Tag Archives: new release

TO WEAVE A HIGHLAND TAPESTRY by Mary Morgan

12 Thursday Dec 2019

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My dear friend and sister Rose (published by The Wild Rose Press) Mary Morgan is here today!  We’re celebrating her new release, To Weave a Highland Tapestry, and she’s written a wonderful guest post about the legend of the yew tree.  Let’s read on…

In To Weave a Highland Tapestry, I considered it time to give the hero, Patrick MacFhearguis his own “happy ever after.” He’s been a huge secondary character since my first book and series, Dragon Knight’s Sword, Order of the Dragon Knights. I sensed he was brooding at his home in Scotland. What he needed was a wife and a purpose. In truth, he has been a favorite of mine since he stepped into the first story. I made his castle, Leòmhann, as the center of this love story, along with an ancient yew tree.

Allow me to take you back in time to ancient Scotland…

When the ancient MacFhearguis clan settled near the Great Glen in Scotland, the Chieftain wished to bless the land, and his castle known as Leòmhann—the lion. Druids came from far away, bestowing their approval over stone, land, and people. Afterwards, they took part in a grand feast. Drink and food overflowed in the Great Hall. The bards recounted the great tales. Minstrels played songs of past triumphs, and the dancing and feasting lasted for countless days.

However, another tale lay buried within the stone walls of Leòmhann and only those brave enough could relate the true account.

It was whispered there were those in the clan—weavers from an ancient order from the west—not happy with the Chieftain’s refusal to offer a gift to the Fae who had graced his land before him. He deemed their request foolish and banished these irritating women to the forest.

Saddened by this act from their Chieftain, the women grew concerned the Fae would not give their own blessing over this new land, leaving their people without a compassionate and wise leader. Regardless of his order to silence them, they sought another path to right this injustice.

Gathering around a bonfire on a moonlit Samhain eve, each woman brought with them one long golden thread from their looms. On a whispered prayer, they knotted them all together. Traveling deep into the forest far away from Leòmhann, they came upon a young yew tree. As they swayed softly, the women wrapped the knotted threads around the tree. After they were finished, they joined hands and sang out as one.

“Seasons will ebb and flow—battles shall be fought.

The loom of the land shall not see rebirth.

From left to right, the strands of time will knot and break.

Only when a weaver threads the true color on a winter full moon night, shall the land, stone, and clan be cleansed.”

Smiling, they embraced each other, deeming their prayer had been received by the Fae. As the leaves rustled beneath their feet, none of them ever fathomed that the true master weaver to claim the heart of a MacFhearguis would not appear for over eight hundred years.

And as the centuries passed, the legend of the Yew tree became more of a curse, and the land around Leòmhann suffered.

A little more about To Weave a Highland Tapestry:

Patrick MacFhearguis, hardened by battles won and lost, desires what he can never have—peace within his heart and soul.  Yet, the ever-meddling Fae weave a new journey for him to conquer—a task this highlander is determined to resist.

When skilled weaver, Gwen Hywel, is commissioned to create a tapestry for the MacFhearguis clan, she embraces the assignment. While seeking out ideas, she finds herself clutching the one thread that can alter the tapestry of her life and heart.

A man conflicted by past deeds. A woman with no family of her own. Is it possible for love to unravel an ancient past, in order to claim two badly scarred hearts? Or will the light of hope be doused forever?

A peek between the pages:

His kiss was urgent, demanding. Patrick thrust his tongue into her soft heat. The air swirled in a tempest of passion as the kiss deepened. No longer caring if anyone came upon them, Patrick continued to feast on her mouth.

“How many kissing boughs have our wives placed in this castle?” asked Stephen.

“In every nook, stone, and chamber. I would not be surprised to find one in the stables or lists,” replied Duncan.

Stephen laughed. “By the hounds, I do love Midwinter.”

Gwen stiffened against Patrick. Placing a finger over her mouth, he waited for the conversation to fade before relaxing his stance and stepping back. Glancing over his shoulder, he watched as the men made their way into the feasting hall. Returning his attention to Gwen, he pulled her out of the alcove.

Her cheeks were stained a becoming pink, and full lips begged to be kissed again. Patrick raked a hand through his hair, doing his best to refrain from backing her inside the hidden enclosure again.

