Jen: Readers, please help me welcome Eden Robbins to Book Talk this week. Eden, will you please share a short bio with us?
Eden: EDEN ROBINS aka E. R. MITCHELL hears voices in her head. Her characters' voices, that is. She loves creating new worlds and complex characters that always seem to find their way into one sticky predicament or another. She enjoys helping them get untangled from these situations, only to find themselves entangled in love affairs that will last for all time. With the success of her futuristic Tomorrow trilogy and After Sundown paranormal series Eden is happily and firmly entrenched in the wonderful world of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.
Jen: Tell us about AFTER SUNDOWN: ILLUMINATION and where it's available.
Eden: The third book in my paranormal AFTER SUNDOWN series, ILLUMINATION is currently available as an e-book, but I’m hopeful it will be available in print by spring 2010. This book, as well as print or e-book copies of the first two books in the series, Redemption and Salvation, are for sale at a bookstore near you, online bookstores and directly through my publisher’s site: www.cerridwenpress.com.
Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Eden: I’ve been writing since I was in grade school, but I didn’t know until after I graduated college and started a family that I truly wanted to be a writer. That epiphany came on the heels of the death of a family member. That death sparked an intense and undeniable creative motivation in me.
My very first story was Never Until Tomorrow. A book that later kicked off my futuristic TOMORROW series. I self-published that first story through iUniverse and was thrilled with what the whole process taught me. That story as well as two other stories in that series were later picked up by another publisher and re-released through them. The second book in that series, All Our Tomorrows, won a number of awards and helped propel me forward in my writing career.
The story that could be considered my real “call story”, however, was the very first paranormal romance I wrote. A ghost story entitled, Yesterday's Promise. I loved creating this book, fell in love with the history of the area I wrote about-St. Augustine, Florida, and had a hard time letting go of the tragic, yet incredibly charming hero in this ghostly tale. I submitted my work via e-mail and within a week an editor contacted me and told me she wanted to publish it. I had made my first sale! I did the happy dance, of course, then floated on cloud nine the rest of the day, despite my family’s curious looks.
Jen: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
Eden: My daughter is a fantastic writer. She has the kind of voice that grabs a reader and draws them in right away. I’ve been supporting her efforts, helping her when she lets me (she’s very independent) and am proud of that fact that she too has the “writing bug”!
My mother co-wrote a true crime story years ago. That was something she wanted to do just for herself rather than to pursue a career as a writer. Though she’s not a full time writer, she’s creative in so many other ways that I can’t fit them all on this page. She’s also my full time cheerleader. Thanks mom!
Jen: How does your family handle the time that you write? Are they supportive or disruptive?
Eden: It depends on the day, hour or minute! LOL Most of the time my family is very supportive of my writing and encourages me to pursue my dreams.
Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Eden: Dark. Dangerous. Decadent. It’s my tag line, but I think it holds true. I like to examine the darker side of characters, I enjoy putting them in situations that are dangerous and suspenseful and I can’t imagine a story with a little bit of decadent heat. After all, what’s a little darkness and danger without the spice?
Jen: Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
Eden: Not really. Well, okay. Coffee in the morning is a must to get my brain moving. Also chocolate close at hand as my secret stash and special reward for a good day of writing is something I enjoy. And more often than I’d like to admit I need to blast some hard rock so loud the speakers vibrate to get the creative juices flowing.
Jen: How many hours a day do you write?
Eden: As many as I can. I work a day job as well as being a single mom, so I write when the moments are available. That usually ends up being very early in the morning. A creative peak time for me, as it turns out, so that works out well. Generally I don’t limit my writing by hours. Rather, I like to accomplish a certain word count each day to feel productive.
That method was recently reinforced for me when I entered the November 2009 National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) contest. Last month I vowed to write 50,000 words in one month. Over 170,000 writers entered this contest this year, from all over the world. Only about 3% on average each year reach the goal by the end of the month. I am very excited to say that I reached that goal and wrote close to 55,000 words by midnight November 30th under my new pen name, E. R. Mitchell! And if that weren’t enough to give me a kick in the pants, that story, more than half way written thanks to NaNoWriMo is my very first attempt at writing an Inspirational Paranormal tale. I’m thrilled to be heading in this new direction, a direction I didn’t know if I could handle. Now, after having completed that month long writing marathon, I know not only that I can do it, but that this new subgenre is the right one for me.
The annual NaNoWriMo contest is wonderful for anyone who wants to really push themselves to write a story, reinforce that they can write a story, or just help motivate them to get serious about writing for the first time or getting back into it. I loved the challenge and feel renewed in my writing because of it. The experience also reminded me that by just getting down a set number of words each day I feel productive in my career. What I write can be crap, but I always remember that crap can be edited. A page with no words at all can’t. Please check out www.nanowrimo.org if you’d like to learn more about this wonderful nonprofit project.
Jen: What is it about the romance genre that appeals to you?
Eden: What doesn’t appeal to me should be the question.
Jen: Do you do anything special to celebrate a sale, new contract, or release?
Eden: I love to celebrate with my family. When a new book comes out or I make a new sale, I share my joy with them and they support me with lots of love and encouragement. Okay, a little chocolate plays in this scenario as well, but can you blame me? If you can’t eat chocolate then, when can you?
Jen: Who has inspired you as an author?
Eden: So many wonderful writers out there, so little time. If I had to name some-but not all, in no particular order they would be: Stephen King, Cheyenne McCray, Sherrilyn Kenyon, William Shakespeare, Patricia Briggs, Edgar Allen Poe, Jim Butcher, Jane Austen, Ann Rice, Christine Feehan, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Laurie Schnebly Campbell, Nicholas Sparks, Debbie Macomber, Dara Joy, J.R. Ward, Connie Flynn. Linda Style, John Milton, Sue Grant, Catherine Asaro, Laurell K. Hamilton… okay I should stop here. I know, I know I’m getting carried away, but you did ask. A well written story touches me. These authors, through their work have touched me in a such a way that I’ll never forget them. They helped create one more step, one more inspiration to help me move forward in my writing career. Corny? Maybe. But absolutely, without a doubt, one hundred percent truth.
