Name The New Sons of Navarus Character!

Blood Craving, the 5th novel in the Sons of Navarus series, is scheduled for release later this year, and a new character will come on the scene at the end of the story. She's a new vampire, and while she won't be the love interest of any of the Sons, she will be important to the storyline.

But I can't seem to find a good name for her. :( Maybe you can, though. I'm running a Name The New Sons of Navarus Character Contest to find that perfect name. I'll choose one winner's chosen name and she or he will receive a signed paperback copy of Blood Craving and a one-of-a-kind Sons bookthong (even I don't have one of these!), along with a mention in the dedication of the book. Cool, huh?

I'll choose the winning name on November 13, 2013 and participants can enter as many names as they'd like. The winner will be contacted through email, so a valid email is a requirement to win.

Interested? Visit the Name The New Sons of Navarus Character Contest Form to find out all the details about this new vampire and enter to win! I can't wait to see the names!

#Paranormal #Romance Event

This weekend, July 20 and 21, join 20 authors in the Paranormal Romance Event! Every book in the event is just $.99 for the two days, including my books Blood Avenged, Blood Betrayed, and Destiny Redeemed! Over 30 books are less than a buck, so don't miss out!

Visit the event page to find more links and enter to win prizes too! Happy reading!

5 Chapter Preview of Blood Prophecy #PNR #vampires

The surprise I've been hinting at for days is finally here--the first five chapters of Blood Prophecy are available for FREE at Kobo and Amazon. (Amazon will be .99 until I get them to price match...grrrrr...but readers can grab the .mobi file for the Kindle at Smashwords too).

The full ebook and paperback editions won't be out until May, but readers can sink their teeth into these first five chapters and get a taste of where the story is going. Here's the blurb:

I am everything you fear. I am vampire.

As the two Sons chosen to decipher the Prophecy of Idolas, Ramiel and Thane journey to find the key to defeating the Archons. Together with Noele, a born vampire, they confront their fates as they fulfill their duty to their world. Along the way, they'll find love, but death and betrayal lurk in the shadows, threatening everything dear to them.

Descended from the gods and warriors all, each Son's loyalty will be tested. Every action has consequences, and the choices they make now seal their fates. Alliances as old as the vampire world itself are reforged, and the Sons' duty is clear. Stop the Archons. Or die trying.

And don't forget that you can be notified the day the book comes out by signing up at my website at www.gabriellebisset.com for an email to be sent to you to let you know the minute it's available.

So head on over to Kobo  or Amazon and happy reading!(And if you're wanting to help an author in need, tell the Amazon folks there's a lower price at Kobo so they'll price match the preview to free.)

Blood & Dreams Sons of Navarus Box Set

It's holiday time, so in addition to the giveaway hops and desktop wallpapers I have for readers to show how much I love them, I have another goody for them. I've put together the Blood & Dreams Sons of Navarus Box Set, including Vampire Dreams Revamped, Blood Avenged, Blood Betrayed, AND a brand new never seen before Sons short story entitled Longing. The box set is available now at Amazon and B&N, and it's only scheduled to be around for the holidays, so don't miss it!

The events in the new short story, Longing, take place between Blood Betrayed (Book #2 in the series) and Blood Spirit (Book #3). It's told from the two characters featured, Thane and Sasa, and readers will have a LOT more insight into Thane after reading this.

So what's it about? Here's a hint: Remember when you read about Thane feeding Sasa when Vasilije was gone in Blood Spirit? That wasn't the first time that had happened...

I've already been asked if Longing will be available for single sale, and the answer is maybe.  I hadn't thought about it until I began getting the questions about it, but I'm considering it for readers who've already enjoyed the other books in the set. If you think I should do it, let me know. :)

Thanks so much to all the readers who email me, FB and tweet me, and leave comments to tell me how much they love my books. You're the best! And to those of you who haven't tried out those delicious vampires yet, I hope you can take this chance to try them out at the holiday sale price.

Happy Holidays!

Author Tracey H. Kitts-Bitten #PNR

A wonderful, warm welcome to fellow author Tracey H. Kitts, who's here to talk about her newest book, Bitten.

Why vampires and do they have to be naked?

By

Tracey H. Kitts

A lot of people (relatives in particular) have asked me why I write so much about vampires. I write werewolves too, but vamps seem to draw the most attention. At least, it gets the most questions. The truth is, I write what I like. When I was in school I read every book that had anything to do with vampires. Anything I could get my hands on that had vampires in it, I read it so thoroughly it could be considered studying. I also wrote a few short and semi-erotic stories about werewolves just for fun. Of course, they weren’t up to par with what is considered erotica now, but it was pretty sexy to me and my friends.

