Interview and Giveaway with Author Valerie Douglas

 Today I'd like to welcome Valerie Douglas to the blog. Read this fun interview and enter her giveaway! 

Q: Who are you, and why should readers read the rest of this interview?

Hmmm, I’m old enough to know better but young enough to still do it. I collect odd animals – one submissive and one schizophrenic dog, a one-eyed cat, another whose jaw has been broken and I’m pretty sure is dain-bramaged (we don’t say that out loud) and another who sucks her tail. The fourth cat is normal. More or less. I also have nearly twenty books published either as myself or under my pen name – and the genres tend to vary depending  on my muse. Why read the rest of the interview? Because you KNOW you want to…

Q: Tell us a little about the work you are here promoting.  

Heart of the Gods is a nifty little thriller full of myth, magic, mummies and romance with a little paranormal thrown in for good measure. An archeologist, Ky Farrar has been fascinated by the legendary Tomb of the Djinn since he first learned of it as a boy. The stories of its Guardian and the treasures contained within intrigued him. Of course, he believes that most of those tales are myth. Until he finds out the Guardian is all too real, and she’s as lovely as she is lethal.

Q: Mummies sounds like something I can get into.  As a writer, do you have plans for world domination, or do you have a day job as well?

I’m lucky enough to support myself as a writer – so I have lots of time to plot world domination.

Q: Nice! Self-published, traditional, indie or part of an indie collective? If not yet published, what are you doing to make it happen?

All of the above, except the last. My first novels were published traditionally under my pen name, but I found I didn’t like giving up the control. I just don’t handle authority well. *grins* What a surprise. Now I have all the control, all the headaches, but all the money as well. I’ll take door number two in exchange for one and three any day.

Q:  How do you handle bad reviews?

Ya know, I just don’t like every book I’ve ever read and I don’t expect other folks to do the same. Even so, I’ll admit it still hurts. Less so from the person who admitted they didn’t read the book but failed it on the blurb. Now, most of the time I just avoid looking at them, so when I find a good one it’s such a wonderful surprise.

Q: I like that attitude!  Are you nervous yet and do you prefer white or wheat bread.

Nah, and I don’t eat bread much. (Love the taste, but carbs put me to sleep.)

Q: I don’t think I’ve ever heard of carbs putting someone to sleep. =) Do you blog? If so, don't you wish you were as cool a blogger as I?

I started guest blogging for someone else, and now I almost never post on my own blog page.

Q: What is your favorite creature, monster, or fantasy based thing you write about?

I like almost all of them except sparkly emo vampires. Sorry Twilight fans, not picking on it much, but then I’m over 30 and that can be a handicap.

Q: Are you planning to give something away (if not, good luck getting anyone to read this thing) and if so, what are your demands for winning (I assume, your book because why else would you stop by?) 

I’ll give away a free copy of both Heart of the Gods and Servant of the Gods to each of the first three people who can find my blog and prove they’ve read the blurbs for both.

Q: Any advice for aspiring writers?

Do the work. Put out a quality product. Then, stick with it. It won’t happen overnight.

Q: Tick off a few authors you look up to.

Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird). Anne McCaffrey (One of the first women to be awarded a Hugo and Nebula).  Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, bestselling novelist.

Q:  Are you, or are you not a douche bag? Heh, you don't have to answer that. That's just for my enjoyment.

Not in general practice.

Author Bio: 

Valerie Douglas is a prolific writer and a genre-crosser, much to the delight of her fans. A fan of authors from almost every genre from Isaac Asimov to Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, she writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and as V.J. Devereaux, erotic romance. Who knows what will pop up down the road!

She’s the author of several series – the Servant of the Gods series (historical romance),  The Coming Storm series (epic fantasy), and The Millersburg Quartet series (romance), and a dozen more.

Happily married, she's lives in the wild farmlands of Ohio. In addition to her husband she’s companion to two dogs, four cats and an African clawed frog named Hopper who delights in tormenting the cats from his tank.

