trueromance

Setting: New Orleans
Subgenre: Dark Paranormal
Hero: Max Savoie
Heroine: Charlotte Caissie

One sentence summary: Police detective Charlotte Caissie and shape-shifter Max Savoie thought they’d overcome all odds and differences to be together. . . now, it’s the past that threatens to tear them apart as Cee Cee calls on Max’s preternatural talents to find the serial killer who’s kidnapped a colleague’s daughter.

Scene you like most and would never cut: It was cut. Sigh.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Wearing a polka-dotted Doris Day dress while making kitchen small talk with her partner’s sweet Stepford wife. Funny the things you’ll do out of love . . . and guilt. “Ken and Barbie off to visit the family.”

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Heroine? Max accessorizes his Armani business suits with red high top sneakers. The way to Cee Cee’s heart is through a big block V-8.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Cee Cee’s an NOPD detective, so what’s she doing on stage at a strip club with the moniker Chili Pepper?

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Max is the prophesied leader of the New Orleans Shifter clan and a reformed mobster. So why is he letting his secret slip to outsiders and making deals to traffic human cargo?

What do you think readers will like best about this book: From page one to page end, it never lets you go. The pace is fast, the action furious, the suspense taut, the dialogue crisp and sometimes laugh-out-loud, and the romance hot, hot, HOT. And then there’s Max. Who could ask for a fiercer, sexier, more complicated, loyal and yet vulnerable hero?

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Jacques LaRoche, the muscle-bound Shifter owner/bartender at Cheveau du Chien who dispenses justice with a Louisville Slugger, has Max’s back and a soft spot for his friend’s human mate.

What’s next: Even though BOUND BY MOONIGHT wraps up Max and Cee Cee’s romance arc, the series continues with new heroes and heroines within the By Moonlight world. HUNTER OF SHADOWS will be available November 29, 2011 featuring a Shifter cop with a hidden agenda and a programmed assassin who complicates it on both professional and intimate levels, then Book 6 comes out in July of 2012, with Jacques LaRoche, because you asked for him.

The first four books in my By Moonlight series featured the same hero and heroine, which is common in urban fantasy but rare in paranormal romance. The next two By Moonlight books have a different hero and heroine in each book. As a reader, do like a relationship that carries over from book to book or do you prefer your happily-ever-after on the last page of each one?

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? L.A. Confidential. Fabulous acting, smart dialogue, fascinating twists and turns. And Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey.
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Any Dean Koontz book.
3. What’s the first book you remember reading? My mom used to read to me every night. Rutabaga Stories was my number one request, but for doing my own reading, Dr. Seuss was my go-to guy.
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Cinderella. After I saw my name in print when my fractured fairy tale version of it was published in my elementary school newspaper, I knew all I wanted to be was a writer.
5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Yosemite Sam is my hero and Pepe LePew eez my lovair.
6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? Authors really like it when you come up to them at conferences or book signings or even in the checkout lane to talk to them, especially if you love to read, write or want to gush about their characters. Don’t be shy. It’s a privilege and a perk, not a bother to us. And we like to have our pictures taken with you, too.
7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? I still have my full time job as a 9-to-5 legal assistant to fall back on.
8. What do you do to unwind and relax? Netflix and a warm cat when there isn’t a sandy beach available. It’s more fun than exercising or cleaning house, which is what I do to get my creative muse kicked into gear.
9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Strong, flavored coffee, black, in my Keurig every morning…best Christmas present EVER!
10. What does love mean to you? Never having to say “Put the seat down” or “Hang up that towel.” Actually, it’s my grandson running down my apartment complex’s hallway yelling, “Grammy!” at the top of his lungs. That sums it up.
11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? Would hate all the restrictions of the Victorian era. I don’t even like underwire. I’m a 1940’s gal. All that big shouldered glam and hats!
12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? Price, so I can say, “The price is wrong, beeotch.”
13. Dog person or cat person? Fur, feather and fin person. Love ‘em all, have had them all…and still feed most of them on my 4th floor balcony.

Readers’ Crown Award Winner, Long Paranormal Romance

First of all, I’d like to say thank you to Borders and to Ellen in particular for inviting me to be here today to chat about A Highlander’s Destiny. I’d also like to say a HUGE thank you to all the Reader Judges of the RomCon Reader’s Crown Contest for naming this book the Best Long Paranormal of 2011. It’s doubly exciting for me to have this book win since it was the beginning of a mini-series within the whole series, stretching through the next two books that follow, A Highlander’s Homecoming [which itself was a RITA finalist this year!] and Healing the Highlander.

So, without further ado, here’s the scoop on A Highlander’s Destiny:

Setting: Current Day – Stretches from Virginia to Colorado to Sedona, Arizona before ending up in Scotland – with a quick detour to the Faerie homeworld, Wyddecol.