I always knew that I wanted to write professionally some day. It wasn’t something that just came to me out of the blue or something I did on a whim. Everything I have ever done in my life I have viewed as “good writing material.” I knew that each experience, whether it was a job or a relationship that went wrong, would somehow end up in my books. In the case of bad relationships, it could be considered therapy. Ha. Ha. Of course, names have been changed to protect the guilty, but there are a few of those along the way.

Since I always knew I wanted to write and I have always been drawn to vampires, it seemed only logical to me that’s what I’d write about. The other question I get even more often than, “Why vampires?” is “Why sex?”

The short answer: Why not?

Now, for something more in depth:  I love science fiction, but find it grossly lacking in sex. Ha. Seriously, I enjoy a good story but what I also enjoy is a good romance. I used to read the really old romances, the ones you could find at garage sales and such. So, they were really outdated and for my tastes, too … sweet. I wanted a heroine who could kick ass and take names. I wanted someone I could identify with. Someone who wasn’t “pure as the driven snow,” and all that crap. I wanted someone real.

Of course, I also wanted a hero who was sexy beyond imagination. I don’t want the guy next door. 

Let’s face it, unless Hugh Jackman lives next door, none of us are really interested in normal guys, are we?

I also have a deep love of fantasy. So, you take all that, mix it together (shaken, not stirred) and you get paranormal romance. Paranormal romance is really an adventure for women. We just happen to find romance to be part of the adventure.

I write what I like to read. Why would I try to sell something to someone if I didn’t even like it myself? That’s ridiculous. I love vampires and if we get them alone in the story, someone better tell me what they look like naked! I don’t know about you, but I’d feel cheated otherwise. Of course, I’m okay with waiting for such a moment (like in the case of a series, which I enjoy writing). But once we get there, I want details. Ha. Ha.

The last and probably best answer I could give is this: Writing is wish fulfillment and so is reading. 

Who hasn’t fantasized about living forever with some gorgeous hunk? Tall, dark and immortal sounds pretty darn good to me. To never grow old, never get sick and die. And let us not forget, eternal love. 

I think these are all pretty strong fantasies that most people can identify with, even if they don’t get into the whole, “Bite me,” thing.

Unfortunately, in the area where I live most people just see it as macabre. For the rest of the fang bait™ out there (like myself), please check out my latest release. LOL For everyone else, I do hope we can move beyond that some day.

My latest release is Bitten and it’s available at Amazon.

For more information me and my books, you can find me at www.traceyhkitts.com

Cover Love: Blood Spirit's Print Cover

Good Wednesday to everyone! It's a beautiful day in the Northeast, but I'm thinking safe thoughts for all those in Isaac's path. The crazy ABC weatherman who was standing in the 80 mile an hour winds said it would be a few more hours and then the coast should be clear. Stay safe friends! I hope that wonderful city of New Orleans and the entire Gulf Coast make it through with as little damage as possible. What a terrific part of the country!

Today I have Blood Spirit's print cover to reveal. Talina did another fantastic job capturing Terek and the very seductive vibe that sexy vampire gives off. Just like all he's ever believed in, Terek has the ability to entice.

The proof has been ordered, and it will be here in a few days. Then it's just a matter of checking it to see there are no errors before the book's release date of September 17. It's coming up quick. :)

Here's a taste of Terek and Ilona's story to get you in the mood:




Have a great day!

Author Elizabeth Morgan Guest Post

Welcome to Elizabeth Morgan today to talk about her new book, Cranberry Blood. Take it away, Elizabeth!

Cranberry Blood
(Book 1 in The Blood Series)
by Elizabeth Morgan

Cranberry Blood is the first book in The Blood Series and the sequel to last year’s release, She-Wolf (The Blood Series Prequel.)

Now, for those of you who are new to the series, it doesn’t matter if you have read She-Wolf, you can read Cranberry Blood first. Yeah, I mean it, the events in She-Wolf are linked to Cranberry Blood, but book one isn’t dependant on its prequel. 

The order in which you read these two books is completely your choice, either way, welcome to the world of The Blood Series.

~ * ~

Blurb:

Killing Vampires? Easy. Tracking someone? Simple. Helping, and protecting a Vampire slayer... Bloody hard work!

Thirteen years ago, Brendan Daniels made a deal with a psychic. In exchange for information on the whereabouts of a Rogue Werewolf, he promised to help and protect Sofia's granddaughter. Unfortunately, he had no idea what he was getting himself, or his Pack, into.

Nothing about Heather is simple, from her weird dietary needs to her life’s mission. The girl can handle herself, but the promise to protect her soon becomes a need, and one that he can't fully understand.

Vampire Slayer. Born Infected. Blood addict... but not by choice.