Q: Alright, where can readers find you on the web?

http://valeriedouglasbooks.com (website) http://valeriedouglasbooks.blogspot.com/ (blog)

https://twitter.com/#!/ValerieDouglasA (Twitter)

http://www.facebook.com/Valerie.Douglas.Books (FB) 


The giveaway 
Alright, folks. The giveaway will end May 26th. The author listed her demands above... locate her blog and comment that you read the blurb, the first three comments win!

Heart of the Gods synopsis:

Tales of the fabled Tomb of the Djinn and its Guardian have fascinated archaeologist Ky Farrar since a visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo when he was a boy. The story of the star-crossed lovers and their battle to save ancient Egypt from the Djinn made him choose his career. He believes he’s finally found it - only to discover the Tomb's Guardian is all too real. And she's as lovely as she is lethal.
 

Ky, however, isn't the only one searching. It's a race to reach the Tomb before the others accidentally unleash what lies within it in their effort to claim the ancient artifacts which lie within - the legendary Horn of the Djinn and the Heart of the Gods.

 

Interview and Giveaway With Author George H. Sirois

Q: Who are you, and why should readers read the rest of this interview?

A. My name is George H. Sirois, and I'm here to tell your readers about the Indie Book Collective and also to introduce them to "Excelsior," a novel available in paperback and eBook that has been called "refreshingly original and fun, adventurous, a definite must-read."

Q: Tell us a little about the work you are here promoting.

"Excelsior" is a science-fiction / young adult story about an underachieving high school student named Matthew Peters who spends all his time writing and drawing his own successful web comic. He is visited by a beautiful older woman who not only tells Matthew that she's from the planet he's been writing about in his comic, but that the lifeforce of the main character Excelsior is inside Matthew. So with Excelsior's enemies coming back into power on both planets, Matthew must stop writing about the larger-than-life adventures and start living them.

Q:  As a writer, do you have plans for world domination, or do you have a day job as well?

Don't knock world domination. According to Stan Lee, anyone can go to any police officer and say they want to conquer the world and they can't be arrested since that's not a crime. But anyway, while it would be nice to do so, I have no plans in the near future to reign over Earth with an iron fist. As of now, I'm going to have to stick to my current job as a news reporter for 411Mania.com while finishing my courses for my Masters in Communication Arts.

Q: Self-published, traditional, indie or part of an indie collective? If not yet published, what are you doing to make it happen?

Self-published and a proud member of the Indie Book Collective. I was originally going to send Excelsior through the traditional methods, but I considered everything that I want to do with this character and didn't want to risk signing his rights away, especially since I had created him back in 1992. So I put together a blog and raised the money for the printing fees with Infinity Publishing (Everyone who pre-ordered for $17.95 guaranteed their autographed copy and had their names printed in the Acknowledgements section), and Claudia Jackson (@Novelhelp) was a huge help with the eBook conversion.

Q:  How do you handle bad reviews? If you haven't had one...would you be willing to take part in a social experiment? Basically? Would you grant me permission to trash your writing, just to see if you cry? I wouldn't do that (don't worry)

I've had a handful of bad reviews so far, and with each one, the sting fades a little quicker than the previous one. One thing that irked me a bit was that the good reviews were short and sweet while a couple of the lesser reviews went into great detail about what it was that bothered them, but now I look at it as something to consider while I write the sequel: "Ever Upward."

So unless the review is not offering anything positive and is just hateful ranting like Roger Ebert discussing "North," then I'll take it in and go from there.

Considering that you enjoyed the book, I'd be curious to know what worked for you and what didn't work.

Q: Are you nervous yet and do you prefer white or wheat bread.

Actually, I'm feeling very calm, thank you. And I prefer seedless rye bread, but if I had to pick between the two, I'll go with wheat.

Q:  Do you blog? If so, don't you wish you were as cool a blogger as I?

I do blog, and I wish I was as cool as every blogger out there, especially you. I've been very much behind on my posts, and I need to get caught up. Actually, more than anything, I need to delete the posts that never went anywhere to free up some room for what I'll be blogging about in the near future, which is the progress on the next book in the series.

Q: What is your favorite creature, monster, or fantasy based thing you write about?

