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Joan Swan

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The Trouble with Magic GIVEAWAY!!

Sourcebooks has a special line call Casablanca Classics dedicated to bringing back those amazing books that have gone out of print.  Patricia Rice’s THE TROUBLE WITH MAGIC is one of those classics, the second book of Ms. Rice’s Magic series set in Georgian England. The Magic series is the story of the Malcolm sisters, all of whom have magic, and the non-magic Ives brothers.

Sourcebooks has generously offered this book for GIVEAWAY!  I’ll run this over the weekend–many ways to enter below!

Felicity Malcolm Childe’s gift for experiencing visions through touch has always been more curse than blessing. She sees horrifying images each time she brushes her hand against another person, and she is forced to cover herself from toe to finger to deflect the vicious onslaught. Only the maddeningly handsome Ewen Ives harbors no guilty secrets to cause her pain.

 He is betrothed to another, and he is at odds with the Malcolm family- but he is Felicity’s only hope. Will they find the spell to remove her gift? Or will Ewen forget their mission once he sees Felicity without her unsightly head to toe garments?

“Rice’s enchanting book is truly spellbinding.” —Booklist

“Patricia Rice’s historicals are deliciously fresh, sexy fun. Never has the battle of the sexes been more charming!” —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author

“The third magic tale is a charming Ives-Malcolm romance that fans of the series will appreciate.” —Harriet Clausner on Amazon

Excerpt:

Prologue

Kent, England, 1743

“The book, Mama, may I have it, please?” Six-year-old Lady Felicity Malcolm Childe stared longingly at the hand-painted folio of children’s Bible verses lying open for patrons of the stationery shop to admire. It rested on a counter just out of reach of Lady Felicity’s sticky fingers, but she reached for it anyway.

“Remember what I told you, dear.” Hermione, Marchioness of Hampton, hurried to her daughter’s side. Her hat ribbons blew in the breeze from the open door, and she caught the end of her scarf before it fluttered loose. “Do not touch until you’ve tested it.”

“Yes, Mama.” With her chubby bare fingers, Lady Felicity brushed the air above an open page depicting an angel with long golden hair hanging in silken ringlets that looked remarkably like hers. “Oh, it’s filled with love, Mama. May I hold it, please?”

“Wouldn’t the little girl prefer a candy instead?” The proprietor leaned over his counter with a tempting stick of horehound.

Before Hermione could intervene, Felicity accepted the offering with delight. “Thank you—” As her fingers wrapped around the treat she gasped, and with a flutter of dark gold eyelashes, collapsed in a puddle of silken skirts and petticoats upon the rough wooden floor.

Casting the startled proprietor an appalled glance, Hermione swept her daughter up in her arms and marched out of the shop, panniers swaying with indignation. Waving off footmen and nursemaids who rushed to her aid, she climbed into the waiting carriage, still cradling her frail daughter in her arms.

Within the private confines of the familiar coach, Felicity stirred and woke. With a sob, she clutched her mother and buried her face in the marchioness’s ample bosom.

“Now, now, child, it’s all right. You simply must learn to test before touching, as I’ve taught you.”

“He’s a nasty man,” Felicity hiccuped. “He does nasty things to little girls and they cry. I don’t want to go there anymore.”

Her usually tender mouth firming into a tight line, the marchioness nodded her beribboned head vigorously. “I shall certainly see to that, dear. I will talk to your father, and Mr. Jones shall leave the village at once. You see, your gift is very useful. It will keep him from hurting any other little girls.”

“I don’t want to see bad things anymore,” Felicity whispered. “I hate my gift. It hurts. Why can’t I have another gift?”

Hermione sighed and rocked her daughter in her arms. “You are only given what you are capable of handling, my dear. I know you don’t understand that yet, but your gift is precious and valuable. When you grow into it, you will learn to use it wisely.”

“Christina’s gift doesn’t hurt,” Felicity muttered with a rebellious pout. “She sees pretty things. Why can’t I feel pretty things?”

“You felt love in the book,” Hermione reminded her. “It’s just that sometimes bad things feel stronger than gentle ones. It doesn’t hurt when your family touches you, does it? Or Nanny?”

“Nanny has sad touches,” Felicity murmured sleepily as her mother continued rocking her. “I don’t want to touch any more bad things.”

“Your family will always take care of you, dear. You’ll be safe and happy around familiar vibrations until you’re all grown up and know how to use your gift. Learning comes from experience, but we’ll give you good ones.”

“Can I stay in Papa’s library? It’s nice there.”

Hermione laughed. “No, you cannot live in a library, dear, although your papa would let you try if you wanted.”

“I want to. I don’t want to see any more bad things.” Setting her quivering lip in a firm manner reminiscent of her mother’s, Felicity closed her eyes and slept.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

With five million books in print and New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists under her belt, Patricia Rice’s emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances have won RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards and have been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA finalists in the historical, Regency and contemporary categories. A former CPA, Patricia Rice is a native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina, and currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information on Patricia’s current releases, please visit www.patriciarice.com.

Enter to win this fabulous classic paranormal historical!

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Dee J. Adams & Dangerously Close Release Day!!

Super excited to wish my buddy and fellow romantic suspense author, Dee J. Adams, an UBER HAPPY RELEASE DAY!! The third book in her Adrenaline High series (what a cool name!), DANGEROUSLY CLOSE is out today.

