Thursday, October 31, 2013

Emily's Trial Book Tour

Blurb:
Two years ago, Emily Adams took a perilous journey, answered the hero’s call and became a modern Celtic Priestess. Armed with a magic dagger and powerful golden torc, she was entrusted with sacred magic and ancient wisdom.

But even a Priestess can know desire, feel temptation, and yearn for love. Will passion entice Emily to use the sacred magic entrusted to her in a forbidden way? Can new love take root in a world of nightmares? And will her friendships survive Emily’s Trial?

The Journey Continues . . .



Long Excerpt:
As I scanned the street for a place to start my search for Owen, I saw a trail of what looked like blood on the sandy ground outside of the saloon. I ran to the saloon and pushed my way inside.

The sign out front said ‘The Broke Spoke’. It looked like the only watering hole in town. I half expected to find Owen strung up in there with a rowdy crowd egging on a fight.

Instead, it was fairly quiet inside. There was no tinny piano playing, no fistfights or gunslinging going on. Just a large round table with about a half-dozen guys in long-sleeved shirts and dusty pants who looked like they were in dire need of a bath, smoking cigars and playing cards. There were a few other tables with guys sitting and talking over a drink. There wasn’t a woman to be found, not even a lady of the evening.

At the bar was a lone customer, who looked like he’d raided Johnny Cash’s closet. He was dressed entirely in black, from his black hat covering his black hair to his black boots. He wasn’t young, but he wasn’t old either. And because his black clothes weren’t covered in dust, he stood out from the others.

I noticed that none of the people in the saloon had auras. It made me wonder if any of the people were real. Of course they’re not real. I’m in a nightmare. All of them were plants – figments of an imagination. But whose? Owen’s? Ciardha’s? Or my own?

The Dark Man was dressed in a black, wide-brimmed hat that shielded his face from me. Sitting in the dim light of the saloon, it was all but impossible to make out his features. At first, I thought it was Ciardha here to play the game. I felt drawn to move toward the man anyway, my feet like they were on a conveyor belt pulling me in.

As I approached the man, I noticed he had a black cat on his lap. He gently stroked the cat’s head with his right hand. When I got about two feet away from him, I could hear the cat purring. I began to think maybe this wasn’t Ciardha because it didn’t seem likely that Ciardha could ever make a cat purr.

I felt I should speak to the man, but I didn’t know what to say. I just stood there, unsure what my next move was supposed to be in Ciardha’s no-win game.

A bartender was at the other end of the bar, wiping a glass with a towel. He noticed me standing there and huffed, but came over.

“Whad’ya have?”

“What is he having?” I asked as I gestured toward the Dark Man.

“Coffee,” the bartender said.

“Coffee? Okay then, that’s what I’ll have.”

“A fine choice,” the Dark Man said. The bartender sat down a humble-looking mug that looked as if it hadn’t been properly washed in months. He tipped his metal pot and poured the black liquid to the rim of the cup then went back to what he was doing at the other end of the bar.

“That’s a lovely cat.” I watched the Dark Man pet the cat absent-mindedly.

“Yes, she is,” he said.

“She sure is purring. She must like the petting.”

“This contact. It’s illusory,” he said.

I wasn’t sure what he meant. The contact with the cat, or my contact with him?

“Illusory?”

“The cat and I. To paraphrase your human philosopher Borges, we are as if separated by a pane of glass. She, living in a world of singular moments, aware only of the instant of being. No fear of the future. No regret about the past. She lives in the eternity of the instant.”

“The ‘now’. That’s what you’re talking about.”

The man nodded.

“Your cat is in the ‘now’. But where are you?”

“Like you, I am destined to live a life that is a string of pasts linked to thoughts of the future, perpetually dragged around by my ego-mind.”

“You sound like my master, Madame Wong.”

“Your ‘master’? Master of what?”

That was a fair question. I took a sip of the viscous black liquid being passed off as coffee. The flavor was so awful I winced. It tasted like dirty feet.

“Try this.” The Dark Man opened the sugar bowl, scooped about five spoonfuls of sugar into his coffee, than handed me the bowl. He took a sip from his mug and looked content with the flavor. I followed his lead and loaded my cup up with sugar.

I took a sip.

“Better?” he asked.

I nodded my approval.

“You didn’t answer my question. Not that I mean to pry, mind you, but your statement rendered me curious about what this Madame Wong is a master of.”

“You’re not prying. That’s a valid question. I wish I had an easy answer. But I guess you could say she is a master of the arts of combat and of life.”

