The One Who Follows

She is always out there. 

The dark one, the one who follows you but always stays in the shadows.

 She lurks around ever silently; waiting for a chance to come out. She knows the day will come  that you need her again. The day you will split apart and no longer be whole. That's when she'll be able to emerge. 

You know she's there, you always have. You knew you would never be able to vanquish her forever. You know that you needed her at one point in time but you also know that leaving her was the right thing to do. She's dark. She's depraved and she'll do anything to get her vengeance. That's the part that scares you the most. What if, she ever took over again? You are no longer a child with a childs strength . What you now have is far greater and far more powerful than it ever would have been before. You know what she will want. You know her well. For you were the one that created her...... to do something that you just......wouldn't have survived if you had to do yourself. 

You know how she thinks. You know what she wants. What could she do if she came out to play? What would she consider just punishment for the crime? What would you have to live with afterwards? Would you be able to handle it or would it break you even more? You ask yourself this question every single day. That is why you have to control her, you have to keep her at bay, you have to make sure that she never again sees the light of day.

Free September 24th-28th Passion's Sacred Dance By Juli D. Revezzo @julidrevezzo

Passion's Sacred Dance Free September 24th-28th

Battling mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery. When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her savior in disguise--but can she trust him?

Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help--even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.

If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron's budding love might only complicate things.

Character Interview of Stacy and Aaron:

Juli D. Revezzo: Thanks for being here my dears. I know you’re busy what with this whole war looming, so I’ll try to make my questions brief.

Stacy Macken: Take all the time you need, Juli.

Aaron Fielding: Not a problem. Anything we can do to help, that’s what we’re here for.

Juli D. Revezzo: *eyes Aaron’s Sword like weapon* Um, yeah. Would it help if I remind you I’m on your side?

Aaron: Don’t worry, dear lady. I only use this on Balor and his minions.

Juli D. Revezzo: *brow crinkles* All right, I trust you (aside: Besides I think I know how it works). Let’s begin, then: Question 1. What’s the first thought in your mind when you wake up?

Stacy: Coffee; then, what disaster will befall the gallery today?

Aaron: What disaster might befall Stacy and her gallery and what the hell I can do to stop it.

Juli: Yeas, I could see how that would be distracting. Second Question: Tattoos or piercings?

Aaron and Stacy together: Tattoos.

Stacy: For me, it’s a sign of a permanent commitment.

Juli: Don’t say the C word. You know how men are.

Stacy: Fortunately, mine isn’t gunshy.

Juli: Phew! Good. Aaron, why tattoos?

Aaron: I’ve had them since my early days with my tribe. I can’t remember what those little tattoo needles felt like, really. *Aaron shudders* Plus, piercing is sort of a professional hazard. Going into battle risks a piercing or two I’d rather not have. Have you seen the Harbingers’ claws? Imagine if they got caught on something other than my blade?

Juli giggles* Actually, I think I can picture it. Ooh, hey, when’s the next battle?

Aaron aside: (By the gods I worship, why did I give her that idea?)

Juli: What?

Aaron: Nothing, dear lady. Do you have more questions?

Juli: Yes. Question 3: Someone is calling you by a nickname. What is it?

Stacy: I’m known variously as Darlin’, Miss Macken, the Macken family Steward, but Aaron calls me “love”. *Sigh* I think that’s my favorite.

Aaron: Balor’s minions have the unfortunate habit of referring to me and my brothers-in-arms as unsavory one but other than that, I can’t really think of a nickname anyone’s called me lately.

Juli: Question 4: You hear a noise in the middle of the night. It wakes you from a dead sleep. What’s your first move?

Aaron: Grab my harshad in case I need to defend Stacy from something. I don’t sleep deeply.

Stacy: Go for my pistol (What is this defending me, stuff? I can take care of myself).

Aaron: (That fight in the gallery says otherwise, love.)

Juli: I have to agree with him, there, Stacy. I think you did need a hand, that night. Ahem, question 5: You can go anywhere and do anything. What’s first?

Aaron: I’d pack up and go somewhere Balor and his gang can’t get us. The moon might be a good destination. Maybe.

Stacy: Hope to heck Aaron lets me pack first before he whisks me off. Teleportation may be fun, but a girl has to have a change of underwear.

*Aaron winks*: Who says?

Juli: *Ahem* Moving on, question 5: It’s a quiet night and you’re home with nothing to do. What’s your game plan?

