Tag Archives: Ireland

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

17 Wednesday Mar 2021

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Will you be celebrating? I will with my family tonight. Until then, I’ll spend the day deep in Irish lore, writing more of The Spear Alight, the last book in my Guardians of Erin series. I’ll also be making soda bread. Yum!

Remember, the first three books in the series are on sale for 99 cents apiece. If you’re longing to travel to the Emerald Isle, here’s your chance to go in spirit.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple Books

Have a lovely, magical day!  🙂

 

Booklovers’ Pot of Gold Event and a Sale!

12 Friday Mar 2021

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N. N. Light’s Book Heaven has created a Booklovers’ Pot o’ Gold event, and I’m excited to have my book, The Sword Unsheathed, as part of it! One lucky reader will win a copy of every featured book, and today, mine is in the spotlight. Check it out here!

Enter to win the e-book bundle of 23 books here! The giveaway is open internationally and runs through March 21. A winner will be chosen on March 22. Good luck!

In related news, the first three books in my Guardians of Erin series are now on sale for 99 cents. With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, there’s never been a better time to lose yourself in the magic and beauty of Ireland. As for me, I’m deep into the creation of the fourth and final book in the series, The Spear Alight.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple Books

That’s it for now. Have a lovely day!  🙂

Are Ye Feeling a Wee Bit Lucky Giveaway ~ N. N. Light’s Book Heaven

02 Tuesday Mar 2021

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Feeling lucky? Here’s a chance to win some bookish treasure! I’ve teamed up with 46 authors for this event, and the prizes include Amazon gift cards, e-books, autographed paperbacks, and audiobooks. Because my Guardians of Erin series takes place in Ireland, it’s perfect for this giveaway. You could win the audiobooks of The Cauldron Stirred and The Stone Awakened, plus an e-copy of The Sword Unsheathed.

 

 

 

You can find all of the prizes listed here. If there are any in particular you’d like, be sure to mention them when you enter here. The giveaway runs through March 31, 2021. Good luck!

 

THE SWORD UNSHEATHED ~ Worldwide Release

01 Monday Jun 2020

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Today’s the day!  It’s the worldwide release of The Sword Unsheathed, the third book in my young adult paranormal fantasy series, Guardians of Erin.  I’m excited to share it with you, and I’ll soon start writing the fourth and final book, The Spear Alight. 

Remember, the first two books–The Cauldron Stirred and The Stone Awakened–are currently on sale for 99 cents, so there’s never been a better time to catch up on the story.  You’ll feel like you’ve traveled to Ireland, while still enjoying the safety and comfort of your own home.

I’m also kicking off a month-long blog tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours, featuring not just the new release but all three books in the Guardians of Erin series.  There’ll be excerpts and more, and you can enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card.  Check it out here!

Now, here’s a little about The Sword Unsheathed:

Ashling Donoghue is no closer to finding her parents than she was the night they disappeared. But hope returns as her brother Kian channels the Sword of Light, revealing past-life secrets and truths long suppressed.

The more she learns, the greater she fears the darkness that drowns the Netherworld also drives her. Is Aengus her true love, or is it Lorcan? Does her future wait in shadow or the light?

One point is clear: the threads of her past-self are woven inextricably into the tapestry of her soul. An impossible choice looms before her, and all the while, evil is poised to strike.

A peek between the pages:

“Close your eyes, and don’t open them until I tell you.”

Nerves atwitter, I did as Aengus asked. A brief, subtle tingling sensation swept through my body as we slipped into the Otherworld.

A moment later, he released one of my hands but held fast to the other. “All right. You can look now.”

I opened my eyes. We stood before an immense, grass-topped mound surrounded by a multitude of tightly-packed, white stones.

It looked familiar. “Wait a minute. This is a famous prehistoric tomb. What’s it called? Newgrange?”

Aengus nodded. “I call it Sí in Bhrú, and it’s part of Brú na Bóinne, or the ‘Palace of the Boyne’ in County Meath. We’re in the valley of the River Boyne.”

I gave him a sideways glance. “Did you say ‘palace’?”

“In the physical world, this is an ancient temple and passage tomb, more than five thousand years old. Here in the Otherworld…well, it’s best to show you.”