DANGEROUSLY CLOSE has received a coveted 4 star review from RT Magazine and Dee J. is here today to talk about a fascinating aspect of creating the whole package — the creation of the audiobook.

Now, many of you may know I’m an audiobook junkie. I drive quite a distance to my day job and my only real “reading” time in on the road. So I covet my Audible account. Dee J. and I got to talking about audiobooks and I learned that Dee J. actually narrated two books in the Adrenaline High series.

Like…professionally…in a studio…with takes and producers and sound people and…yeah!

Today, Dee J. is going to tell us a little about that very cool process! She’s also giving away an EBOOK (sorry, not an audiobook) of DANGEROUSLY CLOSE, so be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter form below!

First….DANGEROUSLY CLOSE

What you can’t see can kill you.

Bad-boy rock star Seger Hughes hit rock bottom after a near-fatal tragedy at his concert. He hates how his life has spun out of control. After changing his appearance and his name, he transforms into a different man: Mel Summers. Now he just needs a place to hide out from rabid fans and paparazzi.

An isolated cliffside mansion is perfect. Ashley Bristol, his only neighbor, is blind—and her assistant is a classical music fan. They have no clue who he really is, but someone else does and she’s waited her whole life to be with him.

Struggling to find her way after an accident that took her sight, Ashley is determined not to feel anything. Yet she gets to know Mel and can’t help falling for him. When her assistant mysteriously disappears, Ashley must rely on Mel more than ever. But then his past comes back to haunt them both, and just when they must pull together to avoid danger, betrayal and lies threaten to tear them apart…

Pick up your copy today!! (I’m getting mine on Audible!!) Amazon | Audible

Now…here’s Dee J!


First I have to thank Joan for having me here on Dangerously Close release day! Yay! Thank you, Joan!

Every book has been a different experience and this one is no exception. I loved writing Ashley’s story, but most of all I loved telling it! Dangerously Close was the second book I’ve narrated. (The first being book #2 in the Adrenaline Highs Series, Danger Zone.) Narrating a book is never easy. Sometimes it’s hard, sometimes it’s frustrating and sometimes it’s absolutely a blast. It took me three days to narrate Dangerously Close, which was a day shorter than it took to narrate Danger Zone. (Keep in mind Danger Zone is about eight thousand words longer so it makes sense.)

Dee J in audio control room

Before I get ahead of myself I should tell you a little about the process. A narrator has to “mark” their voices. You have to know without question what a character sounds like, even (sometimes) what they look like. If you’ve got four characters on a page, you need to be able to jump from one voice to the next without hesitation. Sometimes it’s easier than others. It all depends on how similar (or different) the voices are.

I faced one tremendous surprise when I began working on my hero, Seger Hughes AKA: Mel Summers. Turned out this particular rock star has a touch of country in him. Not in his music, but in his heart. When I found his voice, I was shocked to discover a little bit of a twang. Want to hear something even crazier? I never thought about it while I was writing the man, but as I began to “talk” the man, I realized I’d written several phrases that a mid-west or southern boy might use. This led me to believe that my inner writer knew from the beginning that my hard-core rock star really had southern roots somewhere. (Personally, I think he got his twang from his mama.)

Now it’s your turn. Can you come up with five voices off the top of your head? Try it. Three women and two men. How difficult is it? Is it something you think you can sustain for an entire book?

All three Adrenaline Highs books are available on Audible.com, but if you want to hear me narrating one of my books, you can listen to Danger Zone and Dangerously Close. (Drop me a line if you do and let me know what you think!)

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE OF DANGEROUSLY CLOSE HERE: SAMPLE ON AUDIBLE (NO ACCOUNT NECESSARY!)

One commenter (+ other ways to enter) will win an EBOOK (sorry, not an audiobook)copy of DANGEROUSLY CLOSE! Thanks for dropping by and Good luck!


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Intimate Enemies Release Blast!

I’m THRILLED to announce that my romantic suspense, INTIMATE ENEMIES, is now available in all electronic formats.

This book is quite special to me.  A two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, INTIMATE ENEMIES, recently received a complete overhaul to bring the novel up to my current writing abilities.  The work resulted in richer characters and a deeper, more complex plot and was well worth the time and effort.

I can only hope you feel the same.

To celebrate the release of this adventure into the sexy, secretive world of Rio Santana and Cassie Christo, I’m giving away a copy a day for the rest of the month — starting today!

Lots of ways to enter! Use the Rafflecopter form below. If you JUST CAN’T WAIT…I understand. It’s on sale for $3.99 at the following locations: Amazon | B & N | Smashwords

Romantic Suspense

Intimate Enemies

She is on a quest for answers; answers that could just get her killed.

Six months after the mysterious yacht explosion that killed Cassie Christo’s mother and stepbrother, authorities still have no answers to the cause. Searching for closure, Cassie returns to her childhood home on the Pacific Coast of Baja, Mexico, where she launches her own investigation into the accident. She never expected to find an adversary in the man who had once touched her heart with kindness in her darkest moment.

Rio’s been fantasizing about reconnecting with Cassie for months. But not here and sure as hell not now. As an undercover agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he’s working the biggest sting operation in all of northern Mexico, and he definitely doesn’t have time for the wild attraction he feels for Cassie.

Not only is his cover on the line, so is his heart. Because as the end of a yearlong operation draws closer, Rio knows if he tells Cassie the truth about who and what he is, it won’t only jeopardize his mission, it may result in him losing her forever. And if he doesn’t, his lies and deception could get them both killed.

