Tag: Q and A’s

Interview with fantasy author Annie Lima Douglass

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo6 Comments

I had the pleasure recently to interview fantasy author Annie Lima Douglass about her latest novel, The Gladiator and the Guard, the second in her the Krillonian Chronicles series. Here’s what she has to say about it.

Hi Annie, thanks for being with us today! Your new series seems both dark, and intriguing. Could you start by telling us a bit about your current series and the world the books are set in?

2814e-annie2bdouglass2blimaAnnie Lima Douglass: The Gladiator and the Guard is the second book in the Krillonian Chronicles, the first one being The Collar and the Cavvarach. The stories take place in a world almost exactly like our own.  Although most aspects of the culture are just about what they are currently on Earth, a few sports are different, such as the martial art known as cavvara shil.  The main difference, however, is that slavery is legal there.

The Krillonian Empire rules much of the world.  An emperor, who is never named, governs from the capital city, Krillonia, on the continent known as Imperia.  Eight separate provinces (originally independent nations before they were conquered) can be found on nearby continents.  Each province, plus Imperia, is allowed to elect its own legislature and decide on many of its own laws, but the emperor reserves the right to veto any of them and make changes as he sees fit.  This seldom happens, however, and to most people the emperor is merely a vague and distant ceremonial figure.

The prevalence of slavery is probably what would stand out the most to visitors from Earth.  There are nearly as many slaves in the city of Jarreon, where both books take place, as free people. Many families own one or more slaves who do their housework and yardwork.  Businesses often own a large number of slaves, usually for manual labor, though some are trained for more complex tasks. Those who don’t own their own slaves may “hire in” one belonging to someone else.  The accepted rate for an hourly wage is two-thirds the amount that a free person would earn for equivalent labor (the money goes to the slave’s owner, of course).

eb20a-the2bcollar2band2bthe2bcavvarachHere’s the back-cover blurb for The Collar and the Cavvarach :

Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire’s most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie’s escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time.  With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?

And the blurb for The Gladiator and the Guard :

Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is just one victory away from freedom. But after he is accused of a crime he didn’t 5b4dd-the2bgladiator2band2bthe2bguardcommit, he is condemned to the violent life and early death of a gladiator. While his loved ones seek desperately for a way to rescue him, Bensin struggles to stay alive and forge an identity in an environment designed to strip it from him. When he infuriates the authorities with his choices, he knows he is running out of time. Can he stand against the cruelty of the arena system and seize his freedom before that system crushes him?

 

Tell us about the martial art in these books. What is involved in it? Did you have to do a lot of research for the action scenes?

Annie: The martial art is one I made up, called cavvara shil.  It is fought with a cavvarach, a weapon similar to a sword but with a steel hook protruding from partway down its top edge.  Competitors can strike at each other with their feet as well as with the blades.  You win in one of two ways: disarming your opponent (hooking or knocking their cavvarach out of their hands) or pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.

Continue reading “Interview with fantasy author Annie Lima Douglass” →

Author and Editor Rebecca Buchanan on ancient magic and pagan literature

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo

Our guest, Rebecca Buchanan, has been a feature in the pagan fiction community for a while, we are pleased to have read her latest release, a fine collection of ranging from fantasy to scifi to mythological retellings entitled A Witch Among Wolves.She is the editor of Eternal Haunted Summer. Her short stories, poems, and essays have been published in a number of different venues. When she is not editing EHS, she is also the Editor-in-Chief of Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the publishing arm of Neos Alexandria. She also blogs fairly regularly at BookMusings: (Re)Discovering Pagan Literature at PaganSquare and Gods Among the Stars: Paganism in Genre Fiction at Luna Station Quarterly. She recently took time out of her busy editing schedule for a little interview about the book.

Hi Rebecca, thanks for being here. I really enjoyed your anthology and I’m happy to have you here. Can you briefly describe the anthology?