Heather Ryan is the most recent slayer in a long family line. Like all before her, she has spent her life searching for her ancestor, Marko Pavel, the Vampire her family has sworn to kill. If that isn't complicated enough, Heather is also a born "Infected", and to keep her from becoming insane or giving in to her darker side, she is on a very strict diet.

Grandmother Sofia has passed, so now it is up to Heather to take the family legacy into her own hands, all alone: or at least, it would have been, if her Grandmother hadn't sent a Werewolf to help her.

What is the irritating Brendan supposed to help Heather with? Sofia never told either one of them. But it doesn't take long for Heather and Brendan to find out that the Vampires have big plans, and that the fiends have waited a long time for them both.

Buy Link: https://www.nobleromance.com/

~ * ~

Excerpt:

(Taken from Chapter One)

The sudden sound of rustling paper snapped me from my thoughts. I tensed, the awareness crackling sharply beneath the surface of my skin.

Someone is in my house.

I walked through the open living room door. A new scent invaded my nostrils. Tangy, manufactured, smelled like expensive cologne. An unfamiliar, black, travel bag sat tucked away between the red leather sofa and TV stand. The papers rustled again. I stepped lightly toward the archway that lead into the dining room, my sword still gripped comfortably in my right hand.

"Your breakfast is getting cold, Heather. I suggest you stop trying to sneak in here and just come in so that we can get this over and done with," said the deep male voice in my kitchen.

What the hell is going on? Who is he? Why is he in my house? How does he know my name? And why the hell has he cooked me breakfast?

I took a deep breath, then exhaled. I slowly walked through the archway into the empty dining room and turned my head to the left to see a strange man seated at my kitchen breakfast bar. He sat casually, in jeans and a forest green T-shirt that clung to his broad, sculptured back and defined biceps. The sun flooded into the kitchen through the side window and glinted off his copper-blond hair, which brushed his shoulders.

"Are you going to come in to the room or stand there drooling all day?" He turned a page of his newspaper.

I inhaled again; nothing new amongst the scent of dog, pine, bacon, and coffee, which meant he wasn't a Vampire. I knew because leeches smelled like mouldy, wet earth; not an overpowering smell, but hidden underneath the products they wore. A huge part of me felt relieved he wasn't a Vamp. A Vampire couldn’t get in here, anyway. They could only come in with a personal invite, and since they all wanted me dead . . . . No matter what state I'd been in last night, I wouldn't have invited one in. So, who the hell is this guy?

I walked toward him, my sword glinting in the sunlight as I gripped the hilt firmly in both hands.

"Who the hell are you, and what are you doing in my house?" I stopped three feet behind him.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

"Wrong answer." I pressed the tip of my sword into the firm space between his shoulder blades. "I said who the hell are you and what—"

"Killing me isn't going to help." He turned another page of his paper.

"I disagree. I think killing the stranger who broke into my house is a very good idea."

"I did not break in," he replied calmly. "My name is Brendan and I'm actually here to help you."

I snorted. "Like I believe that."

"It's the truth. Besides, if I really wanted to hurt you, I would have. I also wouldn't have left your weapons with you."

"Well, you're obviously an eejit."

He laughed. "You have serious trust issues."

"Trust issues? Says the complete stranger who broke into my house and—"

"I used your house keys. They were in your jacket pocket," he said. "And yes, trust issues, says the stranger. The stranger who promises he isn't here to hurt you."

"Just because you say you're not here to hurt me doesn't mean it's the truth."

"True. But why go to the trouble of killing you when I could have left you lying in the car park the other night and let the seven greedy leeches looking for you find you and bleed you dry."

~ * ~

Bio:

Elizabeth started life wanting to be an actress because she loved entertaining people. She enjoyed nothing more than being able to make people laugh and to help distract them from reality for a few hours.

She studied Musical Theatre in college, but during her second year, her mind started to overflow with story ideas, so she began writing plays. Slowly, over the following three years, she was writing more and more, channeling every ounce of her imagination into the written word.

Now here she is, years later, hiding away like a hermit in her little cottage in Cheshire, England, writing like crazy and loving every minute of it.

~ * ~

Elizabeth Online:

Blog: www.xxxxmyworldxxxx.blogspot.com  
Joint Blog: www.notjustastiffupperlip.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook: Elizabeth Morgan
The Blood Series Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/TheBloodSeries
Twitter: @EMorgan2010
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ElizabethMorgan
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Morgan/e/B006WR1WLQ/ref=sr_tc_2_rm?qid=1339876094&sr=1-2-ent

#Paranormalromance Friday #Swag and #Excerpt

Happy Friday!  It's been a busy week here between working on romance trading cards with Talina and getting Vampire Dreams Revamped ready for its release this weekend. I love working with Talina on swag! She always comes up with the most creative ideas.  We've been focusing on the first four Sons of Navarus romance trading cards and as with my other swag, she's really hit the ball out of the park on these designs. Check them out!