Winner #1: Becky Jean!

Winner #2: Rachel D!

Winner #3: Viki S!

Winner #4: Lucy D!

Winner #5: Cris!

Winner #6: Alexandrea W!

Winner #7: Emma M.J.!

Winner #8: Veronica D!

Winner #9: May!

Winner #10: Rachel K!

Winner #11: Kathy S!

Winner #12: Nina!

 

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Werewolf Legends and Lore with Dani Harper + Giveaway!

I’m excited to have my Kensington sister Dani Harper here today!! She just released the third book in her Changling trilogy, Changeling Dawn, and she’s here to talk about some pretty fun stuff!
Plus, there’s a GIVEAWAY!!

Dani’s shapeshifter series about the Macleod family and their friends! Long-lived and able to become wolves at will, they call themselves Changelings. Almost two centuries ago, they were forced to flee the wolf exterminations in Scotland and start a new life in the wilderness of northern Canada.

Today, that wilderness has been largely settled, and an entire community has sprung up around the Changelings. The Macleods and their pack live as humans most of the time, hiding in plain sight. But there’s just enough unspoiled forest left for them to joyfully run as wolves whenever they please. They seem to have the best of both worlds – but there are still dangers lurking for their kind. And love, when it arrives, brings dangers and complications of its own.

The two highest laws in the Changeling world are never harm a human and never turn a human against their will. The wolf within, however, has its own primal rules. If a Changeling’s life is in danger, the wolf will emerge to defend it. It will also rise, unbidden, to defend a mate at all costs. And Changelings mate for life.

Each book in the series can stand alone, because each focuses on one member of the Macleod family. The first novel is Changeling Moon, the second is Changeling Dream. The third novel was just released, Changeling Dawn.  For info and excerpts, check out Dani’s website at http://www.daniharper.com.

Hi, I’m Dani and one of my hobbies is collecting wolf and werewolf myths and legends, and I’ve brought seven of my favorites to share with you.

  1. In some European legends, particularly in Scandinavian countries, some rivers and streams are said to be “lycanthropic”. This means that you can become a werewolf just by drinking the water! Lycanthropic water is said to possess a “lurid sparkle” and a faint smell that is like nothing else. As it flows, the water makes sounds that resemble human voices, and dogs and horses are afraid of it.
  2. Reports of an enormous wolf-like animal in North Wales date back to 1790, when a stagecoach travelling between Denbigh and Wrexham was attacked and overturned by an enormous black beast almost as long as the coach horses. Known as the Welsh Werewolf, its attacks continued for a few years then mysteriously died out. Two centuries later, beginning in 1992, over 70 sightings of a large wolf-like animal have been reported!
  3. In Mexico, the werewolf is called the “nahual”. A nahual is a witch who can shapeshift into a black wolf or coyote. According to the legend, not every witch can achieve this transformation — only a few have a natural gift. In addition to having the inborn talent, the witch must also jump over a wooden cross, or go into deep trance-like sleep, or put on an animal skin, or cover his or her body with an ointment made of herbs.
  4. Werewolves in Sweden and Norway are called the ‘Varulv’. According to the legends, these people become werewolves by choice by putting on an enchanted article of clothing such as a belt. They are not necessarily evil, and in fact, in some stories only the most faithful could achieve the transformation!
  5. In Latvia, ancient texts show that the wolf was honored as a deity or as a servant of God. In old Latvian folk songs the wolf is called God’s dog. When wolves howled, they were once said to be praying to God and should not be ridiculed or hunted. The Greeks of Athens also had great respect for the wolf and decreed that any man who killed one had to pay for the funeral for the animal.
  6. The 11th Century Russian Prince Vseslav was considered to have been a werewolf and capable of superhuman speeds. One account says: “Vseslav the prince judged men; as prince, he ruled towns; but at night he prowled in the guise of a wolf.” A commemorative coin, showing Vseslav and a wolf, was released in 2005.
  7. Legend says that the town of Gubbio, Italy, was being terrorized by a large wolf that preyed on both livestock and humans. Saint Francis was said to have the power to talk to animals, and he went alone to speak to the wolf about its habits. He was successful in negotiating peace between the villagers and the wolf, and the creature lived among them like a dog for the rest of its li

If you enjoyed the above, consider pressing the LIKE button on my Facebook Fan Page. I post wolf and werewolf trivia there every day!

GIVEAWAY!
One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of Changeling Dawn. This is an International giveaway and a name will be drawn at random on Tuesday, Feb. 10.   There are several ways to earn points to better your chances of winning — the first step is to leave a comment or ask Dani a question!


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Celebrating My CP’s First Indie!!

I’m thrilled to announce my critique partner, Elisabeth Naughton (best CP in the world, btw) has released her very first Indie novel! 

Eli is an expert at crafting real characters you can’t get enough of,  creating heart-wrenching conflict and raising the stakes at every turn.  Her heroines are strong, her heroes are hot and her stories are filled with angsty, sexy twists and turns.

WAIT FOR ME is her very first Indie release, a contemporary romance with so much depth and even a little suspense thread.  An awesome read!

I’m celebrating the release and the holidays by giving away *5* copies of WAIT FOR ME!!

All you have to do is help us spread the word of Elisabeth’s new release.  Each shout is one entry, so the more you shout, the more chances you have to win!

