April 26, 10 @ 8:55 am
***Thanks to everyone for your comments and thanks to Jacquelyn Frank for visiting! The randomly selected winner of the signed copy of NOAH is comment #6 — Heather (DarklyReading)! Heather has been contacted by email to claim her prize.***
To celebrate the countdown to my new release, the first book in the Living in Eden series, THE DEMON IN ME (officially out next Tuesday!!), I’m blogging every day (well, no, but it was a nice idea) — and some days I have fabulous guests and prizes!
Today it’s New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Frank , author of The Gatherers, The Nightwalkers, and The Shadowdwellers series. She’s generously giving away a signed copy of Noah, one each to two randomly selected commenters (US only please). Winner will be chosen Wednesday, April 28th at 9:00 p.m. EST**. Good luck!
***
What inspired you to write about demons?
I think I like turning convention on it’s ear. When I wrote my Demons, it was still very taboo to come right out and say they were Demons. I like doing taboo things. Hehehe.
Demons — shades of gray or always evil?
Shades of grey….even shades of white knights! Sometimes it’s all about the word ‘demon’. As a largely Christian society, we attach a lot of baggage to that word. I left the baggage at the airport and made my Demon the good guys 
What’s your demonically awesome book about?
The Nightwalkers series is largely about the Demons, their culture and all the things wrong and right about it. Humans are an afterthought in most cases, and yet those pesky humans keep causing so much trouble! When they look at Demons, they expect to see creatures curst by hell, and eventually by their own prejudices they create what they are looking for. In the middle of all of this, my Demons are awakened to all new possibilities of satisfying true love. Something they thought they had lost…something they themselves have killed off the possibility of.
Let’s say Jim Cameron calls and he wants to make JACOB into a movie. Who are your actor/actress choices?
OMG!! James Cameron!! OMG!!! There are only like, three directors I would allow to touch my series. JC, Steven Speilberg and Joss Whedon. But I think my ultimate Jacob would be Gerard Butler. He has the power, the hotness…and I would love to be called as a consultant…(drool). Erm, as for the actress. Kate Beckinsale springs to mind for Isabella. Her range is amazing. She’d do her justice.
What’s your one line of advice for aspiring writers (demonic or otherwise)?
Keep on dreaming. You never know when that bright moment of serendipity will shine and suddenly…all the work and passion you’ve put into it will be worth it. Someone will see it for what it is. Someone will lift it up and think the world of you and your talent.
***
Thanks Jaquelyn!
To learn more about Jackie and her fabulous books, please visit www.jacquelynfrank.com!
**I’m off to the RT Booklovers Convention as of tomorrow and hoping for decent internet access. The drawing will take place at the time above or as soon as possible after it. Thanks!
April 19, 10 @ 9:24 am
**Thanks to everyone who entered and thanks to Jackie for being so awesome! The randomly chosen winners are comment #25 – Angie D. who has won a signed copy of Hell’s Belles and Comment #12 – tamibates who won a signed copy of The Road to Hell. Both winners have been contacted by email to claim their prizes!**
To celebrate the countdown to my new release, the first book in the Living in Eden series, THE DEMON IN ME, I’m blogging (almost) every day — and some days I have fabulous guests and prizes!
Today it’s demonically delicious author Jackie Kessler, author of the addictive Hell on Earth series. She’s generously giving away a signed copy of Hell’s Belles and The Road to Hell, one each to two randomly selected commenters (International entries welcome). Winner will be chosen Tuesday, April 20th at 9:00 p.m. EST. Good luck!
***
What inspired you to write about demons?
I wanted to write something paranormal, and I didn’t want to write a vampire or a werewolf–there are tons of terrific vampire and werewolf stories out there, and I didn’t think I could do something different. The next creature I thought of was “demon,” so I ran with that.
Although, when HELL’S BELLES came out, that was right around the time that SUCCUBUS BLUES and DEMON ANGEL hit the shelves. Maybe there was something in the water…?
