Author Lia Davis Guest Post

Today I welcome author Lia Davis to my blog to talk about her new book Death's Storm and other things writing. So without further ado, take it away Lia!

Writing Fantasy/Paranormal Romance by Lia Davis

Like all new authors, I really didn’t know the difference between fantasy romance and paranormal romance. To be honest, I’m still not sure there is a true definition that defines them.

According Romance Writers of America (RWA) on their subgenres description page of their website, paranormal romance is defined as follows.

 “Romance novels in which the future, a fantasy world, or paranormal happenings are an integral part of the plot.” (RWA, http://www.rwa.org/cs/romance_literature_subgenres)

However, many publishers have taken the general paranormal genre as defined above and split it out: sci-fic, fantasy, and paranormal. And some eBook stores split paranormal between vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, and other genres.

The Divinities series crosses between fantasy and paranormal. I’ve even had a critique partner tell me that Forgotten Visions reads like an urban fantasy in the beginning. That could be mostly due to the reader doesn’t meet the hero until the end of chapter two. Also could be that I show the readers the twins’ loss—the death of Kalissa and Khloe’s parents, which leads Kalissa on her journey and into the arms of her childhood sweetheart she hasn’t seen in fifteen years. Or maybe it’s just the tone in the beginning.

I didn’t set out to write a blended genre romance. It just happened. I write all my stories as they come to me. I do create chapter outlines that only provide the plot points by chapter. Then my characters are free to tell their story, and my muse is free to create the new world.  

The fantasy side of the series is the magical world of the Divinities and the otherworldly beings like elves, pixies, witches, and a wood nymph. There could be other creatures that I haven’t met yet. In Death’s Storm, the readers are taken into another world for a short period. Jagger takes Khloe to the Afterworld.

The paranormal side of the Divinities is the demons and the introduction of a couple of Divinities who can shapeshift. My muse has given me hints of what’s coming. All I can say is it’s going to be a bumpy ride for the Divinities and they need to make new allies to even the score.

I love writing, and I love blending magic, mystery, and paranormal together to bring the readers a fresh new world.

Thank you for having me over today! 

 

~~ GIVEAWAY ~~
Lia is giving away a swag pack to two commenters. Please leave your email address in your comment to qualify.

Title: Death’s Storm, The Divinities, book 2

Author: Lia Davis

Publisher: Fated Desires Publishing

Release Date: November 20, 2012

Length: 42,000 words

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Blurb:

Technical genius and demi-goddess--aka Divinity--Khloe Bradenton relies on no one for help, and she definitely doesn’t need comfort from anyone other than her twin. After her parents died by the demons’ hands over two years ago, she has graciously stepped up to her place in the war between demons and witches. When a creature far more dangerous than the ones responsible for killing her parents claims he is her guardian, she is torn between her desires for the dark predator and the painful loss she has endured at the hands of her enemies.

One of the last death demons still in existence, Jagger has pledged his life to the Goddess Hecate. Charged with the guardianship over the Divinities, he is never to approach them, but to aid them from a distance. When the firestorm, Khloe, sacrifices herself to save her twin and best friend and becomes the prey, he has no choice but to reveal himself to her. He is taken by surprise when the need to claim her as his own emerges. A desire he has never felt before could be more dangerous than the demons out to destroy them.    

Now Available at Amazon | B&N | ARe | Kobo

Excerpt 1:

Stepping off the curb to head to the car, Khloe stilled and let the warm air caress her skin. An electrical charge that only the select few magickin—like her and the other Divinities—could detect was palpable in the humid summer air.

Her spine tingled as the supernatural energy drifted on the wind, putting her on full alert. Reaching out with her senses, she relaxed. A little. The energy was familiar in an odd kind of way. Her admirer was nearby.

More like a stalker, really, without the creepy love letters and phone calls.

For the last month, someone had watched her and followed her every move. When the entity was near, a warm shiver rolled over her skin like a caress. The energy didn’t come from a human. Demon? Maybe. But, the power was too intense to be any demonic creature she’d come in contact with. She considered one of the gods, but that didn’t make sense either. The gods wouldn’t stalk her. They would send a messenger or deliver their message in person. She and the others had also thought it could be a guardian.

Whatever the entity was, it annoyed the hell out of her to be followed around and spied upon.

She scanned to mall parking lot and the sidewalk that lead to the various shops. Nothing remotely threatening came into view or reached out to her supernatural senses. Then again, she never saw anything when she sensed the presence. It had shown up last month, right after she and Kalissa had been thrust into an ancient war between witches and demons.

That was when she and Kalissa found a note from their mother telling them about the Sinew—a crystal sphere that held the magic of the worlds—and sent Kalissa on a mission to retrieve it. As Divinities, it was their duty to protect magickin from Khan, the new Bastard Lord of the Underworld.

Excerpt 2:

Jagger tossed the Amiddian to the side, stepped away from the overturned van, and froze. Khloe stood on the shoulder of the road about fifteen feet ahead, and watched him. Her pink-streaked blond hair framed her oval face, making her look like a pissed off angel. He took a step forward and felt the presence of another demon. He turned to the new energy to see a horned, blue-skinned demon advancing toward Khloe.

Fuck. Where were they coming from?

Letting out a low growl, Jagger materialized in front of the demon and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. Holding the hell-spawn off the ground, Jagger let his fangs drop. “What do you want with her?”

The demon narrowed his eyes and smirked, but said nothing.

Tightening his grip, Jagger gave the demon one more chance. “You can tell me, or I’ll drain the memories from your useless soul.”

The idiot laughed and vanished.

Fuck! No one should have been able to flash from his hold. He surrounded them with a spell for just that reason. There was only one possibility. Khan had a power source just like Jagger suspected.

Fisting his hands to his side, he whirled around to find Khloe gone. Great. Another complication. Scenting the air, he picked up on her chocolate-rose fragrance and rushed into the forest. Several feet into the trees and brush, he found her.

She wasn’t alone. A Regal—the imperial guards of Khan and the most powerful demons in the Underworld—stood over her, with his hand gripping her arm.

Rage ran in Jagger’s veins, fueling his need to protect her and kill for her.

He soon discovered his Khloe was a fireball. She kicked the Regal in the balls, taking the demon to the ground. Turning on her heels, she took off again, but not before he caught the scent of blood.

A deep growl ripped from his throat, and he thrust his hand toward the male struggling to stand, hitting him with a ball of fire. The demon puffed into a black pile of dust.

No one harmed what belonged to him and lived.

Author Bio:

Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and two very special kitties, a wife to her soul mate, a paranormal romance author, graphic designer, and co-owner to Fated Desires Publishing, LLC. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!

An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very active imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and loves it more than she imagined. Writing and designing are stress relievers that allow her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving real life where it belongs.

Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.

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