Cover Reveal: Once Upon a Darkness by Aria Kane

I’m so excited to have Aria Kane’s cover reveal for Once Upon A Darkness on my blog today.

I met Aria a few years ago at Romance Writer’s of America’s National Convention when it was in Orlando, Florida. I quickly discovered that she had a sense of humor and dynamic personality and knew she would go far. It was great to reconnect with her just a couple of weeks ago at RT, and now, to get to introduce her and the book to you.

She is a recovering mechanical engineer and romance writer. She lives in sunny Florida with a 60 lb mutt who thinks he’s a Chihuahua. You can learn more about her at ariakane.com or on Twitter @aria_kane.

Once Upon A Darkness — Available June 17

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Gretchen and her twin brother, Hank, were abandoned to a zombie horde when they were five years old. Intended to be a sacrifice by their zealot parents, they were instead rescued by The Company. Raised to become soldiers in the war against zombies, they now provide safe passage through danger zones, one contract at a time.

Clint’s only skill is war, but he’s weary of killing other men. When his contract with the Marines runs out, he takes a job on Gretchen’s team, hoping that the search-and-rescue life will suit him better.

On Clint’s second day, their four-man team is attacked, drugged, and taken to a prison full of frightened civilians. The only way in or out is by helicopter and, here, their enemies are human. One by one, the captives are culled from the holding area.  Rumors say the facility director uses the prisoners as experimental subjects for the testing of a zombie cure.

When Hank is taken, Clint and Gretchen must put aside their personal feelings and find a way out of the prison, surrounded by thousands of starving zombies, before Hank becomes just one more disposable guinea pig in the hands of a twisted mad woman.

 

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Giveaway

To celebrate the Once Upon a Darkness cover reveal, Aria is giving away a $20 giftcard and an ecopy of an Entranced book of the winner’s choice.

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Guest Post: Maer Wilson, Behind the Scenes of Relics

Please welcome fellowMaer Author Crescent Moon Press author, Maer Wilson, to the blog today. She’s here to take us behind the scenes of her fantastic book, Relics, which was released May, 1.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the book, and you can find my review on this post.

One of the things I knew before I ever started writing Relics was that I wanted my heroine to be married. So many heroines in Urban Fantasy are on their own. They take on the world and are pretty kickass doing it. But at the end of the day or night they go home to their empty apartment/house. Oh, they might have a friend or two and often a romantic interest may appear. But sometimes not. Some of them are fine with being alone. Others not.

So, I wanted to do something a little different. I not only wanted a married heroine, I wanted a couple who worked together as a team. That idea was in the back of my mind, but it all came together with the names.

As a gamer playing World of Warcraft, I belonged to a guild that seemed to have an over-abundance of characters whose names began with “Moo”. With several “Moo-somethings” to add to the confusion, I decided to give nicknames to this one married couple. The result was Thulu and La Fi.

Just as I was typing in a message to tell them what I was going to call them, I looked at those names and knew that they didn’t belong to the couple in the game. They were the main characters in my story, which was already shoving its way to the front of my brain, demanding that I pay attention.

It was as if naming them gave them substance. I knew who they were and what they did. I had yet to discover what would happen to them, but that’s been part of the fun the last few years.

So, I erased the message and wrote the book.

I gave Thulu and La Fi a huge support system with a very large family. And they work together at their detective agency for the supernatural. I’m quite attached to them and I love playing in their world.

In fact, the whole experience has been a fascinating ride so far. And I’m having the time of my life!

Thanks for having me on your blog, Constance!

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Book Blurb

Most of Thulu and La Fi’s clients are dead. Which is perfect since their detective agency caters to the supernatural. So, a job finding relics for an ancient daemon should be simple.

The daemon needs the relics to keep a dangerous portal closed. His enemy, Gabriel, wants the relics to open the portal and give his people access to a new feeding ground – Earth.

Stunning humanity with their existence, portals to other worlds begin to open and the creatures of magic return to Earth.