Jen: Do you become attached to your characters and have a hard time letting them go, or are you happy that their story is told and you can move on?
Eden: Generally I have a hard time letting go. I become attached to my characters because they’ve become my friends. I’ve had to make them my friends so I could get into their heads and write about them in a way that is real and true to who they are.
Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Eden: Free what?
Jen: What's next for you?
Eden: No. You didn’t just ask that, did you? You did? Okay
As I mentioned earlier, I’m in the process of writing my very first paranormal inspirational. It’s destined to be part of, yes you guessed it, a series called THE FALLEN. The first book in the series, SECOND CHANCES. is what I wrote as part of the NaNoWrioMo contest. I plan to finish that work, polish it up and get it published as soon as possible. I’m very excited about this new effort and hope you will be too.
In addition to my new paranormal inspirational series, I’ve also recently completed my first official Urban Fantasy entitled, GOLD: HEART OF A WARRIOR. This tale, also written under my new pen name, E. R. Mitchell is the set up to the beginning of a continuity series. It’s a quirky mix of Greek Gods, demons, hunky immortal warriors and Pandora’s Box. The lead characters in this contemporary story are none other than Pandora (yes the Pandora who opened that dreaded box) and Philoctetes, one of the Goddess Demeter’s biggest bad ass Golden Warriors. If you enjoyed reading Milton’s Paradise Lost, liked watching the TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Zena Warrior Princess and are getting into the fresh, new Twilight books and movies, this is the series for you. Everything from shape shifters to Aphrodite pop up at the strangest times in this tale, and believe me there’s much more to come in that direction!
Last but not least, I’ve opened my writing up in a whole new arena. I completed a nonfiction inspirational work this year entitled, DON’T GO BACK TO SLEEP! under my tried and true name, Eden Robins. This “wake up and live” project was years in the making and stems from the Monthly Garden essay and newsletter I’ve been sending out to folks since 2003. This newsletter started out as simply a message about life that I shared with friends. Whether it was a lesson I had learned or an experience that truly touched my soul, I felt the need to share it with those I cared about. And in time they shared it with others. My newsletter readership has grown to now reach out to over 15,000 friends around the world. Some of whom have encouraged me to put together a compilation of these life lessons I’ve included in each month’s newsletter. I wasn’t sure where to begin in this endeavor until events and people I knew and had yet to meet guided me in the right direction. It was then that I began to piece together a part of my life and the multitude of experiences and life lessons I’ve learned into a true work of my heart. DON’T GO BACK TO SLEEP! is book that I hope will help to heal and inspire others in their own lives, just as it’s healed and inspired me.
If you’d like a sneak peek of my latest works in progress under my new pen name E.R Mitchell, including a “taste of gold” please check it out at www.textnovel.com. GOLD: HEART OF A WARRIOR, is posted there as is a new, steamy, too hot to handle (and definitely over eighteen only), older woman and younger man tale I’m putting together and hope to sell to Ellora’s Cave entitled, LAB LOCK DOWN. Also, I’ll be posting a little tidbit of THE FALLEN: SECOND CHANCES on that site soon, so come on by, type in the title you’re interested in at the top of the page in the search box and check it out. I’ve also posted a preface about DON’T GO BACK TO SLEEP! under Eden Robins at the Textnovel site. Please don’t hesitate to let me know what you think! I truly want to hear from you. In fact, I’m interested in setting up a group of “pre-readers” to let me know their thoughts on my work. Interested? Please contact me at edenrobins@gmail.com and let me know! :-)
Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Eden: Please look for me here:
My website: www.edenrobins.com or contact me directly at edenrobins@gmail.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/edenrobins
You’ll also find me “Tweeting” on Twitter and “Friending” on Facebook.
And once again, you can get a preview of my upcoming books at www.textnovel.com
Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Eden: Absolutely! One thing, okay, maybe three. May I ask three questions?
First, one thing like to hear from readers is what tales stand out in their mind. What kind of plot takes you away from the here and now as you’re swept away into the lives of new characters and their stories? Can you give me an example of one of your favorites and why you like it so much?
Second, what would you consider an absolute taboo in the books you read? What is totally unacceptable in a story line, relationship or character and why?
Third, how would you define a hero? What makes someone a hero in your mind? And if you have a real life hero (man, woman or child) in your life, how has that person directly affected your reality?
Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to blog on Booktalk. I’ve really enjoyed answering your questions and I hope to hear answers to my questions from some of your readers!
Just Believe,
Eden Robins
Jen: Readers, Eden is giving away an autographed copy of Beneath a Christmas Moon. Her story, LANDER'S MOON, is one of the three Christmas tales in this collection. This contest is limited to US residents only. To enter, you must first leave a comment or question for Eden. Then to finish your entry, you need to either leave your email address in your comment or send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com. The contest will end on Sunday, December 20.
Jen: This weekend we welcome Tamela Quijas to Book Talk. Tamela, will you please share a short bio with us?
Tamela: I was born in the USA, raised in Germany and have lived in the Southwest for nearly 30 years. I am happily married and the proud mother of 5 children, 2 stepchildren, and grandmother to 2 wonderful grandchildren.
Jen: Tell us about Blood of the Beast and where it's available.
Tamela: Blood of the Beast is a paranormal romance novel set in modern times. It is the story of a detective, Valentina Kureyev, who has been assigned to one of the worst cases of the century. A serial killer is roaming the streets of her town, gruesomely depositing bloodless corpses. She joins ranks with an intriguing Professor of Russian Antiquities, who has a few secrets of his own.
Blood of the Beast can be purchased at Amazon:
Kindle Format: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002GP7YMY/
Paperback Format: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Beast-Tamela-Quijas/dp/1442173351
Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Tamela: I was a teenager that loved to scribble down every thought that came to mind. I was first published in 2007. Would you believe it was a Southwestern inspired cookbook? From that point on, I never looked back.
