Meet My Character Blog Tour!!

Posted on August 13, 2014 by S. L. Dearing

Here are the rules as they were sent to me for the Meet My Character Blog Tour…

“This tour highlights a main character from your WIP (work in progress), recently published work, or soon to be published work. The person who invites you will have a set day to post. You will post one (or two) week(s) after that, the authors you tag will post one/two week(s) after you, and so on. Here are the questions to answer about your main character:

1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

2) When and where is the story set?

3) What should we know about him/her?

4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?

5) What is the personal goal of the character?

6) Is there a working title for this novel if it is a WIP, and can we read more about it? OR what is the title of this novel and where can it be found?

If a WIP: 7) When can we expect the book to be published?”

Let’s start with a little info about the author who tagged me, Michael Loring!

Michael Loring was born in Bristol, Connecticut, but has lived in a variety of places such as Florida and Tennessee. He likes to think of himself as an amateur Lycanthropologist, studying werewolves ever since he was eight years old when he first saw An American Werewolf In London. He spent most of his life switching between home school and public school, always focusing on his passion for writing no matter what. His interest in writing was sparked in the second grade when his teacher encouraged him to write short stories for the class, earning him more than one award at school assemblies for Creative Writing. He currently resides in Punta Gorda, FL with his father who, for some unexplainable reason, avoids him during the night of the full moon.

Now, let’s meet, Alia Stark!!

1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person? Well, her name is Alia Stark. She’s the queen of a fictional village called Lia Fail.

2) When and where is the story set? The story is set in the fictitious village of Lia Fail, which sits in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California, sometime in the future. There is no determined time frame.

3) What should we know about him/her? Alia is the queen of Lia Fail. She’s mother (many times over), a widow, a fighter. She has survived the destruction of the world as we know it and still manages to see the best in people. She is intelligent, loving and loyal. She is a pagan/witch, as is the village of Lia Fail, a pagan village (although all faiths, or those with no faith, are welcome).

4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life? In this next installment, there is once again someone desperate to destroy what Alia has built. They will use whatever means are at their disposal to take everything she holds dear. And once again, she has to discover who it is and stop them in their tracks.

5) What is the personal goal of the character? Alia’s goal is to live out the rest of her life as peacefully and joyfully as possible, but as the Shape and other villains continually come after her, and the magic of the inter-dimensional world has now bridged to our own, she is constantly having to fight to protect what she loves.

6) Is there a working title for this novel if it is a WIP, and can we read more about it? OR what is the title of this novel and where can it be found? The WIP is a novel that is entitled The Bridging: Book Two of the Lia Fail Chronicles. The two books before it are The Gathering: Book One of the Lia Fail Chronicles and From The Gathering to The Bridging: A Lia Fail Short Story Collection. The shorts are my way of keeping fans in the know as well as expanding on back story that will be essential to the next full length novel. So, between each full length novel will be a series of shorts to cover the time frame between books. For instance, there is a year and half time span between the end of The Gathering and the beginning of The Bridging.

7) When can we expect the book to be published?” I’m looking to publish in November if 2014, fingers crossed.

My Two Tagged Authors are:

V. Cantrell

I graduated from Eastfield College and live in a small town in Texas with my husband, two children, and my cute little dogs Reeces and Pancake. I work full-time, on top of editing for Hot Tree Editing and writing for myself has been an on going process for a few years now. My busy life means when I can I seek out relaxation by escaping into a good book. Inspired by the many amazing indie authors I’ve met along my editing journey, I found the courage to follow my dream of publishing my first novel.

I fully embrace my one-click addiction, always love the idea of a happily ever after, but there is no denying I have a massive soft spot for the bad boys.