When Gabriel threatens their family, Thulu and La Fi’s search becomes personal. The couple will need powerful allies in the race to find the relics before Gabriel does. But maybe that’s what grateful dead, magical allies and daemonic clients are for.

When the creatures of myth and magic return to Earth, they’re nothing like your mother’s fairy tales.

Maer’s Bio

After a successful career being other people, and later teaching others the many tricks of that trade, Maer Wilson has decided to be herself for a while. Turns out she’s a writer. She’s always loved stories, especially fantasy, mystery and sci fi. Maer was born in the Year of the Dragon and has a dragon-themed room in her home, but sadly no dragons in the back yard. When she’s not writing, Maer plays online video games, teaches college and reads. She also co-hosts the literary podcast, “MythBehaving” and writes for two gaming fansites. She lives in the high desert of Southern Nevada with her two dogs, a chihuahua and a poodle. Relics is her first novel and will be released by Crescent Moon Press on May 1, 2013. You can visit her website at maerwilson.com.

Trailer for Relics:

Maer’s Links:

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Guest Post: Kary Rader on Magical Realism or Realistic Magic; Queen of Jastain

I’m so pleased to have fellow Crescent Moon Press author, Kate Rader, here today to talk about Magical Realism and her new release Queen of Jastain!

Connie – thank you so much for having me on your blog!

 

Psionics is the practice, study, or psychic ability of using the mind to induce paranormal phenomena. Examples of this includes empathy, telepathy, telekinesis, and Kary Profile Picother workings of the outside world through the psyche.

Today I want to talk about the mystical and ambiguous realm of magic as it relates to the untapped power of the human mind. I have always believed that we have tapped into very little of our physical, mental and emotional capabilities. Even with all of our scientific advances, there is so much we don’t understand about ourselves. If we did understand, I believe the potential would span into the infinite.

Every person has their personal story about a dead loved one who has visited in a dream, or an unexplained phenomenon in their home or someplace they’ve visited. These are the spooky tales you share around the campfire. Everyone seems to have had at least a small interaction with something (whether they can explain it or not) beyond the normal—paranormal.

When I wrote my current release, Queen of Jastain, I wanted the characters to have abilities beyond normal but I also wanted those abilities to be grounded closer to truth that the fantastical.

In Queen of Jastain, the main characters have a seed of The Gift inside of them. This Gift is called The Implanting. The Implanting is a special ability given by a higher power for the benefit of society as a whole. In most manifestations, the Implanting is a supernatural enhancement of an otherwise natural gift. For instance: if someone was a gifted artist, in Jastain, the art would be supernaturally enhanced and might even possess the power to heal or help. The people of Jastain who carry the Implanting are known as the Chosen, and they are allowed to rule the people by their Gifting. Along with enhanced natural abilities, The Implanting manifests in the form of telekinesis, telepathy, and, in some rare cases, teleportation. Under the study of Psionics there are many substantiated claims and unexplainable accounts from reliable sources that lend validity to the supernatural phenomenon.

Thanks for stopping by. Leave me a comment and tell me if you believe in abilities beyond the normal. And don’t forget to get a copy of Queen of Jastain available at Amazon and All Romance ebooks.

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Queen of Jastain

The Light brought her to him, but does he have the faith to make her his queen?

For twenty years, Avant plotted revenge against the dark king, but when a mysterious woman suddenly appears, everything changes. Although his prophetic Gift reveals she’s the Seed of Light chosen to restore the Crown, his overwhelming attraction to the women threatens his long-held plan for revenge and two decades of fidelity.

Abby Randall is inexplicably transported from Dallas to the medieval land of Jastain. There she meets Avant, who claims she’s the foretold champion of his people. While the hot guy has her hormones pumping, his crazy talk of defeating an evil king leaves questions to his sanity. Through his supernatural Gift, Avant transplants his memories into her, but neither are prepared for how their hearts intertwine.