Aaron: If I say Stacy, do you think she’d whack me over the head?

Stacy: *Raises eyebrow* (Actually, no, I wouldn’t. :)) And, um, what he said. If I don’t settle down with a good book.

Juli: I dunno, Stacy. With Aaron (or Isaac, or Laurco, or Tam) around, I think my TBR list would go neglected. A lot.

*Stacy glares* Get your own harshad warrior.

Juli: Technically…

Aaron: Technically what?

Juli: Nevermind. Question 6: A cutie is interested in you and you’ve taken notice. What happens next?

Stacy: I throw him up against a closed door and kiss him blind.

Aaron: You knew there was a reason I liked her, didn’t you? Besides the whole Steward relationship thing. She’s not as tame as she looks, despite her wardrobe.

Juli: Oh, I know. She kisses and tells, remember.

*Aaron sits up straighter*: She does what?

*Stacy glares* Now you’ve done it. Moving on?

Juli: Yes, of course. Question 7: Aaron, can you tell the people, what exactly is a harshad?

Aaron: Ah yes, that might be important. Um, wait. You don’t think there are any Harbingers listening, do you?

Juli: I doubt it. This gallery is pretty well guarded.

*Aaron eyes the cameras above suspiciously* Okay, if you say so. A harshad then? For one thing, it’s the way we calculate our ritual battles. Each battle happens exactly five hundred years apart.

Stacy: He says “exactly”, but how in the world their druids figure out the exact date of the first battle is beyond my comprehension.

Aaron: Well, you’d have to talk to them about that. I’m sure Cyreth can explain it.

*Stacy eyes him skeptically* If you say so. Pre-modern era math gives me a headache.

Aaron: Also, it’s what we in the Tuatha de Dannan’s army call our favored weapon, created by Goibinu the Craftsman god, to aid us in our battles against Balor and his minions, who, though they may look like natural creatures, aren’t. The blade can easily penetrate their hides and if we need it to, become almost any weapon a warrior might need—long sword, short sword, sheliegha etc. Technically it can become about five hundred or so, hence the word harshad.

Juli: Handy little thing to have.

Stacy: Isn’t it, though? (Do you really know how it works?) I haven’t figured out how to get it to do all the neat things Aaron can. I hope one day I’ll wheedle the information out of him.

*Aaron winds an arm around Stacy and kisses her* Wheedle all you want, love.

Juli: Maybe we better leave the lovebirds alone, folks, what do you say?

Stacy and Aaron’s novel, Passion’s Sacred Dance, can also be purchased from Amazon and Amazon.UK and coming soon in all formats from The Wild Rose Press. 

On behalf of Stacy and Aaron, (who, *blush* really do seem rather occupied—Aaron is not shy at all! I think next time we’ll talk about something safe, like…cows. Cows would be good, right?) I hope you enjoyed this interview!

Would you like to read more? If so, Passion’s Sacred Dance is available at Amazon (it’s currently free for Kindle, September 24-28, and coming soon to The Wild Rose Press store and other booksellers November 22.

Watch The Trailer:

For more on the Harshad Wars series and all Juli’s other books visit her at: http://julidrevezzo.com

You can also find her on:

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

Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782712.Juli_D_Revezzo

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/111476709039805267272/posts

Pintrest: http://pinterest.com/jewelsraven/

twitter: @julidrevezzo

Sign up for her newsletter at: http://bit.ly/SNI5K6

About Juli D. Revezzo:

Juli D. Revezzo has long been in love with writing, a love built by devouring everything from the Arthurian legends, to the works of Michael Moorcock, and the classics and has a soft spot for classic the “Goths” of the 19th century. Her short fiction has been published in Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, The Scribing Ibis, Eternal Haunted Summer, Twisted Dreams Magazine and Luna Station Quarterly. She also has an article and book review or two out there. But her heart lies in the storytelling. She is a member of Independent Authors Network and Magic Appreciation Tour. Passion’s Sacred Dance is her first paranormal romance novel.

#IndieSpotlight of Jay Bahre Author of Pirates Cave

Name:

Jay Bahre 

The Title of Your Work or Group: 

 Pirates Cave 

Where are you from? 

 I am from Canton CT but now reside in Westfield, Ma 

In what genre do you write? 