Book #1

Book #2

Book #3

Book #4

And coming soon are these fine Sons with their own cards (I'm still searching the stock photo sites for the last Son):

Thane

Sion

Dante

And to make this Paranormal Romance Friday even better, here's a little snippet from Vampire Dreams Revamped.  I've introduced a few new characters into the book, and this excerpt includes a female vampire named Delilah, one of Vasilije's favorites.  I wonder how she and Sasa would get along? Hmmm... Enjoy! And have a wonderful weekend!

"We started without you," Vasilije said with a grin as he caressed his tongue over the razor sharp tips of his fangs.

"That's quite all right. Did I miss anything?"

His sire arched one eyebrow and leveled a penetrating stare at him. "You'd miss everything if it weren't for me, Brandon. You'd stay in that dreary house of yours with those dreary servants and drink your port. You're a vampire, not some boring widower waiting to die."

"Why do you keep me around if you find me so boring? You have other favorites."

Vasilije looked over Brandon's shoulder and smiled broadly. "I do. Here's one now."

Turning, Brandon saw Delilah, another of his sire's favorites. Stunning, with long pale blond hair and a body that Brandon was sure must drive most men to complete distraction, Delilah was as vicious as Vasilije was decadent. And she hated him as much as he did her.

"Brandon? I see you're wearing your coat. Leaving so soon? Too bad."
© 2012 Gabrielle Bisset

#Paranormalromance Friday

Another Friday here, and it's a hot one where I live. How is everyone else fairing in the heat?  I've got the air conditioners blasting and still it doesn't feel cool enough! But I love the heat so much more than the cold, so I'll take this any day.

I had intended on being able to say Blood Spirit was basically complete today, but the day job got in the way yesterday.  I was teaching a class for the past few weeks and it was time to grade. That means emailing people to ask where their online quizzes are...blah, blah, blah....yeah, sometimes it feels more like high school than college.

So I'm sitting at Chapter 19 in Blood Spirit, which is almost at the end. I've enjoyed writing this book so much. When I first began thinking of a vampire who had been a monk in the Middle Ages and was now one of the most prolific vampires in his world, I loved the idea. It had such a disparity to it. Gradually, Terek formed into a very passionate character. As he's grown on the pages, he's become the type of man who gives his heart and soul to everything he does, whether it's being a monk, a vampire, a sire, or a warrior.

The contrast with the first two heroes in the series is striking. Vasilije is and always will be a hedonist. That he loves Sasa doesn't change that, and neither does the civil war with the Archons. Saint is a man who carries the past with him wherever he goes. It's what has made him into the man everyone knows as Saint. Terek is a character who has been many things. He's almost like a god to many in his world because of how many females he's sired. They live in his homes and to outsiders, they make up what seems to be his harem. But he's more than just a man who loves women.

Terek is a man whose actions are borne out of love for many things. Love for his family, love for the Church when he was a monk, love for the vampire race, and love for Ilona, the woman who may finally be the one who can claim this incredible man.

And Ilona has been a great character to spend time with too. She's a human turned by Terek who struggles with seeing past the women to the man he truly is. It's only because she sees him working to break down her barriers that she begins to let him in. To her, he isn't the legend he is to other vampires. He's just Terek, the man who's given her a new life she isn't sure she wants.

So I'll be working to finish their story by next weekend, hopefully. I have edits for Vampire Dreams Revamped coming up, but I'm very happy to report that Madame Editor found very few things I need to really change. She's a huge Vasilije fan and I'm also happy to report that she says this new novella makes him even sexier. I loved hearing that!

And last, but not least, I received an email from an author I adore this morning.  I'd emailed her to ask her if she'd be willing to guest on my blog.  She said yes, so I'm going to have an interview with her in the not-so-distant future. She's such a fascinating author! She doesn't know it, but she's one of the authors who inspired me take a chance on my writing after years of keeping it to myself. Now a year later, she's coming on my blog and letting me ask her questions. Isn't life great? 

Have a wonderful weekend, and keep cool!

#WIP Wednesday #amwriting

Welcome to another WIP Wednesday! These weeks are flying by, I swear. Before I get to the work in progress, I want to tell everyone that Blood Betrayed is featured at Kindle Spice today, so head on over and show Saint some love.

Onto what I've been working on.  Progress continues to be made on Blood Spirit, and I've been working feverishly on that to make sure it's ready for the editor by the end of July. However, I have also been working on Vampire Dreams Revamped, which I'm happy to say is in the editor's hands already. I'm looking at a July release for that.