I love writing about the planet Denab IV, which is where Excelsior came from, and its origins. I've always been a sucker for a good backstory and I like to think I came up with a worthy one for Excelsior and how he is tied to the planet he created.

Q: Are you planning to give something away (if not, good luck getting anyone to read this thing) and if so, what are your demands for winning (I assume, your book because why else would you stop by?)

I plan to send out free copies of the "Excelsior" eBook, but if people want to read it, they'll have to do a little something first. They must go to the page on my blog site that features the excerpt from the book: http://excelsior2010.blogspot.com/p/excerpt-from-excelsior.html. Once that's done, they must post their favorite part of the excerpt on this page and include their e-mail. They will then be e-mailed the Smashwords coupon code that will allow them to download their copy of the eBook.

Q: Any advice for aspiring writers?

The main piece of advice I have for aspiring writers is to get involved with social media, especially Twitter, and start building up your followers right away. That way, when your book is ready to go, you will have an audience ready to take what you have to offer.

A few months after my novel was online and ready for purchase, I followed the advice of a co-writer and friend Andrew Mocete (@AndrewMocete) and started following the Indie Book Collective on Twitter. The more I interacted with them, the more confident I became in my decision to self-publish.

Before, I was under the impression that once the book was finished, I would be alone with my marketing efforts. Now I know that's not the case, and it's because of Carolyn McCray (@craftycmc), Rachel Thompson (@RachelintheOC) and Amber Scott (amberscottbooks) taking me in and giving me the necessary tools I needed to give "Excelsior" more exposure than I had ever thought possible. They accepted me into the first-ever "Blog Tour De Force," which has already become a major staple in the IBC, and after seeing the success shared by other writers for their Bestseller for a Day promotion, I can't wait to get involved in that.

Q: Tick off a few indie authors you look up to.

The three main members of the Indie Book Collective - Carolyn McCray, Rachel Thompson and Amber Scott - have all been great to me and I hold them in very high regards.

I also have a lot of love for Ann Charles, who wrote the award-winning novel "Nearly Departed in Deadwood." I had to give my thoughts on that for the first Blog Tour de Force, and I couldn't put my Kindle down. She is a magnificent writer who tells a very captivating and entertaining story. And I'm not just saying that because she provided the quote that I used at the beginning of this interview.

Looking at their success, it's hard not to be in awe of Amanda Hocking, J.A. Konrath and John Locke. I had to add their books to my Kindle and I'm anxious to get all of them read.

And of course, there's your book. Judging by what I've read about it,. I think it's gonna be a blast and once I get my Kindle back from my wife, I can start reading it.

Q: Are you, or are you not a douche bag? Heh, you don't have to answer that. That's just for my enjoyment.

All I can say is that opinions vary. :-)

Q: Sell your book, right now, to your host without once mentioning your book, blog or twitter handle.

One of the great stories in literature is that of the Hero's Journey, when an ordinary man or woman gets that call to adventure and has a chance to do extraordinary things. Having grown up in a time when one of the best adaptations of the Hero’s Journey – Star Wars – became part of our culture, I remember the sense of wonder that story brought to so many people. Unfortunately, those same people cried foul almost two decades later when George Lucas released the prequel trilogy, and that same sense of innocent wonder was gone.

I feel the time is right for a brand new Hero’s Journey, a story that appeals to the youth in all of us, a story that takes you by the hand and pulls you into another world. With the help of my main character, Matthew Peters, my story allows you to experience wish-fulfillment at the highest level by becoming the savior of an entire world. And for only 99 cents, you can read the story for yourself, the story of a young man who gets to become his greatest creation.

Q: Alright, where can readers find you on the web?

FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/ghsirois

TWITTER - @GeorgeHSirois

E-MAIL - GHWriter1976@gmail.com

BLOG -excelsiorbooks.blogspot.com

Interview and Giveaway With Author Amelia James

 Who are you, and why should readers read the rest of this interview?

Amelia James, trashy romance author. Read this for fun. If nothing else, I’m good for a laugh. If you won’t laugh at me, who will? Er…with me.

Tell us a little about the work you are here promoting.