 Mostly fiction, but I have written a few Non- fiction stories and articles and I also had a time in my life where I was writing poetry.

In your own words, what is your book about? 

 Pirates Cave is about two best friends that on the last day of school before summer vacation started ended up on the beach at a place called Pirates Cave. This was common practice for the two boys because both of their families owned homes on the beach.

One of the boys was John and he found an old bottle in the sand that he thought was just some junk that had washed up on shore and had been there for ever, but the other boy Jason knew better so he took it home so he study it a little closer.

That day while they were there they meet a man that told the boys he was a Pirate named “Mad Dog” John wasn’t so sure and really didn't believe him but Jason on the other hand was curios about the man and that’s what lead him back there to Pirates Cave.

When Jason turned up missing this man “Mad Dog’ was the prime suspect but he was no where to be found. Everyone turned to John for his help, but all the information he could give could not help.

It wasn’t until Detective Lenny Waters did some research on Pirates Cave is when they came up with some leads to where Jason might be. Jason was finally found and the mystery of who this pirate was was also solved.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens. 

I follow a very simple and basic writing style and I never really thought about it until just asked but I will compare it to an artist that draws his pictures free style. So the answer is no- I do not follow any guides or rules, It's my story and I will write it they way I hear it in my head and not what is politically correct. I think I get more out of my writing if I just sit down at my computer and see what happens. For example if you have a kid that is from the "HOOD" you have to write him in the book like and excuse my for being a stereotype but you have to use the slang and broken speech like a kid from the hood would talk. Even though your computer rejects the words and sentences you write. When I write I make or at leased try to make my characters fit their part. 

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 

 Yes of course-

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself?

I am a starving artist, I edit my story the best that I can and I also design my own covers. sometimes I will buy the rights to the picture like the one on Pirates Cave and sometimes my son will help me design the cover. 

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 

 To be honest with you I don't do any reading I wouldn't know a author from a hole in the ground.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? 

I think the most challenging thing about my writing is just getting started and then after that I don't know if I should add more to the story or less. Sometimes I feel if I add too much I am going to bore my reader with too much detail and if I don't add enough I am going to bore my reader because they won't see the big picture, they don't see they story like I see it in my head. One short story that I wrote got a bad review from a reader. I think his problem was one he has no sense of humor and two he just didn't get the story. 

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 

 Kind of both. It starts out that I write them but soon into the story they start writing themselves and characters are also created on their own. it seems like sometimes I have no control of what they say or do. 

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 

 Yes and no- Not so much in Pirates Cave but my next story that is coming out soon yes. I gave the maincharacter some of my traits and characteristics and added real life experiences into it too. 

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak. 

LOL, That is a good question that deserves a honest answer. I guess I do a lot of writing when I am sitting at home so it seems like it is a full time job to me and as much as I would like to see one of my stories go number one or be made into a movie so I could sit on the beach and watch the sunset, then rise, I think I will be keeping my day job for a while longer. 

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be?

 That is another good question and there are a lot of people that have meet their demise that I would like to meet but if I had to choose one right now I would say Freddie Mercury.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre?

 I don't know if it does stand out from all the rest, you know it's just a grain of salt mixed in with all the rest. I am just a simple person that wrote a book, if the cover or what it's about catches your eye or interest then read it. If it doesn't then don't read it. About 15 years ago I was writing another story and my son who at the time was around 5 asked me to write a story for him so I did. I used to hand write everything and then type it up later so for the past 15 years this story has been sitting in my closet. I finally decided that I wanted to publish it and share it with the world. 

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 

I have not found a way to market my books, and I really have no clue as to where to start either. 

Sites to find and follow Jay's work:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/atpiratescave

Blog: http://atpiratescave.blogspot.com/

Website: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/351437

Amazon: Not yet released pre order on Smashwords But if you want to check out my other books 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jay%20bahre&sprefix=jay+bahr%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ajay%20bahre

B&N: Not yet released - pre order on Smashwords But if you want to check out my other books http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/jay-bahre?store=allproducts&keyword=jay+bahre

I would also like to add my Yahoo voices site- there you can read some of my free work of poems and such. http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/1723122/jay_bahre.html

Add any other links that you feel would be helpful in convincing readers that they absolutely must buy right this minute or they'll die. 