Demons — shades of gray or always evil?
Yes.
What’s your demonically awesome book about?
HELL’S BELLES is about a succubus who runs away from Hell, hides on Earth as an exotic dancer, and learns the hard way about true love. (Sex, strippers, demons…what’s not to like?)
The first two books in the series (HB and THE ROAD TO HELL) are about the (former) succubus Jezebel. The third book (HOTTER THAN HELL — coming out in mass-market paperback in September 2010, yay!) is about her incubus buddy, Daunuan (pronounced “Don Juan,” sort of).
The upcoming fourth book (HELL TO PAY) is back to Jezebel again — except everything changes. (Seriously. Everything. Stay tuned.)
Let’s say Jim Cameron calls and he’s wants to make HELL’S BELLES into a movie. Who are your actor/actress choices?
First, I have to say that I’m glad it’s Jim and not Frank Coppola. (Coppola stole my good luck pen during my honeymoon. For serious. That’s just uncool. Although I’d probably forgive him if he offered to make HELL’S BELLES into a movie.)
For Jezebel…I’d love to see Christina Ricci. For Paul, Sam Worthington. For Daun, Matt Damon. (Actually, Daun can look like anyone — benefit of being able to take on any human form. I just love Matt Damon.)
What’s your one line of advice for aspiring writers (demonic or otherwise)?
Don’t be afraid to try something completely out of your comfort zone. Maybe you’ve never written comedy, or you avoid sex scenes. Try writing something you never have before. You might surprise yourself and find you’re actually damn good at it. (Or you might suck at it. But you don’t know until you try.)
***
Thanks Jackie!
To learn more about Jackie and her fabulous books, please visit www.jackiekessler.com!
April 15, 10 @ 9:00 am
***Thank you to all the commenters and thank you to Charlene for visiting! The winners of the signed books are comment #4 — Andrea Becraft (Wicked Hot) and comment #27 — Christie (Claimed by the Wolf)! Congrats! Andrea and Christie has been contacted by email to claim their prizes.***
To celebrate the countdown to my new release, the first book in the Living in Eden series, THE DEMON IN ME, I’m blogging every day (yeah, I know I’m not doing so well so far. It was a lovely fantasy while it lasted – sigh) — and some days I have fabulous guests and prizes!
Today it’s fabulously talented author of smokin’ sexy reads, Charlene Teglia. Charlene’s generously giving away a signed copy of her books Wicked Hot and Claimed by the Wolf, one each to two randomly selected commenters (US only please). Winner will be chosen Friday, April 16th at 9:00 p.m. EST. Good luck!
***
What inspired you to write about demons?
Demons are fascinating! The ultimate monster in the closet, the mysterious unknown.
Demons — shades of gray or always evil?
Shades of gray. In Wicked Hot, the heroine is a demon (succubus) but not exactly evil. In the Shadow Guardians (Claimed by the Wolf, Kiss of the Demon), there are evil demons and good demons; Abaran is a demon and one of the good guys, but his intrinsic demon nature makes him a wonderfully dark hero.
What’s your demonically awesome book about?
Wicked Hot: A succubus is sent to tempt the world’s only two Nephilim, half-human/half fallen angels, who may be humanity’s hope or a force mankind can’t stand against.
Shadow Guardians: In Claimed by the Wolf, a witch finds a grimoire full of demon magic that can end the world unless she grows powerful enough to control it. In Kiss of the Demon, hungry ghosts prey on humanity until a psychic teams up with a demon to stop them.
Let’s say Jim Cameron calls and he wants to make Claimed by the Wolf into a movie. Who are your actor/actress choices?
Hmm. Maybe Gerard Butler and Angelina Jolie.
What’s your one line of advice for aspiring writers (demonic or otherwise)?
Write what truly fascinates you.
***
Thanks Charlene!
To learn more about Charlene and her fabulous books, please visit www.charleneteglia.com!