A woman without a past…

After a tragic accident left her with no memory, Kate Alexander struggled to fit in with a husband and world that didn’t feel right. She’s had no reason to question what friends and family have told her, not until her husband is suddenly killed and she finds a photo of a young girl in his office. A girl who can’t be anyone but a daughter Kate didn’t know she had.

A man desperate for a reason to live…

Ryan Harrison lost his wife in a plane crash five years ago. To cope with the pain of her loss, he dedicated himself to his job and to raising their daughter. Now a successful pharmaceutical executive, Ryan has everything a man could want—money, fame and power—but he’d give it all up in a heartbeat for just one more day with the woman he still loves.

Two lives about to converge.

As Kate begins to dig into a past she doesn’t remember, evidence leads her to San Francisco and puts her on the path toward Ryan, a man who sees in her the woman he loved and lost. Kate feels a draw to Ryan, one she can’t explain, but is that feeling enough to convince her this is where she’s supposed to be? As Ryan and Kate search for answers, they uncover lies long buried, a passion hotter than either expected and a danger that threatens…even now…when the second chance they’ve both been searching for is finally within reach.

You WANT this read!!  Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

>Celebrating My CP’s First Indie!!

>I’m thrilled to announce my critique partner, Elisabeth Naughton (best CP in the world, btw) has released her very first Indie novel! 

Eli is an expert at crafting real characters you can’t get enough of,  creating heart-wrenching conflict and raising the stakes at every turn.  Her heroines are strong, her heroes are hot and her stories are filled with angsty, sexy twists and turns.

WAIT FOR ME is her very first Indie release, a contemporary romance with so much depth and even a little suspense thread.  An awesome read!

I’m celebrating the release and the holidays by giving away *5* copies of WAIT FOR ME!!

All you have to do is help us spread the word of Elisabeth’s new release.  Each shout is one entry, so the more you shout, the more chances you have to win!

A woman without a past…

After a tragic accident left her with no memory, Kate Alexander struggled to fit in with a husband and world that didn’t feel right. She’s had no reason to question what friends and family have told her, not until her husband is suddenly killed and she finds a photo of a young girl in his office. A girl who can’t be anyone but a daughter Kate didn’t know she had.

A man desperate for a reason to live…

Ryan Harrison lost his wife in a plane crash five years ago. To cope with the pain of her loss, he dedicated himself to his job and to raising their daughter. Now a successful pharmaceutical executive, Ryan has everything a man could want—money, fame and power—but he’d give it all up in a heartbeat for just one more day with the woman he still loves.

Two lives about to converge.

As Kate begins to dig into a past she doesn’t remember, evidence leads her to San Francisco and puts her on the path toward Ryan, a man who sees in her the woman he loved and lost. Kate feels a draw to Ryan, one she can’t explain, but is that feeling enough to convince her this is where she’s supposed to be? As Ryan and Kate search for answers, they uncover lies long buried, a passion hotter than either expected and a danger that threatens…even now…when the second chance they’ve both been searching for is finally within reach.

You WANT this read!!  Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview & Giveaway with Linda Poitevin

My guest today, Linda Poitevin, is the author of a new urban fantasy series, The Grigori Legacy, from Ace Books. Book one, SINS OF THE ANGELS is now available! Book two, SINS OF THE SON, releases in May 2012.

The series looks fabulous and when I saw it on the shelves at Walmart on my regular travel stop to work, I couldn’t resist picking up a couple copies for giveaway! So be sure to leave a comment or ask Linda a question to be entered to win!

SINS OF THE ANGELS

A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel…

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case—a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell.

Aramael is a Power—a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.

Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.

Linda, what’s your favorite thing about SINS OF THE ANGELS?
I love how Sins of the Angels speaks to readers in such different ways. It fascinates me that some consider it a paranormal romance while others focus on the police procedural/mystery aspect and hardly seem to notice the romantic element, or how some readers are drawn in by the mythology behind the story and others like the thriller aspect. I personally love books that cross the genre lines and so I’m thrilled that I seem to have created that kind of story myself.

What is your strategy in creating villains? Tell us about Caim, your villain.
I really tried to make Caim as fully three-dimensional as possible. To me, that meant delving deeply enough into his character that readers didn’t just know what his motivation was for his actions but also that they understood it—and could even feel sorry for him on some creepy level.

What do you love most about this book/series?
I love exploring the god/angel mythology (with my own twists!) in a real-world setting. I’ve tried to keep the reaction of Alex, my heroine, as real-to-life as possible when she finds out about the existence of angels—and of an actual Heaven and Hell. The challenge of doing so has really made me grow as a writer, I think, and growing is always good. 🙂

Does your novel have a theme? How did that come about?
Choices. I feel very strongly that every decision we make in our lives comes down to a personal choice we’ve made, whether or not we’re even aware that we’ve made it. In Sins of the Angels, I explore how those personal choices impact not just us, but the entire world…or in the book’s case, the universe.

How does your family view your writing career?
My husband and daughters are extremely supportive and very proud of me. Sometimes I think they’re even more excited about my publication than I am, lol.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?
I’m on both Twitter (@lindapoitevin) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LindaPoitevin) at least once a day (and WAY more often when I’m procrastinating!), and I also have a blog through my website. I love, love, love to hear from readers and answer all comments…promise. 🙂

How would you best describe your books?
Supernatural thrillers.

What would you write if you could do write anything you wanted to write?
I may be the luckiest writer in the whole entire world, because I’m already writing it. 🙂

What are your current projects?