There are two links I would like to add. The first one is https://www.facebook.com/nicolehillauthor and the second one is http://nicolefaithhill.blogspot.com/ I would also like to give a very special thanks to Nikki for posting my book Pirates Cave on her site. She is doing an awesome thing by supporting local and indie authors as we all should be doing because without your indie authors there would be no Stephen Kings- 

I would also like to thank you the reader of my work, if you have read some of my writings then I have accomplished part of what I want to do in life and that being write a book so my name will live on even after I am gone and two to actually get someone to read it. Thank you all- Jay Bahre 

Cover Reveal of Logan's Acadian Wolves By Kym Grosso

The cover was created by PickyMe Artist.  

Here's the blurb:

Deep in the heart of New Orleans, Acadian Wolves’ Alpha, Logan Reynaud, rescues a beautiful woman in the dead of night.  Intrigued by the mysterious human, the commanding Alpha is determined to elicit all of her secrets, including her deepest fantasies.  After tragedy strikes, Logan discovers dangerous adversaries are planning an attack in his city.  Driven by responsibility and honor, Logan must protect both his pack and the woman who’s captivated his attention.

Dr. Wynter Ryan, a leading virologist, is fascinated with her charismatic protector.  As the chemistry ignites between her and the dominant Alpha, she relinquishes her ties to the past, embracing ecstasy and submission within his arms and intrepidly acquiescing to her own adventurous instincts.  Succumbing to desire, she learns to trust her Alpha, discovering what it means to be wolf.

Passion and mystery on the bayou stirs Logan’s wolf, demanding he claim his mate.  Yet Wynter’s a distraction he can’t afford when his priority is to lead his new pack.  Will Logan surrender to the uncontrollable need to claim Wynter as his mate?  And will he be able to keep her alive, finding the killer who threatens the Acadian Wolves?

The book is releasing September 17th, 2013.

Find the rest of the Immortals of New Orleans series on Kym's Amazon Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Kym-Grosso/e/B007P8DNSQ

My review of Honor Bound by Brenda Novak

Honor Bound by Brenda Novak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is truly a story that lives up to it's title. Honor is the ever present, underlying issue. Jeanette agreed to an arranged marriage to save her family from poverty after they fled France to England. She was determined to honor her vows weather she wanted them or not. Until her brother overhears her new husband's disgusting plan for making sure she is with child by the end of the wedding night and rushes to tell her. In fear of being dishonored by her new husband, she runs.
Lieutenant Treynor is attempting to help the poor french boy (Jean) when he asks for a job on the ship. He even takes the boy's lashes in his stead when he attempt to desert. He is not too happy when he finds out that the boy is actually a baron's new wife who has stowed away. At first he thinks to take her to the captain to be taken back to her husband but the evident fear of the man he ca see hiding under her masked bravado keeps him helping her hide. When he finds out what her husband has planned for her he knows he has to help her to get an annulment. That will require that he not touch her until this happens. A feat he is learning, will test every ounce of honor he posses. Between this and the awesome at sea ship attacks, this story had me enthralled. I simply did not put it down until I was through.

My review of Kilt by Love by Jennifer Conner

Kilt by Love by Jennifer Conner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. Allister is the perfect modern day Laird. trying so desperately to hang on to his families land even as "Accidents" are happening all around town. He is honorable and loves his people as he loves his own family. He meets Sasha in the worst possible time in his life. He is feeling like a failure and knows he will never have anything to give her. Especially if he loses the land his family has owned for hundreds of years.
Sasha's life was a mess. She'd had an affair with her boss that ended with her being fired. She decides to take a last minute trip to Scotland to find a hot man in a kilt for a one night stand. Something she has never thought of before. Even her vacation turns out wrecked when she mistakenly books a seniors tour and ends up being babysat everyday by 80 year old men who see her as their granddaughter. Just when she'd given up on any romance, let alone the hot and steamy kind, the tour bus has an accident on the way to McTavish castle and clumsy Sasha falls off the bus into the arms of none other than the laird of the castle himself. She ends up in the middle of a land war of sorts that's leads her through all kinds of adventures with her sexy kilt wearing man. Now she has two problems. One, can she survive and two, will she be able to keep her plan of a one night stand or can she trust this one last time?

View all my reviews

#IndieSpotlight of Sara Daltry @SarahDaltry Author of Forget Me Not (Flowering #1)

Name: 

Sarah Daltry

The Title of Your Work or Group: 

 Forget Me Not (Flowering, #1)

Where are you from? 