Kick back and share the journey with me it will be quite a ride! Visit her blog V. Cantrell

Bart Hopkins

I was born in Galveston, Texas, in the middle of the 1970s. Swimming and surfing were the center of my little universe for a while. I can’t recall exactly when it happened, but during one of the hot summers of my childhood, maybe 1982 or 1983, I sat down with the first book that I would read for pleasure. It was a foreign concept to me, but my dad had given me the book, so I figured I’d give it a try.
My life changed rapidly. I frequently remained indoors that summer, reading book after book that I had borrowed from the public library. The thirst was unquenchable. It would be a year or so before my life found balance, morphing into equal parts rolling in the dirt, playing in the water, and reading. Along with the reading came some writing. Many notepads would be filled with random scribblings. Many ideas would hit paper and sit idly … for a while, anyway.
After high school, and a year at Texas A&M (Galveston), I enlisted in the US Air Force in 1994 and left Texas for the first time. Since then, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Korea, and Germany are places I’ve called home. I’ve been lucky enough to live overseas and travel around Europe. Made forays into Bosnia and Kuwait for Uncle Sam. Lots of little side trips–always an interesting time.
In Mississippi I met my beautiful wife, Perla, and we added three children to the clan. Life was busy. Somewhere amid the madness I went back to school, and tied up those loose ends. Life remained busy. Life seemed to be complete. Almost was complete…
Then the writing resurfaced. Wow, it’s been an amazing ride so far. It’s a strange thing when you find something you’re truly passionate about. That’s writing for me.
Visit his website Bart Hopkins

The Lotto By Joe McDonald

Posted on June 3, 2014 by S. L. Dearing

What would we do if we won the lottery? We’ve all thought about it. In Joe McDonald’s novel Lotto, we find out what happens to Michael Collins when he as that winning ticket.

While sitting in his local bar and drinking to numb himself to his increasingly miserable life, Mike Collins discovers he has a winning lottery ticket, one worth $23 million. The problem, he wants to keep it from his soon to be ex-wife. In order to do this, he goes to an attorney named Norm Feinberg to get advice. Feinberg, who has recently lost his retirement in a bad market deal and sees an opportunity to get that money back and start a new life. This deceit will change Mike Collin’s life forever.

Lotto was a beautifully executed novel of intrigue. I was carried along by the honesty of the characters. Each was flawed but realistically so, from the patsy to the police. Mr. McDonald has woven a rich story full of revenge, murder, intrigue and redemption. I really enjoyed it and suggest you run out and get a copy… and although this story might make you think twice, I would still like to win the lottery.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lotto-Joe-McDonald/dp/0981453430/

The Bloody Sinful Original Legacy Tour – Featuring Author J. L. McCoy

Posted on April 21, 2013 by S. L. Dearing

Welcome to today’s Spotlight of author J. L. McCoy’s Bloody Sinful Legacy!!

Author Information:

J. L. McCoy resides in the beautifully weird city of Austin, Texas with her opinionated Pekiweenie Isabel and handsome husband Kenny. She has always been a passionate reader and enjoys watching movies, traveling, listening to heavy metal/classic rock/80s music, getting mani/pedis with her girls, and singing karaoke. She loves body art and is hopelessly addicted to Sonic’s ice and Route 44 un-sweet raspberry iced tea.

If you’d like more information about her or her upcoming books, please visit her at the following links:

Author Links:

Blog: http://www.jlmccoy.com/my-blog.html

website: http://www.jlmccoy.com/index.html

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJLMcCoy

my store: http://www.jlmccoy.com/store.html

(I sell signed copies of my books in my store!)