Sins of the Son, Book 2 of The Grigory Legacy, is currently at the typesetting/proofreading stage, so I’m waiting to get it back for a final read. In the meantime, I’ve started work on the third book in the series (currently unnamed, much to my great angst!).

Where can we find you online?
My website is at http://www.lindapoitevin.com.

Do You Believe That The Cup Is Half Empty Or Half Full?
Half full.

Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?
Definitely an introvert.

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?
Window.

Do You Like Short Or Long Hair On A Guy?
Long.

Ever Hit A Jackpot On A Slot Machine?
Sadly, no.

Which do you like more—rainy days or snowy days?
Depends on the temperature…and the season!

What is Your Favorite Beverage?
Coffee is my most necessary one, but apple wine is my favorite. 🙂

Are you a night or a morning person?
Morning…much to my husband’s great disgust.

Are You Usually Late, Early Or Right On Time?
On time. I’m an obsessive clock-watcher.

We’re giving away 2 copies of SINS OF THE ANGELS today and 5 handmade bookmarks.
Just leave a comment or a question for Linda for a chance to win!
International giveaway!
Linda Poitevin was born and raised in B.C., Canada’s westernmost province. Growing up in an era when writing was “a nice hobby, dear, but what are you going to do for a living?”, Linda worked at a variety of secretarial jobs before applying to be a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Due to an error in measurement, however, she was turned down when she didn’t meet the height requirement of that time. Undeterred, Linda became a civilian member in the force and was a dispatcher for two and a half years, during which time she met her husband, a police officer.
Following their transfer to Ottawa, Linda went on to become a real estate agent and then a human resources consultant before starting a family. She has been a stay-at-home mom ever since and has homeschooled her youngest daughter for the last nine years. Now that she has realized writing can be more than a nice hobby, she continues to live her dream of being a cop vicariously through her characters.
Linda currently lives near Ottawa with her husband, three daughters, one very large husky/shepherd/Great Dane-cross dog, two cats, three rabbits, and a bearded dragon lizard. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found in her garden or walking her dog along the river or through the woods.
 


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>Interview & Giveaway with Linda Poitevin

>

My guest today, Linda Poitevin, is the author of a new urban fantasy series, The Grigori Legacy, from Ace Books. Book one, SINS OF THE ANGELS is now available! Book two, SINS OF THE SON, releases in May 2012.

The series looks fabulous and when I saw it on the shelves at Walmart on my regular travel stop to work, I couldn’t resist picking up a couple copies for giveaway! So be sure to leave a comment or ask Linda a question to be entered to win!

SINS OF THE ANGELS

A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel…

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case—a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell.

Aramael is a Power—a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.

Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.

Linda, what’s your favorite thing about SINS OF THE ANGELS?
I love how Sins of the Angels speaks to readers in such different ways. It fascinates me that some consider it a paranormal romance while others focus on the police procedural/mystery aspect and hardly seem to notice the romantic element, or how some readers are drawn in by the mythology behind the story and others like the thriller aspect. I personally love books that cross the genre lines and so I’m thrilled that I seem to have created that kind of story myself.

What is your strategy in creating villains? Tell us about Caim, your villain.
I really tried to make Caim as fully three-dimensional as possible. To me, that meant delving deeply enough into his character that readers didn’t just know what his motivation was for his actions but also that they understood it—and could even feel sorry for him on some creepy level.

What do you love most about this book/series?
I love exploring the god/angel mythology (with my own twists!) in a real-world setting. I’ve tried to keep the reaction of Alex, my heroine, as real-to-life as possible when she finds out about the existence of angels—and of an actual Heaven and Hell. The challenge of doing so has really made me grow as a writer, I think, and growing is always good. 🙂

Does your novel have a theme? How did that come about?
Choices. I feel very strongly that every decision we make in our lives comes down to a personal choice we’ve made, whether or not we’re even aware that we’ve made it. In Sins of the Angels, I explore how those personal choices impact not just us, but the entire world…or in the book’s case, the universe.

How does your family view your writing career?
My husband and daughters are extremely supportive and very proud of me. Sometimes I think they’re even more excited about my publication than I am, lol.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?
I’m on both Twitter (@lindapoitevin) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LindaPoitevin) at least once a day (and WAY more often when I’m procrastinating!), and I also have a blog through my website. I love, love, love to hear from readers and answer all comments…promise. 🙂

How would you best describe your books?
Supernatural thrillers.

What would you write if you could do write anything you wanted to write?
I may be the luckiest writer in the whole entire world, because I’m already writing it. 🙂

What are your current projects?

Sins of the Son, Book 2 of The Grigory Legacy, is currently at the typesetting/proofreading stage, so I’m waiting to get it back for a final read. In the meantime, I’ve started work on the third book in the series (currently unnamed, much to my great angst!).

Where can we find you online?
My website is at http://www.lindapoitevin.com.

Do You Believe That The Cup Is Half Empty Or Half Full?
Half full.

Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?
Definitely an introvert.

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?
Window.

Do You Like Short Or Long Hair On A Guy?
Long.

Ever Hit A Jackpot On A Slot Machine?
Sadly, no.

Which do you like more—rainy days or snowy days?
Depends on the temperature…and the season!

What is Your Favorite Beverage?
Coffee is my most necessary one, but apple wine is my favorite. 🙂

Are you a night or a morning person?
Morning…much to my husband’s great disgust.