She giggled and stole a glance upward within the alcove. “Yes. We can blame it on the kissing boughs.”

He laughed nervously. “This is a first.”

“Are you confessing you’ve never kissed another under these boughs?”

Reaching for her hand, he caressed her fingers. “Never. Leòmhann has seen many a Midwinter feast, but no one dared to place these kissing boughs within the castle.”

She tilted her head to the side. Her joyful expression faded. “May I ask why?”

Once again, Patrick was reminded of the curse which surrounded his home. He looked down at her tiny hand. What could he offer Gwen? Why did he continue to pursue her without the promise of tomorrow? Should he confess all to her now?

She squeezed his hand. “If it’s too painful to talk about, I’ll understand. Let us enjoy this evening and not dwell on unhappy thoughts.”

Her words brought comfort to Patrick’s tortured spirit. Giving her a weak smile, he brought her hand into the crook of his arm. “Ye are correct. Let us welcome the light of Midwinter tonight.”

Patrick’s steps slowed as he guided them into the hall. The atmosphere was one of cheerfulness, laughter, and music. Greenery adorned the entire room—from wooden beams to tables. Children scurried past them in glee, and his heart leaped at the sight.

“My goodness. It’s beautiful,” observed Gwen, leaning against him. “And look, they’ve brought Meggie’s tapestry back inside the hall. The MacKays surely know how to celebrate.”

Within that moment, Patrick made a silent vow that one day he would see the same light enter his home. His heart soared at the possibility. With ye by my side, Gwen, I shall give ye this beauty.

Where to buy the book:

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

More about Mary:

Award-winning Celtic paranormal and fantasy romance author, Mary Morgan, resides in Northern California with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling by writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of magic, then time-travel within the pages of her books.

Where to find her:

WEBSITE/BLOG:  https://www.marymorganauthor.com/

TWITTER:  http://twitter.com/m_morganauthor

FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/MaryMorganAuthor/      

GOODREADS:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:  http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Morgan/e/B00KPE3NWI/

PINTEREST:  www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/marymorgan2/

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-morgan

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-morgan-2634a77a/

AUDIBLE AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.audible.com/author/Mary-Morgan/B00KPE3NWI

Best of luck with the book, Mary!  🙂

TODAY, TOMORROW, ALWAYS by Peggy Jaeger

10 Tuesday Dec 2019

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I’m thrilled to have a sister Rose (published by The Wild Rose Press) here with me today.  We’re celebrating her new release, Today, Tomorrow, Always, and she’s written a lovely guest post about secondary characters who move the story along.  Let’s see what she has to say:

When I decided to write my first romance series, I knew I needed to have engaging primary characters the reader could root for. I also knew I needed great secondary characters who’d pop up from book to book and who, also, the reader would want to connect with.

In my Match Made in Heaven series, the second book of which – TODAY, TOMORROW, ALWAYS – is out now, that secondary character is 93-year-old O’Dowd grandmother, Nanny Fee.

Her real, full name is Fiona Bridget Mary Darcy Sullivan O’Dowd Heaven Scallopini because she’s been married 4 times and widowed 4 times, each husband’s passing more difficult emotionally than the one before it. Fiona hasn’t only let her romantic heart be guided to the matrimonial bed. In her younger years she was a classical pianist and traveled with a world famous symphony all through Europe where she had affairs  (between hubbies, of course) with a Duke, a Baron, an Earl and one or two other, lesser royals.  With her flaming and natural red, waist length hair, sparkling periwinkle colored eyes, a quick wit and a naughty mind, Fee can charm the pants off any man – and has! But she’s also fiercely loyal and protective of her granddaughters.

One of her many quirks is calling her granddaughters by the numerical number of their birth. Cathy is referred to as “Number One,” Maureen, “Number Four.” Her twin, Eileen was three, but she died. Colleen is the one scarred the most by the use of the numerical naming system because as the second child, she’s called  “Number Two,” a name she can’t stomach and really hated as a child. Especially since Nanny taught communion classes. Colleen was referred to one too many times as Number two in front of a classroom of her peers, and has been emotionally traumatized because of it.

The reason behind the numerical names is that Fiona and her daughter-in-law despise one another. When the girls’ mother named them all with the same sounding names (Cathleen, Colleen, Eileen & Maureen) Nanny thought it sounded obnoxious and voiced her opinion on the topic loud and long. To get back at her DIL, the number names were born. But Nanny didn’t figure in how the numbers would affect her granddaughters into adulthood.