Subgenre: While the Daughters of the Glen series as a whole is time-travel, this particular book borders on paranormal romantic suspense, building the world of the Fae and introducing new characters.

Hero: JESSE CORYELL is a man adrift in life, searching for his destiny. He’s tried to lose himself in his work, taking on the worst mankind has to offer, but as a Fae descendent, what he really needs to find is his true love. When he sets out to help a mysterious woman locate her sister, what he gets is much more than he bargained for, battling an undeniable attraction to his sexy new client while fighting an ancient evil to keep her safe and rescue the missing girl.

Heroine: DESTINY NOBLE, abandoned by everyone she’s ever loved, will stop at nothing in her desperate quest to find her sister. Authorities have declared Leah a runaway, but Destiny knows better. Her prophetic dream visions have shown her the frightening truth. They’ve also shown her Jesse. But finding her Soulmate could result in the most painful loss of all when she’s forced to choose between loving Jesse and saving Leah.

One Sentence Summary: Jesse and Destiny race against time to save an innocent girl from an ancient evil but with true love as their most powerful weapon, they each risk sacrificing their own destiny in the process.

Scene you like most and would never cut: My favorite scene is in the helicopter. I can’t really say more about it except that the reason it’s my favorite is because I love surprises and poetic justice!

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “I do believe in Faeries!” At least not until she has absolutely no other choice.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero: Jesse sees himself as a modern-day Highland warrior. The only thing that keeps him from wanting to transport back to the middle ages is the fact that he’s unwilling to give up his fast bikes and modern conveniences!

Your heroine’s occupation: Destiny is working at a Renaissance Faire telling fortunes.

Your hero’s occupation: Jesse works for the family company, Coryell Enterprises, specializing in international covert rescue operations.

What do you think readers will like best about this book: The last opportunity readers had to spend time with the evil Nuadians was in Highland Guardian. In A Highlander’s Destiny, they get to catch up on what’s happened to the exiles from the Faerie Realm as the Nuadians introduce a whole new level of danger. A Highlander’s Destiny and the two books that follow it are more closely linked than others in the series and I think it will be fun for readers to be able to see what happens to some of the secondary characters in, A Highlander’s Homecoming and Healing the Highlander.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Interestingly enough, in the time since this book was released, one of the top requested character stories is for Chase [Destiny’s brother].

What’s next: My next release is scheduled for December 27, 2011. Warrior’s Redemption will feature a new style of cover and, while continuing in the world of Daughters with some of the characters readers have already met there, will be a spin-off of the series featuring a whole new level of magic. For readers of the series or readers who just love time travel, highlanders, and medieval historicals with a paranormal twist, this book should be on their watch list!

Since Borders is kindly featuring all the winners of the Reader’s Crown contest here on the True Romance Blog throughout July, here’s a question for your readers: Are you more inclined to give a book a try when it’s made the finals or won a contest? Or does that have no influence on your decision in choosing new authors to try?

Comment for a chance to win a gift pack which includes an autographed copy of each of the three books in the mini-series-within-the-series mentioned here: A Highlander’s Destiny, A Highlander’s Homecoming, and Healing the Highlander! (Valid only in USA)

About Me:

What’s my favorite movie of all time: This changes depending on my mood! I can share a few of those I watch over and over again – An American President, The Thirteenth Warrior, The Fifth Element, The Quiet Man, and Lord of the Rings [the whole trilogy] are examples of my favorites. The one thing they pretty much all have in common is they reflect my need for a Happy Ever After!

What’s my favorite kind of story to get lost in: Again, depending on my mood — but always needing that Happy Ever After – something with romance and fantasy

What’s the first book I remember reading: The little readers in school about Dick and Jane and Spot. I think one of my first regular books was one of The Bobbsey Twins stories, followed by Pippi Longstocking [loved those!] and I vividly remember adoring my Nancy Drew Mysteries! [Which I still have packed away since I had all boys who weren’t interested in reading them – waiting for a granddaughter to share them with!]

What’s my favorite fairy tale: Cinderella [though I would have liked her to be more assertive by the end of the story!]

What’s my favorite cartoon character: Bullwinkle - I loved how he always got all the good lines.

What’s something I’d like to tell your readers: How very much I appreciate them! And how much I love to hear from them!

What would my occupation be if I were no longer a writer: I think I’d enjoy being a genealogist. I love research and digging into my own family tree [even though it’s frustrating as all get out!]

What do I do to unwind and relax: Spend time with family, read, work in my garden, play on the internet [Hello, my name is Melissa and I am a Farmville-acholic].

Tea or Coffee? Both!!! And how do I take it: Coffee in the morning with hazelnut creamer and tea in the afternoon with sugar, thank you.