Amazon Kindle links

*Blood of the Son USA: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Book-Skye-Morrison-ebook/dp/B007GYWBLE/ref=sr_1_9?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1331051632&sr=1-9

*Sins of the Father USA: http://www.amazon.com/Father-Morrison-Vampire-Series-ebook/dp/B008LOLPYC/ref=pd_sim_kstore_5

*The Original Sin USA: http://www.amazon.com/Original-Morrison-Vampire-Series-ebook/dp/B009XTVB6Q/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2

*Legacy of Blood USA: http://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Morrison-Vampire-Series-ebook/dp/B00BGZD0IW/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1361164070&sr=1-5&keywords=legacy+of+blood

Barnes and noble Nook links:

*Blood of the Son: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-of-the-son-jl-mccoy/1109325656

*Sins of the Father: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sins-of-the-father-j-l-mccoy/1112170595?ean=2940015014402

Smashwords link:

*Blood of the Son: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/138671

*Sins of the Father: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/205195

BOOK ONE: Blood of the Sun

Synopsis: After a shocking admission by Archer Rhys, Skye Morrison and the rest of The Mausoleum’s vampire crew have to deal with the aftermath of Houston business owner and fellow vampire Greyson Mead’s murder. A gruesome discovery in Skye’s driveway forces her out of her house and temporarily into Archer’s lakeside mansion with her co-workers Trey, Hunter, Quinn, Seamus, Lochlan, Jameson, and of course the ever jealous Aoife. Skye must now live under the same roof with the two men she wants most and things are bound to get complicated. With a psychotic murderer on the loose hell bent on killing vampires and the appointed army of The Faithful having no luck in finding them, will Skye’s new boss and co-workers live to see next week? Will Skye make it out of Archer’s mansion alive?

*Be advised: This book contains adult situations, steamy sex scenes, and cursing.*

Excerpt:

“With all those late hours, doesn’t Mrs. Rhys miss you?” I asked.

He raised an eyebrow. “No,” he said with a slight smirk. “There is no Mrs. Rhys.”

“Oh, sorry” I replied, a little embarrassed. “I just figured a guy like you would have been snatched up long ago by some gorgeous girl.”

He smiled and chuckled a little. “You’d think so, huh? I haven’t had much luck in that department…at least long term.”

“Sorry if I seemed nosy,” I said, looking down at my clasped hands. I felt like I had pried.

“Not at all, Skye. These are things you’ll need to know if you work for me,” he said soothingly. “Let me ask you a few general questions. Would that be alright?”

“Yes, please. Fire away,” I said, eager to change the subject.

“What do you like to do for fun?” he asked.

I looked up at him and wondered if I should give him the safe answer or the true answer. I decided to throw caution to the wind and let him see the real me. “Well, um, I enjoy painting. Abstract mostly…on big canvases. There’s almost nothing better than channeling your love, fear, pain, bad day, good day down into something and seeing the beauty of those emotions emerge. It helps me realize that no matter how bad my day was, or how hurt I felt…there’s always beauty in everything; that every emotion I feel is important and helps make me who I am. I love it. It’s freedom incarnate.” I smiled and remembered the last painting I did. It was after Jesse and I broke up. I put all the anger, tears, frustration, and ugliness down on the canvas. It turned into one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever done.

“I love to read,” I said, clearing my throat and continuing. “I’ve always preferred that over watching television. There’s not much imagination to television in my opinion. Also, dancing has always been in my blood. I love dancing whether it’s out at a dance hall or around my house. If hear music, my body just kind of responds to it. I like to catch Karaoke Night at the Blue Lagoon Lounge whenever I can. Their Cult Movie Show Tunes night is to die for. Don’t laugh. I know it’s cheesy, but I love it. And, I have to say, one of my absolute favorite things to do is go to my weekly Krav Maga class that I take with my best friend, Nikki,” I said, hoping that that wasn’t too long winded of an answer.

“Impressive, Miss Morrison,” he said with a cock of his head and appraising eyes. “I like a strong woman.”

I blushed and looked down at my hands. Small butterflies fluttered around in my stomach and I adjusted my body uncomfortably in the seat. I was embarrassed but a little excited at the look in his eye as he watched me talking. What is that…the way he’s looking at me? He likes a strong woman…what does that mean? Is he coming on to me? I laughed inwardly at the absurdity of my thoughts. Yeah right, Skye. He’s WAY out of your league, girlfriend. But, nice try. I looked up, into his eyes, and gave him a small smile and a shrug. “Me too. I grew up on Red Sonja comics. I wanted to be just like her when I was a kid.”