April 12, 10 @ 9:00 am
***Thank you to all the commenters and thank you to Larissa for visiting! The winner of the signed copy of a published Demonica book or a Demonica tote bag is comment #35 — LinzReads! Congrats! LinzReads has been contacted by email to claim her prize.***
To celebrate the countdown to my new release, the first book in the Living in Eden series, THE DEMON IN ME, I’m blogging every day (except for the last two days, that is. *shifty eyes*) — and some days I have fabulous guests and prizes!
Today it’s New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione, author of the addictively sexy Demonica series. She’s generously giving away a signed copy of any published book in the Demonica series OR a Demonica tote bag to a randomly selected commenter (US addresses only please). Winner will be chosen Tuesday, April 13th at 9:00 p.m. EST. Good luck!
***
What inspired you to write about demons?
Well, I’ve always been interested in the paranormal, and the stories I read about succubi and incubi were always fascinating. So when I came up with the concept of Underworld General Hospital, I decided to staff it with demons. Plus, at the time, vampires were all the rage, but no one was writing about demons. (At least, I didn’t think they were. By the time I had Pleasure Unbound written, authors like Gena Showalter and Jacquelyn Frank were already ahead of the game! *g*)
Demons — shades of gray or always evil?
Shades of gray, just like people.
What’s your demonically awesome book about?
Well, the whole series is set in an underworld hospital run by vampires, demons, and were-creatures, but the main characters are mostly demons. Think, “Buffy The Vampire Slayer meets E.R.” My newest release, Ecstasy Unveiled, is about a half-human, half-incubus assassin who has been pitted against his newfound family in a life-or-death situation. The very person he’s supposed to kill is his brothers’ best friend, and making matters worse, there is someone protecting the target — a gorgeous angel whose very wings are on the line if she fails.
Let’s say Jim Cameron calls and he wants to make Ecstasy Unveiled into a movie. Who are your actor/actress choices?
Honestly, I can’t answer that. I just don’t have anyone in mind for these characters no matter how hard I think. Okay, wait…maybe Milla Jovovich for Idess, the heroine. But the hero, Lore? I’m open to suggestions! *g*
What’s your one line of advice for aspiring writers (demonic or otherwise)?
Never give up, never surrender! What, no? Right, that’s taken. Okay, how about, don’t be afraid to break the rules. Learn them, know them, and then toss them out the window!
***
Thanks Larissa!
To learn more about Larissa and her fabulous books, please visit www.larissaione.com!
April 06, 10 @ 10:49 am
***Thank you to all the commenters and thank you to Michele for visiting! The winner of the $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble courtesy of Michele Bardsley is comment #13 – Christa! Congrats! Christa has been contacted by email to claim her prize.***
To celebrate the countdown to my new release, the first book in the Living in Eden series, THE DEMON IN ME, I’m blogging every day — and some days I have fabulous guests and prizes!
Today it’s the fabulously talented Michele Bardsley, author of the Broken Heart Vampires series. She’s generously giving away a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble to a randomly selected commenter who will be chosen tomorrow, Wednesday, April 7th at 9:00 p.m. EST.
***
Welcome, Michele! What inspired you to write about demons?
I never thought I’d ever write about demons, not after my traumatic childhood experience of watching “The Exorcist.” When I was very young, my parents went to the drive-in theater in our stylin’ ’70′s van (it was brown with porthole windows and shag carpet), opened the back doors and watched the movie. They probably thought I was too young to even understand what was going on, much less have the attention span required to watch it. Oh, I remember all right. Thanks for the trauma, parental units!
Eventually I stopped worrying about being possessed by Satan (although, those formative years in Catholic school certainly didn’t help much), and as I started writing paranormal tales, there was no way to avoid demons. They made good instant villains. Then later, I expanded my viewpoint … okay, I romanced it up. A lot. The hero in my latest novel, COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, is a half-demon. Connor Ballard didn’t choose his parents, or to have powers derived from the Pit. Other than that penchant for lying and lusting, he’s an all right guy. I mean he falls in love with a demon-hunting vampire, so you can see he has standards.