Together they embark on their quest, but when Abby and Avant come face to face with destiny, will they sacrifice what matters most to provide a happily-ever-after for the people of Jastain?

Excerpt:

When Avant climbed back to the cave, his hair was wet. He’d slicked it back from his face and tied it into a little ponytail with a leather string. The sexy shadow of a light beard softened his angular jaw, and the thick waves of his hair shined with chestnut highlights in the morning sun. It was a good look for him, but then again, what wasn’t? Abby ran her fingers through her own tangled tresses and pulled her hair back. What she wouldn’t give for a hairclip.

Would you like a thong for your hair?”

She giggled at the word thong, certain that what she pictured was not what he referenced. “Do you have an extra one? I’d like to get it out of my face, and I don’t have anything.” Actually she had her own thong, but she sure as hell wasn’t putting it in her hair.

He immediately unlaced the tie at the neck of his shirt and handed it to her.

She gasped and put a hand to her face to hide the heat in her cheeks as his shirt fell open below his breast bone. “You don’t have to do that.”

Her blood coursed wildly at the sight of the smooth muscles of his chest. A soft sprinkling of dark hair beckoned her fingers. She swallowed hard.

 “It’s all right. Please use it. It will be a hard day’s journey with hair in your face.” His words rang in her mind so sincerely she forgot her embarrassment, but her eyes kept flitting to his heavenly chest.

Thank you, Avant, and not only for the lace but for everything you’re doing to help me.

Holding her gaze, he nodded once, and her heart fluttered. Was it getting warm in the cave? She wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

 “It is time to be off if we are to make it to the next shelter before nightfall.” He picked up his pack and walked to the mouth of the cave. She grabbed her bag and followed.

Climbing down proved to be more difficult than going up. The muscles required to lower herself from one level to the next worked her thighs and butt like no gym equipment she’d ever experienced. It was like doing hours of squats. She trudged down the mountain with the previous day’s tumult weighting her down like the “freshman ten.” Avant helped her along on the steeper steps, but, for the most part, she made them on her own, clippity-clopping in those damned Docinis all the way.

When he reached the bottom, he disappeared around an outcropping. Abby took the last little step to the base and hurried after him. As she turned the corner, Avant grabbed her arm and spun her around. Driving her back against the rock, he pressed the length of his rigid body against her. His face, barely three inches from hers, clenched in thin lines of stress. Her heart raced…with fear.

She was pretty sure it was fear.

Bio:

Kary Rader is a part-time Twitter sage, stay-at-home mother of three, and slave to the characters and worlds inside her head. Always creative, she’s drawn to stories with fantastical worlds and creatures. With a little bit of magic and divine guidance, there isn’t anything that can’t be accomplished with words. It’s the power of words that creates and destroys. Vanquishing evil and injustice while finding eternal love in the process is all in a day’s work. With the help of her critique partners and master cartographer imaginary places come to life.

 

You can find Kary at:

www.karyrader.com

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Character Interview: Bess from Resurrecting Harry

Today, is the last of the character interviews from Resurrecting Harry. We end with Bess.

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Bess, you been through quite a bit in the last year. How are you doing?

Today, much better than a year ago. Thank you so much for asking.

 

Do you want to tell me a little bit about that nice young man you have working for you?

Mr Welch? She shook her head and clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Well, he really is something isn’t he? No one has seem to get under my skin and raise my dandruff since…well, since my dear, sweet Harry.

Is it true that he moved into your house just days after showing up in town?

Bess turned her head and slight blush tinted her cheeks.

It was a working arrangement at the time, I tell you. HI had him doing some much-needed upkeep around the house in exchange for food and a place to lay his head. Perfectly, innocent.

Can you still say that now?

The light flush deepened to a bright crimson.

Oh dear! Do you really want me to answer that question. You know… spoilers and all.

I guess not.

Character Interview: Erich Welch from Resurrecting Harry

The character interviews from Resurrecting Harry continue today with Erich Welch…or is it Harry…or is it Erich.

