Friday 30 September 2016
Wednesday 28 September 2016
Tuesday 27 September 2016
Monday 26 September 2016
Friday 23 September 2016
Tuesday 20 September 2016
Saturday 17 September 2016
Author Interview: Lost in Wonderland by Nicky Pecock
About the Author:
I'm an English author based in the UK and have two YA book series out through the publishers, Evernight Teen. I started my writing career in the short story market and gained over 30 publishing credits before I sold my first novel. I write horrors, urban fantasy and paranormal romance, but do enjoy a good genre mash-up so tend to be open about what I write. As long as it has a sharp, dark edge to it, I'm a happy author!
Friday 16 September 2016
Thursday 15 September 2016
Wednesday 14 September 2016
Tuesday 13 September 2016
Monday 12 September 2016
Thursday 8 September 2016
Guest Post: The Stranger by Anna Del Mar
If your book was made into a film, who would you cast in the leading roles?
by Anna Del Mar
Would you hate me forever if I told you I’d prefer to skip the casting calls? I have a pair of good reasons. From my author’s point of view, I think it’d be hard, almost impossible to match the faces in my head with the faces of actors and actresses out there. Oh, there’s plenty of beautiful, talented, sexy actors and actresses who I’m sure would do a good job. But it’d be like Sophie’s choice for me. Painful. See, to an author, her characters are alive. So Seth and Summer, the protagonists of The Stranger are very real to me. So much so that seeing them played by other faces would be weird. Really weird.
My other reason to hold back on a casting call, my most important one, is the reader. I want to value and respect the choices they make in their mind. I want to give them the freedom to imagine whoever they wish, to be the rulers of the story. That’s the difference between reading and watching a movie. You’re in charge. I love that and I want to preserve it for my readers.
http://www.annadelmar.com/pages/books_stranger.html
***
About the Book:
The Stranger
A Wounded Warrior Novel, Book Two
by Anna del Mar
Romantic Suspense, Contemporary romance, SEAL romance, Military Romance
Carina Press
Date of Publication: August 22, 2016
eISBN: 9781459294301
ASIN: B01EF3MHSU
Formats available: Epub, Mobi
Cover Artist: Carina Press
Ex-military pilot Seth Erickson is fighting his own demons, but when he finds Summer Silva, a beautiful, warmth-loving, Miami woman stranded in the frozen wilderness, he’ll do everything in his power to keep her safe from murder, treason, and the ruthless Alaskan winter.
Blurb:
When a mysterious stranger is your only hope...
The scars of the past have left their mark, both physical and emotional, on former military pilot Seth Erickson. Off-grid in the far reaches of the bitter Alaskan wilderness, he wants only to be left alone with his ghosts. But he can’t ignore a woman in need—beautiful, stranded and nearly frozen with fear.
Summer Silva never imagined that the search for her missing sister would leave her abandoned on a wintry back road, barely escaping with her life from a cold-blooded killer for hire. Now, hiding out in the isolated cabin of the secretive wounded warrior who saved her, Summer knows she must do what she fears most. Putting her trust in a stranger is all she has left.
All defenses are down
After a fiery first night together, Seth and Summer are bound by a need as powerful as a Bering Sea superstorm—and vulnerable to enemies just as fierce. For Seth, reawakened by desire, there is no sacrifice too great, no memory too dark, to keep Summer safe. But murder and treason lurk everywhere and Summer may not survive Alaska’s ruthless winter.
A Wounded Warrior Novel. This book is approximately 110,000 words
Buy Links For The Stranger:
Amazon | Carina Press | BN | Kobo | Google Play
***
About the Author:
Anna del Mar writes hot, smart romances that soothe the soul, challenge the mind, and satisfy the heart. Her stories focus on strong heroines struggling to find their place in the world and the brave, sexy, kickass, military heroes who defy the limits of their broken bodies to protect the women they love. Anna enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and the sea. Writing is her addiction, her drug of choice, and what she wants to do all the time. The extraordinary men and women she met during her years as a Navy wife inspire the fabulous heroes and heroines at the center of her stories. When she stays put—which doesn’t happen very often—she lives in Florida with her indulgent husband and two very opinionated cats.