I adore Nanny Fee and she plays a prominent role in TODAY, TOMORROW, ALWAYS, so when you read it, I hope you love her as much as I do.

The story in a nutshell:

Lawyer Cathleen O’Dowd wants to break free from her boring image. Widowed young, she’s toed the good-girl line but now wants a little fun and laughter in her days…and nights. Living in a small town, though, she can’t do anything that would tarnish her professional reputation.

Mac Frayne’s tragic past has turned him into a sullen loner. In town to write a book on the city’s founder, his plan is to get it done, then head home to his solitary existence.

When circumstances force them to work together, their opposing personalities clash, but the sexual attraction between them is palpable.

Can a simple affair with an end date be just the thing to brighten up their lives?

A peek between the pages:

His expression changed from wide-eyed with excitement to something entirely different. Something deep and dark and—gulp—wild.

He repeated my name, and before I could blink, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist and a torso I knew was as solid and defined as a redwood tree flattened against the front of me.

He dipped his head, those dreamy eyes dark now with desire, and zeroed in on my own like a laser pointer. Hypnotized by the naked need facing me, I took a breath—a physical and a mental one—and pushed up on my unshod toes until my lips pressed against his.

For a nanosecond, Frayne stilled. The notion that he didn’t want this blew across my mind. A beat later and the thought died as his arms tightened and he pulled me fully against his body.

And then kissed me back.

Where to buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books

More about Peggy:

Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes Romantic Comedies about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them. If she can make you cry on one page and bring you out of tears rolling with laughter the next, she’s done her job as a writer!

Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, she brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she’s created the families she wanted as that lonely child.

When she’s not writing Peggy is usually painting, crafting, scrapbooking or decoupaging old steamer trunks she finds at rummage stores and garage sales.

A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, Peggy is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.

As a lifelong diarist, she caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she blogs daily about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go “What??!”

Where to find her:

Website/Blog

Twitter

Amazon Author page

Facebook

Pinterest 

Goodreads

Instagram

BookBub

You-Tube

Best of luck with the book, Peggy!  🙂

CHARM ME AGAIN by Tena Stetler

04 Wednesday Dec 2019

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I’m excited to feature a sister Rose (published by The Wild Rose Press) today.  Bestselling author Tena Stetler has a new release, Charm Me Again, and it looks like a great read.  Here’s the scoop:

For several months a Scottish Highland Ghost has haunted Daylan, in his personal life, his professional life and at his forge. Yet, being a talented warlock, he is no closer to discovering what the ghost wants or why he chose Daylan. A trip to his estranged sister’s home in Colorado may have unforeseen consequences especially when family history leads him to a shocking discovery.

As his attraction blooms for Josie, a yoga instructor in his sister’s studio, he realizes there may be more to Josie than he can imagine. When an ancient rogue Fae Warrior set on revenge kidnaps her in an attempt to claim her as his own, a devastating curse comes to light.

Daylan’s world spirals out of control as he searches for Josie. Can he break the age old curse to save her and their future, or will she be lost to him forever?

A peek between the pages:

Suddenly the wind increased and changed direction bringing a cold chill to the warm day. She tugged her sweater close around her as a thin maroon line formed along the flat bottom of a dark, boiling cloud spreading across the sky. Moments before there’d been only an occasional fluffy white cloud floating in the bright blue sky. Oh, no, not again.

The line slowly drifted to vertical and spread open to reveal a sparkling interior. Four striking creatures, sharp-angled features with fierce expressions on their inhumanly handsome faces appeared. Gleaming swords hung at their sides as they slipped out of the cloud and stepped onto the ground not more than fifty feet from her and Daylan along the tree line of the property. Holy shit. This can’t be happening.

She rubbed her eyes but when she opened them the men were still there. Dressed in heavy boots, jeans, and formfitting leather vests, shimmering silver bands adorned their muscular upper arms. Two of them had thick shoulder length blond hair, the others had jet black hair hanging in waves past their shoulders.

She jumped up and opened her mouth to scream. But Daylan reacted faster clapping his hand over her mouth while still facing the advancing creatures. To her surprise, a soft giggle escaped from her lips. They look like a group of medieval bikers. Their apparent leader, his reddish sable hair hung well beyond his shoulders in waves, paused a few yards in front of them.