Jen: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
Tamela: No, just me. There is a lot of voracious readers, though.
Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
Tamela: It's a little of both. Blood of the Beast literally spewed from me, 20,000 words in about a week. It seemed that Demetri was desperate to get his story out. At that point, I wrote the entire novel, then went back to fill it out.
Jen: Do you have a specific time or place that you write?
Tamela: Early in the morning and I mean really early! Usually, I begin writing about 4 am and let the creativity flow until 630 am.
Jen: How do you shut out disruptions?
Tamela: That's why I write so early in the morning—it's quiet
Jen: Do you do anything special to celebrate a sale, new contract, or release?
Tamela: Don't laugh...I do the 'snoopy dance' around the house for about an hour then get back to work
Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write? Is there a genre you’ll probably stay away from and why?
Tamela: I love writing paranormal romances set in modern times. I don't like and would, probably, never write anything that involves outerspace.
Jen: Who has inspired you as an author?
Tamela: Jude Deveraux and Johanna Lindsey were my inspirations with a little bit of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Jules Verne.
Jen: If your book was made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the hero and heroine?
Tamela: If Blood of the Beast was made into a movie, I would be at my wit's end. I know it's a stretch of the imagination, but I think Dolph Lundgren or Alex O'Loughlin would play a fantastic Demetri and Kate Bekinsale as Valentina Kureyev.
Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Tamela: I am addicted to movies. All genres, all stories.
Jen: What's next for you?
Tamela: I' just finished My Lord Raven, after months of rewrites. It's a contemporary romance that just became available on Amazon
Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Tamela: I can be found at http://tamelaquijas.wordpress.com and at http://www.myspace.com/tamelaquijas
Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Tamela: What intrigues a reader with the paranormal? Are there any particular types of paranormal characters that they look for in a novel?
Jen: Are you doing a giveaway, if so, what’s the prize?
Tamela: For every comment that I receive, I will place the commentators name in a drawing. One luck winner will receive a free PDF copy of Blood of the Beast.
Jen: The contest for the PDF of Blood of the Beast will end on Thursday, October 29. Be sure to leave your email address in your post or stop back here to see if you're the winner.
Amanda Feral, our zombie heroine, is going on a road trip from Seattle to South Dakota to have closure with her mother who is dying. But she and her friends (including another zombie, a vampire and ghost) end up on the run from an angry vampire and his werewolf goons, picking up a couple humans and encountering a plethora of paranormal beings.
I was excited to have the opportunity to get an advance copy of this book when Mark and I were setting up his promo on the blog. Urban Fantasy is right up the alley of books I enjoy reading. But unfortunately I had trouble getting through the book, only finishing it last night.
Don't get me wrong, the book wasn't bad... in fact, I found the premise intriguing. Just something about it didn't agree with me. Part of it could be the language and a lot of it was the gore. And I found the footnotes (yes, footnotes in fiction) to be overused and often distracting. But I think the turn off for me was Amanda. I have to like the main characters in the book to enjoy it and more often than not I couldn't like Amanda. I didn't enjoy her sense of humor and snarkiness. And that made for a rough read.
This is the second book of Amanda's memoirs, following Happy Hour of the Damned. I admit that I felt like I was always a step behind because I haven't read the first book in the series... and recommend that if you're going to try these books, going in order is probably the way to go.
Review by Jennifer Drake
Cave of Terror by Amber Dawn Bell, is a paranormal story about a young woman who has just turned 16, and as a lovely gift she finds out she’s the rare and one and only slayer of evil. Her parents both turn out to be vampires, which again she finds out on her 16th birthday. (Don’t worry this gives nothing away it’s on the first page.) So aside from figuring out how being a “real life Buffy” will fit into her life, she has of course, the normal troubles of a teenage girl on top of everything else also.
One thing interesting about this book is that the author used some unique terms. But she was, thankfully, kind enough to put in a page at the start of the book explaining them so there isn’t any confusion.
This is a cute and never boring story about a girl fighting evil. As a fan of the show Buffy I found it vastly entertaining and hard to put down. I have to say as a side note, that I loved the author’s cute titles for the chapters too! Because this is aimed at a younger audience everything is thoroughly explained, which can be handy and will make sure nobody gets confused. I don’t want to give too much away, but there are some great twists and turns about the characters and in general. This is most definitely a good book for teens, but also for anyone who is into the vibe of something slightly cheeky as well as paranormal. Just make sure you’re in for a ride when you read this, as it is the first in a new series.
You can read an excerpt here or an interview with Amber here.
Review by Nancy Holzner
In a small Pennsylvania town, five eighth-graders, friends since childhood, form the Halloween Horror Club. For the five weeks leading up to Halloween, each friend will tell a scary story, followed by a group vote on whose story was best. To set the right atmosphere, they decide to meet in the abandoned Tuttle house, site of three unsolved murders fifteen years earlier. No one ever learned who killed Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle and four-year-old Stacey or what happened to fifteen-year-old Paul, who disappeared the night his family was murdered. Despite the kids’ private misgivings, the spooky old house is the perfect setting for their club until it becomes clear that they’re not alone. Someone is watching them. Someone who gets a little closer, a little bolder each time they meet.
The book’s structure embeds each friend’s story in the larger story of what’s happening in the Tuttle house. These are stories you might hear around a campfire: demonic possession; sisters lost in endless, frozen woods; the ghost of an old woman frightened to death; a vain girl unaware of her parents’ terrifying secret; a haunted road to nowhere and each reveals something of its teller’s personality. Although the stories are fun, each teller’s voice sounds too much like the others’, making it hard at times to distinguish the kids. Of the five friends, two emerge as complex characters: David, who acts tough to cover up his insecurities, and Marlene, the smart, “perfect” girl who neglects herself to care for others. The other three friends never rise above their initial, somewhat stereotypical impressions: Peter, the chubby, glasses-wearing nerd; Erin, the pretty girl who doesn’t know she’s pretty; and Roy, the late bloomer who has a crush on Erin.