Author links:
Email:
Anna@annadelmar.com
Website: http://www.annadelmar.com/pages/home.html
Blog: http://www.annadelmar.com/blog/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnnadelMar/?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/anna.delmar.376
Twitter:https://twitter.com/anna_del_mar
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/author/anna_del_mar
by Anna Del Mar
Would you hate me forever if I told you I’d prefer to skip the casting calls? I have a pair of good reasons. From my author’s point of view, I think it’d be hard, almost impossible to match the faces in my head with the faces of actors and actresses out there. Oh, there’s plenty of beautiful, talented, sexy actors and actresses who I’m sure would do a good job. But it’d be like Sophie’s choice for me. Painful. See, to an author, her characters are alive. So Seth and Summer, the protagonists of The Stranger are very real to me. So much so that seeing them played by other faces would be weird. Really weird.
My other reason to hold back on a casting call, my most important one, is the reader. I want to value and respect the choices they make in their mind. I want to give them the freedom to imagine whoever they wish, to be the rulers of the story. That’s the difference between reading and watching a movie. You’re in charge. I love that and I want to preserve it for my readers.
http://www.annadelmar.com/pages/books_stranger.html
***
About the Book:
A Wounded Warrior Novel, Book Two
by Anna del Mar
Romantic Suspense, Contemporary romance, SEAL romance, Military Romance
Carina Press
Date of Publication: August 22, 2016
eISBN: 9781459294301
ASIN: B01EF3MHSU
Formats available: Epub, Mobi
Cover Artist: Carina Press
Ex-military pilot Seth Erickson is fighting his own demons, but when he finds Summer Silva, a beautiful, warmth-loving, Miami woman stranded in the frozen wilderness, he’ll do everything in his power to keep her safe from murder, treason, and the ruthless Alaskan winter.
Blurb:
When a mysterious stranger is your only hope...
The scars of the past have left their mark, both physical and emotional, on former military pilot Seth Erickson. Off-grid in the far reaches of the bitter Alaskan wilderness, he wants only to be left alone with his ghosts. But he can’t ignore a woman in need—beautiful, stranded and nearly frozen with fear.
Summer Silva never imagined that the search for her missing sister would leave her abandoned on a wintry back road, barely escaping with her life from a cold-blooded killer for hire. Now, hiding out in the isolated cabin of the secretive wounded warrior who saved her, Summer knows she must do what she fears most. Putting her trust in a stranger is all she has left.
All defenses are down
After a fiery first night together, Seth and Summer are bound by a need as powerful as a Bering Sea superstorm—and vulnerable to enemies just as fierce. For Seth, reawakened by desire, there is no sacrifice too great, no memory too dark, to keep Summer safe. But murder and treason lurk everywhere and Summer may not survive Alaska’s ruthless winter.
A Wounded Warrior Novel. This book is approximately 110,000 words
Buy Links For The Stranger:
Amazon | Carina Press | BN | Kobo | Google Play
***
About the Author:
Anna del Mar writes hot, smart romances that soothe the soul, challenge the mind, and satisfy the heart. Her stories focus on strong heroines struggling to find their place in the world and the brave, sexy, kickass, military heroes who defy the limits of their broken bodies to protect the women they love. Anna enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and the sea. Writing is her addiction, her drug of choice, and what she wants to do all the time. The extraordinary men and women she met during her years as a Navy wife inspire the fabulous heroes and heroines at the center of her stories. When she stays put—which doesn’t happen very often—she lives in Florida with her indulgent husband and two very opinionated cats.
Author links:
Email:
Anna@annadelmar.com
Website: http://www.annadelmar.com/pages/home.html
Blog: http://www.annadelmar.com/blog/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnnadelMar/?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/anna.delmar.376
Twitter:https://twitter.com/anna_del_mar
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/author/anna_del_mar
Wednesday 7 September 2016
Author Interview & Giveaway: Half-Life by Paul H.B. Shin
Paul H.B. Shin’s debut novel follows a career as an award-winning journalist for more than 20 years, most recently for ABC News. He previously wrote for the New York Daily News. He was born in South Korea and lived in London during his childhood. He now lives in Brooklyn, New York.
https://twitter.com/PaulHBShin
***
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
For “Half Life” I had an outline that hit some of the major plot points of the story, but in between those major plot points I would let the story flow, as long as it didn’t change the overall arc of the story. Having an outline is what kept me on track over the many years it took to complete the novel.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
You have to give the characters some room to breathe, of course, but I think it’s ultimately the writer’s responsibility to make sure the story doesn’t come off the rails because you get too focused on one character. Different writers work differently, but for me, there has to be a balance between plot and letting the characters develop organically.