But back to Blood Spirit. Although the book's romance is about Terek and Ilona, I put a picture up of Thane on the Sons FB page (and mine too) with the mention that he'd be important as the series continued. Today's WIP Wednesday is dedicated to him since he's begun to play a large part in Blood Spirit.

Thane is one of two Sons who is in charge of deciphering the Prophecy of Idolas. Unlike Ramiel, the other Son he works with on this who can be vicious (it's the Visogoth barbarian in him), Thane is a sweetheart. The quiet Son, he's been a vampire longer than Vasilije and Saint and while he can take care of himself (he's 6'3 and built like the man in the picture above), he's not violent like Ramiel.

Because he's quiet, he's not very close to any of the Sons. He works with them, but that's really it. The one soul at the monastery that he's become close to is Sasa.  Her ability as an empath allows her to sense what others might not and when Sasa needs a friend, Thane is there for her.

When I was looking for pics that resemble Thane, I found this one and knew it was perfect. Sweet, with kind brown eyes, he's a gentle giant. Not to worry, though. He'll have more than enough opportunity to show those Archons not to mess with him when his chance comes. He's a Son of Navarus, after all.

Coming Soon: Vampire Dreams Revamped

When  I approached my editor with the idea of reworking Vampire Dreams, her first words were, "Why? You sell tons of that each month. Don't mess with what works." This coming from a tough as nails editor made me feel good, but it didn't dissuade me from wanting to go back into that first book I published.

You see, when I wrote Vampire Dreams, I was actually doing it in response to something external, not internal, so to me, every time I see that book, I think of that external business that was pressing down on me then.  I've overcome it, but when I read Vampire Dreams, I can still hear it in so many places.

I loved the characters of Arden and Brandon from the minute they came to life, and Vasilije...well, he was always destined for more after that book.  Arden and Brandon have a charm to me that brings a sweetness to a very erotic book. So despite the fact that my editor disagreed, I began to rework Vampire Dreams a few weeks ago and asked the wonderful Talina Perkins if she'd make just one more exception and create a cover for this new book. What you see is the new cover--Vampire Dreams Revamped.

So what's going to be different in this new book?  It's going to be longer.  The original came in at 17K words, and this will top out at over 25K.  The story has been added to also, and two of the Sons of Navarus in addition to Vasilije will appear as cameos in Revamped. It's also a bit hotter too.

That last choice--to make Revamped a sexier book--was something I had to think about. Out of the thousands of copies sold, the book has relatively few bad reviews, but often those that are bad attack it because it has too much sex. (Others claim it's written too simply while even others claim the writing is too complicated, especially the sentence structure. Those make no sense together, so I disregard them as they cancel one another out. Sorry critics, but it can't be both.) I've even had a few unhappy readers claim it's porn.

I either read some seriously hot stories, or I underestimate my books' heat levels because while the original Vampire Dreams had some steamy scenes, it certainly wasn't the hottest thing I'd ever read. It's been listed under Erotica, so I'm always confused when readers have a problem with the sex scenes. What do they expect? (I blame this in part on the Fifty Shades phenomenon, by the way. I've read that and it wasn't hot to me.  In fact, it was clunky, immature, and awkward, and that's not erotic to me. But that's just my humble opinion. But if people read that and then come to my books, they are in for a very different type of sexy read.) To me, it's erotic romance because it has a definite story and a HEA. Erotica isn't forced to conform to those criteria. Whatever it is, it's way too hot for some folks, it seems.

So, in the end, Vampire Dreams Revamped will be even hotter than the original. Maybe I should put a disclaimer in the description.  Maybe something like: Reading this book may make your panties melt. Be aware and take precautions.

Look for Vampire Dreams Revamped in July. Have a great Monday everyone!

1st Chapter Of Blood Betrayed On My Website

This week's Paranormal Romance Friday is a special one because of the release of my newest book, Blood Betrayed, yesterday.  Another huge thank you to all the people who helped me get the word out about my newest baby. :) 

And to give readers a real taste of Saint, the hero from Blood Betrayed, the first chapter of the book is available on my website at http://www.gabriellebisset.com/blood-betrayed.html

Be sure to scroll down after reading and check out the reviews so far.  5 hearts from Riverina Romantics--Megan loved it!  And a 5 rating/Alpha Howl from Nookmom over at Bitten By Paranormal Romance .  And just this morning a third review came in--a 5 book rating from Selena at The Enchanted Book, who calls Blood Betrayed one of her "new favorites." 

So stop over at my website to take a look at the first chapter of Blood Betrayed.  But be warned:  one taste of Saint won't be enough!

Have a wonderful Friday, and to my US readers, have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Blood Betrayed Official Release Day!