With each tale, a sense of menace builds until events explode in an action-packed conclusion. The friends’ courage, smarts, and loyalty are tested as they face the house’s mysterious inhabitant. With just enough violence to sustain a sense of real danger, the climax keeps you guessing until the plot’s final twist.
Sheryl Brennan was a guest at Book Talk in early January. So, when I was asked to read and review Celtic Sacrifice, I jumped at the chance. Here's how Sheryl described the book from our interview: Celtic Sacrifice is a historical romance set in 16th century Ireland during the end of the English/Irish Nine Years war. The story follows Ceana O’Hagan, the daughter of the chieftain of Dungannon, whom her mother’s clan of O’Connor feel is the key to a generation’s old prophecy. Over the course of the book, we get to see Ceana’s personal struggles with love, religion, and her own place in the world. There is a very interesting political plot twist that I won’t give away… but it shakes Ceana’s beliefs down to their very foundation. One of the overall themes in the book is that God, by any name you call him, has a plan for you. (Jeremiah 29:11) Free will being what it is one of my constant prayers is that if I am straying off that path, he will guide me back to it.
Sheryl Brennan has created a well-crafted and well-told story. While I normally don't like books written in first person, this one drew me in and probably wouldn't have been as good if it hadn't been told this way. I was especially surprised by the book considering it is the debut for the author and the publishing house. While there were a few loose ends I wish could've been wrapped up in the book, I still very much enjoyed the tale. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Brennan and can only hope that she'll revisit historical Ireland once again in the future. Read More......
Liz Phoenix has always been a little different. But when she discovers her foster mother near death, Liz comes to find out just how different when she's thrown into a paranormal world she never knew existed. And how prominently she fits into that world.
This is the first book in Lori Handeland's new series, The Phoenix Chronicles. These books follow Liz as she comes to terms with her new life, exploring her new powers, and saving the human world from destruction. Book two is scheduled for release in mid 2009.
I won this book in an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) drawing on Library Thing. It was my first full length Lori Handeland novel. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. The publishers aren't marketing the book as romance, where in the past her books were. I always get a little nervous when an author deviates from the genre he/she gained their fan base. But I think there's enough "romance" --perhaps not in the traditional sense, seeing as there isn't a happily ever after --to keep fans happy.
I like this world Lori created. She pulled paranormal creatures from a variety of cultures to spin a unique world. And the character of Liz is unlike any I'd read before. She's thrown into this bizarre world, has this totally unique role and is so unsure of herself, stumbling through her new role in life, yet she deals with it with sarcasm and trial and error. I think it was the sarcasm that won me over. A word of warning though. If you have a weak stomach when it comes to blood and gore, you're forewarned.
Here's the back cover blurb:
GIVING THE DEVIL HIS DUDE
Shoveling sulfur and brimstone could really get a girl down. When her dad offered freedom from the fiery depths in exchange for one simple soul-snatching, Lucy Firr jumped at the chance. With her considerable powers of seduction, she threw herself at rancher Jed Caine. Yet instead of taking her to bed, he made her muck out the pigsty.
It would take the patience of a saint to resist the likes of Lucy Firr—and Lord knew Jed was no saint. The temptress fired his blood like no woman he'd ever met. Why she'd suddenly latched on to him, he had no idea. But the safest place for her—and her virtue—was out in the barn.
Lucy could see the heat in Jed's gaze. But it was the tenderness of his touch and his hard-won smile that undid her. She was supposed to steal his soul, yet here he was…capturing her heart.
I had read Laura's earlier straight historical (meaning non-paranormal) westerns, Charming Jo and Here Comes The Bride, but hesitant to pick up this first book in a new series. To me, paranormal and western just don't really seem to go hand in hand. So, I'd just passed over these books. Then I received Laura's newsletter in my inbox and I decided to contact her to come guest on our blog. It hit me that she'd be promoting the release of book 2 in the series and should probably read book 1. So, I got my hands on a copy and decided to review it for her.All that said, here's my review:
I actually liked this book. It took me a while to get past the fact that Lucy was the devil's child, but this was my own hangup and not really the fault of the book. I will say that I liked the character of Jed more than Lucy...but Lucy did grow on me as the story went along. A couple of the minor, secondary characters were annoying but not so much that they ruin the story. So, a original plot and some interesting characters and you've got a pretty good book.
Laura is going to be our guest at Book Talk with J & J starting on Monday, Dec 1 to promote her new book, Dancing with the Devil, which is the sequel to The Devil's Daughter. I'll be giving away my copy of The Devil's Daughter and Laura will be giving away a special prize (to be announced with her interview). Read More......
Jen: This week we welcome Eve Silver as our guest at Book Talk. Eve, will you please share a short bio with us?
Eve: Hi Jen. Thanks very much for inviting me to blog. I’m excited to be here.
I always feel odd offering a bio…it must be that talking about myself in the third person feels awkward, LOL! But here goes: Bestselling author Eve Silver writes contemporary paranormals and dark historicals. As Eve Kenin she writes speculative romance. Her work has garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards, and was listed by Library Journal among its Best Books 2007. Eve holds two post-secondary degrees, and she is an instructor of human anatomy and microbiology. She lives with her husband and two sons, along with an energetic Airedale terrier and an enormous rabbit. Contact Eve through her website at http://www.evesilver.net
That’s the official bio. The unofficial one? Eve Silver writes books and lives in her own little dream world. Her favorite flowers are gerbera daisies, her favorite game is BOGGLE, and she loves to dance.
Jen: Tell us about Demon's Hunger and where it's available.
Eve: In Demon's Hunger, savvy forensic anthropologist Vivien Cairn agrees to help sexy sorcerer Dain Hawkins search for a supernatural serial killer, only to find herself the most likely suspect. Demon's Hunger is available wherever books are sold.
Here’s the blurb from the back of the book:
Forensic anthropologist Vivien Cairn fears she's losing her mind. Her libido has kicked into overdrive, and she's blacking out-leaving hours of her life unaccounted for and no memory of where she's been...or what she's done. But when a sexy stranger rescues her from a demon attack, Vivien realizes there's more than just her sanity at stake...