Rebecca Buchanan: Thanks for inviting me! A Witch Among Wolves, and Other Pagan Tales is a collection of five of my short stories. Each is a different genre — science fiction, contemporary horror, a political tale, an eco-fable, and an urban fantasy — but all feature Pagan/polytheist themes. For instance, “Alexander’s Heart,” set in a far future ruled by the descendants of Antony and Cleopatra, follows the Captain of a solar barque and his crew as they try to safely deliver the Pythia of Delphi to a colony far from Earth. The title story, “A Witch Among Wolves,” stars a traditional Lithuanian ragana as she negotiates with a pack of shape-shifting wolves for access to their hidden valley.

My next anthology, A Serpent in the Throat, and Other Pagan Tales, also features a variety of genres, but each story contains strong Pagan/polytheist themes.

How long have you been a practicing pagan?

Rebecca: Oh, gosh …. Over twenty years. I started having serious problems with the Church in college, but continued to go through the motions. As soon as I set out on my own, though, I fully embraced Paganism: the altar, the festivals, the hymns to the Gods and Goddesses, the works.

Is there a particular mythology you’re found of?

Rebecca: Greek. Hands down, that is my favorite. I’ve always been most strongly drawn to those stories, so, when I finally embraced Paganism, I came out as Hellenic.I have a bit of a soft spot for Egyptian and Norse mythology, too, but Greek is definitely at the top.

Can you recall the first myth you read?

Rebecca: Not the first book, no, but I can recall several books which deeply affected me as a child. Augustus Caesar’s World by Genevieve Foster; The Enchanted World series from Time-Life; The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki; The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles by Padraic Colum and Willy Pogany; Pagan Grace and Pagan Meditations by Ginette Paris; Pegasus by Marianna Mayer and KY Craft; The Trojan War by Olivia Coolidge; to name just a few.

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cover art by Paula Arwen Owen

That seems a nice list, particularly for those who’d like to investigate the Greco-Roman pantheons themselves. What inspired you to write the stories in Witch Among Wolves?
Continue reading “Author and Editor Rebecca Buchanan on ancient magic and pagan literature” →

Mary Morgan–Dragon Knight’s Shield blog tour & #giveaway

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo6 Comments

I’m pleased to have best selling author Mary Morgan here today. She’s just released her latest paranormal romance novel, Dragon Knight’s Shield, and though she takes her characters to Scotland, they are devoted to our favorites here: dragons and our beloved Tuatha dé Danann. 🙂 I think my readers here will enjoy her work. Read on for a little about Dragon Knight’s Shield, and a giveaway.

 

Mary Morgan Q&A

 

 

How did you first come to write paranormal romance? What drew you to the genre?

I’ve always had a fascination with mythology, especially Irish and Scottish. In addition, my love for a good fairytale. Growing up with an overactive imagination, I would constantly weave my own stories within my mind. Therefore, it made sense that I would be drawn to write what I truly love.

 

This series includes something we’re very fond of here: The Tuatha dé Danaan. Can you tell us how you first discovered their myths? What’s your favorite, if you have one? J And how do they work into Dragon Knight’s Shield?

I’ve been reading and listening to the tales of the Tuatha dé Danann for decades. They’ve always been a favorite when reading about the invasions of Ireland. Perhaps it’s in my DNA—my Irish heritage. I have many favorites, but here are a few: The Legend of Cu Chulainn, The Red Branch, and The Children of Lir.

My own twist: The Dragon Knights were created by the Tuatha dé Danaan. They were the protectors of the last remaining dragon belonging to the tribe of the Goddess Danu.

 

What else can you tell us about your new release, Dragon Knight’s Shield?

As the oldest, Angus MacKay suffers greatly over the death of sister, Margaret. It was his brother’s sword that killed her, and as a result, Angus bears the burden of failure—for not controlling his clan. Yet, even on his journey, Angus showed me he still was a leader. Oh, he tried to discard the mantle of leadership, but it never really left him. Of course, he needed a strong woman to stand by his side, and Deirdre Flanagan was the perfect warrior woman for him.

It’s the fourth book in my series and the longest. Bringing together all four MacKay brothers took some time. They all had something to say, including their wives.

There are twists and turns, a birth, and a surprise revelation. One I hope my readers will embrace.

 

 

By what authors would you say you are influenced?