What is your favourite food?
I have a real soft spot for noodles of all kinds, which is the downfall of any plan I might have to go low-carb.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I may have naturally been a night owl when I was younger, but having worked a job with typical daytime hours all my life, that tendency has been trained out of me. When it comes to writing, I’m certainly a morning person because my mind is clearer in the morning.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
I have an affinity for wild, sparsely populated places, probably because I’ve lived most of my life in large cities -- London, Seoul and now New York City. One place that’s on my bucket list is Patagonia in South America.
Do distant places feature in your books?
For “Half Life,” I wanted to ground the novel in real places because the story is about North Korea, and I felt the story needed real locations that would be familiar landmarks for Western readers. So, while the story does take place in several locations all over the world, they will probably strike a chord of familiarity in some way for most readers.
For my next novel, which is about a samurai retainer travelling from Japan to Elizabethan England, there will indeed be many locales that some people might call “exotic.”
Do you listen to music while writing?
Yes, but generally instrumental music that doesn’t have any lyrics.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
“Half Life” is about a North Korean diplomat in New York City whose wife runs away with their newborn son, forcing him to chase after them before his superiors find out. When an American agent finds out about it, he tries to convince the diplomat, who's a key figure in North Korea’s nuclear program, to defect.
It’s outwardly a spy thriller, which is fertile ground for looking at human conflict. On a grand scale, a spy thriller is about what governments are trying to do to advance their own agenda, but it’s the individual who’s caught in the middle. In the case of “Half Life,” the protagonist is trapped in an impossible situation, and by telling the story in the form of a spy thriller, you can explore a whole host of other themes, whether it’s North Korea’s nuclear program, or a failing marriage.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
On the writing side, the most important lesson I’ve learned is how important it is to keep up the momentum, especially the first draft. For me, I started making real progress when I focused on getting words down on the page without re-editing those words over and over again. There’s a saying that perfect is the enemy of good. I’ve found this to be very true when it comes to that first draft.
On the publishing side, I’ve learned that the publishing industry is going through some dramatic changes due to the Internet -- as are many other industries. But perseverance is still very important when it comes to finding an agent and a publisher that are a good fit for your work.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Yes, I’d focus more on pumping out that first draft to keep up the momentum, resisting the urge to edit stuff I’ve already written until the first draft is done.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
My family and I lived in England for about seven years when I was a child due to my father’s job. And I think moving back and forth between the U.K. and Korea at a very impressionable age made me very inquisitive about what makes people tick and why certain cultures are the way they are. That’s probably at the root of what made me want to become a writer.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Don’t wait for inspiration to strike you to write. Set aside a time every day when you can write uninterrupted, even if it’s only 30 minutes. You won’t be very happy with the results at first, but that’s a good thing. That just means you have good taste. And the more you write, the more you will narrow the gap between your good taste and the quality of your own writing.
What are three words that describe you?
Tenacious, loyal, curious.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
The Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn played a pivotal role in me wanting to become a writer -- specifically his novella called “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.” It’s about a prisoner in a gulag. The ending just blew me away. It gave me new appreciation for what words could do to move the reader.
I’m also a great admirer of Graham Greene, who used the spy thriller to look deeply into the human heart. And I can read “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald over and over again.
List of previous books if any
“Half Life” is my debut novel.
Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.
http://www.paulhbshin.com/
***
About the Book:
Paul H.B. Shin
Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC
Genre: Thriller
Release Date: September 6, 2016
The year is 1997. North Korea is suffering from a devastating famine that has shaken the foundation of the ruling class. A series of high-profile defections to the West has led the reclusive country's leadership into the grasp of paranoia.
Nuclear scientist Han Chol-Soo is on a tenuous diplomatic mission to the United States. There he is forced to embark upon a high-stakes pursuit after his wife disappears with their newborn son. Paralyzed with fear at the repercussions of her decision, Han turns to his colleague Park Jun-Young for help -- a man that he suspects is an intelligence operative. He soon regrets his decision as Park cuts a swath of mayhem in the name of helping Han, and the chase forces Han to confront the harsh realities of his home country.