A seductive killer is luring victims, and Sorcerer Dain Hawkins finds himself walking a dangerous line between ancient duty and sizzling desire when the brotherhood-and Vivien herself-begin to suspect that her mysterious symptoms may connect her to the crimes. Can Dain save Vivien from the evil that threatens to claim her? Or will they both succumb to...Demon's Hunger...
Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Eve: I wrote my first book when I was nine. It was the story of an unwanted teddy bear that found a new and loving home. I actually submitted that story to a publisher and received my very first rejection letter. Many years later, I began writing romance. After honing my craft, writing some odd and not so odd tales, and receiving…oh…about a bazillion rejection letters, I made my first sale. I actually never received “the call”, but rather a very understated email from my agent telling me there was an offer on the book.
Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Eve: This question’s a little tough for me. It depends on what genre I’m writing. My paranormals are dark, sexy and suspenseful. My historicals are dark, steamy and twisted. My Eve Kenin post-apocalyptic books are dark, edge-of-your-seat and sexy. I suppose that no matter what I write, I’m a little bit dark.
Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
Eve: I’m a pantser. I open a page and start to write and hope to heck that a story actually appears on the page. That’s a tough thing in a business that relies heavily on the synopsis or outline. I’ve had to learn to create those as well, which is a challenge. Thankfully, my editors have been very understanding when my finished product in no way resembles the synopsis I originally turned in. But if I try to write to the synopsis, the book is very slow going, while if I write free flowing, I am faster. Notice the word choice: faster rather than fast. I doubt I’ll ever be fast because I don’t know how to type. I hunt and peck every letter of every word, and I do that for every, single 100,000 word manuscript.
So why don’t I just learn to type? Well, this method had worked for me so far, and I’m afraid that if I learn to type, I’ll lose my ability to write.
Jen: Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
Eve: Nope. I originally wrote while I was holding down a very demanding day job, and I had little kids at the time. So I learned to write wherever and whenever without any must-haves. Just open the laptop and write. And if there’s no laptop to be had, fall back on the old and trusted pad and pen.
Jen: What’s the most rewarding aspect of writing?
Eve: Writing. I know that sounds trite, but really, the job itself is the reward. Writing is solitary and often painful, which makes me suspect that anyone who writes must love it. I do. It’s in my heart, my soul.
Jen: Do you do anything special to celebrate a sale, new contract, or release?
Eve: No. Isn’t that terrible? The truth is, I’ve been working so hard since I made that first sale that I haven’t taken time to celebrate at all. But my hubby is thrilled, and each time a new cover flat arrives, he lovingly has it framed and hangs it in the family room. There’s quite a collection there now…nine covers, and two more coming in 2009.
Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write?
Eve: Currently, I write in three genres: paranormal, historical suspense and futuristic. If a story comes to me on a fourth genre, I’ll write it. In that way, I’m more story focused than genre focused. But I have to admit, I doubt I’ll be branching into new genres right away. I’m still trying to catch my breath writing the genres I’m already in.
Jen: Who has inspired you as an author?
Eve: I always have a different answer to this question because the truth is that there are so many amazing authors who have been inspirational in one way or another and I just list a few every time. Today, I’ll say Jane Austen, Linda Howard, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Judith Ivory, Jayne Ann Krentz, Glenna McReynolds, Nora Roberts, Daphne Du Maurier, Karen Marie Moning, Teresa Medeiros, Gena Showalter, Marjorie Liu, a slew of Manga writers, Christopher Moore, Stephen R. Donaldson, and the first romance novelist I ever read, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss.
Jen: Do you have a favorite character or one that you identify most with?
Eve: As I’m writing them, each new character takes over as my favorite. Then I finish that project, give it a kiss on the cheek send it, all grown up, out the door and turn to the next fledgling that must be raised and nurtured.
Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Eve: Umm…free time? What’s that? Just kidding. Actually…no, no I’m not. I write seven days a week, and I have a teaching job, as well. So my time is tight. But I’m hoping to find a better balance one day soon (if anyone knows the secret of that, send it my way please!). I do make certain that I have a one-hour walk every day. That’s my down time. But I’d like to take a hip-hop class, and I’d like to carve out more time for scrapbooking (which I love), and I’d really, really like to paint my bathroom (which is currently a horrific shade of neon green).
Jen: What's next for you?
Eve: I’m currently working on my next dark historical suspense (SEDUCED BY A STRANGER), due out in 2009, and I recently turned in a short story that will be part of THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF PARANORMAL ROMANCE. And I’m working on a dark, sexy paranormal idea.
Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Eve: www.evesilver.net or www.evekenin.com
Jen: Do you have anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Eve: Do you follow your favorite authors across genres? I do. Off the top of my head I can think of Linda Howard, who writes whatever genre strikes her, and I adore whatever she writes. I followed Michelle Rowen (paranormal) as her other incarnation Michelle Maddox (adventure), and I’ll be first in line to buy her new YA when it comes out. I followed Lori Devoti from romantic comedy to dark paranormal. I followed Kelley Armstrong from her urban fantasy/paranormal stories into her new YA series, and also the straight thriller books she’s writing about hit woman Nadia Stafford. So what about you? Do you read favorite authors in only one genre, or do you follow them and enjoy what they write, regardless?
Jen: Eve, thank you so much for joining us this week and congrats on the new release. Readers, Eve is giving away a copy of Demon's Hunger to a random commenter this week. So, comment here, on her excerpt or on my review and you'll be entered. The contest will run until early Thanksgiving Day, November 27. Please leave an email address or subscribe to the post comments if you will not be stopping back by the blog to see if you're a winner.
I realize I never reviewed the last 3 books of the Twilight series, but I devoured them and now can't quite remember where each story ended. But with the Twilight movie opening today (Nov 21), I wanted to start a discussion about the books once again.