East Coast (USA)

In what genre do you write?

 Erotica and romance. This novel is erotic New Adult romance. 

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 

It’s about college. About the process of growing up and realizing how much of you is you and how much is other people. Lily has everything – the perfect life, the perfect boyfriend, the perfect school. Something is missing, though, and it’s when she meets Jack that she realizes her life is not even the one she wanted to live, but more of an idea of a life. 

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens. 

I am a total pantser. I love characters and even if I have a basic plot in mind, the characters write the story. This started as a short story about Derek and Lily and I thought this was going to be a novella about them. Then Lily took over and wanted to tell her story. And now I am writing Jack’s story, because he started talking. J

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 

I have to admit I am kind of in love with Lily of the Valley, which is the companion to Forget Me Not. It comes out September 26. Jack is just my favorite character I have written. 

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 

I edit actually for a job, but I also use a team of editors. I design some of my covers and usually have ideas. Braxton Cole has been helping me to design them lately, but I am involved. 

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 

Hemingway. I love The Sun Also Rises. It is the most honest book I have ever read and it breaks my heart just thinking about it.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I think letting go and not worrying that people won’t “get” the characters. I worry that I am not doing them justice when someone misses the point, but really, how many people miss the point of me as a person? It’s just human nature.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 

They do all the work. I just type!

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 

No. Don’t get me wrong. Several of my characters have similar personality traits and they have similar experiences. I do believe in writing what you know, but I also see them as actual people with their own stories.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.

It is not my full time job, although I want it to be.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 

Hemingway. I want to have a drink with him and talk about writing.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 

It’s a little different than some of the New Adult romance out there, because it’s realistic. It’s got plenty of drama, but it is the drama that everyone experiences: homesickness, breakups, new relationships, making friends, sexual awakening. I think anyone who went to college and lived away will find part of their experience in it.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 

I have not really found the *right* way to market. And I don’t really know what works and what doesn’t. I do everything people suggest, although I don’t feel like I am reaching as many people as I would like. I also don’t know how those I did reach found me in the first place.

18+ New Adult romance

Watch Trailer

Lily had a crush on her brother's best friend, Derek for years - which led to their steamy night ten months ago in her bedroom. Now, Lily is going off to college and she and Derek are still going strong. However, when school starts, she realizes it's hard to maintain a relationship while also trying to live her own life. She and Derek find themselves falling apart and Lily has no idea where to turn.

Enter Jack. Everything about him is wrong for Lily and she knows it, but she can't stop herself from being attracted to him. When things implode with Derek, it's Jack who is there to pick up the pieces - and show Lily an entirely new set of experiences she didn't know she was missing.

Of course, Jack has his own problems and once Lily gets to know him better, she starts to wonder if she can handle all of Jack. When Derek reappears on the scene, Lily is forced to decide between two guys and herself. Can she find herself without losing the people who matter in the process?

See where it began in the short story, "Her Brother's Best Friend."

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DXM4YBI?force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forget-Me-Not-ebook/dp/B00DXMIU2W/ref=sr_1_4_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374183663&sr=1-4

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forget-me-not-sarah-daltry/1116049899?ean=2940148433125

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/forget-me-not/id673673228?mt=11

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/Books/forget-me-not-36

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/336336

All Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-forgetmenot-1240002-149.html

Paperback: https://www.createspace.com/4271499

Goodreads Link:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18162260-forget-me-not

About The Author:

Author Bio:

Sarah Daltry writes erotica and romance that ranges from sweet to steamy. She moves around a lot and has trouble committing to things. Forget Me Not is her second full length novel, although she also has several story collections and two novellas available. Her other novel, Bitter Fruits, was available shortly, but is now in the contract phase with a major publisher. When Sarah isn’t writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking Facebook for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window.

Author Social Media Links:

Website: http://sarahdaltry.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahDaltryErotica?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahDaltry

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahdaltry/boards/

Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/sarahdaltry

Excerpt:

He moves closer and already my body is responding. He smells like cigarettes and leather, two smells I never thought were sexy until now. I want to fall into his body, to be wrapped in his arms, and I fight it. It’s wrong and it makes no sense. I have everything I could ever want. Jack is just a distraction.

“I’m not that kind of girl,” I tell him.