“The two are intertwined.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

“You cannot master the one without mastering the other.”

Who was this Dark Man? The way he talked, he reminded me of Madame Wong.

“I don’t mean to pry, but I’m curious too. You don’t seem to belong here.”

“You refer to the saloon?”

“Well, yes, for starters. You look out of place here. Do you live around here?”

“I am not of this place.”

“Then why are you here?”

“To help you of course.”



a Rafflecopter giveaway

October 17: Books in the Hall
October 24: WriterAshleyL
November 21: Dalene's Book Reviews
November 28: Once Upon A Book
November 28: Mommasez...
December 5: Who's Reviews



Author Bio and Links:
Natalie is the author of The Akasha Chronicles, a young adult paranormal fantasy trilogy. When not writing, blogging, Facebooking, Tweeting, Wattpadding or eating chocolate, Natalie nurtures her young daughter, feeds her dog too many treats, and can’t resist watching Ancient Aliens, no matter how absurd the show becomes.

Natalie enjoys travel, good wine, and excellent food shared with family and friends. She was raised an Ohio farm girl, now lives in the desert Southwest, and dreams of living in a high rise in a big city.

Natalie enjoys chatting with readers, so stop by and say hi:

Twitter: @NatalieWright_
Facebook: NatalieWright.Author



Buy Links:
Smashwords

Ultimate Zombie Apocalypse Survival Quiz

I scored 67.5% on the
Ultimate Zombie Apocalypse Survival Quiz!
"Not bad! You ranked somewhere in the middle. You could do worse, but then again you could do better. Now might be a good time to buy a machete and stock up on canned foods..."

Click here to get your score!

My Caring Cross Review


The Olivewood Cross
Caring Crosses are individually carved from a single unique piece of beautifully grained olive wood pruned from the olive trees around Bethlehem the birthplace of Jesus. Christians have been carving crosses like this for hundreds of years, originally for pilgrims and more recently tourists visiting the Holy Land. Each craftsman receives a fair price to support their family and Christian community. The Caring Cross is designed to fit comfortably into the palm of your hand as an aid to prayer or meditation. Ideal as your spiritual companion for easing children's fears, comforting worries and stresses of adults and focusing the prayer of the sick and elderly.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Scared: Ten Tales of Horror Promo


In this collection, you'll find scary stories for almost every taste, each penned by a different author with a different writing style and a different taste in horror. This allows you to explore your own preferences. Which story gives you the most delicious frights?


The authors have played with “What if” scenarios: What if the safe world we take for granted is changing and we don't know? What if a seemingly harmless object grows into a menace? What if an everyday occurrence turns into something nasty? What if a minor irritation is actually a sign that something big is underfoot? What if threats are outside our control? Picking up the phone, going to the toilet on the train or buying a birthday gift may be the start of a nightmare.


These stories don't seek to shock you with chainsaw massacres or to gross you out with mounds of gore. Rather, the authors aim to scare you in subtle ways, creating the kind of fear which creeps up on you, grabs you by the throat, and sometimes lingers long after you've finished reading.


To preserve the authors' individual voices, some of the stories are in American English, others in British.


Enjoy the goose-pimples, the clammy hands, the creeping chills, and the pounding heart. When you've finished reading, you can return to the real world and know you'll be safe. Or will you?


1.OUT OF ORDER by Karen Heard
What do you do when the lights go out and the screaming starts?


2. OUR LADY OF THE TOADS by Deborah J. Ross writing as Deborah Wheeler
The large, ugly toad perched in front of the gate was truly worthy of being a witch's familiar.


3. FAMILY HEIRLOOM by Pamela Turner
This weapon has a mind of its own.


4. RING OF STONES by Donna Johnson
Jake Barnes seeks revenge on the cursed creature living in the abandoned well.


5. DEATH COMES FOR MAGGIE MCDANIEL by Grayson Bray Morris
A bully's cruel hand grants Maggie's dearest wish.


6. CREATURES OF THE NIGHT by William Meikle
What if intense fantasies create a different reality?


7. DRUID STONES by Rayne Hall
Modern druids enact an ancient ritual, and a woman watches in secret.


8. THE LOFT by Liv Rancourt
Three women from the church choir learn that evil is everywhere.


9. LIFE IN MINIATURE by Tracie McBride
Street kid Michael thinks it's his lucky day when a do-gooder picks him up off the street.