Which era would I least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? I’m sure I would have detested having to wear corsets and hoop skirts. Or bustles. Most? Fashion-wise I have to go with our own era because of the freedom we have to dress as we please.

What name have I been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet: Thorn. But I think he might be coming soon….

Dog person or cat person: Dog. Specifically, Boston Terriers. Though I adore our cat, too. Basically, I’m a soft touch for just about any pet out there – except snakes. My oldest son had a snake. Totally NOT a fan.

Setting: Boston, Detroit and New Orleans
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance (vampires)
Hero: Hunter, a laboratory-born Breed assassin
Heroine: Corinne Bishop, Breedmate recently freed from imprisonment in those same labs

One sentence summary: As a blood war escalates within the Breed, the Order’s most lethal warrior will have to decide how far he’ll go to end his enemy’s reign of evil–even if carrying out his mission means shattering the heart of the woman whose biggest mistake may have been in trusting him.

Scene you like most and would never cut: I’ve been lucky I guess, because I’ve never been asked to cut a scene from any of my books. In DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT, the scene I feel would be most missed is the one where Hunter learns about his origins in Dragos’s labs. I’ve known the truth of what happened to him ever since he walked onto the page in VEIL OF MIDNIGHT (Book 5, January 2009), but it took this long before I could share it as part of Hunter’s story.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Oh well, I gave it my best shot. I quit.”

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Hunter is a virgin. Not really “quirky” but it says a lot about him. He’s never known intimacy or compassion, having been born and raised to be a killing machine from the time he was a boy. Because emotions and social interactions are new to him, he can be kind of quirky in a Spock-ish way sometimes….

Heroine: Corinne’s quirks were stripped from her the day she was abducted and imprisoned in Dragos’s labs. Before that time, she was a free-spirited eighteen year old who loved the blues and jazz. She still loves it, she discovers when she and Hunter end up in a sultry, shadow-filled club in New Orleans.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Corinne doesn’t have a job, but she does have a driving purpose now that she’s been rescued from years of captivity and torture. If she had a job, she would probably be some kind of avenging angel.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Hunter is Breed, but more than that, he’s Gen One Breed, which means he’s stronger, more deadly than later generations whose bloodlines have been diluted from their otherworlder forbears (my “vampires” are actually an alien/human hybrid). Hunter is also an assassin, and he’s the very best. He used to serve Dragos, the enemy of the Order, until several months ago (story timeline) when circumstances persuaded him to join forces with the warriors of the Order.

What you think readers will like best about this book: DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT is Hunter’s story, which readers have been asking me to write for quite some time. But more than just his story and happily-ever-after, this book also revisits the Order in Boston and the conflict that’s been escalating with their chief adversary, Dragos, as well as those brewing with a certain member of the Order itself. There is a lot of drama (good and bad) ahead for Lucan and the rest of the warriors and their mates in this book.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: That honor definitely goes to Sterling Chase, aka Harvard. And the good news is, his book, DARKER AFTER MIDNIGHT, will be coming out next January! I had a great time tormenting poor Chase, and I think readers are going to love his special heroine too. Their book wraps up the larger story arc that’s carried the series from its beginnings and spins the Midnight Breed world into an exciting new direction. I can’t wait to share all the upcoming twists and surprises with my readers!

What’s next: As I mentioned above, DARKER AFTER MIDNIGHT will be releasing in January. In the meantime, I’m working on a Midnight Breed novella, which will release as an e-book original from Bantam Dell around November or December of this year. The novella will be a standalone romance featuring a secondary character readers have already met in the series. I’ll post more details about it at my website (www.LaraAdrian.com) and on my Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/LaraAdrianBooks) in a few weeks.

Thank you, Ellen and Borders, for inviting me to be part of the True Romance Blog today! I’m looking forward to popping in to say hello and chat a bit with readers.

For a chance to win a signed copy of DEEPER THAN MIDNIGHT and some Midnight Breed series swag, tell me in the comments what you like best (or like least) about long-running series.

Random drawing, open to U.S. and non-U.S. entrants, but void where prohibited. And all that other legal stuff that needs to be said. We’ll post the winner’s name in the comments section tomorrow.

Good luck to all, and thanks for reading!

About Me

What’s my favorite movie of all time? I love so many movies! I can’t possibly point to any one as my all-time favorite. How about if I tell you my all-time favorite song instead? It’s IMAGINE, by John Lennon. If I could choose a particular song to hear in my last moments of life, this is the one.

What’s my favorite kind of story to get lost in? Anything dark and engrossing, whether it’s a paranormal romance or urban fantasy, or a psychological thriller, or horror (excluding slasher stuff and serial killers doing awful stuff to women – blech!).

What’s the first book I remember reading? I can still vividly recall sitting in first grade reading Dick and Jane books aloud in class one day and thinking to myself, wow, this reading thing is *easy*. I’ve been a devourer of books ever since.