I have some mixed feelings about the books. On the whole, I loved the story and the way the books were written. What I didn't really like, which is the whole point of the book, is Bella's love for Edward. Maybe that's not exactly what I meant. What I mean is that I am not a fan of Edward, and therefore could not fathom why Bella would be attracted to him. I guess my personal preferences got in the way of Bella's story, but I just never understood what she saw in him. I wanted her to fall in love and be with Jacob. Jacob would have been my preference if I was Bella in this story; it would have been a completely different story!
So, I would love to know are you on TEAM EDWARD or TEAM JACOB?
Are you planning to see Twilight in the theater?
What do you think of the actors as the characters? Who did you picture as each character?
Jacob Fan,
-jessica
A couple months ago I received Eve Silver's newsletter and she mentioned that she had a new book coming out in November. So, I decided to contact her about coming on the blog to promo the book. And to my excitement, she said yes AND she asked me if I'd like to review Demon's Hunger. OK, now is when I admit that I ended up on Eve's mailing list because I had entered a contest on her site, but I'd never read any of her books. So, before I could read Demon's Hunger I had to get my hands on a copy of the first book on the series, Demon's Kiss.
This series is about a brotherhood called the Compact of Sorcerers who are sworn to protect humans from the demon realm. These men are immortal and have extraordinary and specialized powers to help them in their battle. And they are tortured souls, for how can we have a romance without external and internal conflict?
In Demon's Hunger we have Dain Hawkin's story. Dain's fight with the demons is quite personal since they killed his mortal wife and child centuries before. So, when he meets Vivien Cairn he doesn't want to be so completely drawn to her. And Vivien feels the same way since she's not had the best of luck with any sort of relationship since everyone seems to abandon her.
Let me start of by saying that I'm loving this series. I like this paranormal world that Eve Silver has created. It almost seems possible that there are demons and hybrids (half demon/half human, for lack of a better explanation) living among us. Her heroines are strong women and face their challenges and shortcomings head on with little complaint, which is quite refreshing. Demon's Hunger kept me enraptured and turning the pages. I didn't want to put the book down because I wanted to know what happened next without any delay. I highly recommend this series, and reading them in order (although the books do stand completely on their own).
If you'd like a copy of this book, Eve will be joining us at Book Talk from Monday, November 24 through Thursday, November 27 with an interview and excerpt from the book. If you leave a comment on her interview or excerpt, you'll be entered in a drawing for a copy of Demon's Hunger. So, stop by next week and comment to win a truly excellent read.
Jen: We’re pleased to welcome Beth Trissel to Book Talk this week. Beth, will you please share a short bio with us?
Beth: I’ve been writing historical romance novels with an emphasis on the colonial frontier, think The Last of the Mohicans, and the American Revolution, my version of The Patriot, and now, light paranormal romance, for 12+ years. I’m a long time resident of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where my family has lived for well over 200 years. Fascination with my early American ancestors and the Shawnee Indians initially inspired my writing journey.
Jen: Tell us about Somewhere My Love and where it's available.
Beth: Somewhere My Love, a murder mystery/ghost story with flashbacks to early nineteenth century Virginia, is my first light paranormal romance and debut novel, coming to the Wild Rose Press in digital download on Sept. 26 2008, in print March 27 2009. http://thewildrosepress.com/
Please take a look at the trailer for Somewhere My Love at YouTube. It has a phenomenal number of hits for a new author. I’m delighted.
Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Beth: I’ve been journaling since elementary school, was a dramatic poet in high school, wrote vignettes about country life in my young adult years and took up historical romance novels with a passion at 40. Life truly does begin at 40. I’ve had more than one exciting ‘call’ with major contest finals and from an excellent agent, Pema Browne, who tried to sell my American based historical romance novels to NY without success. Then I was invited to submit to the Wild Rose and received with great enthusiasm and requests for MORE! At the ‘the call’ comes in the form of a much sought after email and I’m thrilled to be a part of this wonderfully exciting, growing like wild fire, romance company. I’m writing for two lines there, the American Rose and Faery Rose.
Jen: Describe your writing is three words.
Beth: Historical/Paranormal Romance
Jen: Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
Beth: Hot Earl Grey tea and music—just the right soundtrack/composer for a particular scene
Jen: Describe a typical writing day.
Beth: Ideally, I write in solitary bliss. In reality, I have a lot of interruptions, so I scurry back to my laptop like a mother dog with new pups.
Jen: Did you do anything special to celebrate your first sale or the book’s release?
Beth: Yes! Dinner with the fam at our favorite restaurant and my older daughter gave me an “I’m kind of a big deal” T-shirt.
Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write?
Beth: Mystery. I already incorporate a lot of mystery into my writing as in Somewhere My Love.
Jen: Who has inspired you as an author?
Beth: Shakespeare, the ultimate story teller, other classic authors and the English Romantic poets. My father is a retired English professor and I read avidly from his book shelves as a young adult. Katherine, by Anya Seton, was the first romance I ever read. I still vividly remember portions of it.
Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Beth: Gardening, I love old heirloom flowers and herbs, drives up into the mountains, watching Netflix with my family, and playing with my grandbabies. I’ve also been known to read.
Jen: What's next for you?
Beth: I’m working on the next story in my ‘Somewhere’ series, a Scottish time travel entitled Somewhere My Lass, then I’ll finish the sequel to Through the Fire and Enemy of the King.
Jen: Where can you be found on the web? 
Beth: http://www.bethtrissel.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/
Jen: Would you like to ask our readers anything?
Beth: Hands up any of you who loved The Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis! Are you a fan? I began writing my colonial frontier trilogy, Through the Fire being the lead story, before I ever saw this movie. I thought, Wow! My time period! Only to discover New York editors weren’t on board. But that didn’t deter me and Through the Fire finaled in the 2008 Golden Heart® Contest. My Wild Rose Press editor loves it.
Beth, thank you for joining us at Book Talk this week. Readers, ask Beth a question or comment on the interview and you'll be entered in a drawing for a digital copy of Somewhere My Love. The contest ends on Friday, October 10 at 5:00 pm PDT.
The full moon peeked up over the horizon already lighting the yard as if it were daytime.