10. YOU HAVE ONE MESSAGE by Jonathan Broughton
Press * for connection.

They may not be suitable for young readers.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Bound to You (Vranthian Vampires, Book 1)

Book Description:
Under the dark skies of Vranthia The Wasting has spread, claiming victims by the thousands. Disease, madness and death shroud this fierce warrior race.


With the recent death of their mother, Queen Srionna Balacjek, and the imminent demise of their grieving father, King Kamet; three brothers must now find their own path. Will The Wasting’s dark madness claim them all as deceit and lies turn brother against brother. Or, is the key to saving their people in the legend of the trion. And will they find it in time?


Draven Balacjek -- warrior, Prince, immortal. Fierce in battle, sure and deadly as a dark a storm or the shadows he walks among, must choose between the ties of brotherhood or the possibility of a life without the parts of his soul he has bound in blood and magic.


The Vranthians have taken everything from Ook. Desecrated the Darengy people as a whole. But the visions of a grave-warrior tell no lies and the spirit of the human along with the fierce strength of his Prince, Draven Balacjek call to him as nothing before. Can their love together heal the wounds that time has wrought and free him of his darkness?


For singer, Leah Allen, the choice was never hers to make. But life, like the music her heart clings to, has a way of playing itself out. Will this strange new world and the fierce warriors she meets within it bring her shattered past the healing she has always needed or will the strangers she finds herself bound to be her hearts undoing? Can she make a choice between dark, intense Draven and exotic, muscular Ook?



Excerpt:
Leah knew the date was over five minutes before it had even begun. Really, when was she going to learn her lesson? Never let your friends and co-workers set you up on blind dates. It was a rule. Or should have been. Or would be from now on, damn it. What the hell had she been thinking?


It was bad enough that the normal crowd that gathered at McKellon’s Pub on Wednesday nights was usually the business conference leftovers, or that they were mostly in their late fifties and on their third marriage or second mistress. But this guy…this guy just screamed slimy used-car salesman. He even had that comb-over thing going for him.


Ugh! Was Cyn trying to get back at her for something or what? She had just finished her second set--she sang four nights a week, mostly the blues, for tip money and the door fee to help make ends meet--when her friend Cyn told her that the date she’d agreed to was at the bar waiting for her. Then Cyn tilted her head to the left of the bar where car-guy, Bob, sat sucking an olive pick, poking it between his teeth like he was digging for gold or a new route to China.


The nausea started after one quick glance. “Cyn, you cannot be serious,” Leah questioned, her groan curling her lip in distaste. “What? What do you mean?” Cyn quizzically responded scanning the bar, her dark almond eyes shining brightly against the backdrop of her caramel skin. Cyn was the loveliest woman Leah had ever met. She had a deep, rich skin tone that looked like milky caramels. Her eyes were like large, dark almonds, and her lips were a perfectly sculpted pout. In a word, beautiful.


She even wore her hair shaved so short to her head that it showed her face to perfection. But, by the tone in her voice, Leah could tell she was completely bewildered by her statement. Not to mention a little hurt, as though Leah had run over her puppy, her Gucci handbag and her cell phone all at the same time. Drama! “Seriously, Cyn. Are you freaking kidding me? You set me up on a date with serial killer Joe over there? I mean, look at him. Mr. Comb-over? The dude picking his teeth?”


Cyan’s bark of laughter startled Leah so badly she jumped, and when she looked back at her friend she was bent over, holding her side, laughing so hard tears were running down her face. “Jeez, Leah,” she finally gasped. “What kind of friend do you take me for? I know it’s been a dry spell for ya, but ain’t nobody that desperate, girl,” she hiccupped.


“Glad I could be so amusing,” Leah huffed, blowing the length of her dark hair from her eyes. “So if it’s not Greasy Bob, then who? Cyn stood up straight and taking Leah’s arm, pulled her over behind a column that had obviously been blocking her view. Sitting on the last bar stool, back up against the wall, Leah spotted Mr. Perfect.



Thanks so much for stopping by. So, why don't you tell us a little about yourself?
Well, I feel like I should stand up - Hello.  My name is K.A. M'Lady and I'm a book nerd, with a writing habit.  I should wear a sign that states, “Will sell blood for books filled with words.”  I'm a mother, a wife, a writer, and a sometimes old movie geek.  I watched the original Dr. Who, played D&D as a teenager (do I dare admit that out loud?)  Have a weird shoe habit and read poetry to de-stress sometimes.  I write paranormal, historical time-travel, sci-fi and gothic erotic romance and use the money to buy more weird shoes and books.  If the shoes have words on them, even better.  See, I'm addicted.