His eyes sparkled with his laughter and the butterflies in my stomach picked up again. Dammit, stop that! I silently told myself. Out of your league! And, he just might be your boss someday. Chill, hormones…

“What kinds of books do you like to read?” he asked.

I was surprised by the question. I guess when he said general, he really meant general. “I mainly read paranormal fiction, though I do enjoy the occasional historical drama or biography.”

“I’ve read up on preternatural things myself,” he said with a knowing smile. “What are your favorite subjects?”

“Well, I suppose it would be vampires, werewolves, fae, and similar mythological creatures,” I said, hoping that’s what he meant.

He laughed and nodded his head. “I’m glad you enjoy those. I do, too,” he said.

I started wondering how these questions pertained to the job I was interviewing for. But, I shouldn’t complain, I guess. These questions were very easy to answer and it seemed like he was genuinely interested in hearing my answers.

“Do you have any first-aid knowledge?” he inquired next.

“Hm…well, yes. I took a first-aid course in summer camp when I was 15. I still remember the basics,” I said, a little confused as to where this was going.

“Good,” he said, and then looked thoughtful. “Would you know how to…let’s say for example…dress wounds and control bleeding?”

What the hell kind of interview question was that?! I thought to myself. I’d expect that if I was applying at a hospital or something, but… “Yes,” I said slowly, confused as to why I would ever need to know something like that working in a nightclub.

“Excellent,” he said smiling. “You never know when something like that will come in handy.”

BOOK TWO: Sins of the Father

Synopsis:

After a shocking admission by Archer Rhys, Skye Morrison and the rest of The Mausoleum’s vampire crew have to deal with the aftermath of Houston business owner and fellow vampire Greyson Mead’s murder. A gruesome discovery in Skye’s driveway forces her out of her North Central Austin, Texas townhome and temporarily into Archer’s lakeside mansion with her co-workers Trey, Hunter, Quinn, Seamus, Lochlan, Jameson, and of course the ever jealous Aoife. Skye must now live under the same roof with the two men she wants most and things are bound to get complicated. With a psychotic murder on the loose hell bent on killing vampires and the appointed army of The Faithful having no luck in finding them, will Skye’s new boss and co-workers live to see next week? Will Skye make it out of Archer’s mansion alive?

Excerpt:

“Did you need something?” I asked.

Archer leaned forward in his chair and took off his expensive charcoal gray sports coat. “I wanted to see how you were handling all of this,”he said, throwing the coat onto the couch and moving to take off his cufflinks. I watched him struggle for a second before I intervened.

“Here, let me help you.” I said as I got up from the chair and walked around his desk. He smiled tiredly, sighed, and thanked me. I hopped up onto the desk, sat in the same place Aoife had only moments ago occupied and pulled his hand onto my lap. I slowly took off his left cufflink and sat it down on the dark desk beside me. I looked into his ice blue eyes as I rolled the shirtsleeve up his muscular forearm. “Honestly, Archer, I don’t know how I am handling this.”

He stared intensely into my eyes and searched them for clues. “Are you scared?” I nodded my head and gave him his arm back. I picked up his right one and began the same process again. “You know I’ll never let anything happen to you, don’t you?”

I watched my hands work as I thought about that for a few seconds.

“I know,” I said finally, looking back up into his beautiful eyes. Neither of us said anything for a long moment. “I’m worried about you…about all of you,” I admitted reluctantly, my fingers finishing their work.

Archer took one of my hands in his and leaned closer. “We’re going to be just fine,” he said, tucking a stray hair behind my left ear and then lifting my chin. “We’re a lot stronger than we look, Skye.”

I had a sudden flash of Greyson’s mutilated body and I swallowed hard, shaking my head. My eyes glistened with unshed tears. “But Greyson…,”

Archer shushed me with a gentle finger to my full lips. “Don’t,” he whispered, looking deeply into my eyes. “Don’t think about that.” He cupped my cheek and tenderly ran his thumb over my mouth, tracing my bottom lip.