The next instant, we stood inside a grand, circular hall, far larger than the mound we’d viewed outside, with a high, domed ceiling. Tri-spiral designs covered the walls, but the space was empty except for a five-tiered fountain at its center.

My gaze locked onto the trickling, golden liquid. A feeling of déjà vu overwhelmed me, and I shivered. “Is that…mead?”

“You remember!”

I turned to him. “Remember what exactly?”

“This fountain flows eternally with mead. My parents gave it to us as a wedding gift.”

“To you and Caer, you mean.”

He squeezed my hand. “Does anything else spark your memory?”

“The spirals seem familiar.”

His blue eyes shone. “They should. We lived here for centuries.”

“Caer lived here, not me.”

“But you were Caer.”

My insecurities ganged up on me and knotted my stomach. Is that the only reason why you want me? Because of who I once was?

Could I ask that out loud? What if he said yes?

Yes or no, I had to know. A lasting relationship required honesty and communication. My parents’ love had taught me that, and I wanted nothing less.

I pulled my hand from his grasp and took a step back. “Maybe you wish I still was Caer.”

His blissful expression devolved into a frown. After a heart-stopping moment, he found his voice. “What?”

“Sometimes I wonder whether you like me or just who I used to be.”

“You can’t fight your soul’s history.”

“Especially when everyone keeps shoving it down my throat.” My gut tightened further.

“Who’s everyone?”

I huffed. “Kian. Robin. Deirdre. Lorcan. And now—”

“Lorcan?” There was an edge to his voice.

“Yes, Lorcan. I’ve seen him a couple of times, but not because I went looking…” I couldn’t finish that sentence. My soul had obviously sought Lorcan the night I traveled to Dun Aengus.

“Ashling, you know how I feel about him.”

“Yeah, well, you weren’t around to stop me, were you?”

His frown deepened. “What do you mean?”

“It’s hard to have a relationship with someone who’s never around.”

“And Lorcan is around. Is that what you’re saying?”

“He’s always there, waiting in the wings, ready to take your place.”

Aengus slammed a fist into his other hand. “It’s time I showed him—”

“No! It’s time you showed me whether you want me or Caer, because I’ve had it with ghosts from the past messing up my—”

He grasped my arms and pulled me close. His mouth came down on mine in a searing kiss. Releasing my arms, he stole his own around me, and I responded in kind. Bodies and tongues entwined, we rode the wave of the kiss for a blissful moment that seemed as eternal as the bubbling fountain beside us. Nothing else mattered.

When at last he pulled back, he gave me a tender smile. “Does that answer your question?”

“Um…” My head still spun from the kiss.

“I kissed you, not Caer. I brought you here tonight because I wanted to share a piece of myself with you. It’s only natural I wondered if you’d remember it. After all, a part of your soul lived here for ages.”

I scanned the vacant, cavernous space. “If we lived here so long, where’s all the furniture?”

The light in his eyes dimmed. “Once upon a time, this place brimmed with beauty…with rare treasures, music, poetry, and the laughter of friends and courtiers. But when you left…when Caer left…nothing was the same. I couldn’t stay.” He squeezed his eyes shut, as if to block out painful memories.

Thick tentacles of worry and guilt wrapped around my heart as though a legendary kraken sought to drown me in a sea of regret. I placed a hand on Aengus’s cheek. “I’m sorry.”

His eyes opened, and he covered my hand with his. “Don’t be.”

Buy the book:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | B & N | Apple Books

That’s all for now.  Wishing you a great start to the week! 🙂

THE SWORD UNSHEATHED ~ Release Date and a Sneak Peek Inside

29 Sunday Mar 2020

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My publisher finally gave me a release date for The Sword Unsheathed, the third book in my Guardians of Erin young adult paranormal fantasy series.  June 1, 2020 is the big day, which also happens to be the date when Return of the Raven (the fifth and final book in The Novels of Ravenwood series) is due to my editor.

Here’s a sneak peek between the pages of The Sword Unsheathed.  Hope you enjoy it!

