Judith Sterling Author of The Stone Awakened
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Judith Sterling, author of The Stone Awakened, just released and The Cauldron Stirred. Book one and two of Guardians of Erin series. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets find out a little about Judith and see what Stone Awakened and The Cauldron Stirred are all about. Thanks for joining us! Psst… for the first five persons to leave a comment, you’ll win a digital copy of The Cauldron Stirred, first book in Guardians of Erin Series.
Judith, what inspired this particular story? The whole Guardians of Erin series—which will have four books in total—was inspired by my deep love for Ireland and paranormal experiences during my travels there.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Watching classic Christmas movies with my family. Because The Stone Awakened takes place around Christmastime, I had to include in the story some of my favorite Irish Christmas traditions, like wearing “ugly Christmas jumpers” and reading James Joyce’s The Dead.
What does Christmas mean to you? Quality time with loved ones and magical memories from childhood.
Do you keep the Christmas spirit all year? If we’re talking about love, compassion, and a belief in magic and miracles, then yes!
How long have you been writing? My mom says I wrote my first story at age 3, and by 5th grade, I was writing chapter stories.
What’s your favorite part of being an author? Knowing my stories make people happy.
Tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants? So much fun! I’m a plotter and really have to be. I plan out whole series before writing the individual books and need to place my clues to the mysteries just right! Still, my characters surprise me, sometimes through action and often through dialogue.
SPEED ROUND
Favorite Christmas movie: Christmas in Connecticut
Favorite Christmas book: A Christmas Carol
Favorite color: periwinkle
Stilettos or flipflops or elf shoes: elf shoes
Coffee or tea or hot chocolate: hot chocolate
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: paperback
Pencil or pen or candy cane: pen
Favorite Christmas Carole or song: White Christmas
All-time favorite Christmas present: Nancy Drew books
Favorite dessert: chocolate mousse
Christmas Candy or Cake: cake
Favorite thing to do to relax during the holidays: watch movies
Champagne or gin or eggnog: eggnog
Paranormal or Historical: Both! I can’t choose!
Wonder Woman or Top Model or Tinkerbell: Wonder Woman
Favorite Christmas or holiday TV show: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Hot or cold: cold
POV: third person
I’d die if I don’t have: a functioning toilet
How about a couple questions for the Hero (Aengus):
What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you? The night I first met the woman I’ve loved for more than a millennium.
What do you consider most important in life? Keeping loved ones safe from harm.
Not so fast Ashling, I have a couple questions for you too. You are the Heroine right? Yes…
What is most important to you in life? Giving something positive to the world.
What is your biggest fear? That the lure of darkness will eclipse my natural affinity for the light.
Click on cover to read more or purchase.
Judith tell us a little about The Cauldron Stirred (Guardians of Erin, Book One):
Ashling Donoghue never dreamed moving to Ireland would rock her perception of reality and plunge her into a mystery that brings legend to life.
At seventeen, she’s never had a boyfriend, but she feels an immediate connection to Aengus Breasal, the son of the wealthy Irishman who’s invited her family to stay at his Killarney estate. For the first time in her life, a guy she likes seems attracted to her.
But Aengus is secretive, with good reason. He and his family are the Tuatha Dé Danann, ageless, mythical guardians adept at shifting between this reality and the magical dimension known as the Otherworld. Evil forces from that world threaten the Breasals, the Donoghues, and all of Ireland. Ashling must open her heart, face her fears, and embrace a destiny greater than she could ever have imagined.
How about for The Stone Awakened (Guardians of Erin, Book Two):
Since moving to Ireland, Ashling Donoghue has tackled one challenge after another. Now the mystery of her parents’ disappearance seems unsolvable. Are they dead or only missing? No one—not even the godlike Breasals—has a clue. Hope and fear war inside her, but she’s determined to find answers and stay strong for her siblings. Even as she hones newfound powers, her banshee-in-training sister Deirdre needs her support.