He steps closer still and kisses my neck. His lips are soft, which is unexpected, and it sends a shiver through me. Jack brings me in to his chest. I can feel his heart beating; it’s quickening and it matches mine. I feel his tongue sliding down along my collarbone. There is nothing like this, but I need him to stop. And yet, I never want him to stop. “I’d love to know exactly what kind of girl you are.”

Almost as if they are not my own, my hands slip between his jacket and his shirt. The heat of his skin burns me even through the fabric of his clothes. His lips continue to travel downward, but as they reach the curve of my breasts, something in me wakes up. I tear myself away from him and back up a few inches.

“I have a boyfriend,” I repeat. “I can’t do this.”

“Where is he?” Jack asks. His eyes are burning.

“What?”

“Where is your boyfriend? You’ve mentioned him before, but you run into me a lot for someone who’s so in love.”

Trailer:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLltge6vnWg

#IndieSpotlight of Darke Conteur @Darke_Conteur Author of The Watchtower (Series)

Name: 

Darke Conteur

The Title of Your Work or Group:

 The Watchtower(Series)

Where are you from? 

I'm from Kingston, Ontario, Canada

In what genre do you write?

I write in several genre's, but I prefer the three S's; Science Fiction, the Supernatural, and Steampunk. The latter I discovered about a year ago, and I've become obsessed with it.

In your own words, what is your book about?

The Watchtower is the first book in a series about a group of paranormal individuals Who must deal with their own demons, while trying to save the world from real ones.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens?

I outline, outline, outline. I think I'm a little OCD with it too. I outline the idea and then go chapter by chapter. As I'm writing, I outline scenes before writing, just so I have an idea of how to structure the scene. Of course, there are times when I'm writing and my Muse suddenly decides the story needs THIS GREAT PLOT IDEA, or one of the CatPack chases a plot bunny out from under the couch and then it's like, "Oh great. Now what?"

Have you ever written anything and though; The world has got to see this!"

That's why I decided to venture down the Self-published path. I knew, from monitoring the industry for several years, that my story probably would not be picked up, either due to the word count (it's under 30k), or the fact it wasn't YA or PR, and that didn’t bother me. To be honest, I think all authors should try to self-publish at least one story. Just to understand the process.

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this by yourself?

I have a beta, an editor and a cover artist. These three are (in my opinion) the most important part of the process. Well, apart from the book.

Who is your favorite author?

I have several people whom I enjoy reading their work, but not one in particular influenced my choice to be an author. The idea evolved over the years and as technology grew and made things easier, the reality grew as well.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Not confusing people. Writing a series is an interesting balance of knowing when to reveal information and I'm always thinking, "does this need to go in book four or book five?"

Do you write your characters, or do they write themselves through you?

With the first draft, I write what I think they should be doing/saying.Just to get it out. During revisions, they come out and make their voice known. Sometimes they like the direction we're going, and sometimes…well…they get a little testy.

Do you ever write yourself into the characters?

Yes. Sometimes it's my sarcasm or my outlook on life that makes it int the story. I don't know if a writer can create and not put some part of themselves into their story. Even my darker side has snuck in there too.

Is writing your full-time job, or are you 'Keeping your day job'?

I'm a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) so this is kinda my day job. I'm lucy that my husband earns enough that I can do this.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be?

I honestly have no idea. Maybe Sir John A MacDonald (First Prime Minister of Canada). His views on the world were very ahead of his time. He believed in equal rights for women and Natives.

There are millions of new books released every year. What, in your mind, makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre?

There is a true sense of camaraderie with these characters. Due to their unique circumstance, they confide in each other and the bonds of friendship are very strong. They are a family, and like family, they have their good times and bad, and even though there are cracks, it doesn't pull them apart.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from?

To be honest, all the free marketing and promoting won't do squat unless you have a decent book to promote. People remember a good story, a strong plot, interesting characters, and I am of the mind that word-of-mouth does more than any free promotion.

Links to find and follow her work:

Social Media:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/darke.conteur

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Darke_Conteur

Blog: http://darkeconteur.wordpress.com/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/darkeconteur/boards/

Where to find The Watchtower.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005R1ERAQ

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-watchtower-darke-conteur/1108817971

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/books/The-Watchtower/lNEGvF2heEu25PN0zI38pQ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-watchtower/id503040533?mt=11

More Books in the Watchtower Series:

Book Page: http://darkeconteur.wordpress.com/novels/

#IndieSpotlight of Andrea L. Staum @DragonchildLore Author of Blood of the Sire Book 1 Dragonchild Lore

Name: 

Andrea L. Staum

The Title of Your Work or Group: 

Blood of the Sire Book 1 Dragonchild Lore

Where are you from?