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Well, I guess I’ll just ask you. Which is it?

Erich.

You say that with such a certainty. I know there’s this place early in the book, you get angry when Jaden addresses you as Erich.

He gives me a curt nod.

 And later in the book just the opposite is true. He chuckles. Funny thing with Jaden, though, he sees it all with such a clarity. Doesn’t he?

He scraps his hand across his jaw.

I have all of Harry’s memories. Sometimes, when emotions get the best of me, Harry’s feelings will surge up. I’ll act without thinking. Without really remembering. But I don’t own his existence anymore. Not like it was in the beginning.

Do you regret any of it?

Sure I do. Don’t we all have things we regret. That’s what this whole thing was about. Mistakes. Missteps. Moving forward.

And now?

Well…. I guess that will just have to wait for the next book.

 

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Character Interview: Will from Resurrecting Harry

Please welcome to the blog, Will from Resurrecting Harry. He’s the owner of the deli, friend to Erich and confidant to Bess.

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Will, you’re pretty well known for your pastures and sandwiches.

Well, we do what we can. Serve a good meal, and people will come.

I know Erich was happy you were willing to help him out. He and Martin both say you’re known to take in strays, be it people or animals.

I guess there is some truth to that too. I tell you, I was suspicious of Erich when he walked into my deli out of nowhere, but he proved himself rather quickly. Soon as I knew he was good folk, well, then I was willing to help him out.

And gave him a vote of confidence with Bess…

Aw! Didn’t have to do that. She saw through to his character same as I did. Bessie is a shrewd woman. She can judge a character all on her own.

Is that something she comes by naturally, you think?

Probably. I imagine Harry helped her fine tune any natural skills she had.

Resurrecting Harry Character Interview: Martin Cooper

Today, Dr. Martin Cooper has agreed to stop by the blog for a quick interview about his role in Resurrecting Harry.

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Thanks for stopping by, Doctor. I know your time off the page is short, so let’s get right down to it. You’ve known Bess for quite some time…

Oh, yes, dear, sweet woman. I met both the Houdini’s quite some time ago and we seem to hit it off right away…though, Harry and I eventually had a falling out.

Still, after Harry’s untimely death, you were there to help support her.

Oh, definitely. Neither Gail nor myself could let past bitterness stand in the way. I understood the mourning Bess was experiencing better than most — having lost my first wife to tuberculosis. I know how talking to someone who knows what your feeling can help.

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I made the suggestion. Thought it would be better for her to get out of the house a day or two a week. I should have known she’d take it straight to heart, baking for the patients and getting involved in my patients lives.

You say that like it’s a bad thing…

It is one of the first things we learn in medicine, and a hard lesson at that. You need to keep a professional distance. We do our best to help our patients, of course, but we’re not God. We’re going to lose one now and again.

Do you think that professional distance you maintain is one of the reasons Bess turned to your protegee, Joseph, when her friend Erich needed medical help?

But you forget…she did try and call me first. I only wish that Gail and I had been home when she first called…but that would have been a completely different story, now, wouldn’t it have been.

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Resurrecting Harry Trailer

Cover Reveal: Lindsey R. Loucks’s The Grave Winner

I am so pleased to be part of the cover reveal for fellow Crescent Moon Press author, Lindsey R. Loucks.

The Grave Winner is a young adult, paranormal/fantasy romance novel. It is scheduled to be released May 15.

So, let’s get down to the good stuff:

authorphotoLindsey R. Loucks works as a school librarian in rural Kansas. When she’s not discussing books with anyone who will listen, she’s dreaming up her own stories. Eventually her brain gives out, and she’ll play hide and seek with her cat, put herself in a chocolate induced coma, or watch scary movies alone in the dark to reenergize.

She’s been with her significant other for almost two decades.

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The Grave Winner

Leigh Baxton is terrified her mom will come back from the dead — just like the prom queen did.