I’m not influenced, but in awe of their storytelling. One that stands out: Marion Zimmer Bradley.

 

Now that Dragon Knight’s Shield is out, what can curious fans expect from you next?

I’m working on the fifth and final Dragon Knight’s story, who was revealed in Dragon Knight’s Shield. I’m hoping to have it out in late summer. Also, I’m working on a Christmas novella with one of the characters from the series. It’s a surprise!

 

If you weren’t a writer, what career might you have pursued instead?

Archaeology or History professor.

 

What authors are you currently reading and keeping an eye on?

Currently, I’m reading “Agincourt” by Bernard Cornwell, and “I’ll Know It When I See It” by Alice Carey. I tend to read fiction and non-fiction at the same time.

 

Where can my readers learn more about you?

I love making new friends, Juli! Here are a few of my favorite places:

WEBSITE http://www.marymorganauthor.com

BLOG http://www.marymorganromancewriter.com

Twitter http://twitter.com/m_morganauthor

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mary.morgan.564

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

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Morgan/e/B00KPE3NWI/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

I love hearing feedback about my stories, and I always take the time to answer your questions. It’s been an incredible journey, but I wouldn’t be here without so many embracing the Dragon Knights!

 

51d4GfCyRcLDragon Knight’s Shield
Order of the Dragon Knights
Book Four
Mary Morgan

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Date of Publication: January 8, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-5092-0542-4

Number of pages: 407
Word Count: 99,950

Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor

Book Description:

Angus MacKay, leader of the Dragon Knights, failed his brothers and his clan upon the death of his sister. Now he must fight the darkness of despair tempting his soul. Back on Scottish soil, he comes face to face with Deirdre who can wield a sword as mightily as his warriors, and takes her captive. Yet, with each passing day, the fire dragon inside him roars to claim the one woman fate has destined for him.

Famed mystery writer, Deirdre Flanagan, is unprepared for the next chapter in her life. On a vacation to Scotland, she steps through the mists and enters into a skirmish alongside a Highlander. However, the fight has only begun, and now she must battle Angus as well as evil in order to claim the love of this Dragon Knight.

Will their love be powerful enough to shield them from danger, or burn them to ashes?

 

Excerpt:

Excerpt One:

His look was predatory, lustful, inviting, and she took a step backward. Words failed her as she took another step back.

He arched a brow and his smile became seductive. “Do I frighten ye?”

“No!” she lied. Like hell you do! You’re as gorgeous as sin standing there, and I want to rip your clothes from your body.

Pushing off from the wall, he stepped into the room and silently closed the door behind him, his eyes never leaving hers. His hair hung in soft waves past his shoulders, and her fingers itched to twine within them. Her body ached in places so deep—longing for even the slightest touch.

“Are ye unwell, my lady?”

The burr of his voice so low—so sexy, she could only stare at him until his words resonated in her mind. “No,” she replied softly, feeling the flames of desire heat not only her face, but also her entire body.

This time when he took another step closer, Deirdre didn’t back away. Now he stood so close she could feel the warmth of his breath across her face—a mix of wine and pure male.

She watched mesmerized as he reached for a lock of her hair, twining it around his finger. “So verra soft.”

Deirdre couldn’t breathe, as he let the curl unravel and cupped her face in his hands. “Ye confuse me. Ye torment me in my dreams,” he whispered against her cheek, sending a wave of pleasure down her spine.

Without thought, she groaned and leaned into him—his beard grazing her cheek. She no longer battled her mind for the man. “Kiss me, Angus.”

Excerpt Two:

“God’s teeth, woman,” hissed Angus taking a glance around and noticing that everyone else had survived. He stormed to where she was standing and grabbed her arm. “What were ye thinking taking up a sword and fighting? Ye could have been killed.”

“You could have been killed. You required my help.”

She started to mumble, and Angus found it difficult to follow the flow of words. Narrowing his eyes, he understood her to be English. However, this did not explain her outlandish clothing. A woman should never be allowed to wear trews, he thought, as he took in her form.

“What? Never seen a woman before?” Her voice wavered. “Do I have to fight with you, too?”