Are You Usually Late, Early Or Right On Time?
On time. I’m an obsessive clock-watcher.

We’re giving away 2 copies of SINS OF THE ANGELS today and 5 handmade bookmarks.
Just leave a comment or a question for Linda for a chance to win!
International giveaway!
Linda Poitevin was born and raised in B.C., Canada’s westernmost province. Growing up in an era when writing was “a nice hobby, dear, but what are you going to do for a living?”, Linda worked at a variety of secretarial jobs before applying to be a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Due to an error in measurement, however, she was turned down when she didn’t meet the height requirement of that time. Undeterred, Linda became a civilian member in the force and was a dispatcher for two and a half years, during which time she met her husband, a police officer.
Following their transfer to Ottawa, Linda went on to become a real estate agent and then a human resources consultant before starting a family. She has been a stay-at-home mom ever since and has homeschooled her youngest daughter for the last nine years. Now that she has realized writing can be more than a nice hobby, she continues to live her dream of being a cop vicariously through her characters.
Linda currently lives near Ottawa with her husband, three daughters, one very large husky/shepherd/Great Dane-cross dog, two cats, three rabbits, and a bearded dragon lizard. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found in her garden or walking her dog along the river or through the woods.
 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Catherine Mann is in the HOT ZONE!!

>It’s no secret I’m an Alpha, military-type hero lover, right?  I’ve probably made that plenty clear somewhere along the way, haven’t I?   Well, we’ve definitely got some yummy Alpha military yumminess going on here today!

Catherine Mann visits with info on her new release, HOT ZONE, Book 2 in her Elite Force series featuring hunky Pararescuemen. And she also shares some fun personal facts as well.

Make sure you comment about your favorite aspect of the military romantic suspense genre
to enter the giveaway for one of Catherine’s novels up for grabs today!

HOT ZONE

Days full of danger…
For Pararescueman Master Sergeant Hugh Franco, it’s all about saving other people’s lives. Then he moves on. But when he pulls beautiful Amelia Bailey and her adopted nephew from the rubble of a catastrophic earthquake, he finds himself entangled in their lives in ways he could never have imagined…

And desire-filled nights…
Amelia’s trip to the Bahamas to help with an international adoption has been no vacation, but the hardest part is yet to come. As Amelia and Hugh are pulled unawares into a deadly smuggling scheme, simmering beneath their growing need to protect each other is a compelling attraction they’re both determined to deny…

“Elite Force” series:
Book 1: COVER ME, July 2011
Book 2: HOT ZONE, December 2011
Book 3: UNDER FIRE, May 2012

“Mann’s tender yet heart-pounding story vividly creates the chaos of both disasters and love.”
– Booklist

Catherine, tell us about your upcoming release, HOT ZONE.
Thanks so much for having me here on your blog today! I’m thrilled to be celebrating the release of HOT ZONE, the second book in my “Elite Force” series about Air Force pararescuemen. They’re also known as PJs, in reference to their earlier days when they were called Para Jumpers.

What’s your favorite thing about HOT ZONE?
Having the opportunity to showcase these unsung military heroes who live by the motto “These things we do that others may live.”

What sparked the idea for this series?
I’ve long been fascinated by this basically unknown military unit – a very small unit. There are only about 350 pararescuemen total and they go through much of the same grueling training as other special ops individuals.

What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?
My hero falls in love too easily (he’s been married 3 times!) My heroine lost the love of her life and wants nothing to do with that kind of heartbreak again.

What is your strategy in creating villains?
Ahhhh, villains! I love creating villains with unexpected nuances. Villains should have reasons and motivations, even if they’re twisted. And this villain has definitely twisted by years of abuse as a child… But if I say more, it’ll give away part of the story!

What was the hardest part of this book to write and why?
The heroine works with therapy dogs, trained to help military vets suffering from PTSD. As a military wife, writing about that kind of pain carried by our veterans was especially difficult.

What do you love most about this series?
Writing about smoking hot alpha males in uniform!! (And finding the perfect heroine to conquer each hero’s heart. 😉

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Suzanne Brockmann has – without question – been a generous mentor from the very start of my writing career. She has shared her time, her insights, her readers, her support. She’s a gifted and caring person. I can never thank her enough.

How does your family view your writing career?
My kids and husband are every bit as proud of me as I am of them! (And that’s a lot!) My kids love to embarrass me in book stores by shouting at the top of their lungs, “Oh my God! Is that THE Catherine Mann?!”

What entity do you feel supports you most in your writing career outside of family members?
I have the best critique partner a writer could ever ask for! Harlequin Blaze & Historical author Joanne Rock has been my critique partner since long before either of us made that first sale. Now, Joanne’s written about 50 books and I’ve written over 40, and she still has the most awesome insights to share.

What is your writing routine?

Write until my vision blurs? LOL! Okay, seriously, I set page counts for each week. If I meet my goal by Friday, I get the weekend off. If I don’t, I have to work through the weekend to catch up. This also provides incentive to my family to stay out of my hair during the week if they want to play on the weekend.

What are you reading now?
I just finished J.R. Ward’s ENVY.

What is in your TBR pile?
I just preordered Joanna Bourne’s THE BLACK HAWK. (By the time this interview goes live, I will have read it!)

What is your preferred genre to read for pleasure?
Honestly, I’m a very eclectic reader across genres, although I do have to say I’m happiest when a book has at least some romantic thread.