Ashling could use a little help herself. She’s struggling to navigate her first romance, and while Aengus Breasal stirs her body, mind, and soul, his nemesis Lorcan does too. Both men harbor secrets about her past life as Caer. One has ties to Aoife, the scheming wind demon whose influence is on the rise.
As the Stone of Destiny awakens, so does the conflict within.
Can we have a sneak peek between the pages of The Stone Awakened?
Thunder shook the night as the Dullahan’s black stallion reared beneath him on the sweeping lawn below. The horseman thrust his severed head toward the sky and called out the names of those he hunted.
“Dylan Donoghue! Maeve Donoghue!”
Powerless to stop him, I watched from the bedroom window. The glass panes infused my palms with the chill of death itself. Out of sight, my parents screamed, then fell silent. The sound of laughter followed.
Exultant. Spiteful. Malignant.
Aoife! The wind demon whose foul plot shattered my family with a single blow.
Hate and despair welled inside me. “No!”
“Ashling, wake up!” My sister shook me awake.
She switched on the lamp between our beds, and I scanned the room. The same sash windows as in the dream. The same luxurious décor in shades of periwinkle, white, and gray. Even my slippers beside the bed were the same. But the night was quiet, and there was no immediate danger.
Deirdre tucked her long, blonde hair behind her ears and gave me a knowing look. “Another nightmare about the Dullahan?”
Nodding, I wiped the sweat from my brow. “And Aoife.”
“Sounds almost as bad as my dream the night he took Mom and Dad.”
“We don’t know he took them.”
“We don’t know he didn’t.”
“They’re not dead!” Dread clutched my heart, and I pushed out a long breath to calm myself. “They can’t be.”
Buy Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble The Wild Rose Press
About the Author:
Judith Sterling’s love of history and passion for the paranormal infuse everything she writes. Flight of the Raven, Soul of the Wolf, and Shadow of the Swan are part of her medieval romance series, The Novels of Ravenwood. The Cauldron Stirred and The Stone Awakened are part of her young adult paranormal series, Guardians of Erin. Written under Judith Marshall, her nonfiction books—My Conversations with Angels and Past Lives, Present Stories—have been translated into multiple languages. She has an MA in linguistics and a BA in history, with a minor in British Studies. Born in that sauna called Florida, she craved cooler climes, and once the travel bug bit, she lived in England, Scotland, Sweden, Wisconsin, Virginia, and on the island of Nantucket. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her husband and their identical twin sons.
You can find Judith on her Social Media:
Website – https://judithmarshallauthor.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/judithsterlingfiction/
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16291161.Judith_Sterling
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01MT3KB7L
The Wild Rose Press – https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/2212_judith-sterling
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Stone Awakened and The Cauldron Stirred!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Judith Sterling, Paranormal Romance, The Cauldron Stirred, The Stone Awakened, Witches by Tena Stetler with 18 comments.
Interview Ani Gonzalez Author of The Christmas Countdown
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Ani Gonzales, author of The Christmas Countdown. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets find out a little about Ani and The Christmas Countdown. Thanks for joining us! Psst… don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the bottom of this post!
Thanks for featuring my book, The Christmas Countdown, on the blog. It’s a fast-paced, hilarious and adorable sweet holiday romance which was a blast to write and I’m super excited to share it with readers.
My pleasure. Now tell us what defines you as an author? As a person? Are they one and the same?
I’m known for my funny, quirky small towns, my madcap situations, and my creative use of folklore and traditions. This new series, for example, is set in the Holiday Lake, Minnesota, a town that celebrates Christmas 365 days of the year. It takes place in December, so things are already pretty crazy. I take things up to 11, however, when my event planner heroine, Nat Quinn, is asked to arrange a perfect family Christmas in twenty-four hours. Nat is known as “The Christmas Queen,” but is she up to the job and the romance that is coming her way?
What is Christmas like where you live? Don’t be shy, tell us your secrets.