Yes, I know the book has been up on Amazon and Barnes and Noble for a few days.  The best laid plans of indies mean nothing to the big boys.  But that's okay because today is the official release date for Blood Betrayed! 

This book was a labor of love for me.  Saint was a difficult character to write at times, and I'd been spoiled by his predecessor, who had been very easy to get down on paper.  Saint's a deeper soul, so many nights the writing was emotional and exhausting.  I'm very proud of what came from all those nights, though.

When I finally knew that Blood Betrayed would be released today, I contacted the bloggers I love the most and asked them if they'd spread the word.  I can't tell you how thrilled I was when they said yes!  It says a lot about people that they want to spread someone else's great news, and I want to thank all the wonderful bloggers who are helping me get the word out today about this new release.  It's so terrific that they'd do this for me, and I appreciate it so much.  Some are offering a spicy excerpt (18+ over eyes on that one) and others are offering the more family friendly PG-13 excerpt. In addition, Sharon over at I Smell Sheep has a fantastic new diner opening up over there and Vasilije and Saint are the first dishes on the menu.  Definitely check that out! And there are giveaways too at a couple of the blogs.

And to celebrate the official release date, I've put another excerpt up on my website--the ENTIRE FIRST CHAPTER is there to give you a taste of Saint and Blood Betrayed.  Visit http://www.gabriellebisset.com/blood-betrayed.html to read that.

Here's the list of those fabulous people helping me get the word out about Blood Betrayed. 

Felicity Heaton
Talina at Bookin' It
Megan at Riverina Romantics (she has a review up already too!)
Michelle at WereVampsRomance
Nikki at Close Encounters
Selena at The Enchanted Book
Dana at Readaholics Anonymous
Jennifer James
Laurie at Bitten by Paranormal Romance
Sharon at I Smell Sheep (Saint and Vasilije are on the menu here)
Nat at Reading Romances
Liz at Fictional Candy
Tanya at All Things Books
Shah at WordsInSync
Silvia at Darkest Sins
Buffy Kennedy
RaeBeth at The Writing World
Jess at The Romanceaholic

Thanks to everyone who was so great to help! 

Blood Betrayed is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. And if you haven't read the first book in the Sons of Navarus series, Blood Avenged, you can grab it for just $.99 until the end of May at Amazon and Barnes and Noble too!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Blood Betrayed's Heroine: Solenne

Heroines are a dicey thing for me in many stories. I find a lot of  heroines to actually grate on my nerves. They're either too sweet or too feisty, so I'm left feeling like whatever happens they had it coming.  That sounds bad, but when a smarmy heroine has bad happen to her, I often think, "Well, if you hadn't let him run all over you, this might not have happened."  And the constantly fighting with the hero type of heroine is even worse. That's not creating sexual tension for me.  It's often just getting on my nerves to the point that I end up loving the hero, even if he's a bastard, because he has to put up with such a shrew.

When I began working on Blood Betrayed, I decided immediately that my heroine had to be strong, but there would be none of that pain in the ass heroine business. 

Her name means "solemn" or "sun" and either work for her character.  She's the calm that Saint has always sought but won't allow himself to have, and she possesses a warmth and light that no one else has around him. Sometimes names are just good because of the way they sound, but Solenne's was always intended to be meaningful.

She's one of those characters that grew on me.  I liked her from the beginning, but as I began to really flesh out her traits and back story, I found myself really feeling a kind of affinity with her. She's strong, a trait I admire in both males and females, and even with all that Saint forces her to deal with, along with what she has to do to help the Sons, she still stands strong in the toughest of times.

I think the key to Solenne is that she's a woman in love.  That the man she loves hasn't forgiven her for almost 100 years is simply something she accepts and intends to overcome.  I like that in her.  That he's stubborn and brooding doesn't stop her; in fact, she loves him just the way he is.  That I really like. 

When I set out to find a picture of what she looks like, I stumbled upon the one I used for this post.  It's perfect.  She's sexy, strong, and has red hair (well, it's reddish in black and white).  But beneath all that is a gentleness that is very much like what the character Solenne has inside her.

Heroines can be difficult for me to write because I feel like I'm always working to avoid the smarmy on one side and the pain in the ass on the other while trying to create someone unique.  In Blood Betrayed, Solenne is neither extreme and very unique.  I like that in her.

Blood Betrayed's Hero: Saint

When I began sketching out ideas for the second book in the Sons of Navarus series, I knew I had to make the hero someone very much not like Vasilije, the hero (so to speak) of Blood Avenged.  I wanted a male who was deeper than his predecessor.  That was a definite.  I also needed him to have a back story that reflected that.