Do you have a second career? (Yes, motherhood counts!)
My flyboy husband and I have four children, although three have left the nest for college now. And I also serve on the Board of Directors for my local Humane Society.

What did you do before you became a full-time writer?
I have a Master’s degree in Theater and I worked as a theater school director in Charleston, SC.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
I’m a big fan of Christopher Vogler’s THE WRITER’S JOURNEY. I use it for plotting – great in helping tie in emotional turning points with plot landmarks.

What would you write if you could do write anything you wanted to write?
I’m absolutely blessed to be writing exactly what I want to write. 🙂

What do you most like about writing? Least like?
I love being able to wear my PJs all day long if I wish. Although sometimes, I miss having people around me. I guess that’s why I spend so much time online!

What would you say is your biggest writing quirk?
I foster puppies and special needs dogs for my local shelter, so it’s not unusual for me to be writing with a pack of 4-6 dogs at my feet.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Read. Watch movies with my family. Walk my dogs. I’m a homebody!

What are your current projects?
HOT ZONE, “Elite Force” bk 2, Sourcebooks – out now!
PROTECTOR, “Dark Ops” bk 4, Berkley, March 2012
HONORABLE INTENTIONS, Harlequin Desire, April 2012
UNDER FIRE, “Elite Force” bk 3, Sourcebooks, May 2012
GUARDIAN, “Dark Ops” bk 5, Berkley, September 2012

Do You Have Any Undiscovered Or Hidden Talents?
I worked as a puppeteer to make extra money in graduate school.

Do You Believe That The Cup Is Half Empty Or Half Full?
Overflowing!

Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?
I’m a shy extrovert. 🙂

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?

Aisle!!! I feel too closed in by the window.

Do You Like Short Or Long Hair On A Guy?
Military cut short or completely shaved. Very hot!

Ever Hit A Jackpot On A Slot Machine?
Nope. Not a gambler. Would rather spend my money on a meal out or a new outfit.

Are You Afraid Of Heights?
Not in love with them.

Do you prefer your mattress soft or hard?
Firm!

How many pillows do you like to sleep with?
As many pillows as I can fit on the bed.

Which do you like more—rainy days or snowy days?
Rainy days! I’m only a fan of snow on Christmas Day. The rest of the year, I prefer my warm beach.

What is Your Favorite Beverage?
I’m trying to give up Diet Cokes – not easy! So I guess I would say chocolate tea is my current favorite.

Are You A Heavy Or Light Sleeper?
Used to be a deep sleeper, but after so many years of keeping my ears open for the kids during the night, I’ve become a light sleeper.

Are you a night or a morning person?
Night owl. Totally.

At The Beach Would You Rather Play In The Sand, Or Play In The Water?
Read a book while lounging in a beach chair.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?
I can always be found online:
Website: http://catherinemann.com
Facebook: Catherine Mann (author)
Twitter: CatherineMann1
e-mail: Catherine@CatherineMann.com

USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann has over two million books in print in more than twenty countries. A RITA Award winning author, she writes military suspense for Sourcebooks and Berkley, as well as steamy romances for Harlequin Desire. Catherine resides in Florida with her military flyboy husband and their four children.

What is your favorite aspect of the military romantic suspense genre? 
Comment to enter the giveaway for one of Catherine’s novels or bookmarks up for grabs today!



>Catherine Mann is in the HOT ZONE!!

>It’s no secret I’m an Alpha, military-type hero lover, right?  I’ve probably made that plenty clear somewhere along the way, haven’t I?   Well, we’ve definitely got some yummy Alpha military yumminess going on here today!

Catherine Mann visits with info on her new release, HOT ZONE, Book 2 in her Elite Force series featuring hunky Pararescuemen. And she also shares some fun personal facts as well.

Make sure you comment about your favorite aspect of the military romantic suspense genre
to enter the giveaway for one of Catherine’s novels up for grabs today!

HOT ZONE

Days full of danger…
For Pararescueman Master Sergeant Hugh Franco, it’s all about saving other people’s lives. Then he moves on. But when he pulls beautiful Amelia Bailey and her adopted nephew from the rubble of a catastrophic earthquake, he finds himself entangled in their lives in ways he could never have imagined…

And desire-filled nights…
Amelia’s trip to the Bahamas to help with an international adoption has been no vacation, but the hardest part is yet to come. As Amelia and Hugh are pulled unawares into a deadly smuggling scheme, simmering beneath their growing need to protect each other is a compelling attraction they’re both determined to deny…

“Elite Force” series:
Book 1: COVER ME, July 2011
Book 2: HOT ZONE, December 2011
Book 3: UNDER FIRE, May 2012

“Mann’s tender yet heart-pounding story vividly creates the chaos of both disasters and love.”
– Booklist

Catherine, tell us about your upcoming release, HOT ZONE.
Thanks so much for having me here on your blog today! I’m thrilled to be celebrating the release of HOT ZONE, the second book in my “Elite Force” series about Air Force pararescuemen. They’re also known as PJs, in reference to their earlier days when they were called Para Jumpers.

What’s your favorite thing about HOT ZONE?
Having the opportunity to showcase these unsung military heroes who live by the motto “These things we do that others may live.”

What sparked the idea for this series?
I’ve long been fascinated by this basically unknown military unit – a very small unit. There are only about 350 pararescuemen total and they go through much of the same grueling training as other special ops individuals.

What creates the biggest conflict between your hero and heroine?
My hero falls in love too easily (he’s been married 3 times!) My heroine lost the love of her life and wants nothing to do with that kind of heartbreak again.