What’s my favorite fairy tale? Hands down, it’s Beauty and the Beast. I love the message of: “Look inside a person’s heart and love them for who they truly are.” That’s practically the romance writer’s credo!

What’s my favorite cartoon character? Not really a big cartoon fan, sorry to say.

What’s something I’d like to tell your readers? Thank you for reading! It’s such an incredible privilege for me to have a career doing something I absolutely love. Hearing from readers who enjoy my books and root for my characters’ happiness the same way I do is icing on an already wonderful bit of cake. I feel very fortunate, and I am grateful every day.

What would my occupation be if I were no longer a writer? Ooh, tough question. I’d love to be a bookstore owner, or maybe even an editor. I would need my book fix one way or the other!

What do I do to unwind and relax? Unwinding and relaxing is rare these days, I have to tell you. But my favorite thing to do is read, uninterrupted. For a whole day. That would be heavenly. So much the better if the reading could be done on a beach somewhere, with a tropical drink in hand and my husband kicked back on the chaise beside me.

Tea or Coffee? And how do I take it? Coffee, black and strong. Preferably fair trade, shade grown Colombian.

What does love mean to me? Simply put? Everything.

Which era would I least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? I wouldn’t want to live in the Georgian period, with all that white face paint and powdered wigs, even though I like the look of it aesthetically. It must have been awful in reality. I like the fashions of the 60s, with sophisticated styles and clean lines. Think classic Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy.

What name have I been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? It works the opposite way for me. I start with the character, then find a suitable name. Which isn’t always easy….

Dog person or cat person? It’s definitely a dog’s world, but I’ve always been drawn more to cats. We have three former strays who keep things lively around our house. It’s a shame to me that more people don’t recognize what truly wonderful, loving and loyal animals cats are. Yes, they can be aggravatingly stubborn at times too, but that’s part of their charm!

More Midnight Breed books:

Setting: Los Angeles, California
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance (werewolf romance)
Hero: Lucas Simone, Wolf Alpha
Heroine: Sarah King

One sentence summary: When Sarah King finds herself running for her life, she turns to alpha Lucas Simone for help—Lucas is fierce, wild, and more than strong enough to destroy any hunters on Sarah’s trail.

Scene you like most and would never cut: I actually really enjoyed writing the beginning scene the most. Lucas is trapped in a jail cell, and Sarah comes to his aid. Well, she comes for a price. If Lucas will give her protection, she’ll give him freedom. Sarah thinks that’s a pretty fair trade.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: In horror movies, you often see the terrified heroine stumbling around in the dark or heading into the dangerous basement when you know she’s just going to stumble right into the killer. Sarah isn’t the stumbling type. She’s the bring-a-gun-with-you-and-fight type. I respect that about her.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Though he’s tough on the outside, Lucas has a serious soft spot on the inside. The guy just can’t resist a damsel in distress. Unfortunately, this soft spot could be his downfall because while Sarah might play the weak card very well, she’s one woman who has a serious killer instinct.

Heroine? Sarah has always fought against being normal. To her, normal is boring, and she’ll do anything necessary to walk in the paranormal world. The big, bad wolf doesn’t scare her; instead, he just makes her feel more alive.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Sarah is currently unemployed—mostly because she’s running for her life and that running doesn’t leave her a whole lot of time for a nine to five job. When she isn’t running, Sarah does the work she was born to do…she infiltrates some very dangerous organizations.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Lucas is the alpha of the LA wolf pack and being alpha is a full-time job. He controls the pack, all of the businesses owned by the pack, and he rules with iron control.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I hope readers like the action. Lucas and Sarah set out on a wild, desperate adventure, and as they fight for survival, the tension between them heats up as the pages turn.

What’s next: I’m excited to say that ANGEL OF DARKNESS, the first book in my Fallen Angels of Death series, will release from Kensington Brava in December of 2011. My angels are dark, very dangerous, and they can kill with a touch. Some touches can bring pleasures, but if my angels come after you, then you’ll only know death.

Thanks so much for checking out my post! I had a fabulous time writing about Lucas. I’ve always enjoyed the werewolf legend. Maybe it’s that wild side that werewolves have, but I love the idea of a man who can control the beast within himself. What about you? What aspects of the werewolf legend do you enjoy? Two random commenters will be selected to win copies of NEVER CRY WOLF.

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? The Mummy

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? A sexy paranormal romance!

3. What’s the first book you remember reading? Tough question! And I must confess—I can’t remember! Though I do remember that when I was a child, my mom would read Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood to me over and over. She had a great book of fairy tales that she always pulled out at bedtime.

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Snow White, though I would like it more if the Wicked Queen had a slightly different ending.

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Donald Duck

6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? Thank you so very much for taking the time to read my books!

7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? A teacher.