Available now for preorder:

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

More about Tena:

Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance novels. She has an over-active imagination, which led to writing her first vampire romance as a tween to the chagrin of her mother and delight of her friends.

With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of paranormal creatures, with a Navy SEAL or two mixed in telling their tales. Her books tell stories of magical kick-ass women and strong mystical males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.

Where to find her:

Author Website,   Facebook,     Twitter,

Bookbub,      Goodreads,   Amazon Author Page,  

Authors’ Secrets Blog,    My Say What Blog

Quarterly Newsletter Sign up,    Pinterest,  and  

Instagram

Best of luck with the book, Tena!  🙂

Snuggle Up with These Books Readathon ~ N. N. Light’s Book Heaven and a Giveaway!

01 Friday Nov 2019

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Calling all readers! Fill your library with N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s Snuggle Up With These Books Readathon picks. 56 books from multiple genres featured plus a chance to win one of the following:

~ $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

~ $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

~ $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

~ $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

~ $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. My new release, Night of the Owl, will be featured on November 27th. I even talk about what I’m thankful for this year. You won’t want to miss it.

Bookmark this bookish party and tell your friends:

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/snuggle-up-readathon

Enter the giveaway here!

In other news, author Sherry Ewing is featuring Night of the Owl on her First Kiss Friday Blog today.  You can read an excerpt (the scene in which the hero and heroine first kiss), and there’s a giveaway!  You could win a copy of the book.  Check it out here.

Wishing you a beautiful day.  Happy November!  🙂

An Interview with Linda Nightingale, author of SINNERS’ OPERA

17 Thursday Oct 2019

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I’m thrilled to have another sister Rose (published by The Wild Rose Press) here today.  Please welcome Linda Nightingale!  Her latest book, Sinners’ Opera, was released on October 7.  Let’s get to know her…

At what age did you write your first story?

I always told my friends stories from the age of about 8 and thought of scenarios that we could play, like raking leaves to form a house, then being princesses or housewives. Big jump, right? Not for us. The first story I remember writing was in 9th grade in place of a book report. It was sci-fi about an alien discovered on Earth and his flight from his captors.  He had silver-pink hair. (Hey, he’d be right in style today.)

Which genre was the first to hook you?

Romance and sci-fi.

What was your first published book?

My first book was Gemini Rising, which deals with a very sensitive, taboo for the most part subject. I wrote it because the characters woke me up one Sunday after a night on Miami Beach, and I wrote the first pages in purple on a legal pad. (Oh, no, purple prose!) A Canadian publisher picked it up, and it did fairly well considering the subject.

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

Easy. Writing. I’m not keen on research or editing but I love the white hot stream of creativity that flows from your fingers when the words are coming faster than you can type.

What are you working on now?

A companion story to Sinners’ Opera. In The Piano Man, Morgan is playing in a smoky piano bar, and in walks a love from his WWII days as a dashing RAF pilot flying night raids over Germany.  Of course, our vampire hero hasn’t changed a bit.  It goes back to the WWII story, then finishes in early 2005.

Cool!  Of all the settings you’ve used (or created!) for your books, which is your favorite?

Charleston, SC.  Charleston is my favorite city in the US. It was founded during the reign of Charles II and also ties to Morgan. A trip down the beautiful Battery takes you back to the Civil War with the cannons at White Point Gardens, and the gorgeous Antebellum mansions.

My great-grandmother lived in Charleston, so I went there as a little girl.  A beautiful place!  If you could have a conversation with anyone—dead or alive—who would it be?

Charles II of England. He was banished when his father was executed by Oliver Cromwell, but in 1660, he was restored to the throne by invitation. His court was known for being rowdy and a bit lascivious.

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

Probably either Game of Thrones or Outlander.

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

Enough money to live very comfortably for the rest of my life and have more left to will to my sons.

That’s a wish I share!  Now, it’s time to learn some of your favorites…

Sound:  The purr of Jaguar E-type exhausts.

Eye color: Blue

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

Song:  “Phantom of the Opera”

Book:  Fever Dream by George R.R. Martin

Movie: The Libertine with Johnny Depp

TV show:  Game of Thrones

Cuisine:  Indian

Cookie:  Macadamia

US location: Charleston, SC

Foreign location:  Yorkshire, UK, where my son lives.