That night found me hovering above a massive, semicircular prehistoric fort at the edge of a cliff roughly 300 feet above the swish and swoosh of the ocean. Three concentric, terraced stone walls enclosed it, and beyond the third ring, an army of jagged stone slabs stood vigil. A large, tan tent dominated the innermost enclosure.

The all-encompassing twilight was telling, as were my bare feet and blue satin nightshirt, which I’d worn to bed. I was in the Otherworld, courtesy of an astral trip. But where exactly?

I had to know.

Determined, I floated to the ground in front of the tent’s entrance. A curious sense of déjà vu washed over me, and every inch of my flesh tingled with a hidden memory.

I’ve been here before. I’m sure of it.

I entered the tent, and a plush Persian carpet cushioned my feet as I explored. Sumptuous in texture and color, the interior seemed strangely familiar. There were silks, satins, and velvets in shades of gold, burgundy, ruby red, dark blue, and emerald green. Curtains, cushions, and pillows aplenty. Spherical, perforated hanging lanterns. There was even a Moroccan tray table of polished brass decorated with an arabesque pattern; atop it sat two crystal glasses and a matching decanter filled with brown liquid, as well as a compote containing what appeared to be cocoa-dusted chocolate truffles.

“I could get used to this,” I said aloud.

“Could you?”

I jumped, then whirled around. Lorcan stood an arm’s length away. As always, he wore his black, Regency Era greatcoat, breeches, and riding boots. A question, deeper than the one he’d asked, glowed in his ice blue eyes.

I trembled.

His eyes darkened. “Are you cold?”

“No. Are you?” A heartbeat after I spoke, I cringed inwardly. What a stupid reply!

He shook his head. Glossy black hair swayed, teasing his broad shoulders. “Not particularly.” A smile tugged at his full, sensuous lips as he gestured to the table. “Chocolate? Cognac?”

I clenched my fists, steeling myself against his charms. “No, thank you, and you can wipe that smile off your face. How can I trust you after what happened Christmas Eve?”

“What do you mean?”

“You left me alone in Aoife’s castle. Where did you disappear to?”

He blinked, and for a moment, his long eyelashes stole my focus. “Ashling, you know I went to investigate the noise we heard.”

“And never came back.”

“I did come back.”

“Really?” I tilted my head to the side. “Funny that I didn’t see you. Aoife said you brought me to her, like some kind of warped Christmas present or—”

“Aoife lies.”

“I’m sure she does, but she also spoke a lot of truth. Are you still working for her?”

“How can you ask that?”

“Easily.”

He sighed: a sound of impatience and annoyance, both of which I, too, had felt over the past few months. “As I told you before, when I met Caer—you—I left Aoife and planned to live the rest of my days in the Middleworld…here, with you. Then you disappeared on me.”

“So Christmas Eve was payback for something I did centuries ago?”

“It wasn’t. By the time I returned to the dungeon, you were gone. Then I sensed you were in danger. Of course, Aengus did too, and I arrived just in time to watch him save the day.” A shadow crossed his features.

I’d seen that look before, whenever he compared himself to Aengus. Sympathy surged within me, but I expelled it with a huff. “Why didn’t you come and tell me all this before?”

“I didn’t think you’d listen. I knew Aengus would poison your ears with lies about me. How can I compete with such a paragon?” He twisted his lips, and a hint of humor restored light to his face. “Perhaps if I wore only my long drawers.”

“Your what?”

“I believe you’d call them underwear.”

The image of a bare-chested Lorcan flashed in my mind and set my pulse racing. “No. Clothes are a good thing.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Are they? Still, my attire is outdated.”

I shrugged. “A little.”

He furrowed his brow, then it smoothened. “I’ve got it.” Before my eyes, his clothing morphed into black jeans and a black T-shirt. “Better?”

Holy hell, he was sexy! Unfortunately, his new look emphasized the toned physique I’d only imagined till then.

I swallowed hard. “I don’t care what you wear.” It was true. He could dress in Super Mario footie pajamas, and I’d still think he was hot.

“Don’t you?” He inched toward me.

I took two steps back. “I…I wanted to ask…where are we? This place seems so familiar.”

“It should.” His eyes smoldered. “We made love here.”

My stomach dropped, and I fumbled for a reply. “You and Caer, you mean. How long were you together?”