“I’m sorry for how I acted earlier tonight,” he apologized gently, his eyes remorseful.

“I know,” I whispered. I tilted my head into his cool hand and closed my eyes. His touch was so comforting, his strong arms safe. I felt my body slowly start to relax for the first time tonight.

“I want you to stay with me tonight, Skye.” My eyes flew open in alarm and I sat up straight. “Us,” Archer amended quickly. “I meant I want you to stay with us…at my house.”

BOOK THREE: The Original Sin

Synopsis:

“Skye Morrison’s life lately has been anything but ordinary. Attempting to pull together the pieces of her life that have been ripped to shreds after being kidnapped and tortured by Amun- who happens to be the father of all vampires-her dreams are haunted by memories of those recent fateful and horrific events. Skye struggles with her split feelings and the raw sexual tension with her lover, Jameson Doyle and boss Archer Rhys-the continuous object of her sexual fantasies. Residing at Archer’s lakeside mansion with the rest of the vampire clan, Skye attempts to maintain a normal routine. With the vampire army, The Faithful, attempting unsuccessfully to capture Amun, her nightmares take her down a twisted spiral of entrapment and terror, taking its toll on her daily life. Haunted and hunted by the psychotic and mind-twisting Amun, Skye goes through dark and violent changes, revealing a side of herself she didn’t know existed and ultimately leading to a shocking conclusion. With a climax that will leave you breathless and wanting more, don’t miss the third chapter in the life of Skye Morrison.

Excerpt:

“Stop,” I whispered as the tears finally began to spill down my face. “I can’t bear to hear anymore.” My heart constricted with the pain his words brought. “How can you do this to me? How can you when you know I’m with Jameson.”

I roughly wiped the tears from my cheeks, stood up, and stormed over to him. “What am I supposed to do with this, Archer? Huh? Leave your brother and jump into your bed? What about him? What about his feelings? How can you do this to me? Why couldn’t you have just left it alone? Why did you have to tell me?”

“You deserve to know how I feel,” he growled. “You were mine before you were his.”

“No,” I shook my head sadly. “I wasn’t.”

“Why couldn’t you have just talked to me, Skye?” Archer asked, his voice full of pain. “Why didn’t you give me an opportunity to explain the kiss you saw between Aoife and me before you ran into my brother’s arms?”

“I thought I knew what I saw,” I whispered, losing my fight.

“You knew nothing,” he whispered, matching my tone, as he closed the gap between us and pulled me into his arms. He bent down and nuzzled my hair, taking a deep breath in.

I wrapped my arms around him and clung to him tightly. I buried my face in his chest and succumbed to my waterworks. “I knew nothing,” I finally admitted tearfully.

He held me for a long time, neither of us saying anything. I think we were both just content to be in each other’s arms. We had been denying ourselves for the longest time. Holding him felt like coming home; like a cool drink of water after a long week in the desert.

“I’m so sorry, Archer,” I sniffed. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“I’m sorry, too,” he mumbled into my hair as he placed light kisses about the top of my head. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now. The girl I love is sleeping with my brother.”

BOOK FOUR: Legacy of Blood

Synopsis:

“Skye Morrison begged for death. Fortunately, someone didn’t listen.
Skye awakens to discover she has been irrevocably changed and the unprecedented circumstances of her rebirth have now created a new threat to her very existence. Sired by both the monster Amun and the vampire Archer Rhys, Skye must prove to the army of An Dilis (The Faithful) whose essence is most dominant within her and that she is not a danger to them or society. The Faithful soon discover that she is unlike any vampire ever created before as she struggles to adjust to her new life and the changes that come with it.
Her recent brush with death has made Skye realize that life is precious and she wastes no time telling the one she loves how she feels about him.
But, Amun finds out that someone interfered with Skye’s transformation and the intrusion makes him livid. He gives Skye 7 days to come to him or he threatens to begin killing the ones she loves most.
Will Skye be able to survive long enough to enjoy her new life now that Amun is hunting her and everyone she loves?