I love that area of England and long to go back one day.  Most of my upcoming release, Night of the Owl, takes place there!  Okay…last but not least, list your preference from the following choices:

Tea or coffee?  Coffee

Cake or pie?  Cake

Halloween or Christmas?  Hard choice.

I know; I love them both.  Nancy Drew or Sherlock Holmes?  Neither.

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? English lord

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

Morgan D’Arcy is an English lord, a classical pianist, and a vampire. He has everything except what he desires most—Isabeau. As the Angel Gabriel he’s steered her life and career choice, preparing her to become Lady D’Arcy. Many forces oppose Morgan’s daring plan—not the least of which is Vampyre law.

Isabeau Gervase is a brilliant geneticist Though she no longer believes in angels, she sees a ticket to a Nobel Prize in Gabriel’s secrets—secrets that have led her to a startling conclusion. Gabriel isn’t human, and she fully intends to identify the species she named the Angel Genome. Morgan is ready to come back into Isabeau’s life, but this time as a man not an angel. Will he outsmart his enemies, protect his beloved and escape death himself? For the first time in eternity, the clock is ticking.

A peek between the pages:

“Run, Mary,” I panted, shoving her.  “For God’s sake, run.”

Her hands branded my shoulders.  Need coursed through me.

Her brow puckered.  “How did you know my name?”

“You look like a Mary,” I gasped, trying to crawl away.  “Bloody hell, run, woman.”

Saliva broke beneath my tongue.  My heart thundered like a cavalry charge.  Fever stung my veins.  Instinct twisted me around to face my salvation and my damnation.  My lips parted to reveal the one unmistakable characteristic of my kind.

“Fangs.” She recoiled, clutching her cross. “Lord Jesus, save me from this demon.”

I knelt in front of my savior, bowed my head over her heaving breasts to touch the cross to my lips.  “Too late to run, too late to hide, and Mary dearest, your cross won’t save you.”

I held her gaze, a slow smile parting my lips.  Her eyes clouded, jaw slackening.  Too weak to command my more esoteric powers, I could still mesmerize my prey.  It was just too bloody easy.  Vampires are the perfect predators.  But I had a choice.  Didn’t I?

“What’s your name?”  She inhaled a long, slow breath, toying with my hair. “You’re as beautiful as an angel.”

Another wave of misery broke over me.  She wasn’t the only one who thought I looked like an angel.

Once, the woman I love—the woman who didn’t love me—believed I was an angel.

“My name is Morgan.”  I couldn’t bring myself to say my second name, an angel’s name.

Mary ran her finger down my cheek.  “Pretty name, Morgan.”

So simply, the seductive dance that would end in death began.

Buy the book:

Apple Books

Amazon CA

Amazon UK

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

More about Linda:

After 14 years in Texas, Linda just returned home to her roots in South Carolina. She has seven published novels, five of which are available from Audible.com in audio. Breeding and showing Andalusians, she’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer. She has won several writing awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers’ Magnolia Award and the SARA Merritt.  She retired from a career as a legal assistant at MD Anderson Cancer Center to write full time.

She has 2 wonderful sons—one in Texas; one in England—and 4 equally marvelous grandchildren.

She enjoys dressing up and hosting formal dinner parties!

Where to find her:

Twitter

Facebook

Web Site – Visit and look around. There’s a free continuing vampire story.

Blog – Lots of interesting guests & prizes.

Goodreads

Pinterest

Amazon

BookBub

Vampire Morgan D’Arcy has everything except what he most desires…a woman he has loved since the day she was born…Isabeau.

https://youtu.be/hSsuAW7-UPE

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/

Mary Morgan’s New Release ~ DESTINY OF A WARRIOR

12 Wednesday Jun 2019

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My dear friend and sister Rose (The Wild Rose Press) Mary Morgan is here today to talk about her recent release, Destiny of a Warrior.  Let’s see what she has to say about it.

Mary, each book of a series resonates in a unique way with its author, and this is the fourth in your Legends of the Fenian Warriors series. How is it dear to your heart?