8. What do you do to unwind and relax? Read

9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Um, sweet tea, please. Very sweet.

Setting: a rural community in northern Canada
Subgenre: paranormal romance/suspense
Hero: Connor Macleod
Heroine: Zoey Tyler

One sentence summary: Zoey fends off a wolf attack, but is the man who helped her much more dangerous?

What is your heroine’s occupation: Zoey walked away from a successful career as a top journalist in Vancouver to become the editor of the Dunvegan Herald Weekly, a small newspaper in an even smaller rural community in Canada’s north. What Zoey is really trying to run away from is her inherited psychic ability. She’d just like to be “normal”, unaware that she’s taken up residence in one of the least normal places on the planet.

What is your hero’s occupation: Connor is Dunvegan’s gifted (and perpetually overworked) veterinarian, owner of the North Star Animal Hospital. But that’s just his day job. Unknown to Zoey, he’s also a powerful Changeling, able to become a massive wolf at will and determined to protect what’s his. Also unknown to Zoey, this means her.

Scene you like most and would never cut: That would be the scene where Connor finds his prankster brother, Culley, lying on his office couch – as a wolf! Of course, Zoey walks in right then… I love the underlying normalcy of the situation. Sure, they’re big strong Changelings, but is there anything more human than wanting to throttle your smart-ass sibling?

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Better make it decaf.” This is a woman who understands the true power of coffee and devotes a sizable chunk of her apartment kitchen to its proper preparation.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I think readers will enjoy the small-town ambience, and they’ll likely feel that they really know the quirky community as well as the main characters. Because of that, I think they’ll experience some deep down chills as the villain grows stronger – and more evil.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Connor’s siblings, twins Culley and Devlin. Those two are still waiting for their turn. (And if they don’t behave, they’ll be waiting even longer!) Readers have been very interested in other members of the Pack like the RCMP’s sexy Sergeant Fitzpatrick and the pilot, Holt Lalonde. I’ve also had a couple of requests for a prequel about the small but mighty Jessie Watson, purveyor of fine food by day and leader of the Changeling pack by night.

What’s next: More of the Macleod clan and their friends, of course! Changeling Dream will be released July 1 and is the sequel. Changeling Dawn will come out in January. I’m working on Book 4 right now.

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite TV show of all time? Buffy the Vampire Slayer, hands down. My daughters and I watched every single episode from the series premiere to the grand finale. We laughed and cried and loved it together. The girls are grown up and gone now but we watch Supernatural, Vampire Diaries and True Blood, and talk about the latest episodes over the phone.

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? I love a great urban fantasy with a kick-ass heroine. Something by Karen Chance or Patricia Briggs usually.

3. What are the first books you remember reading? Once I graduated from Dr. Seuss and Enid Blyton to novels, I actually read a great many classics – and they weren’t abridged either! Heavy reading for a young kid, but I loved every word. The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, Frankenstein, A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield… I was given the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe and Bram Stoker’s Dracula when I was nine or ten. Oh, and I had lots of animal stories like The Black Stallion and The Call of the Wild.

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? That’s tough, because I hate princesses and so few of the original fairy tales had happy endings. I’d have to say the original Beauty and the Beast story – I was always on the side of the Beast and wanted Beauty to treat him better.

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Okay, who spilled the beans that I have a secret addiction to cartoons? My current favorites are Making Fiends (and that’s not a typo) and El Tigre, both from Nicktoons.

6. Who’s your favorite author of all time? Stephen King. I’ve read almost everything he’s written and have several of his books permanently enshrined on my keeper shelf. One of my latest favorites is Duma Key. King’s ability to get inside his characters’ heads – and take you with him – is simply stunning. By the end of the story, you’re half certain everything happened to YOU.

7. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? Well, somebody already blabbed about the cartoon thing … maybe I could tell them that I live on an island in Alaska, my hubby and I run a salmon fishing boat, and a grizzly bear ate my bird feeder. No idea if it also ate the birds. I hope not.

8. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? I would love to go back to farming on the mainland. I seriously miss my goats and chickens. Or I’d really like to run a greenhouse-nursery and open my own garden center.

9. What do you do to unwind and relax? I putter with my garden. I adore plants. I sew or paint. Or I might take my pugs for a walk along the forest trails here or on the beach at low tide.

10. What does love mean to you? That’s a huge question. Love is so much more than a blissful feeling. Loyalty, compassion, empathy and kindness are vital parts of true love. If you love someone, you support them and cheer them on. You want them to achieve the dreams that are important to them, and you would sacrifice to make that possible. You care about how they feel, and if they hurt, you hurt too. Love isn’t a static thing, it’s deep and alive and growing. Ideally love is a gradual knitting of souls and that usually happens over time through shared tough experiences.