I’m originally from Puerto Rico and Christmas is a HUGE deal down there. The holiday season starts with Thanksgiving and doesn’t end until late January with the Feast of St. Sebastian. It’s one big non-stop party.
What inspired this particular story?
I lived in Minnesota for two years and spent a ton of time traveling across the Midwest. One of our road trips took us to the town of Amana in Iowa. It was settled by German immigrants and still retains its original Bavarian architecture. As soon as I saw those adorable gingerbread buildings (and the many, many shops selling Christmas ornaments) I knew I had my holiday town.
Why should we read this book/series and what sets you apart from the rest and makes your book/series unique?
Definitely the mix of humor and heart. My books are funny and lighthearted, but also heartwarming., and there’s always a little twist or a surprise at the end.
What’s your favorite part of being an author?
I get to live in the worlds I create! My readers always say that they would love to move to my little towns and I get to live there all year round. It’s fantastic.
Speed Round FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN: (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh> And she can’t do it. LOL Oh well we don’t care. It all for fun!
Favorite Christmas Movie: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Favorite Christmas Book: The Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie
Last Christmas or Holiday Book Read:
Favorite color: Orange
Stilettos or flipflops or elf shoes: I live in the Midwest so Uggs are the preferred footwear right now.
Coffee or Tea or Hot Chocolate: Constant Comment tea from Bigelow
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Ebook!
Pencil or pen or candy cane: Pencil, so I can erase mistakes.
Favorite Christmas Carol or song: Carol of the Bells, particularly the Lindsey Stirling version from last year. I also love Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Sarajevo 1985.
All-time Favorite Christmas Present: A cowboy Barbie I got when I was ten. I wrote a holiday story based on her, One Night in the Chupacabras Ranch, and you can get it by signing up for my newsletter.
Favorite dessert: Strawberry pie.
Christmas Candy or Cake: Collin Street Texas Fruitcake. It’s the best.
Favorite Thing To Do to Relax During the Holidays: Watch Hallmark Movies
Champagne or gin or eggnog: I have a favorite recipe for Puerto Rican coconut eggnog. It’s delicious and it’s on my blog.
Paranormal or Historical: Both!
Wonder Woman or Top Model or Tinkerbell: Tink for the win!
Favorite Christmas or holiday TV show: The Grinch!
Hot or cold: Cold!
POV: Third person
I’d die if I don’t have: Candy Corn (that’s why my other series is all about Halloween!)
Review or Not: Review!
Holiday Lake
satisfied. That was one action item taken care of.
mahogany cabinet that served as the study’s bar and grabbed a bottle of scotch
and a glass. A perfect Christmas with his kids. This was worth celebrating.
and poured the amber liquid into the glass. The cut-glass pattern made
everything sparkle, which was rather festive. Now all he had to do was get the
kids on the plane. Everything else would be taken care of.
giving his children the perfect Christmas, there was more to his feeling of
jubilation. He smiled as he realized that the quirky holiday decorator had
improved his mood. She seemed almost entirely too Christmassy to be real, but
she also appeared to be someone you could count on, a quality that was lacking in
this world.
feeling the fiery liquid slide down this throat. That had been a good
negotiation.
forward to the next one. As Nat had said, everyone wanted the perfect Christmas
and it wasn’t all that easy. An eleventh-hour version would, he was certain,
encounter a few challenges, and he had a feeling he would enjoy maneuvering
through them with Ms. Quinn. He felt a lot more confident after talking with
her, like a weight had fallen off his back.
studio, all well-tailored slacks and glossy hair. She definitely wasn’t the
slouchy sweater and Ugg boots type.
packing,” she said, a tinge of worry in her voice. “They sound really
excited. Is she going to do it?”