Half Life Reviews
“Half Life is a terrific novel. Right from the start you'll be drawn into many dark worlds—politics, espionage, and North Korea—and it will keep you on the edge of your seat right until the last page. Paul H.B. Shin’s authenticity and style cannot be missed.” –Dale Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Starfire (William Morrow)
“A gripping, taut espionage thriller, Half Life is enriched by the love story at its core and the refusal to give simple answers. I loved it.” –Robert Ferrigno, bestselling & award-winning author of Heart of the Assassin (Scribner)
“Paul H. B. Shin wraps an engaging tale of espionage and intrigue around a failed marriage in his new international thriller, Half Life. With sure-footed prose and vivid characterization, Shin takes readers inside the paranoid claustrophobia of North Korea’s political world, where even high-ranking diplomats live in constant fear. With North Korea's nuclear arms program as a backdrop, the eminently believable and thoughtful plot will have readers wondering if they're looking at tomorrow's news. A well-wrought debut.” –Jim DeFelice, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of American Sniper (William Morrow)
***
Tour Giveaway
(1) hardcover copy of Half Life by Paul H.B. Shin
(1) paperback copy of Half Life by Paul H.B. Shin
(5) ebook copies of Half Life by Paul H.B. Shin
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday 5 September 2016
Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Deadly Genesis by Heather Long
Boomers Book 2
Heather Long
Genre: Sci-Fi, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: All Romance eBooks
Date of Publication: 9/1/2016
ISBN: 9781945193033
Word Count: 53000
Cover Artist: Erin Dameron Hill
Book Description:
To save her sanity may cost him his mind...
Amanda Kincaid
Codename: Corkscrew
Abilities: nuclear fission and fusion, absorbs energy and fires beams of radiated heat
Mission: recovery of lost memories and sanity
Kidnapped and experimented on by R.E.X. labs, Amanda's memories are foggy. She can't recognize friend from foe and she strikes out with everything she has. Only one man penetrates the storms surging in her mind, a soothing stranger with hypnotic eyes…
Simon Masters
Codename: Soothsayer
Abilities: telepath
Mission: save Corkscrew or terminate her
Cautious, methodical Simon has always been careful to keep his innermost self, contained. Simon must confront his fears—and his deepest secrets—to help the powerful mutant rein in her abilities in.
With new enemies closing in and dark revelations unfolding, the Boomers face their greatest challenge yet and the deeper into her psyche Simon pushes, the more her madness threatens them all…
Winning never felt so much like losing. The team has recovered Corkscrew, but she is lost to insanity. Simon, the most cautious of them all, must risk everything to bring her back from the brink, but losing this gambit could cost them Simon as well.
Buy from ARe
***
Excerpt:
Simon Masters opened the front door with a push of his hand and the house shuddered. Glass trickled down from the chandelier hanging over the foyer in a tinkling shower of shattering pieces. Plaster dust floated in the air like snowflakes. Doctor Ilsa Blaine slid around the corner from the kitchen, blood trickling from a cut on her forehead.
Every cell in his body went on alert. He shut the door with a thump and strode across the hallway, adjusting his balance for the next shattering quake shaking the room. "What happened, Doctor?"
"The sedatives aren't keeping her down anymore." Ilsa flinched as another shatter echoed from the kitchen. Simon caught her arm, steadying her. Images flashed through his mind in rapid succession, despite his gloves and her lab coat. Her anxiety levels were too high to keep them out. He shored up his shields and tried to sort through the massive influx of data.
Amanda Kincaid, also known as Rory's teammate Corkscrew, was awake. They’d rescued her a month ago from a research facility, but Ilsa's attempts to correct the damage done by a faulty chip in her brain continued to fail. Winning never felt so much like losing.
"Where are the others?"
The house shook and a splinter appeared in the doorframe. A shout of alarm echoed from upstairs. Simon canted his head back. Sweeping the house, he identified five awake minds—none Boomers or Rory's teammates. Fear seemed prevalent in the thoughts of four—but the fifth remained apathetic. Downstairs, however, Amanda's thoughts were a cyclone of pain, confusion, frustration, and rapidly escalating fury.