11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Any era where women couldn’t wear pants would be unimaginably horrible. I’d have to have a gun to my head before I could be persuaded to wear a dress. Most? Since I’m a blue jeans baby through and through, I like the here and now.

12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? Upon learning that I was a writer, a handsome young optometrist named Travis begged me to name a character after him! It hasn’t happened yet because my characters tend to pop up mostly fully formed, names and all. In fact, I seldom get to name anyone. The entire Macleod tribe showed up in my head at once, and even came with middle names!

13. Dog person or cat person? I admire cats from a distance – I’m allergic to them. But I’m happy as a dog person, owned by a pair of pugs, Toby and Fiona. They are glued to my side most of the time, especially when I sit down to write; Fiona currently has her chin on the keyboard. Toby is snoring. Loudly.

Questions for my readers: What are your favorite paranormal beings and why? Are there any creatures you haven’t seen in a novel (or haven’t seen enough of) and wish somebody would write about them?

Setting: Midnight Bay, Maine
Subgenre: Contemporary Paranormal
Hero: Trace Huntsman (a mere mortal, ex-soldier now lobsterman)
Heroine: Fiona Gregor (the 11th century sister of a powerful drùidh now living in Maine)

One sentence summary: Can a modern warrior protect his heart from a beautiful highland lass determined to make the most of her second chance at life, as they fight to save a mysterious wizard from the evil that’s followed him to Midnight Bay?

The scene I most like and would never cut: Ewww, those naughty little skunks!

Thing my heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Fiona will never give up on her dream of having children.

One quirky thing about my hero: Trace pretends very hard not to care. Heroine: Fiona is way too compulsive about organizing and cleaning.

My heroine’s occupation: She’s trying to open a daycare.

My hero’s occupation: He’s a lobsterman.

What I think my readers will like best about this book: I believe my readers will love watching two strong, guarded people discover that by combining their strengths, they can both make their dreams come true.

The person my readers want me to write about next: Oh heavens, everyone—including me!—is already in love with Maximilian Oceanus from Dragon Warrior, and after reading Mystical Warrior, you’re definitely going to want Mac’s story—which you will get in my first Spellbound Falls book coming in March of 2012!

What’s next: Highlander for the Holidays, coming this November. We’re going back to Pine Creek, ladies, to meet young Ian MacKeage (Morgan & Sadie MacKeage’s son) as he tries to deny his magical heritage while trying equally hard to impress a beautiful woman and her protective service dog.

I have so enjoyed visiting with the larger-than-life men who have populated my Midnight Bay series, and the smart women who had the courage to love them. It always amazes me how invested my readers become in the trials and tribulations of my various magical families living in Pine Creek and Midnight Bay.

Which has me curious: Which book in my ongoing series (paranormal or contemporary) was your favorite, and why? And scenes!

I’m always curious to know if there’s a particular scene that touched your heart in some special way. Remember, it’s usually a year and sometimes two between when an author writes a story and you finally get to read it. That’s an awful long time to wait for feedback!

Setting: Fairview, a small city along the cost of the Pacific Northwest.
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance
Hero: Lore, the hellhound Alpha
Heroine: Talia Rostova, a vampire

One sentence summary: A beautiful vampire on the run is the chief suspect in a murder, but the acting sheriff, a hellhound, isn’t sure if she’s the villain or was meant to be the victim.

Scene you like most and would never cut: When Talia reveals her past to Lore, I set the scene in a derelict hotel that’s slowly being restored to its original beauty. There’s a parallel. Both Talia and the place have been badly neglected and even abused, but the right man with the right vision can see their true loveliness and make them whole again. It’s a wrenching moment, because her secrets are terrible and most would kill her if they found out what she’d done. Lore—well—you’ll have to read the book to find out what happens next.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: She’s not used to cutting loose and having fun. That’s something the hero has to teach her.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? He likes Cap’n Crunch breakfast cereal.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Talia is a teacher.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Lore is the deputy for the vampire sheriff who keeps the peace in the supernatural community. He’s also a Mr. Fix-it type—he’s the friend you’d call about a leaky tap or to jump-start your car.

What do you think readers will like best about this book: The Dark Forgotten series sits between paranormal romance and urban fantasy (i.e. hot sex AND explosions).

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Darak, the leader of the Thanatos vampires. All I can say is the boy works fast to win the ladies over.

What’s next: I’m writing a Dark Forgotten novella with a western twist.

Question – If you were able to adopt a supernatural pet, what would it be?

(Blogmaster’s Note: Sharon will be holding a giveaway of FROSTBOUND to 3 lucky commenters!)

About Me:

What’s my favorite movie of all time? Possibly the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It blows me away every time I watch it.

What’s my favorite kind of story to get lost in? Give me action and suspense!

What’s the first book I remember reading? The first “real” books I recall were about dinosaurs. I wanted a T-rex of my own when I was about six, but my mom just wouldn’t let me.