He looked down into the most beautiful hazel eyes he had ever seen. “Nae.”

“No, you’ve never seen a woman, or no, you don’t want to fight? Because I’m a bit concerned by your grip on my arm and the way you’re leering at me.”

Angus swallowed. “My pardons.” Releasing her, he took a step back. “Are ye hurt?”

She shook her head. “I’ll have bruises from the fight to brag about come evening, but I’m fine.”

Seeing Egan riding toward Gunn, Angus nodded to him. “Best we leave and go into the trees. There may be more of the enemy.”

“Umm, excuse me? Don’t you think you owe me an explanation? And shouldn’t we call the police?” Waving her hand about, she added, “Why are you fighting with swords? And how did you manipulate the fire?”

He glared at her. “For the love of Danu, cease your chatter and come with me. I do not understand your words, and we waste time being out in the open.” Bending to retrieve his dirk, he was stunned when he glanced back to see the fool lass walking in the opposite direction.

“By the hounds,” he hissed. In two strides, he stood blocking her path. “Did ye not hear me?”

Her eyes blazed with fury when she spoke. “I heard you just fine. I’m going to find a policeman and report this incident. Now, if you’ll move aside, I can go get us some help.”

“Ye are not going anywhere, but to those trees. I dinnae ken what all ye are babbling, but ’tis madness we linger any longer in the clearing.” His patience had snapped and grabbing her arm, he was unprepared for the blow she landed against his jaw. “God’s blood, woman!”

“You grab me again and next time I won’t use my fist.” Her tone, this time, brittle.

Angus took a step closer, daring her to challenge him again. “And what would ye use?”

With one swift move, she flashed the dirk up between them, mere inches from his face. “This—slicing through your artery.”

He leaned to the side, feeling the coolness of the blade against his skin. “Like the one I hold at your side?” He saw her jaw clench, but not before he noticed the slight tremor. “’Tis good to ken one’s place, nae?”

 

“You’re a rude barbarian,” she hissed.

Dragon Knight’s Shield is available at Amazon, All Romance books, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, The Wild Rose Press

 

Author Mary MorganAbout the Author:

Bestselling paranormal romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Elk Grove, California, with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. She spent far too much time daydreaming and was told quite often to remove her head from the clouds. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling. Writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

Visit Mary’s website at http://www.marymorganauthor.com where you’ll find links to all of her books, blog, and pictures of her travels.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mary.morgan.564

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/m_morganauthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan

Tour giveaway

1 prize pack featuring- Signed print copy of Dragon Knight’s Shield, $25 Amazon gift card and swag.

 

Click here to enter the giveaway:a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Q and A with paranormal romance author Dylan Newton

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo4 Comments

For our treat today I’d like to introduce you to a sweet new paranormal romance author. Dylan Newton and I had dinner together this winter and I’ve been looking forward to introducing she and her works to you for some time. She’s just had a new title released and I’m glad to bring you this conversation with her.

dylannewtonsm
Author Dylan Newton

Dylan Newton was born and raised in a small town in Upstate New York where the local library was her favorite hang-out. Despite earning a degree in English Literature, Dylan spent more than a decade sidetracked by an executive position in corporate America before leaving to pursue her true passions: motherhood and writing. Dylan married her high-school sweetheart and they are busy living out their own happily ever after with their two incredible daughters in sunny Florida.

Hi, Dylan! Thanks for being here. Why don’t you tell my readers a little something about your work? What was the inspiration for Any Witch Way?
Dylan Newton: As I am a huge fan of the band, “Godsmack,” whose lead singer is purported to be Wiccan, curiosity compelled me to look into the Wiccan religion. I stumbled across a passage I fell in love with in the religion’s creed (called the Wiccan Rede):
“With a fool no season spend,
Lest ye be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part,
bright the cheeks and warm the heart.”
That passage inspired the first scene where my Wiccan hero and young, troubled heroine first meet, and once I’d begun my research and found a sweet, but deliciously sexy-sounding ritual called the “Five Fold Kiss”…well, I knew I’d have to write this book!