While the town goes beehive over the news, Leigh bikes to the local cemetery and buries some of her mom’s things in her grave to keep her there. When the hot and mysterious caretaker warns her not to give gifts to the dead, Leigh cranks up her punk music and keeps digging.

She should have listened.

Two dead sorceresses evicted the prom queen from her grave to bury someone who offered certain gifts. Bury them alive, that is, then resurrect them to create a trio of undead powerful enough to free the darkest sorceress ever from her prison inside the earth.

With help from the caretaker and the dead prom queen, Leigh must find out what’s so special about the gifts she gave, and why the sorceresses are stalking her and her little sister. If she doesn’t, she’ll either lose another loved one or have to give the ultimate gift to the dead – herself.

Add The Grave Winner to Goodreads.

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Resurrecting Harry Character Interview: Gail Cooper

This week, the characters from Resurrecting Harry will be stopping by the blog for short interviews. Make sure you tune each day.

Monday: Gail Cooper

Tuesday, Martin Cooper

Wednesday: Will

Thursday: Erich Welch

Friday: Bess Houdini

yay-7660630Though Gail showed up promptly and seemed open to this interview when we asked, she refused anything to drink and sat with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

Gail, thank you so much for coming by. I know you are quite busy.

Thanks for having me. It’s no trouble, really. After everything that’s happened, it’s become quite quiet as of late.

You and Bess grew quite close after Harry’s unexpected death.

We did. I know some people around this town think that Martin and I had ulterior motive, but we were there to help pick up the pieces, you know. Help put her life back on track.

Since you bring it up…not everyone thinks you were doing Bess any favors by encouraging her to hold seances to try and contact Harry.

Why does everyone think this whole thing was my idea. It wasn’t, you know. Bess came to me.

Wouldn’t it have been kinder to discourage her from engaging in such activity?

You’ve been listening to that Erich, haven’t you.

Gail stood and collected her things.

Well, I do not have to take this.

Character Interview: Jaden From Resurrecting Harry.

I’ve been trying for a while now to get Jaden to stop by the blog and talk for a few minutes about the book, Resurrecting Harry. After a lot of side-stepping, and some convoluted puzzle-like answers, he finally agreed. Though said he could only spare a few, short minutes before he had to return to work.

Jaden

So, Jaden, thanks for stopping by. I know that you must be very busy.

Really, you have no idea.

Jaden shifted his weight in the chair and pushed his long hair — worn loose like in the pictures today — over his shoulder.

Well, I’ll get right down to it then. The comment I most get from readers is they weren’t quite sure if you were on the side of good or evil.

Are they sure now?

Dude, why all the mystery? Why can’t you just say what you’re really thinking?

But I do. I speak my mind, and it’s up to the other person to follow their heart. I can only lay out the roads in front of them. Which path they take, is ultimately up to them.

What was it about Harry? I mean, sure, he was a great escape artist and all, but why give him a second chance at happiness?

Who says it was Harry who got the second chance? Is that your perceptions of the events that happened?

Are you saying it was all for Bess?

They both had lessons to learn. The choices made led to the ending they received.

Uhm…Okay…Just one more question, Jaden, and I’ll let you get back to doing what you…What exactly are you doing now?

I too, have been rewarded for a job-well-done. Whether or not the readers get to find out what that is depends on if you decide to write that story.

Woah, Jaden, One step at a time.

Resurrecting Harry

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Can the greatest escape artist ever known break the grim reaper’s chains to save the only woman he’s ever loved?

In order to save Bess from self-destruction, Harry Houdini puts his afterlife on the line by entering a wager with purgatory’s keeper. He gives Harry a younger face and body, and a new name: Erich Welch.

Bess clings to his promise to deliver a coded message from beyond the grave, determined to provide the bridge for him to cross, even if that means befriending her husband’s sworn enemy.

Erich needs to help Bess over her loss and put her on the road to healing, but will any good come from resurrecting Harry?

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