"Rory called in. She needed backup—” But Simon didn't hear the rest of the explanation. Amanda's chaotic thoughts grew more agitated. Setting Ilsa against the door frame, he gave her a quick glance.
Stay here. If the wood splinters further, get out. He embedded the command in her mind and dodged the falling debris in the kitchen. Since her rescue, Corkscrew's behavior grew more and more erratic. She lashed out, attacking anyone she didn't know and, unfortunately, even some she did. Rory could talk her down, Rex could contain her and Drake could take her hits—but none of those three were present. Ilsa had made the difficult decision to put her into a medically induced coma while her brain healed.
But that didn't seem to be working anymore.
The laboratory downstairs contained the latest equipment, and they’d expanded it for Ilsa's research. The Hamptons mansion doubled as their medical facility since Ilsa joined their quest for answers. Her relationship with Garrett Fox and the peace she brought him aside, she was an invaluable member. Her knowledge of neuroscience and the workings of their bio-mechanical chips continued to provide them with data crucial to the completion of their mission.
Saving the future.
***
About the Author:
Heather Long likes long walks in the park, science fiction, superheroes, Marines, and men who aren’t douche bags. Her books are filled with heroes and heroines tangled in romance as hot as Texas summertime. From paranormal historical westerns to contemporary military romance, Heather might switch genres, but one thing is true in all of her stories—her characters drive the books.
When she’s not wrangling her menagerie of animals, she devotes her time to family and friends she considers family. She believes if you like your heroes so real you could lick the grit off their chest, and your heroines so likable, you’re sure you’ve been friends with women just like them, you’ll enjoy her worlds as much as she does.
Sign up for Heather’s newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/iKxQ5
For more information on other books by Heather, visit her website: www.heatherlong.net
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherLongAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HVLong
***
Tour giveaway
3 winners to receive an eBook published by All Romance.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday 2 September 2016
Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Season of Decay by Michael W. Garza
About the Book
Title: The Season of Decay
Author: Michael W. Garza
Genre: YA horror
Our world decayed and a new world arose from the ashes of the old.
The Canaan tribe formed from the ruins of their oppressors, struggling to build a new world for themselves, challenged by the rise of a threat within and a familiar foe at their doorstep.
Mia’s position among the tribe has put her at odds with Rowan and their former way of life. Rowan is determined to strike out on his own, but his loyalty to Mia has become a constant battle. The lives of all the members of the Canaan tribe hang in the balance as the council struggles with a path forward. A horde of the dead push toward Canaan driven by the infected, and Mia must choose between the people she loves and the tribe she has sworn to protect.
Evolution always finds a way…
Author Bio
Michael W. Garza often finds himself wondering where his inspiration will come from next and in what form his imagination will bring it to life. The outcomes regularly surprise him and it’s always his ambition to amaze those curious enough to follow him and take in those results. He hopes that everyone will find something that frightens, surprises, or simply astonishes them.Links
@mwgarza
Pre-order on Amazon
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveawayThursday 1 September 2016
Author Interview & Giveaway: Freeze by Michele Barrow-Belisle
About the Author:
A dreamer at heart, Michele Barrow-Belisle has always lived with one foot in this reality and one foot in another, one of her own imagining. So it follows that she would grow up to write about the characters from those enchanting worlds she knows and loves so well. A fan of all things romantic, her young adult novels are populated with scintillating witches, vampires and fey. Her bestselling debut book series Fire and Ice (Faerie Song Trilogy) was optioned for a major motion picture this year. Michele resides in southern Canada with her hubby and son who indulge her never-ending obsession with reading, writing and most importantly… chocolate.
Website: www.michelebarrowbelisle.com
Blog: www.michelebelisle.blogspot.ca
Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/authormichele
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/3059577.Michele_Barrow_Belisle
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MicheleBelisle
Pintrest: www.pinterest.com/micheley26
Instagram: www.instagram.com/michele.barrow.belisle
***
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I tend to plan out the key elements of the story. Main plot points and the main character’s overall arc, but other than that I like to let the story flow. I find getting too caught up in planning the details ruins the fun of writing the story for me. I tried it once and then set the story aside for over a year, and still haven’t been able to finished it. Moral of the story…writing by the seat of my pants works much better for me.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
Only all of the time, lol. But you have to find a balance between giving them their airtime and not letting them completely take over. That’s why I love writing novellas, like FREEZE, to accompany a series. It gives me a chance to more fully explore and delve into another character’s story and point of view.