I have two contemporary romance novels: Tell Me You Want Me and Secret Storm. I also published an erotic short story collection: The Devil Made Me Do It and a paranormal romance short story: One Wild Night.

Tell Me You Want Me is a contemporary erotic romance. It’s flirty and fun, sexy and steamy.  It’s the story of two people who have a lot to learn when it comes to love and relationships. Austin Sinclair is a charming bad boy who has so many women he can’t remember their names. Jane Elliot is a career-oriented woman who desperately needs some fun in her life.

Secret Storm isn’t a sequel, but it takes place after Tell Me and it involves the same characters.  It’s darker than Tell Me, and it has more emotional depth and passion. Jack Wheeler is a man with a dark past, but he won’t let anyone close enough to help him deal with it. Sara Jensen is a caring, giving woman who jumps at the chance to help others, but she runs away from her own problems.

As a writer, do you have plans for world domination, or do you have a day job as well?

No day job, but no world domination plot. I just want to give readers a good time.

Self-published, traditional, indie or part of an indie collective? If not yet published, what are you doing to make it happen?

I am self-published scum!

Hey! When did the meaning of scum change to asset to the indie community? I must have missed that TPS report..


How do you handle bad reviews? If you haven't had one...would you be willing to take part in a social experiment and grant me permission to trash your writing just to see if you cry?

Vodka. ;) So far, my worst review was 3 stars. I haven’t read it. I know 3 stars isn’t awful, but it isn’t great. Go ahead and trash me. I like it. ;)

I would but then you might revoke my stalking privelages.. Are you nervous yet and do you prefer white or wheat bread?

No way. Your questions are cracking me up. Wheat.

Do you blog? If so, don't you wish you were as cool a blogger as I?

Yes. I am cooler than you. Hahaha. Kidding.

After reading that Erotic In A Cage Battle...I don't doubt that. What is your favorite creature, monster, or fantasy based thing you write about?

Badass heroes are my favorite fantasy creature. Yummy. I’ve written a couple vampire stories too. One is on my blog. Not sure if I’ll let the other one see the light of day (get it?).

 Are you planning to give something away (if not, good luck getting anyone to read this thing) and if so, what are your demands for winning (I assume, your book because why else would you stop by?)

Why, yes I am. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free trashy ebook.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Never stop learning. And “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” ~George Eliot

Tick off a few indie authors you look up to.

S.M. Reine: she knows how to sell books. I need to pick her brain.

Al Boudreau: so supportive. He’s a big help to me.

Nova Sparks: energetic and creative.

Natasha Larry: I love her humor.

Eden Baylee: pure class.

Thank you for having a sense of humor? Are you, or are you not a douche bag? Heh, you don't have to answer that. That's just for my enjoyment.

You just never know. ;)

 Sell your book, right now, to your host without once mentioning your book, blog or twitter handle.

My trashy books are as addictive as porn (not that there’s anything wrong with that), and the sex scenes are hot enough to melt hard cheese (without being cheesy). So there.

 Alright, where can readers find you on the web?

Blog: http://trashystreasures.wordpress.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TrashyWriter

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmeliaJames

Now...The Giveaway 
Paranormal Wire is giving away one copy of The Devil Made Me Do It today. I read this one and trust me...its steamy and the perfect read for erotic romance fans.


To Win
1. Leave a comment WITH YOUR E-MAIL PLEASE. Use the following word in a seductive sentence: GENUFLECT. 

2. Not required, but following my blog is always nice.
3. REQUIRED: Subscribe to Trashy Treasures I will check. 

This giveaway will end on August 5th. 

Paranormal Wire Giveaway with Keta Diablo

Please welcome paranormal/erotic romance author Keta Diablo:  to Paranormal Wire. 

She is here promoting: Sojourn With A Stranger (paranormal/erotic romance) and Kissed From Beyond anthology (paranormal/erotic romance).

 The Rules

You Must follow Keta’s Keep (http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com) and leave a comment here to be eligible to win. Tell us what book you’d like to win.