South-Central Wisconsin

In what genre do you write?

Fantasy and Science Fiction

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 

When Zabond's raiders come to the shores of Kalahtaya, Kitra, the village outcast, is sent to find allies by the village's Elemental Guardians. Forced to travel with the man she accuses of stealing her daughter and a granddaughter she has never known, Kitra soon uncovers the villages long forgotten past, as well as, learns how misguided her own memories have become. The first book of lore reveals the birth of the Dragonchild and her tie to the Guardians of Kalahtaya.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens. 

I can’t outline. I just go with the flow of the story. Most of the time I’m surprised by where things end up because I thought I it was supposed to be something else entirely. 

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 

If I didn’t it would be gathering dust in a file somewhere ^_^

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 

I was fortunate to have a very talented friend agree to do my cover work and am thrilled with the result. I had one beta/editor other than myself. I learned a lot about editing with Blood of the Sire.

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 

Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern had a huge impact on my life. I would have to say she’s why I write. I discovered her in sixth grade when things were not so good and I escaped to Pern with every new release.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Time management. I’m fortunate to have ‘day’ job that’s seasonal so I have a lot more time during the Fall/Winter time. During Spring/Summer I just don’t have the time or energy to get things to paper. It’s my percolating time. However, we just bought a house that has some major renovations and finding time for everything is hectic.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 

See question 6. I have no control. My husband thinks I’m crazy the way I talk about my characters like they are real, but they create themselves. I had a character assert himself in the final draft that hadn’t existed before and he’s proving to be important for book 2. Clearly, he knew at the time even though I didn’t have a clue about him….Maybe my husband’s right…

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 

I think there’s always some piece of the author in every character. They’re able to do and say things that we can’t but really want to. I don’t think I have any Mary Sues, but there are little Andrea attitudes and attributes scattered among characters. Things like hand-wringing when nervous or eye color pop up now and again.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.

See Question 10 lol. I’ve spent 10 years in the motorcycle industry; the last five in my current job. It’s what I originally went to school for and I really like the work I do. I don’t think I could go full time writing. 1) not financially feasible at the moment and 2) where would I get inspiration? I have based characters off of people I meet at work. 

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 

There are so many people I would love to sit and talk with and understand how their minds truly worked and whether history got it right. If I had to choose just one though, I would go with Anne Bolyn, so many conflicting stories about her true intentions whether she was a mastermind or a pawn, it would be interesting to know the truth.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 

My characters. Blood of the Sire is the origin of the Dragonchild and through it the characters are forced to grow and learn. A lot of Fantasy focuses on the fantastical elements, but I think the human elements are more important. My lead, Kitra, is one of the oldest characters in the book, but even she finds herself growing and changing throughout. A lot of coming to terms with the past and learning the truth of matters occurs and I don’t think there’s a lot of that in Fantasy beyond taking up a sword.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 

Going to the local library and getting to know the Director is a simple thing to get into the community. I had a huge squee-fest when Blood of the Sire was placed on the shelf. I’m in a library! Sure, it’s just one library in south-central Wisconsin, but it’s there! 

Links to follow Andrea's work:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Andrea-L-Staum-Author/146878242143910?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DragonchildLore

Blog: http://dragonchildlore.wordpress.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Sire-Dragonchild-Lore-Volume/dp/148256209X/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_tnr_1

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-of-the-sire-andrea-l-staum/1115635642?ean=9781482562095

#IndieSpotlight of Jeffrey Littorno @JLittorno author of The Most Uncommon Cold I: Life in the Time of Zombies

Author:

Jeffrey Littorno 

The Title of Your Work or Group: 

The Most Uncommon Cold I: Life in the Time of Zombies 

Where are you from?

I grew up in a little town named Kenwood in Northern California wine country. All things considered, it was a darn good place to grow up. Lived around that area until I graduated college and took off for foreign parts. I spent time in Australia, South Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Saipan and a few other places I can’t remember .

 In what genre do you write?

I have always been a fan of horror in both books and movies, so that seemed the most natural genre for me.

In your own words, what is your book about? If you were not the author and trying to explain this awesome book you just read to a friend, what would you say about it? 