I’ve waited a long time to tell this hero’s story. The great Aidan Kerrigan was a tale I feared to write. When he first appeared in the story, Dragon Knight’s Medallion, Order of the Dragon Knights, Book 2, I panicked. I did not know he was a Fenian Warrior until he walked through the crowd of people at the airport to greet his daughter, Aileen. His presence loomed mighty and grew with the previous stories in the Legends of the Fenian Warriors. Regardless, I knew then that his and Rose’s love story had to be told from the beginning. With each Fenian Warrior’s story, I shared a layer about this Fae. Little did I know when I penned his first line of dialogue that he was the leader of the Fenian Warriors, came from royalty, and his sister was Queen of the Fae realm.

He chose not to reveal any of this to me. And this is why I became terrified. What more could he share? Aidan made it simple. He told me to write a love story, stating, “For you see, love is greater than all the power attained in the world—be it human or Fae.”

With this revelation, Aidan Kerrigan has remained my favorite (and most complex) character. He’s honorable and loyal—struggling with a new-found love and what this relationship would do to his Fae people. He also continued with a code of ethics his entire life.

And the lovely Rose MacLaren was a perfect match. As he professed to her, “I saw beauty inside the depth of your soul. Your intelligence would rival any Fae in the herbal gardens, and you possess a wisdom that sparks from a desire to learn more. You challenge me.”

What was your first thought when you saw the cover?

I gasped! I wanted the cover to represent power, the Fae realm, and the Tree of Life in the background. Debbie Taylor went above and beyond to deliver a stunning cover. I love it!

You’ve already bestowed life on your characters. Is there another gift you’d like to give them as a couple?

Ahh…that is a difficult question. I cannot answer this without giving away a major spoiler. I’ll leave that to the readers after they’ve had a chance to read both books: Dragon Knight’s Medallion and Destiny of a Warrior.

If you could offer Aidan a word of advice, what would it be?

You should have told your daughter Aileen who and what you were sooner.

How would you advise Rose?

Not all visions are what they appear to represent. Don’t let fear guide you.

Is there any chance this couple will appear in a future story?

A question my editor keeps asking, too, Judith.  🙂  For now, Aidan and Rose are both where they should be—blissfully happy and forever young.

Thanks so much for hosting me on your lovely blog, Judith. It’s always a joy to visit. And readers, don’t forget to enter the rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a fabulous grand prize!

Always a pleasure to have you here, Mary.  Best of luck with your new release!

Here’s what readers could win in the giveaway (June 5 – July 15, US and Canada only):

~Signed print copy of Destiny of a Warrior
~Celtic jeweled bookmark
~$5 Starbucks card

Enter here!

A little more about the book:

“You met him in the Order of the Dragon Knights. Now, journey to the realm of the Fae and witness their greatest legend!”

As leader of the Fenian Warriors, Aidan Kerrigan’s accolades are many and his loyalty to the Fae unwavering. When an unexpected mission sends him to the human world and a chance encounter with Rose MacLaren, he’s tempted for the first time in his existence to discard duty and claim what is forbidden.

Rose MacLaren, a Society of the Thistle member, yearns to expand her botanical knowledge with her love of history. After her rescue by a handsome stranger, she is compelled to look beyond what her rational mind comprehends and unravel the secret of the standing stones, as well as the man who captivates her.

In a mystical world ruled by ancient laws and edicts, can a fierce warrior choose a path destined for love? And will a woman honoring the ways of the land believe in a myth only spoken of in legends? If they do, will their love be enough to defy death’s punishment?

A peek between the pages:

Flexing his fingers, Aidan yearned to bring some light into the dreary situation. Rose’s rigid stance against the vehicle spoke volumes. While her back was turned, he magically brought forth a red rose. Striding across the muddy terrain, he presented the flower over her shoulder.

Her indrawn breath at his gift resonated within him. “How lovely, Aidan. I don’t recall seeing any roses on the property.” She grasped the flower, but winced. “Ouch.”

Stepping around in front of her, Aidan removed the rose from her delicate fingers and placed it on the roof of the vehicle. Droplets of blood oozed from the damage done by the thorn. Without thinking of the consequences, Aidan brought her injured finger to his lips. Instantly, the taste of her blood ignited a war in his veins. Passion so intense slammed into his body. As he released her hand, his gaze roamed over her features.

Rose was his land—his home. A part of him fractured with the realization. When did his world tilt off its axis? There was no firm compass anymore. No sure direction, save one. Rose.