Sojourn With A Stranger

Paranormal/Historical/Ghosts

About Sojourn With A Stranger

Buy on Amazon Kindle $2.99: http://amzn.to/gQLMV2

Buy on Nook: http://bit.ly/gS6XvG

Penniless when she arrives in Norfolk, her mother and father drowned at sea, Raine Brinsley longs to return home to her grandfather in Maine. When Derek Stafford, owner of a large plantation, offers a solution to her dilemma, she’s stunned, if not outraged. She’d prefer to fulfill the contract to have his child and forget about him and his self-serving scheme. If only she could dispel the passion he’s awakened in her.

Derek Stafford’s only wish is to father an heir to Stafford House, thus securing his future. He didn’t count on the Scottish lass with green eyes interfering with his well-laid plan. After one night in her arms, guilt, not to mention the loss of his soul, becomes his penance. He’ll do anything to win her back, anything to quench the hunger tormenting his soul.

 SET-UP AND EXCERPT:

Derek needs a male heir. Raine needs enough money to go back to Maine to her ailing grandfather. Derek offers her a solution to both their problems.

* * *

Derek dropped into an overstuffed divan opposite Raine. He pulled the leather pouch and brown envelope from his vest pocket, and placed them on the oak table separating them. Alternately, she looked between the pouch and his face.

"I'm not certain how to begin." He wrung his clammy hands. Damn, this is more difficult than I imaged. "We had a discussion several evenings past in the garden?”

"I remember.”

"I explained my father’s desire to obtain a male heir and my inability to produce one thus far?”

Dark green eyes searched his. "Yes, clearly.”

"You're a beautiful woman with a significant amount of intellect and a variety of coveted traits and talents."

"Thank you, but you hardly know me."

"That's true." The words managed to slip out his dry throat. “However, what I've witnessed since your arrival exceeds my highest expectations."

"Expectations?"

"You're in a difficult situation.” He forced a smile. "I'm prepared to offer you a way out."

"A way out of what, Derek? I’m not understanding―"

"Hear me out, please." Rising from the chair, he paced before her. "I realize the arrangement will seem outrageous at first, even obtuse, but I've thought a great deal about it since our meeting in the garden. I took the liberty of consulting an expert."

"An expert? Whatever for?”

"Childbirth."

A nervous giggle left her lips. "I'm not following you. Perhaps you should come right out and tell me what arrangement you're alluding to."

The seconds ticked by on the mantle clock, sounding like a thousand crickets had breached the room. "Yes, I'm trying to get to the point of all this." He stopped pacing and held onto the back of his chair. "Here's the way of it. You need to earn enough money to return to your grandfather in Maine. I, on the other hand, need a son.”

Her brow furrowed.

“I'm offering you freedom in the long run. In exchange, I want to have a child with you, preferably, a male.” The words rushed forth. “However, if you’re delivered of a female, I’ll love and accept her just the same.”

An audible gasp fell from her lips. "Oh, but I can’t possibly accept a proposal of marriage from a virtual stranger. It would be most unfair to both―”

Good, God, she thinks I’m offering marriage? Marriage? “No, that is, you misunderstood my proposal. I’m not suggesting we marry.”

Her eyes widened.

Walking to the table with a tentative gait, he picked up the envelope. “More money than you could earn in a lifetime is in here. I'm offering half now and the other half when the contract has been met."

She looked at the envelope and then at him, her tone icy. “How much is in the envelope?"

"Five thousand dollars."

Another gasp.

"Five thousand now and five thousand the day the child is born." Tossing the envelope on the table for effect, he continued. "It's yours right now should you accept my offer." A rapid pulse took flight in a tiny blue vein in her neck.

"If you're not offering marriage, in what capacity will I live in the manor?"

"You'll be free to go home after the child is born. Until then, you'll have complete freedom to do whatever you choose."

Her eyes narrowed, and sparked.

"You said you wished to return to your grandfather one day. That day can be sooner than you think if you sign the contract my barrister drafted." He nodded toward the envelope. "It's also in there."

Her face paled. "Horace Masterson, the kindly gentleman who promised me safety until I returned to Maine?"