“One perfect night.”

“That’s it?”

He stepped closer. “Even one moment of bliss can feel like an eternity. Caer and I created a heaven of our own. All. Night. Long.”

Dear God. I cleared my throat. “So you live here?”

“Ah. We’re going to have a safe conversation.”

“Yup…if you want me to stay.”

“I do, and yes, I live here. This is Dun Aengus on the isle of Inishmore. Once upon a time, it was Aengus’s home, hence the name which means ‘fort of Aengus,’ but he abandoned it. I’ll admit, I felt a perverse pleasure when I claimed it as my own.”

Doubt and distrust gnawed at me, and I frowned. “Did you feel the same way when you took Caer away from him?”

“That was different.”

“How?”

He reached for my hand and enfolded it with both of his. Everywhere his flesh touched mine, a subtle vibration took hold. “I wanted you more than anything else in the Otherworld, or any world. I still want you.”

“I’m with Aengus now.”

“But you were once with me.”

“I don’t even remember that.”

His gaze held mine. “Your soul remembers. It went looking for me tonight. That’s why you’re here.”

My heart raced. My hand tingled. The tent and all its luxuries seemed to close in around me. How easy it would be to lose myself in sensation and…

To be continued!  I’ll let you know when the book is available for preorder.  Happy Sunday!  🙂

Booklovers’ Pot o’ Gold Event ~ THE STONE AWAKENED

17 Tuesday Mar 2020

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HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!!!  If you love Ireland as much as I do, you might want to check in with the Booklovers’ Pot o’ Gold Event on N. N. Light’s Book Heaven, where several novels showcasing the Emerald Isle await.  My second young adult book, The Stone Awakened, is one of them.  Read an excerpt and see why it and the other featured books are must-reads for those smitten with Ireland.

 

Remember to enter the giveaway.  You might win an e-book bundle of all 17 books featured in the event!  The winner’s name will be drawn on March 23, 2020.  Good luck, and have a lovely St. Patrick’s Day.

Booklovers’ Pot o’ Gold Event ~ N. N. Light’s Book Heaven

13 Friday Mar 2020

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N. N. Light’s Book Heaven has cooked up a special giveaway in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.  Over the next few days, they’re featuring 17 books which feature–or take place in–Ireland.  The Stone Awakened (the second book in my young adult paranormal fantasy series, Guardians of Erin) will be spotlighted on St. Patrick’s Day itself.

One lucky winner will win all 17 books featured.  Visit the event here!

Open internationally.

Runs March 13 – 17, 2020.

Winner will be drawn on March 23, 2020.

Enter to win here.  May the luck of the Irish smile upon you!

An Interview with Karen Hulene Bartell, author of THE KEYS: VOICE OF THE TURTLE

09 Wednesday Oct 2019

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I’m excited to have another sister Rose (published by The Wild Rose Press) here today.  Please welcome Karen Hulene Bartell, author of The Keys: Voice of the Turtle.  Let’s get this interview started!

At what age did you write your first story?

I started writing my first novel when I was nine. After several days, I realized I didn’t know anything – that I’d have to wait for experience to catch up. However, that lack of knowledge didn’t stop this only child from writing stories about large families.

Which genre was the first to hook you?

Westerns were my first love.

What was your first published book?

The Best of Polish Cooking – it made Publisher’s Weekly and is still my only “best seller.”

What’s your favorite part of the writing process? Brainstorming?  Research?  Outlining?  Writing?  Editing?

The best part of writing for me is the space to be creative, to let my imagination soar. I’m five years old again, and whatever I imagine “comes to life”—at least, on the page.

Yes, that’s a great feeling! What are you working on now?

Currently I’m in final edits with The Wild Rose Press on a Western Romance entitled Wild Rose Pass. I’ve also begun a Mainstream Fantasy entitled Kyoto: Tale of the Fox.

Wonderful! Good luck with both of them. Of all the settings you’ve used (or created!) for your books, which is your favorite? Why?

Barcelona, Spain and the Camino de Santiago, or The Way of Saint James. The area intrigued me with its mystical landscape and two-thousand-year spirituality. I wrote about it in Christmas in Catalonia.