What’s my favorite fairy tale? The Tinder Box. It has a lot to say about compassion.

What’s my favorite cartoon character? Wile E. Coyote because he never gives up.

What’s something I’d like to tell your readers? My goal as a writer is to create books that people remember once they’ve closed the covers. I don’t write fast food.

What would my occupation be if I were no longer a writer? I already work full time in the finance field.

What do I do to unwind and relax? Explore antique stores or outdoor markets.

Tea or Coffee? And how do I take it? Black coffee in the morning (possibly intravenously) and tea with milk in the afternoon.

What does love mean to me? Not having to hide your heart.

Which era would I least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? I tried wearing an 1860s gown once and knocked over half the furniture with the hoops. Regency fashions look far more graceful to me.

What name have I been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? Sebastian.

Dog person or cat person? I like both, but I’m currently kept by cats: one is a mature tabby girl and the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness is exactly what he sounds like.

Visit her website to read all the Dark Forgotten excerpts and see the trailers! www.SharonAshwood.com

Setting: Virginia/St. Augustine Florida, modern day
Subgenre: Paranormal
Hero: Dominic Ralston
Heroine: Nessa Chandler (in this life)

Quick summary: Five hundred after she lost the love of her life, the heroine, Nessa has given up on love, and she’s about ready to give up on life. The problem is life won’t cooperate. The hero, Dominic, is pretty happy with that, too. Once he figures out the woman he’s been dreaming for years is real, he’ll stop at nothing to find her.

Scene you like most and would never cut: It would have to be this one—a scene where the heroine is trying to fight what she thinks is happening, and where the hero is trying to convince her it’s okay to believe.

“Why?” she demanded, her voice cracking. “Why now? Don’t you know how . . .”
How lonely I’ve been? How much it hurts . . . just living, every single day without you? Why now?
Now . . . Now. When she was so broken. So shattered inside. So unworthy of him. Of a second chance. Of happiness.
“I can’t believe this,” she said again, shaking her head. I won’t.
“Why?” He stroked her hair back from her face, his hands gentle, so gentle and warm and strong.
“Because it’s too late.” The tears blinding her spilled over and she murmured, “It’s too late for me. I’ve fallen.”
“It’s not too late . . . I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall.”
I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall . . .

Thing your hero would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Well, honey, don’t you think you’re overreacting a little?”

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Sure, Dominic, you can go out on a date with that pretty redhead who was eyeing you at the bar.”

Tell us about your hero: He’s a southern gentleman at heart—a romantic through and through. He’s smart as a whip and about as stable and steady as they come, but he’s starting to question his sanity. He keeps dreaming about this woman who can’t exist and the dreams leave him feeling like he’s broken inside. And he doesn’t feel complete—not ever. Until he realizes his dreams aren’t just dreams.

Tell us about your heroine: She’s harder…she’s one of the strongest characters I’ve ever written, but life kicked her too many times and now she’s having serious issues with sanity. Dominic only thought he was. Nessa really is fighting to keep it together and it’s getting harder all the time. Then this guy shows up in her life and she doesn’t know what to think.

What is your heroine’s occupation/ What is your hero’s occupation: Can I list professional bad-ass for both the hero & heroine? She’s a witch, he’s a vampire and their main job is helping to keep the paranormal population in check.

What you think readers will like best about this book: The characters, I hope—The characters drove me crazy, but they broke my heart, too.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Morne, from the Veil series. He’s another one that’s going to drive me insane.

What’s next: Hmmm, well, I never work on one thing at a time—I’m finishing up a novella for an anthology with Shayla Black and Sylvia Day, working on a romantic suspense and another Hunters book, although I’m really hoping the characters from that book don’t drive me quite so crazy.

Can you name some characters from books you’ve read that have just put you through the wringer? I’ll be sending out two signed books to two random commenters!

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? That’s a toss up between the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and The Green Mile (yes, I know, that’s cheating)

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Depends on my mood! I love contemporary romance, paranormal romance, romantic suspense and urban fantasy, but I’d say I read more urban fantasy and romantic suspense than anything lately.

3. What’s the first book you remember reading? Little House in the Big Woods—I was in third grade.

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? I’m a fairy tale freak—I love fairy tales, but I think maybe The Wild Swans.

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Bugs Bunny!

6. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? I was a nurse before I quit to write and I keep my license active, so I imagine I’d be a nurse.

7. What do you do to unwind and relax? Read…and sleep.

8. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Both, and both with cream and sugar/splenda

9. What does love mean to you? To me, love is my kids and my husband.

10. Dog person or cat person? Dog person

More books by Shiloh Walker:

Setting: Atlantis and Sedona, Arizona and the surrounding area
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance
Hero: Daniel, a Night Guild Mage and vampire
Heroine: Serai, an Atlantean princess

One sentence summary: When powerful vampire Daniel decides to walk into the sun after an eternity of stark loneliness, he finds the one woman he’d ever loved—11,000 years ago.