Cyrus replied. “Did you have any doubts?”
exclaimed with a happy smile. “She was dead set against it. How did you
convince her?”
and bottomless margaritas,” he replied.
accurate. Ms. Quinn had given in when he’d mentioned his kids. That had been
her weak spot. It made sense that a holiday specialist would be a sucker for
kids. They were the point of her job, after all.
know about this Nat Quinn, Leah?” He asked.
fantastic,” Leah answered, eyes shining. “You know Christmas is not
my thing, so it takes quite a lot to wow me.”
Jewish, and she’d worked for some of the wealthiest families in Manhattan and
London. She was notoriously hard to impress.
hired me one week before Christmas and I was blown away. We drove up to the
lodge and it looked amazing with a ten-foot-tall tree, garlands everywhere, and
Mrs. Hagen’s favorite vintage German decorations. Ms. Quinn even found the
large old-fashioned bulbs that Mrs. Hagen wanted. She had an intact set and
everything.”
At least he wasn’t demanding rare Christmas lights and antique ornaments. Ms.
Quinn was likely relieved about that.
was divine,” Leah continued. “The main restaurant has an
all-year-round holiday buffet with a citrus cranberry chutney that is out of
this world. You can use it as a sandwich spread for the leftovers too.”
dreamy as she described the food.
makes this amazing Black Forest cake with cherry Kirsch.” Leah gave a deep
sigh of longing. “It has so much alcohol you can’t drive after you eat it,
but it is delicious. Absolutely worth being housebound afterwards.”
back for the food?” Cyrus asked, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
by an awkward silence.
“Er, not exactly. The town is lovely and the people are, um, quite
pleasant.” She paused. “Particularly Ms. Quinn. She even gave us some
Chinese food for Christmas Eve dinner, which was very thoughtful.” Her
eyes grew dreamy again. “The kung pao chicken was delicious. I hear the
place closed though, which is a pity.”
hope Ms. Quinn can whip us something similar despite the time constraints.
Given what we’ve given her to work with, we’ll be lucky if she can find a
Christmas tree.”
Noah’s dad—”
her mouth, eyes wide.
raised a brow. “Who’s Noah?”
across her cheeks. “No one. I’ll, er, go check on the kids now.”
the room.
Leah had been working for him for almost two years now, and she’d become part
of the family. Yet he’d never seen her blush, not once.
be a lot more interesting than he’d expected.
computer. A picture of his kids popped up on the screen. It was from the last
time he’d taken Jack to the FDNY open house. His son stood in front of a fire
truck grinning widely while his sister made bunny ears behind his head.
picture, partly because he’d made it to the field trip for a change, but mostly
because Jack was wearing a t-shirt that read “Firefighters Like It
Hot”, seemingly oblivious to the double entendre.
Internet browser icon and waited for the program to load. An e-mail came as he
waited. The sender was Nat Queen at TheChristmasQueen-dot-com and the subject
line read “Contract for Immediate Signature.” The words were
punctuated with a dozen exclamation marks.
was quite efficient, a woman after his own heart.
opened, he typed in “Nat Quinn Holiday Lake Minnesota.” A
surprisingly large number of sites popped up, most of them featuring the
Christmas Queen motto and a mistletoe crown logo.
was a busy gal. She’d appeared on various morning shows, giving holiday
decorating tips. She wrote a column on how to plan the perfect holiday. She had
authored numerous magazine articles on virtually every challenge one could
encounter during the holidays, and at least three of the articles dealt with
gravy consistency. She had done sets for holiday movies.
a beach holiday. The poor woman must be exhausted. She even had a sponsorship
agreement with a candle company. The ads boasted that her Citrus Cranberry
Christmas Delight Candle was their all-time best-seller.
things one could be remembered for.
TheChristmasQueen.com, and was immediately assaulted by loud music, The
Carol of the Bells, if he was not mistaken.
admirable Ms. Quinn had one serious character flaw: She was one of those people
who had pop-up music on her website.
scrolled down. There was another mistletoe crown logo, a recipe section, and
several pictures of lavishly decorated houses.