Have you ever dreamed about a character you created?

I once dreamed that the character’s wife told me insightful details about the character. (In my book, the character was not married.)

Interesting! If you could travel to any time and place, when and where would that be?

I’ve wanted to visit Ireland for years. The pictures I’ve seen and the descriptions I’ve read appeal to me.

I LOVE Ireland, which is one reason why I set my YA paranormal fantasy series there. I think you’d love the Emerald Isle, too! If you could step inside any book or series and live there for a week, which would you choose?

I’d have to say the Sacred Emblem and Sacred Journey series because each book is set in a different geographical area, featuring a distinct cultural motif or totem: The Keys: Voice of the Turtle, Christmas in Cahokia: Song of the Owl, and Angels from Ashes: Hour of the Wolf.

It’s time to learn some of your favorites!

Sound: Twilight in the country – the sounds of birds and the rest of nature preparing for the evening

Eye color: Violet

Foreign language (whether or not you speak it!): French

Song: “O Holy Night”

Book: Gone with the Wind

Movie: Under the Tuscan Sun

Cuisine: Tex-Mex

Cookie: Peanut butter

US location: Fort Davis, Texas

Foreign location: Barcelona, Spain

And finally, list your preference from the following choices:

Tea or coffee? Coffee

Cake or pie? Cake

Halloween or Christmas? Christmas

Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes? Nancy Drew

Jane Austen or the Brontë sisters? Jane Austen

A mortal, vampire, ghost, or fae for a lover? Ghost

English gent, Scottish highlander, European count, or all-American guy?  All-American guy

Thanks so much for joining me today, Karen. Best of luck with the book! Speaking of which, here’s a little about it:

Hours after arriving in the Florida Keys to help her cousin Keya create a turtle preserve, Ruth discovers a washed-up body and not one, but two apparitions—Maita, the angry victim’s spirit, and Bart, a swashbuckling ghost. Ruth’s curious ability to connect with the ghosts may help them move on, but how?

Keya is in a probate battle over her turtle-nesting beach. Land-hungry relatives want it bulldozed and developed. Like Ruth, she has a special gift—she can talk to animals. Between Ruth’s help and Keya’s unique ability, they work to save the property, but is it too late?

Can Keya save her beloved turtles? Can Ruth find Maita’s murderer or help Bart solve his 400-year-old mystery? There’s more than meets the eye to Keya’s land. Add in a dashing sailor who believes in her, and Keya may have more than she bargained for…

A peek between the pages:

Conveying this land to the turtles would be my way of leaving the world a better place.” She turned toward Ruth. “Does that make sense?”

Ruth nodded and gazed at Keya as if for the first time. Her cousin’s intentions were clear. “But legally, how can you will the property to the turtles?”

“Easy. I leave it to the Turtle Refuge.” Keya laughed inwardly as they meandered along the beach. “And this is where you come in. When you’re writing the brochure, add a few paragraphs about planned giving and charitable bequests…” Her words broke off as Keya stared as if in a trance.

Ruth looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

Her hand shaking, Keya pointed to a shady patch of beach half hidden by sand dunes. A lifeless hand lay tangled in seaweed, its fingernails broken and bloodied.

Racing behind the sandbanks to help, Ruth skidded to a halt, her heels digging into the sand. A woman’s bloated body lay staring at the sun, her eyes opaque and unseeing. “Do you recognize her?”

“No.” Keya shook her head as the cat gingerly approached, sniffing and meowing. But Earnestine said she smells familiar.”

“Knock, knock,” called a man’s voice.

Ruth flinched at the sound. “Who’s there?”

Buy the book:

Amazon eBook: https://amzn.to/2XV2wO1

Barnes & Noble NOOK Book: https://bit.ly/2YFHWgQ

The Wild Rose Press: https://bit.ly/2ZsH1lm

More about Karen:

Author of the Sacred Emblem, Sacred Journey, and Sacred Messenger series, Karen is a best-selling author, motivational keynote speaker, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life. She writes multicultural, offbeat love stories steeped in the supernatural that lift the spirit. Born to rolling-stone parents who moved annually, Bartell found her earliest playmates as fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became her portable pals. Ghost stories kept her up at night—reading feverishly. The paranormal was her passion. Wanderlust inherent, Karen enjoyed traveling, although loathed changing schools. Novels offered an imaginative escape. An only child, she began writing her first novel at the age of nine, learning the joy of creating her own happy endings. Professor emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin, Karen resides in the Hill Country with her husband Peter and her “mews”—three rescued cats and a rescued *Cat*ahoula Leopard dog.