"Yes, the money guarantees your security, and your safety.” Walking around the chair, he settled into it and leaned forward. “At the very least, read the contract. I'm sure you'll agree the terms protect you.” Her lower lip quivered, and he wondered if she might cry. Christ, what would he do if she launched into a crying jag? He couldn't bear up under her tears.

"You seem quite well prepared.” Her gaze took him apart inch by inch. "I commend your valiant efforts to keep your father's threats at bay."

"I can’t find fault with your reaction at the onset, but surely you see the practicality on both sides?” After drawing in a lungful of air, he added, “You’ll be free to go about your life when it’s over in a manner envied by most women. I’ll acquire an heir to Stafford House, and my father will end his relentless pursuit.”

“Oh, please enlighten me." She pinned him with a lethal glare. "Should I decide to engage in your well-contrived scheme, how do you propose we bring the end result to fruition?"

"It's quite simple,” he said, aware the temperature in the room leaped to an unbearable degree. "You spend three nights in my bedchamber, the specific nights will be chosen by Madelina. She’s prepared―”

“Who is she?”

“A healer, a woman who dabbles in tonics, remedies. She’s already prepared several concoctions.” He dug for the instructions in the pocket of his vest. “You must follow her recommendations when it comes to diet and tinctures for several weeks. She’s highly skilled, claims certain remedies will enhance the possibility of producing a male child. I'll expect you to follow her recommendations if you accept my offer.”

She shook her head. "I must applaud your tenacity and the immense preparation you expended in carrying out your duplicitous plot."

“There is nothing duplicitous about this. I’ve told you everything.” She looked away from him, but not before he saw the sadness return to her eyes again, and something he didn’t recognize. Indecision? Hatred? An interminable amount of time passed before he dared speak again. “Think of it as a business arrangement."

She turned to him with a look that said she would love to sever him at the knees with a saber. "I’d like your decision in two days. You’ll find me in my study two nights from now. If you decline, you can remain at Stafford House until you’ve earned enough money to return to Maine. Do you have any questions?"
"Yes," she said with calm composure. "Why me? There must be countless women who’d agree to bear your child.”

"I thought I made that clear. You possess undeniable beauty, have obviously been well educated, and you have the physical attributes, height and stature, I hope are passed on to our child.” He shrugged. "It's that simple."

Flushed with anger, the green eyes darkened. "Will that be all?"

"Yes," he replied, finding it difficult to look at her. "Unless you have additional questions."

"I do not." She rose from the chair, her tone cold. "I believe I understand perfectly well.” Offering a false curtsy, she added, "If you'll excuse me, sir."
He nodded.

The moment her footsteps faded from the room, Derek unfurled himself from the chair and headed for the liquor cabinet, his only thought to down a double dram.

Follow Keta's blog for information about her next release: http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com

* * *

Kissed From Beyond Anthology

Paranormal/Erotic Romance

Buy on KINDLE: http://amzn.to/eTSYsq

Buy on Nook:  http://bit.ly/gBzAWg

This "must read" anthology will take you to the mystical beyond and back with four erotica novellas from bestselling and award-winning authors:

-Keta Diablo
-Amber Scott
-Elise Hepner
-Stacey Kennedy

Can you handle the magic?

"Cradle of Dreams" by Keta Diablo

With visions of battle still fresh in his mind, Roane Bradfield returns home to find the woman he loves betrothed to another. He corners Kendrick Moreland at Dowager Huggins’ Grand Ball and whisks her into the secluded library. One way or the other, he will know the reason the duplicitous beauty cut him from her life when she promised to wait forever.

Kendrick can’t believe her eyes when Roane suddenly appears at the ball. Has he truly risen from the dead? Amid wagging tongues and hushed murmurs, the fantasy of her every dream whisks her from the ballroom. And the expression on his face is anything but loving. Revenge, danger and powerful love collide in the Cradle of Dreams.

"A Love Soul Deep" by Amber Scott

If only Sara had known no man would ever make her feel like Crew did, she would have let him love her. A regret that can never be undone. His death haunts her dreams and her wishful thinking only reminds her of everything she has lost.