What is your favourite food?
Chocolate. Is that considered food? If not, then I’d have to go with pizza. Or maybe lobster. Oooh, wait, steak..… No, it’s chocolate. Definitely chocolate.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Definitely a morning person. Post caffeine that is. ;) I do most of my best work in the mornings and it’s my favorite time of day to write.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
I’d love to go to New Zealand and tour the set where they filmed Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. And if I could actually move into Bilbo Baggins’ house in Hobbiton, I absolutely would. I’d also love to go to Scotland and Ireland. There’s something breathtakingly magical about those places and I can’t wait to explore them for myself.
Do distant places feature in your books?
Most of the places in my books are fictional. I decided early on that is was just easier to invent places that fit my rules and descriptions than it was to try to take real places and bend them to fit. Plus there’s something very freeing about creating a whole new world or realm from the ground up.
Do you listen to music while writing?
Some of the time I do. Once I’ve put together a playlist for a book, I tend to play those songs while I’m writing. But when first starting out with a new story, I like to write in quiet so I can gather my thoughts more easily without distractions.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?
This new book is called Freeze, and its part of the Faerie Song Trilogy. The series which originally was meant to be three books, has now grown into six. Possibly seven, if my readers get their way. It’s the story written from the point of view of Zanthiel, the dark shadow faerie who the main character Lorelei is entangled with. He unexpectedly became the fan favourite after the first two books came out and I thought it would be fun to delve into his life to see what makes him so compelling. So that’s where this story originated, but it’s really a continuation of the series from where the second book leaves off, only told from Zanthiel’s perspective.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
I’ve learned the whole process takes way more time than I originally anticipated. Lots of waiting after submitting to agents and publishers. And I also learned it pays to be patient and persistent. You can’t ever give up, no matter how long or hard it may seem, because success is literally just round the next corner. And that very next submission could be the one!
Is there anything you would do differently?
Not really. I would have been more patient I think, had I known how long things took. But even though things didn’t go according to my specific plans I’m thrilled with the way they’ve turned out so far and so I don’t think I’d want to change much, if I did it all over again. And I’ll get to experience different aspects of publishing with future books.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
I’ve always loved stories for as long as I can remember. I Ioved them as a child and I love them still. Fantasy has always been one of my favourite genres which is why I write it. I honestly believe everything I’ve ever read, watched, lived and experienced, in some way, touches my writing, because it’s touched my life. It would be impossible for who you are not to have some influence on your writing.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Start, and then don’t stop. No matter how hard it gets, no matter how long it takes, no matter what anyone else might tell you. Just keep going, because your dream-come-true is waiting for you to come knocking on just one more door to find it!
What are three words that describe you?
Imaginative. Compassionate. Free-spirited.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
That’s almost as hard as picking my favourite food, lol. There are so many books I love, too many to count really. But I guess I’d have to say that my love of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books and Tolkien’s Hobbit, are what steered me toward the books I love reading, and writing, today.
FREEZE: A Faerie Song Trilogy Novella
In a twisted game of following impossible clues to ceaseless dead ends, The Shadow Faerie Zanthiel is forced to search for the girl he'd let go. Lorelei may be out of his life, but she’s never far from his mind with the prophecy pulling them together. They both feel it, yet they both have reason to fight it. He might not be able to have her, but no force in this world, or any other will stop him from saving her. Time is running out, and Zanthiel has only a fraction of it left to find her, before those hunting her find either one of them.
List of previous books if any
Fire and Ice
Amazon.com Paperback www.amzn.com/1493620401
Kobo: www.store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/fire-and-ice-2
Barnes and Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fire-and-ice-michele-barrow-belisle/111592250
Bittersweet
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Bittersweet-Faerie-Song-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B00UDL4X1S
Kobo: www.store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/bittersweet-71
Barnes and Noble: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bittersweet-michele-barrow-belisle/1121504752?ean=2940151347266
***
Faerie Song Trilogy
Book 2.5
Michele Barrow-Belisle
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Astraea Press/ Cleanreads Publishing
Date of Publication: September 1, 2016
Word Count: 70,000
Cover Artist: AM Designs
Book Description:
In a twisted game of following impossible clues to ceaseless dead ends, The Shadow Faerie Zanthiel is forced to search for the girl he'd let go.