How did you get started writing?
I've written since I was a kid.  Silly stories written to cut-out pictures, these turned into poems, then really bad songs and more poems.  One day I just took a leap.


What was the inspiration for your book?
Like most of my stories, it started with the blurb.  Sometimes, I'm not even sure where it comes from.  I just get an idea and I write it down.  After multiple rewrites it becomes the start of something.


What's the one genre you haven't written in yet that you'd like to?
I haven't found it yet.  I like paranormals with a twist.  Historical time-travel romance.  Vamps and weres, anything otherworldy.  So, I write what I like to read.  Right now, the monsters are good.


Are there any genres you won't read or write in? Why?
I don't tend to read or write contemporary.  Reality is difficult; the point is to escape it for a time.  Leave it and its normality behind.  My days are filled with numbers and health stuff and planning.  It's nice to get away from planning anything and just chill in the ever-after.



So, what are you working on right now? Got any releases planned, or still writing?
The next two books in my Vranthian Vampires trilogy will be out by year end; Book 2 - Claimed By You and Book 3 - Redeemed By You.  So there is a lot going on with both of those releases.  In my 'to be finished pile is Book 8 in my Faith Savage Demon Huntress series - Messenger.  I'm also trying to finalize Book 4 in my Realm series - Blood Oaths ~ Warrior Rising.  There are a few others awaiting their turn.  Thankfully there is always something in the pile awaiting my attention.  I just need to find the time to work on them.  I have a few others on the release horizon; Vikings, Witches, Fairy-realms filled with Vampires and Ogres.  I've usually got a dead man lying about somewhere.
Alright, now for some totally random, fun questions. Favorite color?
I have three actually, the first would be purple, then green and then black.  Even though black isn't actually a color.


Favorite movie?
Um…I tend to watch movies like I read books, over and over again.  And it's never just one.  I have a list, really.  And never one genre.  The Silence of the Lambs,  Pretty Woman, The 13th Warrior, Taxi Driver, Heat, Full Metal Jacket, old Westerns with my husband, Sherlock Holmes movies, all of the old horror movies from the 40's and 50's, musicals.  Movies rock.


Book that inspired you to become an author?
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  Love that book!


Alright, you have one superpower. What is it?
Perhaps the power of healing.  Imagine if you could heal the world's woes.
 
You can have dinner with any 3 people, dead, alive, fictitious, etc. Who are they?
E.A. Poe, Nostradamus, and John Wayne.  Imagine the stories they could share.
Last question: Which of your characters are you most like and how/why?
There's a bit of me in each of them.  Headstrong, stubborn, hopeful, unsure, kind, free-spirited, loyal, determined.  It's the same with all writers.  Somewhere in each character you'll find something, be it good or ill.  Sometimes it's the darkness we unleash for a time, or the light we choose to share.  Always a piece of us stays behind.


Review posted here


a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 28 Guest blog - Fang-tastic Books
October 28 Spotlight - Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews
October 29 Guest blog - Books Books and More Books
October 29 Spotlight - Booklover Sue
October 30 Interview and review - Sharing Links and Wisdom
October 31 author interview - Books & Tales
October 31 Guest blog and review - The Solitary Bookworm
November 1 Guest blog and review - Mythical Books
November 1 Spotlight and review - Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
November 4 Guest blog - Bookin' It Reviews
November 4 Spotlight and review - Readaholic's Reviews



About the Author:
Author K.A. M’Lady lives a few stone throws from corn fields, chaos and congestion; all lying on the outskirts of the many burbs of Chicago. KA M'lady spends her days calculating life expectancies, mortality and the certainty of death and taxes while in her free time the dead wander freely, buy shoes, homes, the occasional odd business or two and, if you even think of charging them too much in taxes…well, let’s just say the tax man may never come back. But if he does he might just shamble a bit.


An All Romance eBooks bestselling author, K.A. M'lady's work has been described as scary, descriptive, beautiful, dark, frightening, addictive, sexy and believable. She loves to read paranormal romances, watching horror movies, westerns on Sundays with her husband, playing fetch with her pocket beagle, Chevy and buying weird shoes. Her friends call her eccentric, her family refuses to comment. She’s been lost in the world of fiction since she was a small child, and frankly, never wants to be found—at least not any time soon. “Myth and magic builds dreams and inspirations – and in an insane world, it is our dreams that spark the revolution of change. No matter which world is being conquered. Within our dreams – all things are possible.”