Her shoe bumped something and it fell with a clatter. Shit! She looked down to see what she’d stumbled over. Blessed God. It was a shotgun! She hadn’t fired one in years, not since she and her brothers had made soda cans quake in fear on the back fence. But with a shotgun, she wouldn’t need perfect aim. Heck, when they saw she had a gun, maybe they wouldn’t mess with her. Okay, so she was fooling herself. But she couldn’t help a quick
rush of joy when she picked up the gun and saw that it was loaded.
Surprisingly, no one had come running at the sound of the clatter. Serena didn’t pause to wonder why. It only took her a few more strides to reach the front of the house and peer around the corner.
What she saw nearly made her drop the gun. Ben and the man were bent over. Had they poisoned themselves? Then, icicles of fear rushed through her veins. What was happening?
Ben’s form was suddenly covered in silver grey hair that almost sparkled in the moonlight. His ears had elongated and his face! She shuddered and stepped back, resisting the urge to run.
The whole frontal section of Ben’s face elongated into a muzzle. Then, with shock, she realized the wolf’s savage gaze was locked on her. She stifled a scream as the thing’s mouth split
open in a wolfish grin. Serena stepped back and pulled the gun up.
The wolves crept closer. Didn’t they see she had a gun? Perhaps they didn’t think she would use it. Well, they were wrong, she would.
As she ran forward, she could hear their growls. This had better work or she was dead—or worse than dead. Pulling the trigger, there was a pause when time stood still. The blast nearly
deafened her. The wolves scattered.
One disappeared. She’d have to watch her back. One dashed off around the house, possibly to leap on her from behind or cut off her retreat. The other had been hit fully in the face and was
now pawing at his muzzle and whining.
She ran toward the car, expecting a heavy body to leap on her at any moment. It wasn’t until she was sitting in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition that she stopped to take a
breath. A roar at the window made her jump. The third wolf, which was the largest, was launching himself against the window. Again and again, it leapt at the door, its claws
screeching as they scratched against the glass.
She started the car and gunned the engine. The animal didn’t even flinch. Fingering the can of mace in her pocket to make sure it was still there, she backed out. The wolves followed her, stalking the car.
The little Beetle couldn’t do more than twenty-five miles per hour on the washboard road. Any faster and she’d knock the whole bottom out of the car and then where would she be?
In eerie silence, the wolves ran alongside the car. Then, they began howling. Ice cold panic filled her veins. Suddenly, another figure came dashing along the car, snapping and barking at the wolves. It was Tucker. The wolves turned their attention away from the car and toward the
Labrador. Serena felt a surge of pity. The poor old dog would be torn to shreds. She had to do something.
Rolling down her window an inch or two, she pulled the can of mace out of her pocket. “Here doggie, doggie,” she called. The wolves turned as one toward her. Faster than she’d
expected, they were almost through the window. Startled, she pushed the button on the mace. It didn’t fire. Oh, my god. She leaned back as snapping muzzles filled the opening and she
could feel their spittle sprinkling her face, neck, and arms. Then, there was a loud hiss and the wolves were gone. They rolled in the dirt, pawing at their muzzles while Tucker pranced around
them barking. She called to him, but although he came over to the car, he refused to enter.
“Oh, well, buddy. Don’t say I didn’t try,” she told him then rolled up the window and drove away. Tucker’s fierce barking faded into the distance.
It was a momentary victory, but she pumped her fist in the air anyway.
Now, to get into town and find Jackson. Something bad had happened to him. But he was still alive. Ben and Doc Brown had talked about sending someone back to the jail to question him.
The town was silent. There were no lights on in any of the houses, no sounds of televisions playing behind closed curtains, nothing but the roar of her car’s engine. Something really bad
was happening and she knew she couldn’t stop it.
And above all, she had to find Mike. Please, God, don’t let him be dead. But he couldn’t be dead. Jackson had gone through all the trouble of calling her out to this god-forsaken place to help find him. No, she had to believe that Mike was still alive. And Jackson was the key. He knew what happened to her brother. He was the one who’d arranged the helicopter and set up the fake hospital story. Damn it, she’d make him tell her where Mike was. She grabbed the shotgun and left the car unlocked and running, just in case.
Pushing open the station door at a run, Serena started yelling his name. “Jackson, hey, Jackson.” Waiting a heartbeat in between her calls, she listened for a reply, for any noise. She pounded on the counter and rang the bell. Still nothing. Damn it. He had to be here or at home. She started to turn around when she spotted a door marked Staff Only. She ran around the counter, slipping a little on the linoleum in her haste. Grabbing the knob, she twisted, half expecting it to be locked. It opened easily in her hand and she felt along the wall inside for the light switch. She didn’t want to be surprised by any wolves in the dark.
The overhead lights flickered on and she stared. It was an old-fashioned jail, just like in the movies, complete with three cells. The first two were empty, their doors standing wide open.
The third one had an occupant.
“Jackson?” she called, walking quickly forward. “You gotta tell me where Mike is. Where are the keys? I’ll let…you…” The words caught in her throat and she could only stare. It was a
wolf, large and black, with amber eyes. There were clothes scattered on the floor of the cell, the same clothes Jackson had been wearing the night before. So, either the wolf had eaten
Jackson and not left any blood or…
“Jackson?” Serena approached the cell.
Hackles rose on the wolf’s back and the creature growled. Saliva dripped from his fangs and it snapped at her, pacing back and forth from one end of the cell to the other. Serena felt her eyes go wide and she backed up. “Alrighty then.” Maybe there were notes or something in the files out front to tell her where Mike was.
Damn it. Howling. Right outside. They had found her already. Gripping the shotgun in her hand, she took another look at the wolf. She’d never make it to her car now. And if the wolves came pouring in, she’d be trapped. She looked around. Trapped and safe.
She stepped into the cell next to the black wolf and pulled the door closed behind her. It locked with a click and she had the unnerving feeling that it was the sound of her fate sealing. Serena cowered against the back wall. If the wolves could open the door to the cell, she was a dead woman.