Where to find her:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenHuleneBartell   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenHuleneBart   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/karenhulenebartell/    

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/611950.Karen_Hulene_Bartell

Website: http://www.KarenHuleneBartell.com/  

Email: info@KarenHuleneBartell.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/karenhulenebartell  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenhulenebartell/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karen-hulene-bartell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenhulenebartell/

An Interview with S. K. Andrews, Author of BAY OF DARKNESS

03 Thursday Oct 2019

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I’m excited to have a sister Rose (published by The Wild Rose Press) here today.  Please welcome S. K. Andrews, whose paranormal book, Bay of Darkness, was released yesterday!  Let’s see what she has to say…

At what age did you write your first story?

Around eight or nine.  In elementary school, we had to write a story.  So, I wrote about a mouse who ate ice cream, and ate so much he got bigger.  I put my thumb on a black ink pad to make the mouse (early illustrations) and as I kept writing the story, my thumb got lazier.  Hence, the bit about the mouse getting fat by the end!

I love it!  Which genre was the first to hook you?

Fantasy.  My sisters and I would read Grimm’s Fairy Tales, which got us scared and fascinated at the same time.

What was your first published book?

The Pursuit of Acting; Working Actors Share Their Experience and Advice, published by Praeger, and of course, it’s a non-fiction read designed to help student actors.

What’s your favorite part of the writing process? Brainstorming?  Research?  Outlining?  Writing?  Editing?

My favorite part of writing is the writing itself, especially after I’ve seen the scene in my head like a movie.  I also enjoy researching origins of items, or places that I incorporate into my paranormal stories.  It’s exciting to discover historical facts and/or mythological beings.

Yes, history and mythology are fascinating!  What are you working on now?

A novella that comes right after Bay of Darkness called, A Kelly Society Christmas.  It is another supernatural dilemma that Vivien Kelly and her paranormal investigative team find themselves in, but it is done with humor.  Vivien only has three days to do all her Christmas shopping, because she was busy saving the modern world from eternal darkness.  So, even though she must help a friend from being dragged to hell, she still needs to get her holiday shopping done, or she won’t have any presents under the tree on Christmas morning.  That would truly be a tragedy!

It sure would!  Of all the settings you’ve used (or created!) for your books, which is your favorite and why?

It’s tied between two—Half Moon Bay, California, USA & Clonakilty, Ireland.  Both of these locations are beach cities and have their own unique creative magic.

I use Irish settings in my young adult series, so Ireland’s magic resonates with me, too.  Have you ever dreamed about a character you created?

No, but after I wrote in Neal Harrington (Vivien Kelly’s soulmate in Bay of Darkness) I saw a man in line at Starbucks two days later that looked (and dressed) just like my character!  It was kind of freaky!

That’s awesome, and perhaps meant to be!  If you could have a conversation with anyone—dead or alive—who would it be?

Princess Diana.

If you could travel to any time and place, when and where would that be?

Well, I’m going to stay in 2019 because I love air-conditioning, but I would like to spend time in Paris, just discovering the city.  Preferably in April—April in Paris!

If you could step inside any book or series and live there for a week, which would you choose?

I would live for one week in a book called Wrapped Up In You.  It’s a romantic story in which the daughter of Santa Claus falls in love at the North Pole right before Christmas.  I’d play in the snow, become a guest at her wedding, and eat cookies in Santa’s Workshop!

If a fairy godmother appeared and offered you one thing—anything at all—what would you request?

My own brownstone on the Upper West Side in New York City.

It’s time to learn some of your favorites!

