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
Add to Goodreads.

Have a question for Serena?

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

Book Excerpt + Giveaway: Teen Wytche Saga by Ariella Moon

Today we have a special Teen Wytche Saga book excerpt and giveaway for our readers.

Book Excerpt

Spell Fire: Teen Wytche Saga

I paused beneath the fern‑painted ceiling fan and scanned the wall menu. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but a weird craving fueled my search.

The dragon exerted pressure between my shoulder blades, prompting me. "A Scorpion's Nest smoothie."

Morningstar leaned over the high counter and gave me a once‐over. "You feeling okay?"

I licked my lips. "Absolutely." I had never tasted an orange juice, vanilla ice cream, and peanut butter combo, but I slapped the countertop and said, "I'm fine. Hit me."

Morningstar tilted her head to one side and studied me.

Oh — crap. Maybe I'm dragon drunk.

My thoughts: This looks like such a fun YA read.  I can totally picture Ainslie slapping the counter and ordering more of this strange concoction.  I can't wait to read more!

What did you think of the book excerpt?

Spell Fire (Teen Wytche Saga #3) by Ariella Moon

Ainslie’s parents ditch her at Christmas.
A dragon wants to be her new BFF.
There is something her boyfriend isn’t telling her.
And no one will explain the hissing spell book.

Second worst Christmas EVER!

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Add to Goodreads.

Teen Wytche Saga Giveaway 

The author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is a tour giveaway and the winners will be randomly selected by the author or publisher.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

A Dawn of Dragonfire Character Interview + Giveaway

Please welcome today's returning guest author Daniel Arenson.  Daniel is the author of Firefly Island, Flaming Dove, Eye of the Wizard, Blood of Requiem, Tears of Requiem, Light of Requiem, and A Dawn of Dragonfire.

Keep reading for a chance to win A Dawn of Dragonfire by Daniel Arenson.

Character interview: Lyana and Bayrin from A Dawn of Dragonfire

EJ:  Today we welcome Lyana and Bayrin, siblings from Requiem, a land of people who can become dragons.  Lyana, let's start with you.  Tell us about yourself.

Lyana:  First of all, you may call me Lady Lyana Eleison.  I am a knight of Requiem, a member of the ancient order of bellators.  I know many people these days no longer bother with titles – my oaf a brother, for example – but I still care about tradition.

Bayrin:  You care about your big head, more like.

Lyana:  Bayrin!  Be quiet!  You will have a turn to speak.  *sigh* Do you see what I must deal with?  Where was I?  Oh yes, as I said, I am Lady Lyana, a knight of Requiem, one of only fifty who guard the realm.  In human form, I have red hair and green eyes.  I turn into a blue dragon with golden horns.  In addition to being a knight, I am betrothed to Prince Orin Aeternum, and will soon be a princess, then a queen consort one day.

Bayrin:  Imagine the size of her head then!  No crown would fit her.

Lyana:  Bayrin!  I might have a big head, but yours is completely hollow!  Will you please be quiet?

Bayrin:  Me?  Be quiet?  How little you know me, dear sister.  In fact, I will now tell the readers a little about myself.  Well... I'm Bayrin.  And... hmmm...

Lyana:  Nothing much to speak of, is there?

Bayrin:  Lyana, quiet!  I didn't interrupt you, did I?

Lyana:  What?  You—

Bayrin:  AHEM!  As I was saying, dear readers, I am Bayrin Eleison.  I can turn into a green dragon (one much faster and stronger than Lyana).  I'm older than Lyana, and much better looking, and quite smarter too, and overall better liked and—

Lyana:  BAYRIN!  Don't lie to people.  I will tell them the truth.  Bayrin, my oaf of a brother, is the biggest blockhead in Requiem.   He is the son of great parents – our father is captain of the City Guard, and our mother is the High Priestess – but do you think he cares?  Do you think he ever tried to become a knight or priest?  No.  He spends his days singing in alehouses, or chasing girls, or sleeping past noon.  The only time he enters the armory is to draw rude drawings on shields.

Bayrin:  Not true!  I’ve entered the armory for more than that.  I once also placed a frog in your helmet.

Lyana:  Place some sense in your head instead!  Bayrin, you are five years older than me.  When will you grow up?  When will you make something of your life?  Come to court now and then!  Pick up a sword and join the army!  Pick up a book and learn to read and write!

Bayrin:  I know how to read and write!

Lyana:  Scribbling rude limericks on alehouse walls doesn't count, Bayrin.  Won't you ever do something with yourself?  At least get a haircut and a shave, you look like a sheepdog.  I swear, Bayrin, if you weren't my brother, I would punch some sense into your hollow skull.

Bayrin:  Ladies and gentlemen, this is the real Lyana.  Forget knighthood or betrothals to princes – it's mostly lectures.

Lyana:  That does it.  It's time for punching!

Bayrin:  Ouch!  Lyana, stop that!

EJ:  I think this interview is over...  We hope you enjoyed meeting Bayrin and Lyana.  You can read more about them in A Dawn of Dragonfire, the first volume of Dragonlore, a new epic fantasy series.

A Dawn of Dragonfire (Dragonlore #1) by Daniel Arenson.

The people of Requiem, an ancient kingdom, can grow wings and scales, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. Their hearts are noble, their wisdom great, their kingdom a land of beauty and peace.

This peace will soon burn. From the south, a fire rises. Birds of flame take flight. The phoenixes soar, beasts of heat and wrath, large as dragons and cruel as wildfire. Their purpose is one: destroy the land of dragons.

Requiem's dragons have defeated countless enemies. Their claws are sharp and their flames bright. But how can they fight the phoenixes, creatures woven of sunfire itself?

In 2011, the Song of Dragons trilogy introduced readers to mythical Requiem. Today, after 100,000 copies sold, a new dawn rises. Dragonlore returns to Requiem with an epic story—for both new readers and old fans—of blood, steel, and dragonfire.

Thank you Daniel, Lyana, and Bayrin for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Daniel Arenson and his books, please visit his website.  Check our sidebar for links to past interviews with Daniel and his characters.

**A Dawn of Dragonfire Giveaway**

We are giving away an ebook copy of A Dawn of Dragonfire by Daniel Arenson to one lucky winner.

To enter, please leave a comment on this post (include your email address so we may contact you if you win).  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends October 11, 2012 midnight EST.