can play broody and loveable. Let’s not forget the cute factor. His smile is Aaron’s smile. With the exception being brown eyed instead of green, he’s looks almost exactly how I picture Aaron. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind wearing contacts for the role, right?

Pretty Dark Nothing by Heather Reid.

Seventeen-year-old Quinn hadn’t slept a full night in twenty-three days. She’s terrified of the demons that stalk her dreams and whisper hauntingly of her death. The lack of sleep and crippling fear are ruining her life and her arsenal of energy drinks and caffeine pills don’t make a dent. When Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. Now the demons will do anything they can to keep them apart. If Quinn can learn to trust her heart, and Aaron can discover the secret locked away in his fragile memory, their combined power could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first.

Pretty Dark Nothing available April 2013.

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

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

Cover Reveal: Release by M.R. Merrick (Protector #3)

Time for a cover reveal!  Feast your eyes on the cover for Release, the third book in the Protector series by M.R. Merrick.

Release (Protector #3) by M.R. Merrick.

After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father.  Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.

Release available December 10, 2012.

Death's Hand Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaway

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.”

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