The roar of desire hummed into his being, and Aidan crushed her to his chest. His hand took her face and held it gently. He covered her mouth hungrily, seeking entry into her velvet softness with his tongue. When her moan slid inside of him, Aidan groaned. Her scent consumed him.

Emotions within him whirled and skidded. Unable to control the flood of so many, he swayed and broke free from the kiss. These feelings were foreign to him, but he no longer feared them.

Aidan breathed heavily, keeping her at arm’s length. The sensuous flame of desire reflected back within her sparkling emerald eyes. “Forgive me?”

“Not for the kiss, Aidan,” her tone low and sultry.

Slowly, he took hold of her hand and kissed her finger, which was now healed from his touch. “I meant the thorn.”

Her tongue darted out along her bottom lip, enticing him further. “Not for the thorn, either,” she admitted, plucking the rose off the top of the vehicle. “Isn’t it time you showed me your other castle, Aidan?”

“Croí Dragon. That is the name of my keep.”

Rose placed her hand on his chest. “Dragon Heart.”

Buy the book:

Amazon 
BN 
iBooks 
Kobo 
Amazon CA 
Amazon UK 
Amazon AU 
The Wild Rose Press 
Legends of the Fenian Warriors ~ Amazon

More about Mary:

Award-winning Celtic paranormal and fantasy romance author, Mary Morgan, resides in Northern California with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling by writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of magic, then time-travel within the pages of her books.

Where to find her:

WEBSITE 

BLOG 

TWITTER 

FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE 

GOODREADS 

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE 

PINTEREST 

INSTAGRAM 

BOOKBUB 

LINKEDIN 

BOOKGORILLA 

 

Sun and Sand Giveaway and a party!

09 Sunday Jun 2019

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I’m doing a SUN AND SAND GIVEAWAY!  Check out my books and choose which one you’d like as your beach read.  Then go to my Facebook page, find the giveaway post pinned to the top, and tell me your choice.  You can comment until 11:59 p.m. EST on July 6, 2019.  (Open only to entrants from the US and Canada.)  I’ll randomly choose one winner, who will receive a signed paperback copy of his/her book of choice.  Good luck!

In other news, I’m co-hosting a Facebook launch party tonight for my dear author friend, Mary Morgan.  We’ll be celebrating her latest release, Destiny of a Warrior.  Come join us for fun and prizes here!  I’ll be hosting from 6:35 p.m. until 6:50 p.m. EST.  Hope to see you there!


Cathy and DD MacRae’s New Release: THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE

08 Tuesday Jan 2019

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I’m excited to have bestselling author Cathy MacRae here! She’s part of our Medieval Mondays group, and today we’re talking about her new release, The Highlander’s Welsh Bride, the latest in the Hardy Heroines series. Scotland and Wales are two of my favorite places, so I’m eager to ask some questions. Pull up a chair and let’s hear what Cathy has to say!

What inspired you to write this book/series? Of course, following the other books in the series was the initial nudge, but this particular book arose from the finality of the Welsh Wars of Independence. What would a young woman do to escape the loss of her family and remain out of reach of King Edward Longshanks? Flee to Scotland, of course.

Of course! Have you encountered any of the characters in a dream? No, I don’t believe I have, though I occasionally have brilliant insights into characters (why they act a certain way) or a scene that’s been eluding me either right as I fall asleep or as I’m waking in the morning.

I get that too! There’s something magical about those moments just before and after sleep, opening doors to a whole world of perceptions. If you could give your hero, Birk MacLean, a word of advice, what would it be? Lighten up. He’s convinced he isn’t loveable and often manipulates people to keep them from seeing his true motives. 

Any advice for your heroine, Carys? Be patient. Birk isn’t who he seems to be. There is a good heart in him.

In general, which do you enjoy writing more: description or dialogue? Oh, gosh. I love writing both. Dialogue often runs away by itself, but description pulls me deeper into the story.

I understand completely! What do you love most about being an author? I love creating my worlds and the characters in them. Even better, I get to share them with readers! It truly brightens my day to get a note from a reader who wants to chat about a story, or to encounter someone who believes in my characters as much as I do.

Yes, those are wonderful experiences! Thanks so much, Cathy.  You, DD, and your characters are always welcome here.  Best of luck with the new release!