Demons — shades of gray or always evil?
Shades of pink, really. Maybe some flames. Anyway, I think demons can be moral creatures—although their methods may not exactly be on the up and up. It’s the end game that’s important.
What’s your demonically awesome book about?
When vampire and single mother Phoebe Allen allows lust to override her common sense, she finds herself mated to sexy half-demon Connor Ballard. Now she’s helping him search for an ancient talisman, fighting off his evil stepmother and her demon minions, and protecting Broken Heart from an underworld take-over.
Let’s say Jim Cameron calls and he wants to make COME HELL OR HIGH WATER into a movie. Who are your actor/actress choices?
I think Megan Fox would make an awesome vampire demon hunter. So, yeah, definitely her for Phoebe. As for Connor, Jensen Ackles with a Scottish accent. *swoon*
What’s your one line of advice for aspiring writers (demonic or otherwise)?
Don’t fall in love with your words.
***
Thanks Michele!
If you want to learn more about Michele and her fabulous books, please visit her at www.michelebardsley.com.
September 01, 09 @ 1:22 pm
I’m over at Patricia’s Vampire Notes today with an interview and giveaway of a signed copy of Tall, Dark & Fangsome. Come over and visit with me!
Last week was seriously jam-packed full of time consuming new release stuff. It’s all great, but I’m glad to get back on the wagon to wordy town (as I, lamely, call it) and start writing fresh stuff. It’s always interesting to do promo for a book I was completely finished with a year ago. Sometimes it’s even a bit hard to remember plot points. I’m glad to see that readers are pleased with Fangsome and are wanting more from these characters. As the old saying goes: always leave ‘em wanting more. It would be worse if everyone’s like, oh god, not another book about these lame characters. Some might be saying that, of course, but hopefully they’re in the minority.
Anyhoooo…. I’m writing NIGHTSHADE right now and finding it a challenge to get steadily into the writing, mainly because of my time restraints lately. I need complete and utter concentration, silence, and heaps of chocolate to properly get started on a new write. Alas, I have been lacking on all three counts lately. Concentration is lacking. Silence is rare. And there is no chocolate currently in the condo-o-love.
I’m actually ok with the no chocolate part, though. I’ve embraced healthy eating this year. I’ve battled with my weight my entire life and am finally (better late than never!!) doing something about it. I just wish my metabolism would help out a little bit. After a lifetime of yo-yo dieting, it’s like pulling teeth to get the pounds off. However, since the end of January, I’m down 30 pounds as of this morning which is very encouraging — and actually, the most I’ve ever lost at any one time.
I’ve also even been…***cough, hack***….exercising. A little. Although, not nearly enough.
So what I’ve learned in the last seven months of attempting to change a lifetime of bad eating habits…
Smaller portions + exercise + time and patience = Success
Who the $#(% knew????
Okay, I knew. But I’d never actually put it to the test before. I’d go on a diet and do it for a couple of weeks. When I didn’t see the weight melting off I’d get discouraged and go back to how I ate before because the diets were restrictive and I needed a “treat”. Which was not good. Susan Powter once said she was in a fat coma when she had weight issues. I have to agree with that term. I’ve been in that coma for 38 years. And I’m finally waking up.
I’m doing this with Jenny Craig at the moment. They’re frakkin expensive and I’d love to be able to do it on my own, but with my dieting history, I’d rather pay the money at the moment for a program I know I’ll follow (the food is deelish!). I feel optimistic about my success in this area of my life for the first time in years.
Two things I’ve wanted since I was a teenager — to be a published writer and to be thin and in control of my body. Well, I’m a published writer. Full time. And the same traits that helped me achieve that goal are the same traits that will help me get to my weight loss goal: perseverance, patience, and the singleminded desire to achieve something tangible.
I can do it!!! And my butt will totally thank me. 
What inspired you to write about demons?