My book is about a world turned upside down. Your loved ones no longer recognize you. The most basic laws of society are ignored. And the dead do not remain still. I would tell my friend about a great new writer named Jeffrey Littorno. His book The Most Uncommon Cold really makes you feel like you’re in the middle of the action. But instead of creating characters who just start fighting to survive, Littorno describes more realistic characters who question their own sanity upon seeing the dead begin moving. The book makes you wonder how you would react in the same situation.

What is your writing style? Do you follow all guides and rules? Synopsis, outline etc. or do you just sit down at the computer and type to see what happens. 

Most of the time I have some thoughts and notes scribbled about where I plan to go in the story. For Bloom’s Desk, my first book, I tried making an outline and organizing everything. As soon as I started, the outline and all the notes went out the window. I soon realized that the story had a mind of its own and would show me where it wanted to go, where logic said it had to go. So usually, I reread the last 10 or 15 pages of what I have written and go from there. 

Have you ever written anything and thought; " The world has got to see this!" ? 

 I think that with everything I write for publication!

Do you have an editor and Cover Designer or do you do this yourself? 

 I designed the covers myself. But I do have a great editor named Nancy McCaslin. I did not take me long to realize that I need a set of fresh eyes to look at my writing and catch the things I miss.

Who is your favorite author. Not just someone that you read allot. I wanna know whose book you read that made you suddenly know that if you didn't do this for the rest of your life then you would never be happy. 

Like most if not all horror writers, Stephen King is tops. I have to say that King’s writings really showed me that stories in any genre must be rooted in well-developed characters. Horror stories only work if readers care or at least feel like they know the people caught up in the situations. I don’t know that I ever felt like I could not be happy unless I was writing for the rest of my life. I had some pretty happy times before I started writing. I remember a night on the Greek island named Ios that was pretty incredible. But I digress... I like writing and would love to keep doing it. 

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

The thing I find most challenging in my writing is getting started. I typically have a swarm of story ideas swirling around in my head. Just forcing myself to sit down at the keyboard and letting some of them out is not easy.

Do you write your characters or do they write themselves through you? 

I think I always start by writing my character, but then they take over. The best characters always have the strongest voices to tell me where they should be going.

Do you ever write yourself into the characters? 

Every character is some part of me. Usually, the part of me that gives birth to a character is not entirely recognizable. However, other times it is easy to see me in my characters. Glen Davis in Bloom’s Desk is probably the most similar to me. He taught abroad. I taught abroad. Glen got married in South Korea. I got married in South Korea. Glen sees the ghost of a serial killer. I see the... Well, you get the idea.

Is writing your full time job or are you "Keeping your day job"? So to speak.

Writing is certainly a full-time job. Unfortunately, it doesn’t pay the bills (yet). I have to keep another job until it does. I pay the bills by teaching at the prison in Folsom, California.

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? 

If you could go back in time and meet one famous person or legend in history, who would it be? I would like to meet Mark Twain. I can imagine sitting on a porch in rocking chairs, drinking a cold beer, and talking about anything other than writing.

There are millions of new books released every year. What in your mind makes yours stand out from all those millions in your genre? 

My books are written so as to put readers into the mind of the main character as much as possible. I think this psychological intimacy draws the reader in and makes them live the story rather than simply reading it. Many books in the horror genre seem to focus mainly on horrible images or occurrences. My books focus more on the reaction to those images and occurrences.

In the world of Indie, marketing is very difficult, especially if you don't have the funds to pay for it. Have you found a great free way to market your work that you think other Indies will benefit from? 

I am still struggling to find the great tool for marketing. I have seen some benefit from getting as many book reviews as possible. I have to admit that most of my marketing has been something of a shotgun approach. That is, I try to spend at least some time every day getting my book noticed. That usually means posting the link to my books on different websites. I started this campaign yesterday: Win a Kindle Fire! Buy The Most Uncommon Cold I' & leave a comment on Amazon. Drawing September 7th http://t.co/BgPOW0vpmt

Today, I ran across a post about The Book Referral Network. It sounds promising. We shall see.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeffrey-Littorno/234855293222272

Twitter: @JLittorno

Blog: http://jlittorno.tumblr.com/

Website: http://thingsofhorror.weebly.com/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jeffrey-Littorno/e/B004UMNNVW

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Littorno