A bit more about The Highlander’s Welsh Bride:

It was over. Prince Llywelyn was dead, his soldiers fleeing before King Edward’s army. Carys, a distant cousin to the prince, herself a princess of Wales, had picked up arms alongside her husband more than a year ago. Now homeless, her husband buried beneath the good Welsh soil, she seeks shelter in the north, far from the reach of Longshanks’s men. Carys and Wales would never be the same again.

It was time. Birk MacLean has been ordered to take a bride and produce an heir. He grows weary of the lasses paraded before him, women of delicate nature and selfish motives. He desires a wife strong enough to help lead one of the most powerful clans in Western Scotland.

One like the Welsh woman sitting in his dungeon, arrested for poaching MacLean deer.

Can Birk convince Carys marriage to him is preferable to a hangman’s noose? And will the heard-headed Scot be worthy of a Princess of Wales?

A peek inside the pages:

Birk grabbed the decanter of wine and poured the blood-red liquid into two heavily embellished silver goblets, offering one to Carys.

“Slàinte mhath.” He tipped the goblet to his lips and drank.

Carys ran her fingers over the intricate chasing near the rim and dipped a fingertip in the liquid. “Drunk? And in front of all our guests. ’Tis a fine way to begin a marriage. This was your idea, if you’ll recall.”

Birk set his goblet down with a thump of metal against the cloth-covered wood.

“I dinnae wish to remarry at all. ’Tis not about ye.”

Carys pushed her drink away, furious with his lack of courtesy. “Well, a drunkard rarely has a stiff cock,” she observed caustically. “Mayhap one of us will get a good night’s sleep. At least no one will be expecting bloody sheets on the morrow.”

“I am nae so hung over as that,” he growled.

“Oh, I’m certain I’m relieved to hear it,” Carys purred, heedless of the warning gleam in his eyes. Brody was likely right. Her husband’s bad mood was probably more about his sore head than his marriage—though she rather doubted he’d have gotten roaringly drunk the night before if he hadn’t been marrying her on the morrow.

She had to admit the thought irked. A lot.

“A woman has expectations, you know.”

Birk’s eyes narrowed. “Expectations?”

Carys folded her hands on the table and leaned forward, resting her breasts on the arc of her wrists, deepening the valley between them as they swelled above the gown’s modest neckline. Birk’s gaze dropped. An ironic smile twitched Carys’s lips. Men were so predictable.

“Expectations of her wedding night,” she said, drawing her words out, voice husky. Birk’s attention wavered. Carys rose, abandoning her moderate display, and, placing the fingers of one hand on a heavily muscled shoulder, paced slowly to his other side. She drew her fingertips lightly across his back to the other shoulder and feathered them down his arm.

He twitched.

“I’ve been there before, as have you,” she murmured, sending an appraising look up and down his body, deliberately baiting him, not knowing how to tame the wildness rising unexpectedly inside. “Terwyn was kind and considerate.” She lifted a limpid gaze to Birk’s. “Are you?”

Buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amzn.com/dp/B07KNYTMPK

A little more about Cathy:

Amazon best-selling author Cathy MacRae lives on the sunny side of the Arbuckle Mountains where she and her husband read, write, and tend the garden—with the help of the dogs, of course.

Award-winning and Amazon best-selling author DD MacRae enjoys bringing history to life and considers research one of the best things about writing a story! With more than 35 years of martial arts training, DD also brings breath-taking action to the tales.

You can visit with Cathy & DD at www.cathymacraeauthor.com and sign up for their newsletter!

Other ways to connect with Cathy:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathy.macrae.58
Twitter: @CMacRaeAuthor
Instagram: cathymacrae_author
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cathy-MacRae/e/B00BNOHXJS/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorcathymacrae/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cathy-macrae

THE STONE AWAKENED ~ An Excerpt and an Amazon Giveaway

21 Friday Dec 2018

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Happy Friday!  Sorchia DuBois has welcomed me back to her blog today, and we’re sharing an excerpt from my new release, The Stone Awakened.  Read it here:

https://www.sorchiadubois.com/bookwhammy-ya-fantasy-stone-awakened/

I’m also doing a giveaway of the new release on Amazon.  Enter to win here:

https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/79845b01ce4c538e

Good luck, and have a great weekend!  🙂