It took me a while before Saint was fully formed as a character.  Physically, I knew exactly what he looked like.  That was easy.  The moment I saw the pic below, I said (I think out loud), "That's Saint."

In a world of bodies, this image represented the idea I had of Saint perfectly.  Hard, pushed to the limit, and cut up.  In fact, out of all eight of the Sons of Navarus, Saint is the best built.  Ramiel is bigger, but Saint is the one with the hardest body. 

Now that I had the physical idea of him set (all the way down to the very short hair Saint has in the book), I needed to flesh out why he was a man who pushed his physical limits.  Thus the back story was born. 

Saint was turned on the battlefield at the Battle of the Somme in the First World War in 1916.  He was a young man in his twenties named Declan then, and he and his brother, Teagan, were turned by two vampires, Kir and Vasilije.  Declan had always been his brother's protector, even promising their mother when they left to go to war that he'd watch over his younger brother. But that changes when Vasilije makes Teagan one of his favorites, and Declan is left on the outside with a sire who cares little for his vampires. 

Some of the most enjoyable non-romantic writing for me in Blood Betrayed are the scenes between Saint and Vasilije.  There's a lot of dislike between the two men, and their scenes particularly show Saint's feelings toward the man he calls the "Romanian." 

And then there was the reason Saint was given that nickname--his refusal to sleep with vampire women and instead go exclusively with human women.  To some in the vampire world, this made Saint a traitor, but to others, he's just odd.  The name Saint is meant to be an insult, as if there was something wrong with him because he won't sleep with vampires.  But readers will find that much of what makes up Saint is wrapped up in that choice to avoid vampire females. 

When I sent the book to my editor, I'd already heard from my betas about how much they loved Saint, some even more than Vasilije.  I told her that I was concerned, however.  Vasilije had been such a strong character, and I was worried readers wouldn't be able to move past him.  As a great editor does, she reminded me that it wasn't my style to write eight men cut from the same Vasilije cloth.  Then she was quiet for days about Blood Betrayed and I thought, "Uh oh.  She loved Vasilije (and I mean LOVED) and she doesn't like Saint. That's not good."

A few days later she sent back the book with the message, "I didn't think you could write a hero who I could love more than Vasilije, but you did." 

I freely admit I fall in love with every hero I write.  Hell, I've fallen in love with a villain or two.  And I'm sure I'll say something similar to what I'm about to say in the future about Terek or the other Sons I'll write, but as I write this, I can honestly say there isn't a hero I've written who I like better than Saint.  Sure, Vasilije is hotter than all hell, and Amon from Destiny Redeemed is incredibly sexy as he's almost as powerful as a god.  And I can't forget Nikolai, the smartest hero I've had the pleasure of writing.  But there's something about Saint--that soul inside him that can't forget the past and tortures himself for the mistakes he made so long ago--that makes him irresistible to me. 

I do love me a brooding man.

Win A Pre-Release Copy of Blood Betrayed!

To celebrate the release of the second book in the Sons of Navarus series, I'm giving away one ebook copy of Blood Betrayed BEFORE it's released on May 24.  Just go to the Sons of Navarus Facebook page, like the guys' page, and leave a comment on the Giveaway post.  One winner will be chosen by random Sunday night, May 20 at 11pm.  The more you comment, the better your chances are of winning.  Be sure to check out the blurb and excerpt in the Notes section of the page too for the lowdown on Saint's book, in addition to interviews with Saint and Vasilije!

Good luck! 

#Paranormalromance Friday

This Friday I want to give some time to a friend and fellow author, Felicity Heaton.  Her newest book, Masquerade, is out this week, so check it out!

MASQUERADE
(Vampires Realm Romance Series #10)
By F E Heaton

Ten years have passed since Sophis and Vivek, two vampires of the Venia bloodline, came close to death at the hands of twin hunters Aleksis and Izabella Romanov. The events of that night turned Sophis and Vivek against each other, shattering their close friendship and driving them apart.

Now, on the eve of a centenary Creator Day masquerade and at a time when things between them are dangerously close to separating them forever, they uncover a small army of vampire hunters in Saint Petersburg, led by their nemeses, Aleksis and Izabella.

With the safety of the rulers of the seven pure vampire bloodlines in their hands and their chance for vengeance hanging in the balance, can Sophis and Vivek face their past and overcome their differences? Will they realise their true feelings for each other before it’s too late or will the hunters finally claim their lives as their deadly plot to destroy the bloodlines unfolds?