Ms. Quinn could put on a show. She’d even done a party with a real sleigh and
live reindeer. He peered at the computer screen, jaw dropping in disbelief as
he counted the animals. Eight reindeer, all suitably labeled. She’d done a
holiday party with eight reindeer.
Christmas in a day.
site. She had social media accounts with current pictures of the town. It had
snowed recently and Holiday Lake could rightfully claim that it would be a
white Christmas. The bakery that Leah loved was shaped like a Swiss chalet with
twinkling lights and a giant Black Forest cake replica in front.
it turned out, was re-opening. Leah would no doubt be overjoyed. The Bavarian
Brathaus sounded intriguing and the Holiday Lake Inn would be sponsoring a
Christmas carol concert tomorrow night. The kids would enjoy that.
have a fetish for measuring things. All their statistics were carefully noted
on the various websites. They’d received sixteen inches of snow last week. The
Holiday Lake Inn’s all-you-can-eat turkey buffet had served seventeen gallons
of citrus-cranberry chutney on December 26 of last year. Year-to-date, the tree
farm had sold eight hundred and twenty-two trees.
social media accounts and checked all the friends lists, but try as he might he
could not find what he was looking for.
Leah’s mysterious Noah.
pictures of Nat Quinn. The Christmas Queen seemed surprisingly shy. No pictures
of herself on her website. No selfies on her social media. Nothing.
images search tab and found that the local Christmas tree vendors had a picture
of her. The image was blurry, so all he could make out was a slender woman
standing next to an enormous Christmas tree, but clicking on the picture took
him to the tree seller’s website.
Quinn had filmed a television segment with Northstar Tree Farm, which had aired
on the Minneapolis public television station. The tree farm had the video on
its website.
back to watch.
woman with bright red hair, green eyes, and a loud cheerful laugh. She knew
more than any human being should about decorative conifers, and she could make
a Christmas wreath in five minutes flat. She liked Balsam firs because they
looked shaggy and natural, but she admired the Fraser fir’s longevity. She
wielded a chainsaw like a pro and she did not like artificial trees. As far as
she was concerned, they were an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. She owned
thirty-seven ugly Christmas sweaters and her favorite featured an
unhappy-looking antlered Chihuahua. And she was single.
smiling. Nat Quinn was adorable.
about Christmas.
choice for this job. Even the single part. Not that he cared, of course, not personally.
It just left her free to concentrate on the job.
consideration here, the job.
He scrolled up. He could swear he’d seen—
the top of the website. There it was in all its glory—The Northstar Tree Farm’s
Christmas tree counter.
“zero.”
Zero balsams. Zero Frasers.
he pulled up Nat’s email, opened the contract, and affixed his electronic
signature.
what the Christmas Queen would do.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Ani Gonzales, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, The Christmas Countdown by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Christmas Traditions-Karily Bentley Author of Demon Lore
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Karilyn Bentley, author of Demon Lore. Now out on audio book! Yippee! Great Christmas gift. Just say’n. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets see what Christmas Traditions Karilyn is sharing and a little about Demon Lore’s audiobook. Thanks for joining us!
What makes you angry?
Injustice in the world.
Do you throw a Christmas get together?
Does inviting the whole family to go ice skating count? It started off small and now all the kids (aka my nieces and nephews) look forward to it all year along.
Favorite holiday memory
When I was a child, we didn’t have a lot of money, so we’d make “special” gifts. Like a 24 carrot necklace (get the pun??). We’d also hide the gifts, then attach yarn to them so you’d have to unwrap the ball of yarn to get to your gift (while crawling over and under other’s yarn strings). Dad would hide gifts and write funny poems telling where to find them. He’d usually write two to three poems per gift. We’d have to run around the house trying to figure out what the poem was talking about in order to find our gift.
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?