Lorelei may be out of his life, but she’s never far from his mind with the prophecy pulling them together. They both feel it, yet they both have reason to fight it. He might not be able to have her, but no force in this world, or any other will stop him from saving her.
Time is running out, and Zanthiel has only a fraction of it left to find her, before those hunting her find either one of them.
***
Excerpt:
PROLOGUE
My blood froze to ice in my veins when I saw her.
Lorelei.
Lying there broken. Bloodied. Bruised.
I'd kill whoever did this to her. Then I'd slaughter their entire family line. My steps hurried, but I could not reach her quickly enough. She was pale. Weakened from the loss of too much blood, and too much cold, and too little hope. Her light was fading from this world and all others.
"No. No. NO. I will not let you die. I forbid it, do you hear me?" My voice rose as I scooped her into my arms, barely any weight at all, which set my fears even deeper. Live. You must live. Live. For me.
I had to get her help, but I feared there wouldn't be anything left of her to save once I had. My powers were useless against whatever treacherous magic this was, but there was always an undoing. A workaround for nearly all spells, even a curse or hex. Something had to be able to change this, reverse the effects and restore her life. A cure existed—I wanted to believe that. It just meant finding it.
This was my fault. Things of beauty are never meant to be broken. But I did this. I allowed her into my world, into my life, and I broke her. I deserved to suffer the same fate. Worse than her fate. I never intended to be her nightmare, only her savior. And I failed. Vows signed in blood, giving me ownership of something no one deserved—her body and her soul.
Flames ignited from within, consuming her whole, ‘til only her ashes remained. Like a breath of snow and ash they fell gently upon subtle winds—air and shadow carrying both in equal measure to their final resting place. To love someone is to grieve them. For it thrusts you into a black hole—an abyss from which you can never escape.
She was worth fighting for. This time, I would fight for her, until my last breath.
****
I awoke with a sharp gasp, ripples of fear tensing every muscle in my body. It took several breaths to realize it had been a dream. No, not a dream. A dream implies something unreal. Wild imaginings of the mind. This was something else. It was a foreshadowing. A glimpse of what may come to pass. But why was I seeing it? By now she'd be leagues from here, safely back in her own world. There should be no cause for what I'd witnessed. Pain and suffering were not supposed to be her future. I'd rather it was mine.
I pushed off the fur pelts and climbed from of the wilted mattress stuffed with dry leaves. I was grateful to the Dwarf Tilak for allowing me to stay in his home. A hovel really, but shelter nonetheless. I was still being hunted by Queen Mab's armies. I'd deserted her and the marriage agreement I'd entered into, and word would have spread by now. Thankfully, Lorelei was safely back in her world, with the elf Elf Adrius. I could almost hear her chastising me for not using his name. And I knew it well, for we were friends once.
The human world was her home, but it could never be mine. I did not belong there. Each visit was the same as the one before, and it was only her presence that made those visits tolerable.
Humans—you could smell their weaknesses. Their needy desires. Their constant craving for more. Their eternal fear. Like a toxic cloud that hovered over their land. It sickened my stomach with each inward breath. I'd hold it for a moment. Then another. Then gasp for air when I could hold it no longer. Ignoring the stench, I'd searched for her. For her face. Her smile. Her eyes that shone in the dimness of her world. The fear strangely mixed with curiosity when she would set her eyes upon me. And without fail, she’d smile.
No one else would see me but her. I was careful. For to break that code would mean my death. Her father was specific in his orders. "Watch her. Keep her safe. But remain unseen by the humans." But she wasn't human. Not fully. She was part fey, like I was. And from the very first moment I saw her, she stole my heart away.
I shuffled to the wash basin, splashed icy water over my face and dried it on my sleeve. My hand slid across the uneven surface of the mirror. The cracked glass scraped my palm, but I kept it there, watching the blood drip down the surface before it froze to crimson slush.
Leaning in, I stared at the reflection, at the steely eyes glaring back at me. Full of accusation and blame.
I lost her.
No, I didn't lose her. I threw her away.
She was my protégé.
We were never supposed to be together. Never meant to fall in love.
I was careless.
She got hurt.
And now she was gone.
***
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