Sound: Waves rolling onto shore

Eye color: Brown

Foreign language (whether or not you speak it!): Italian

Song: “Once Upon a December” from Anastasia, the animated musical

Book: Zen in The Martial Arts by Joe Hyams

Movie: Scrooge, the musical

TV show: Grimm

Cuisine: Vegetarian Quesadilla, salty tortilla chips with salsa, and a Cadillac margarita

Cookie: Chocolate Chip

US location: Santa Barbara, California

Foreign location: Clonakilty, Ireland

And finally, list your preference from the following choices:

Tea or coffee? Coffee

Cake or pie? Cake

Halloween or Christmas? Halloween

Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes? Sherlock Holmes

Jane Austen or the Brontë sisters? Jane Austen

A mortal, vampire, ghost, or fae for a lover? Mortal

English gent, Scottish highlander, European count, or all-American guy? All-American Guy

Thanks so much for joining me today.  Best of luck with the book!  Now, here’s the scoop on Bay of Darkness:

After witnessing her fiancé’s murder and almost dying herself, Vivien Kelly’s mission is to destroy Dagda—a Celtic God turned demon. As a supernatural dark cloud looms over the Sahara, she finds herself drawn to the Northern California town of Half Moon Bay and a new life as a paranormal cleanser. There Vivien finds Dagda’s creatures tormenting the locals. Her own paranormal cleansing team—The Kelly Society— is born, and the race is on when people around her begin to die.

While banishing a banshee, Vivien meets Neal Harrington—a soul partner who can promise true happiness. But when Dagda’s black vapor creates a New World of darkness, her time is up. Can Vivien abandon everyone she loves and succumb to her past life’s barbaric force to defeat the demon? Her actions not only determine her future—but the future of the modern world.

A peek between the pages:

Announcing her presence, Vivien slapped open palms against the bedroom door. Shrieking stopped as the banshee tried to stab into her intuitive power, not even making a dent.

Julie, I’m here to help. Don’t be afraid. After sending her telepathic message, she felt a definite shift. The young girl now had hope.

Sensing another female entity in the bedroom, Vivien tuned in sharper. A spirit connected to the house stood in front of Julie, also protecting her.

“That horrible noise stopped.” Neal eyed the door urgently. “Is that good or bad? I mean, is Julie safe?”

“Yes, she’s safe. I put a protective light around her.”

Heaving a sigh of exhaustion, he rubbed his temple. “Oh, right—the light thing. This is all so weird.” Neal’s head popped up. “No offense.”

“None taken.” She grinned like a debutant about to dance with the coolest boy in school.

“What now?”

Buy the book:

Amazon

More about S. K. Andrews:

Starra Andrews grew up in Laguna Beach, California, body surfing in the Pacific Ocean, writing fantasy stories, and acting on stage.  Having been influenced by the powerful scripts of Rod Serling and Richard Matheson from The Twilight Zone, she gravitated toward paranormal stories laden with hope.  Writing supernatural tales became her passionate hobby, in between life in the theatre.  She loves to sip hazelnut coffee, while reading a riveting ghost story, or while typing up an exciting new chapter of her own.  After attaining a B.A. degree in Theatre from University of California, Irvine, and attending LACC Acting Academy, an idea sparked for interviewing actors to help student actors.  Her non-fiction book The Pursuit of Acting; Working Actors Share Their Experience and Advice was published by Praeger Publishers/ABC CLIO.  In fiction, her heroine, psychic & paranormal cleanser Vivien Kelly and her team are in a race to rid the modern world of deadly Celtic creatures in her book trilogy The Kelly Society.  Bay of Darkness, the first book of the series is currently released through the Wild Rose Press.  Starra lives in upstate NY with her two cats, Audrey Hepburn and Vivien Leigh.

Where to find her:

https://www.skandrews.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/authorskandrews/

https://twitter.com/magicstarra

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP6dzir_I6LhEIWOYCJQFCw

https://www.instagram.com/starraandrews/

Audiobook News ~ THE STONE AWAKENED

11 Wednesday Sep 2019

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My young adult paranormal fantasy The Stone Awakened has followed in my other books’ footsteps and is available on audio!

Now you can listen to this second book of the Guardians of Erin series and go along for the ride as the Donoghue siblings’ Irish adventure continues.  Check it out!

Amazon Audio | Audible | Apple Audio