Oh yes. I could see that inspiring many a love scene! 🙂

Do you have any advice for writers just starting out?
Dylan Newton: It’s not magic. You can do this! My first novel, DESPITE THE GHOSTS, was the product of the NaNoWriMo campaign (where you write 50K words in 30 days of November). After finishing the book (ended up at 83K words), I got writer and reader feedback which I used to revise and polish it until it shone. Then, I created a query letter, and sent it to many, many, MANY agents and editors until landing my contract. I can attest to the fact my formula works–because that is exactly how I got my first publishing contract!
It’s really four steps to becoming published:
1. Finish your book.
2. Using writer/reader/agent/editor feedback, revise it to within an inch of its life…or yours.
3. Submit to agents/editors.
4. Repeat steps 2-4 until you get a contract.
And while you’re repeating those steps, keep writing, keep reading, and hang out with other authors and writers. Nobody understands a writer’s plight better than another writer, and you need that support system to keep your dream alive.

If you weren’t a writer, what career might you have pursued instead?

Dylan Newton: This one’s easy, because my first career wasn’t writing—it was running a call center and leading project management teams in a Fortune 500 company! For over a decade, I worked in corporate America, where I’m convinced I contracted testosterone poisoning. Working with all men has its perks—they’re easy to get along with. As long as you can talk football, you’re part of the ‘in’ crowd with men—with women, it’s much more complicated. But I believe working within a practically all-male environment for so long pushed me to more estrogen-rich activities when I left—hence romance novels!

What can curious fans expect from you next?
Dylan: My spicy little paranormal romance ANY WITCH WAY, from The Wild Rose Press, is out in all e-formats now. It’s by far the hottest book I’ve ever written, and quite a bit darker than the others—I love it! Also, I have another novel coming out in 2014 (also with TWRP) called DESPITE THE FANGS featuring a female werewolf with a bad attitude who meets her match with a mysterious hottie who blackmails her into finding his missing son.

Oh dear. Sounds like trouble! Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? Would you like to share anything more about your work?
Dylan: Here is the book trailer and synopsis for my paranormal romance novella, ANY WITCH WAY:

Anywitchway

Any Witch Way by Dylan Newton

Graduate student Lily Andrews resigned herself to a life of perpetual virginity. With her recent twisted appetites and weird fugues hospitalizing every would-be boyfriend, it’s no wonder she uses her coursework as an excuse not to date.
Then, she meets a witch.

Joshua enters Lily’s life to complete penance for a deadly spell he cast centuries ago. Joshua must counter Lily’s demon-wrought fugues with his own Wiccan magick, or lose her forever.

As the pivotal Wiccan holiday, Samhain, approaches, time is running out. Together, they must battle an ancient dark force, fighting for their lives and their new-found love…ANY WITCH WAY they can.

Available at Amazon and The Wild Rose Press.

Here are all of my links—I adore hearing from fans, so please drop by!

Dylan’s Website:

http://www.dylannewton.com/

Dylan’s Blog:

http://www.dylannewtonwrites.blogspot.com/

Dylan’s Playground on Pinterest:

http://pinterest.com/dylannewton1/boards/

Dylan’s Author Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/DylanNewtonAuthor

Goodreads Link (for Any Witch Way)—I’d love a review, if you could! :

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18130230-any-witch-way

Amazon.com Link (Any Witch Way)—I’d love a review, if you could! :

http://www.amazon.com/Any-Witch-Pagan-Holiday-ebook/dp/B00CGOLO7Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373035167&sr=1-2

Thank you for coming by today, Dylan! It was a pleasure chatting with you. Folks, if you’d like to check out Dylan’s works see the links above. I hope you enjoyed this installment of our little conversations!

Author Interview: Juli D Revezzo – The Jeep Diva | The Jeep Diva

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo

The Jeep Diva

I was interviewed this week over at Vanessa the Jeep Diva’s the fantastic place–and her lovely assistant Crazy Granny reviewed House of Cards. House of Cards review

Author Interview: Juli D Revezzo – The Jeep Diva | The Jeep Diva.

I hope you’ll stop by!

via Author Interview: Juli D Revezzo – The Jeep Diva | The Jeep Diva.