Scene you like most and would never cut: There are too many to pick one! There’s a scene with a bubble bath that is as poignant as it is sexy . . . maybe that one.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Asking permission. She’s an Atlantean princess with powerful magic.

Tell us one quirky thing about your heroine: Serai is a little confused about modern slang—eleven thousand years is a lot of time to process! Also, she was slightly afraid of green Jell-O. : )

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Serai is an Atlantean princess who has been held in stasis for millennia to one day become queen.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Daniel is the most powerful vampire in North America and rules all the rest.

What you think readers will like best about this book: It’s one of my most emotional books. I loved watching Daniel and Serai overcome their own fears and their history while they are in danger on the quest to retrieve a lost jewel of Poseidon’s Trident.

What’s next: High Priest Alaric will finally take rebel leader Quinn on his own terms, even if he has to drown the entire world to do it, in HEART OF ATLANTIS, coming in January. Alaric is my most highly requested (begged for? Pleaded for? Demanded?) character, and I can’t wait to bring him his happily ever after.

Discussion: Daniel and Serai found each other again after eleven thousand years.

Do you have a long-lost friend or love you found again? I’d love to hear about it! (Or, if you don’t have a long-lost-and-then-reunited story, tell me about your favorite picnic food, even if it’s green Jell-O!)

One long-lost story and one picnic food comment entrant will each win a signed copy of Vampire in Atlantis!

Vampire in Atlantis – please link to my website at www.alyssaday.com for excerpts!

More adventure in Atlantis:

Setting: small town New England and Chicago’s vampire underworld
Subgenre: paranormal romance
Hero: Tynan MacGillivray
Heroine: Lily Quinn

One sentence summary: An enslaved vampire must decide between ancient loyalties and the mysterious woman who could change the dark dynasties of the vampire world forever.

Scene you like most and would never cut: I love, love, LOVE the scene where Lily and Ty first meet! For me, that scene is sort of the essence of their whole story. Dark, sensual, fraught with this forbidden attraction neither of them quite knows how to deal with. I’m my own worst critic, generally, but I really love the way that scene turned out, and I would never cut it!

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Group hug!”

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Heroine: Lily has a hopeless sense of direction. She wouldn’t be able to find her way out of a wet paper bag unassisted (and readily admits to that!). Ty has a thing for late night television and has seen almost every bad cable movie in existence.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Lily teaches English Lit at a community college.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Ty is Queen Arsinöe of the Ptolemy’s personal hunter. He specializes in tracking down and taking care of “problems” for the vampire queen.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I hope readers will love the interplay between Lily and Ty as much as I enjoyed writing it. They seemed to spark off of one another right from the get-go, so every interaction brought something new!

What’s next: Next up is the story of Jaden Harrison, Ty’s closest (actually, only) friend in Dark Awakening. He’s a cat-shifter too, but with an entirely different set of problems. Actually, one particular problem, and she doesn’t like him much either. Of course, that’s what happens when you put cats and dogs (or rather, wolves) together! Midnight Reckoning comes out in January 2012.

Thanks so much for coming by today! I’ll be in and out to chat, and I’ve got a question for you. Ty’s part of a world in which the mark you wear determines your place in vampire society. His mark, a trio of intertwined cats, makes him a slave, though a powerful one with the ability to become a large cat. Each bloodline, in fact, has a special ability. If you were a part of this world, what ability would you most like to have? Anything goes!

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Labyrinth

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? I love a complete escape from reality, whether it’s into history or fantasy. I’ll always be drawn to romance, because I need my Happily Ever After fixes on a regular basis!

3. What’s the first book you remember reading? I was three, and it was a big book of Disney stories

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Beauty and the Beast

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Patrick Star (from Spongebob Squarepants)

6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? That having readers to share stories with is absolutely the most fun part of this job. Well, that and being able to work in my PJs. I think other employers might frown on that, and I’m spoiled now.

7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? Professional hobbyist? I don’t know, I don’t think anyone wants to pay me for the other things I like to do. Could I sing karaoke for a living? That would be amazing.

8. What do you do to unwind and relax? I’ll play with the Newfs, or curl up with a book, or zone out in front of Dragon Age. Once the kids go to bed, I’ll often stay up late just to enjoy the quiet!

9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Coffee in the morning, two Splenda and some Coffeemate. Herbal tea in the evening…I love Sleepytime tea with some orange blossom honey.

10. Dog person or cat person? I’m mostly a “fur person”. We have two young Newfoundlands, a crotchety old Pekingese, and a big Siberian cat. I love all of them…they’re a bunch of characters, and I know one of them is going to turn up in a book at some point!