Books in the Vampires Realm romance series stand alone and do not need to be read in order to gain maximum enjoyment

Learn more about the series by visiting the official Vampires Realm website

Masquerade is available now in e-book from:
Author's website
Amazon.com Kindle Store
Amazon.co.uk Kindle Store
Smashwords
All Romance eBooks

Coming soon in ebook to BN Nook, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Sony, and also in paperback

#WIP Wednesday

I've been so busy writing Blood Spirit that I almost forgot WIP Wednesday. I'd forget my head if it weren't attached to my body! :)

Since Blood Spirit is taking up so much of the space in my head, I might as well stick with that book for this post.  I'm spending the day researching Spain in the 1300s, particularly names and the political landscape.  The hero of Blood Spirit, Terek, was a man who lived in the 1300s.  He had a wife and child, but after they died, he entered the monastery to dedicate his life to the church as a monk.  While these details won't be the main focus of the book, they make up the foundation of who he was that's so important to understanding who he is now.

I find research to be a lot of fun, but I'm a history geek, so this is like a vacation for me. :)  I know the outline of the history of the Iberian Peninsula during this time period, but the finer details are what I'm looking for today.  For me, this is what adds that genuine flavor to a story. 

One of the first things I have to do is give him a name.  Terek is the name his sire gave him, but he had a different name as a human. Sure, I can choose any name that sounds Spanish, but I want to be accurate, so I have to spend some time deciding what part of what we today call Spain Terek lived in.  Since at the time there really was no "Spain" to speak of but instead a collection of kingdoms, both Christian and the remaining Islamic ones, the choice I make will then determine a number of other issues I'll deal with later in the book.

I'm off to travel back in time to 1300s Spain.  Enjoy!

First Sneak Peek at Blood Betrayed

Over the weekend, amid all the hustle and bustle, I had to finally write the blurb for Blood Betrayed so it could appear on the bookmarks that are being made as I type this.  With just a few chapters left in the story, I guess it was time. 

It usually takes me a good long while to craft the blurb.  I've been trying to keep them under 100 words, and if you've ever had to encapsulate a novel in such a tight space, you know it's a chore sometimes.  I have to admit that the blurb for Saint's story came pretty easily, relatively speaking.  For once, he didn't give me a hard time. :)

So, here's the blurb for Blood Betrayed so you can have a sneak peek at the story.

I am everything forbidden.  I am vampire.

Haunted by betrayal, Saint hides in the human world, giving his heart to no one and finding the only solace from his past in the arms of human women. Now as the Archons begin their takeover of the vampire world, this Son of Navarus has been marked for death. 

Summoned to defeat the Archons by the world that shunned him, Saint must face his past and Solenne, the woman he loved and lost a century ago, for only in accepting her will his body and soul finally find salvation.

Look for Blood Betrayed this May. And if you love swag, watch for pics of the bookmarks for the first three books in the Sons of Navarus series later this week.  They're gorgeous!  Thank you to Talina for the stunning designs.

Blood Betrayed So Far...

Thanks to a terrific schedule this semester, I've had far more time to devote to writing, which is fantastic.  If the work gods smile on me, I'll have even more time for the fall.  (More on that if it happens.  Keep fingers crossed.)  In addition to most nights, two days during the week I can devote to writing, and of course, all day Saturday is a given in that department.

Last night I wrote a scene between Vasilije and Saint, and I love how those two work off each other.  Vasilije is so smooth and almost smug at times with Saint.  There's almost a brother dynamic to their banter, and as easily as Vasilije's words come out of my pen, Saint's flow even nicer.  Smooth is great, but I love writing a smart ass.  :) 

In addition, I've enjoyed creating Saint's relationship with Solenne.  While my female leads are never tender flower types,  none have ever been as strong as Solenne.  I'm not a huge fan of super-tough heroines.  They tend to get in the way of what the hero needs to do.  I can't tell you how often I've wanted to throw a book across the room (or throw my Kindle across the room) because some female character is in the way of what the hero should be doing or adding to his problems by doing stupid things.  So I've been very careful to make Solenne the kind of strong that complements Saint instead of hindering him.

Following up Vasilije has been a real challenge for me, but I think readers will enjoy Saint's darkness in Blood Betrayed.  I do love me a tortured soul!  And I get to introduce more focal points in the vampire world I'm creating.  The Archons are far more involved in this story, and the prophecy the Sons need to figure out is beginning to be revealed to readers. 

I'm still looking at a May release for Blood Betrayed.  Depending on how the action flows now that things are coming together in the story, it may be an early May release, though.  Then it's on to Blood Spirit, which I'm still planning to release in the fall, but I might sneak in a summertime novella before I jump into the third book in the Sons series.  I'll have to see what I can fit in, but the trilogy of novellas I planned out a few months ago is still waiting. 

Keep checking back for more on Saint and Blood Betrayed. I'll be posting snippets in the upcoming months as things draw to the end. And, of course, I'll be sure to give readers a sneak peak of the sexy side of the book!