Excerpt:

As soon as my head hit my pillow, and I fully relaxed, my eyes began to grow heavy. All of the excitement I had been through today had taken its toll on me mentally. I desperately needed to sleep and recharge. Before I knew it, I was out cold.

Images flashed behind my eyes, interrupting hours of deep, sound sleep as I softly heard someone whispering my name. Something was pulling at my psyche, demanding entrance, and I finally gave in to the request.

Amun was standing by large body of water with his back to me. As soon as I took a step toward him, he whirled around looking surprised but relieved.

“What took you so long?” he demanded, his black eyes taking on anger. “I’ve been reaching out to you all day. I could feel you but I didn’t have access to you…I couldn’t access your mind. Something is interfering. HOW are you keeping me out?”

“Ha!” I laughed and sneered at the small victory. “You mean to tell me you can’t just come into my dreams whenever you want to?”

He flashed to me and grabbed me by my throat. “You drank their blood?!” he raged in my face as he glared back and forth between my now colorless eyes. “But you are mine!”

“I am no one’s!” I yelled back as I ripped his hand from my neck and pushed him away from me; the action utterly shocking Amun. “No one owns me! No one will EVER own me!”

“A piece of my very soul is inside of you,” he growled, quickly recovering. “You are mine and you will do as I say. You will come to me this night! I DEMAND IT!”

I put my hands on my hips and smirked at him. “Demand away, Amun. I don’t know what you’re expecting, but I’m not going to just come crawling to whatever hole you’re off hiding in. You have no control over me. Get used to it!”

“Oh, I have plenty of control over you,” he sneered evilly as he took another step toward me. “All those disgusting feelings of love and desire you felt for that Day Walker…Archer? I put them there. I made you dream of him, want him, make love to him… I made you want to stay with him when you were so set on leaving. I couldn’t very well allow you to leave and ruin all my plans! But in the end, you betrayed me, Damu. There will be a heavy price to pay for that. You were supposed to stay, complete your change and then kill him and all his children. Instead you drink his blood and pollute yourself?! You could have been something great, something beautifully fierce and exquisitely savage, but now you are just another common, pathetic Day Walker!”

I felt my eyes flicker black as anger consumed me. “I’m not your fucking toy, Amun! If you think you can force me to feel things and do things for you, you have another thing coming. I’m going to kill you for what you’ve done to me! As God is my witness, you will DIE by MY hand!”

Amun chuckled as he looked me up and down and then tsked. “Oh, my sweet Nisiqtu…you are still so headstrong. I believe I was wrong about you. You carry my mark in your eyes. We are not so different after all, you and I. You may be a Day Walker now, but the potential for greatness is still there. The possibilities are endless now. There is so much we can do to them now that you are one of them. They will never suspect-”

“Fuck you!” I spat as I turned and walked away. I didn’t have to listen to his bullshit. He may have pulled me into this dream but, come hell or high water, I was going to walk out of it.

“You have one week to come to me, Skye,” Amun yelled at my back. “If you do not obey me, I will start killing your friends and family one by one and I’ll start with that fiery girl who shares your home. I believe I’ll sew her colorful skin into a new hat.”

I whirled around, my eyes wide and fearful. “You lay one finger on her and I’ll-”

“Silence!” Amun roared angrily, his voice echoing loudly all around me. “Seven days, Skye. And you had better be wearing the presents I left for you when you come to me.”

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed reading about this fantastic group of books. Please continue to follow the tour at the links below:

April 23

The Loupster

CSI Creative Scene Investigation

Random Musings of a Curious Mind

April 24

Spoilers, Sweetie

April 25

Bruce A. Sarte

Our New Generation for Reading

Carmilla Voiez

April 26