Here's the blurb from the publisher:
An honorable laird…Laird Conall MacInness was born to a clan that for centuries has been charged with the guarding of the sacred Druids. 'Tis a duty he has always met with a willing heart, until the day his sister, a Druid priestess, goes missing, and the very Druids he has protected refuse to help him find the last remaining member of his family. Then a 300 year old prophecy places a Druid priestess in his hands for safekeeping. 'Tis the chance at revenge that he's been waiting for, but is he willing to pay the cost his revenge will demand--the loss of his mate and the future of Scotland?
A willing lass…Glenna MacNeil wants only to be free, to find the purpose of her life. When she is told to look for the dark laird that would free her, she eagerly goes with the powerful laird who fights her clan, not realizing she has set in motion events that will change the course of history.
I'm not sure how I came across Donna Grant. My guess it was MySpace that did it. But I soon discovered her blog. Each week she picks a name from a commenter and gives them a free book. When I won, I asked her to pick any one of her books, preferably a first book of a series (which rather limited her to two or three books). I am so very glad that she chose this one for me.
I completely fell in love with the world Donna has created for this series. And she did a masterful job laying the foundation for a series that I can't wait to read. The romance between Conall and Glenna is well-written and believable. The characters are interesting. Overall, the book captured my attention and kept me reading and when it was over I had to get my hands on the next book (and move it up in my TBR pile).
Two side notes. First, I read this as an e-book, but it is also available in print. And second, Donna is going to be joining us the week of September 1 for an interview and to promote her upcoming release The Pleasure of His Bed.
Hades has given ex-dream hunter Xypher a month to exact his revenge on the woman who sent him to Tartarus. But he ends up chained, literally, to a woman who sees dead people. Simone is suddenly being hunted by demons and Xypher needs her help. And to top everything off, love is in the air.
OK, so I'm not great at summarizing a good... and one that was read at least a month ago. But I do remember loving the story. It was nice to see the a return to the world of the Dark-Hunters and we got a surprise visit from Acheron (whose story is to be released in August!). The characters were unique and the plot was interesting. I was glad that Ms. Kenyon bounced back after the train wreck of Upon the Midnight Clear. This one is a winner.
The Hollow is the second book in Nora Roberts' Sign of Seven trilogy. It picks up shortly after Blood Brothers ends. The demon threat is starting to escalate his attacks and the group realize that they also need to step up their preparations and research for the final battle.
In this story, Layla and Fox are paired up. Each of them are able to see into others' minds and Fox, who has had years to come to grips with the ability, is training Layla on how to handle the skill. As they spend time together, emotions flare and a passion they didn't expect threatens to consume them.
Once again I listened to the audio version of this book. I was drawn in immediately and was sad when the story ended. I admit that I'm anxious for the final book of the trilogy to see how it all ends. These are stories that really do need to be read in order since they are so tightly interwoven.
Holy Smokes is the fourth and final book following the life and love of Aisling Grey (although I understand she and Drake will be pretty prominent characters in Katie MacAlister's new Silver Dragons series). This is a series of books you have to read in order for them to make any sort of sense. So, here's the order: You Slay Me (Aisling Grey, Guardian, Book 1), Fire Me Up (Aisling Grey, Guardian, Book 2), Light My Fire (Aisling Grey, Guardian, Book 3).
In this installment, Aisling and Drake are finally getting married, but as the book opens, Drake isn't showing up for the ceremony. They do eventually make it to the altar, but nothing in Aisling's life is ever done easily.
I've been a big fan of this series since book one. They are full of humor and you can't help but just shake your head at all the trouble Aisling gets herself into (think Lucille Ball from "I Love Lucy"). But there was something about this book that fell a little short for me. Aisling seemed to whine more than usual (or perhaps it's only my memory since I read book three over a year ago). She didn't seem to be herself and I kept waiting for someone to slap some sense into her. Oh how I wish I could give this particular book a better review since I loved the previous ones. It did have a happy ending and left lots of questions unanswered that will hopefully be tackled in the new series.
Andi is an English teacher and a romance novel addict. While reading a Regency romance, she suddenly finds herself face to face with the hero of the novel, who just happens to be the man of her dreams. However, in this story, Andi is not the heroine to Nathaniel's hero... she's a minor character who is determined to rewrite the plot.
I loved the plot of this novel. I've often heard authors talk about how the characters of their stories seem to have a mind of their own and make the story go in directions they hadn't originally intended... and this book plays with that idea. So, the plot and basis of this book was very good. My biggest problem actually came from the heroine, Andi. I found it hard to like her and so I wasn't rooting her on in her quest to win Nathaniel. I had to remind myself that this is Dawn Calvert's debut novel and not be too hard on her for a somewhat annoying lead character.
Aidan is a world-renowned celebrity who turned jaded after his family turned on him. Leta is a dream god who goes to Aidan to save his life as well as hers. What neither of them expected was a bond to form against these two who have known nothing but heartache in their lives.
Book two in her Dream Hunter series was a little bit of a let down. Besides being too short for my tastes, it didn’t have the complex plot, characters and emotions that the reader expects from a Kenyon novel. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the story, but I feel it could have been so much better with a little more work. If you’re reading the series, then you probably shouldn’t skip over this story. But if you’re looking for an introduction to Sherrilyn Kenyon and her Dark-Hunter/Dream Hunter world, this is not the best book to start with.
Dream gods have been condemned to live emotionless. So, when Arik can’t stay away from Geary and the feelings she fills him with, what’s a god to do? Geary is determined to finish her father’s work and discover Atlantis. But when a stranger who has been haunting her dreams is now standing in front of her in the flesh, she’s suddenly torn about what her heart really wants.
This is the first book in a spin-off of Ms. Kenyon’s wildly popular Dark Hunter series, of which I’m a huge fan. This book can stand on its own. But the mythology that Kenyon has created makes much more sense if you’ve read previous books. I love the world that Kenyon has so painstakingly developed over the years. And with this new series, she’s delved into new territory that is sure to delight old fans as well as new ones.