What is your strategy in creating villains?
Ahhhh, villains! I love creating villains with unexpected nuances. Villains should have reasons and motivations, even if they’re twisted. And this villain has definitely twisted by years of abuse as a child… But if I say more, it’ll give away part of the story!

What was the hardest part of this book to write and why?
The heroine works with therapy dogs, trained to help military vets suffering from PTSD. As a military wife, writing about that kind of pain carried by our veterans was especially difficult.

What do you love most about this series?
Writing about smoking hot alpha males in uniform!! (And finding the perfect heroine to conquer each hero’s heart. 😉

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Suzanne Brockmann has – without question – been a generous mentor from the very start of my writing career. She has shared her time, her insights, her readers, her support. She’s a gifted and caring person. I can never thank her enough.

How does your family view your writing career?
My kids and husband are every bit as proud of me as I am of them! (And that’s a lot!) My kids love to embarrass me in book stores by shouting at the top of their lungs, “Oh my God! Is that THE Catherine Mann?!”

What entity do you feel supports you most in your writing career outside of family members?
I have the best critique partner a writer could ever ask for! Harlequin Blaze & Historical author Joanne Rock has been my critique partner since long before either of us made that first sale. Now, Joanne’s written about 50 books and I’ve written over 40, and she still has the most awesome insights to share.

What is your writing routine?

Write until my vision blurs? LOL! Okay, seriously, I set page counts for each week. If I meet my goal by Friday, I get the weekend off. If I don’t, I have to work through the weekend to catch up. This also provides incentive to my family to stay out of my hair during the week if they want to play on the weekend.

What are you reading now?
I just finished J.R. Ward’s ENVY.

What is in your TBR pile?
I just preordered Joanna Bourne’s THE BLACK HAWK. (By the time this interview goes live, I will have read it!)

What is your preferred genre to read for pleasure?
Honestly, I’m a very eclectic reader across genres, although I do have to say I’m happiest when a book has at least some romantic thread.

Do you have a second career? (Yes, motherhood counts!)
My flyboy husband and I have four children, although three have left the nest for college now. And I also serve on the Board of Directors for my local Humane Society.

What did you do before you became a full-time writer?
I have a Master’s degree in Theater and I worked as a theater school director in Charleston, SC.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
I’m a big fan of Christopher Vogler’s THE WRITER’S JOURNEY. I use it for plotting – great in helping tie in emotional turning points with plot landmarks.

What would you write if you could do write anything you wanted to write?
I’m absolutely blessed to be writing exactly what I want to write. 🙂

What do you most like about writing? Least like?
I love being able to wear my PJs all day long if I wish. Although sometimes, I miss having people around me. I guess that’s why I spend so much time online!

What would you say is your biggest writing quirk?
I foster puppies and special needs dogs for my local shelter, so it’s not unusual for me to be writing with a pack of 4-6 dogs at my feet.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Read. Watch movies with my family. Walk my dogs. I’m a homebody!

What are your current projects?
HOT ZONE, “Elite Force” bk 2, Sourcebooks – out now!
PROTECTOR, “Dark Ops” bk 4, Berkley, March 2012
HONORABLE INTENTIONS, Harlequin Desire, April 2012
UNDER FIRE, “Elite Force” bk 3, Sourcebooks, May 2012
GUARDIAN, “Dark Ops” bk 5, Berkley, September 2012

Do You Have Any Undiscovered Or Hidden Talents?
I worked as a puppeteer to make extra money in graduate school.

Do You Believe That The Cup Is Half Empty Or Half Full?
Overflowing!

Are You An Introvert Or An Extrovert?
I’m a shy extrovert. 🙂

Are You A Window Person Or An Aisle Person?

Aisle!!! I feel too closed in by the window.

Do You Like Short Or Long Hair On A Guy?
Military cut short or completely shaved. Very hot!

Ever Hit A Jackpot On A Slot Machine?
Nope. Not a gambler. Would rather spend my money on a meal out or a new outfit.

Are You Afraid Of Heights?
Not in love with them.

Do you prefer your mattress soft or hard?
Firm!

How many pillows do you like to sleep with?
As many pillows as I can fit on the bed.

Which do you like more—rainy days or snowy days?
Rainy days! I’m only a fan of snow on Christmas Day. The rest of the year, I prefer my warm beach.

What is Your Favorite Beverage?
I’m trying to give up Diet Cokes – not easy! So I guess I would say chocolate tea is my current favorite.

Are You A Heavy Or Light Sleeper?
Used to be a deep sleeper, but after so many years of keeping my ears open for the kids during the night, I’ve become a light sleeper.

Are you a night or a morning person?
Night owl. Totally.

At The Beach Would You Rather Play In The Sand, Or Play In The Water?
Read a book while lounging in a beach chair.

How do you keep in touch with your readers?
I can always be found online:
Website: http://catherinemann.com
Facebook: Catherine Mann (author)
Twitter: CatherineMann1
e-mail: Catherine@CatherineMann.com

USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann has over two million books in print in more than twenty countries. A RITA Award winning author, she writes military suspense for Sourcebooks and Berkley, as well as steamy romances for Harlequin Desire. Catherine resides in Florida with her military flyboy husband and their four children.

What is your favorite aspect of the military romantic suspense genre? 
Comment to enter the giveaway for one of Catherine’s novels or bookmarks up for grabs today!



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