Gin Crawford, the heroine of the Demon Huntress series. She’s snarky and troubled and it was fun to watch her grow and change. Writing a snarky character was fun because she says things I wouldn’t dare. Since she’s imaginary she can get by with it. <grin>
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
I’d love to have telekinesis. That way I could move things by thinking of it. Like, sit and write while dusting. I hate dusting! <g>
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN: Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite Christmas movie: A Christmas Story
Favorite Christmas book: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Last Christmas or holiday book read: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Favorite color: Green
Stilettos or flipflops or elf shoes: Elf Shoes
Coffee or tea or hot chocolate: tea
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: ebook or paperback
Pencil or pen or candy cane: Candy Cane
Favorite Christmas Carole or song: Wizards in Winter (by TSO)
All-time favorite Christmas present: jewelry
Favorite dessert: Carrot cake
Christmas Candy or Cake: Cake
Favorite thing to do to relax during the holidays: read
Champagne or gin or eggnog: champagne
Paranormal or Historical: Paranormal
Wonder Woman or Top Model or Tinkerbell: Wonder Woman
Favorite Christmas or holiday TV show: The Grinch
Hot or cold: Cold
POV: First
I’d die if I don’t have: lotion
Review or Not: Review
Tell us a little about Demon Lore, narrated by Joan Kukore.
Gin Crawford has enough problems dealing with her empath abilities. Finding out she’s the world’s newest demon-slayer is the last thing she needs. Unfortunately, when she slips on a mysterious bracelet she is given no other choice. On the plus side, her new gig comes with Tall, Dark and Handsome, a mage who may or may not have her best interests at heart. Thrust into a power-play between good and evil, Gin must choose a side before she becomes the next victim in the ongoing battle.
The audio book is wonderful! I listened to a snippet of it. I love audio books to listen to while running errands, or taking a break out in the sunroom.
A peek between the pages of A DEMON LORE. To hear a snippet of the audio book, click here.
The evil man-thing stands on my porch, his lips turning in a menacing smile of death. I don’t need to touch him to know he wants me dead. Muscles freeze, trapping my breath in my lungs. Like a rabbit in view of a wolf, I’m immobilized, waiting for death’s blow. Time slows, his gaze locks on mine, trapping me in place.
Move, move, move! My mind screams as the man’s fingers twitch.
But the spike of adrenaline explodes into my limbs too late to stop the backhand blow slamming across my jaw.
I superman it halfway across the living room. Land on the hardwood floor in a thud of pain-ridden limbs. My jaw morphs into a screaming ball of nerves. My head no sooner hits the floor than I hear the bracelet scream, a high-pitched wail quivering through my skin like vibrations from a tuning fork. The bracelet tightens around my wrist, cutting off the circulation, and then it loosens with a pop at the same time I hear the door click closed.
Ohgodohgodohgod, I’m going to die. I don’t want to die. No, no, no, no, no. Pain and terror hold me crumpled on the floor as my mind crawls backward in time.
But I’m no longer a child, fearful of fists and words, cowering on the ground.
I’m a fighter.
My head spins, but I refuse to lie on the floor waiting to be killed, so I attempt to stand. Evil Guy laughs as I ass-plant it. Laughs as a moan escapes my lips. He takes a step toward me, right arm drawn back for a hit. His fist hurls toward my face, but I manage to block it with my left arm. My right arm, the one with the bracelet, shoves forward, slamming into his chest.
His black eyes widen, mouth open in surprise, his hands fluttering to his chest before dropping. I stare at my hand, stare hard, for I’m as surprised as Evil Guy. The bracelet had become a sword, a long, thin spike of metal extending from the silver links, straight into Evil Guy’s heart.
A sword?
Definitely a sword. The flat of the blade rests against the back of my hand, cool metal heating from the warmth of my skin. Small silver links circle around my palm, lending stability to the two-foot long sword.
I’m not sure which scares me more, Evil Guy paying me a visit or the fact the bracelet performed a morphing trick.
Links for Demon Lore: Amazon B&N The Wild Rose Press iBooks and Audible
About the Author:
Karilyn Bentley’s love of reading stories and preference of sitting in front of a computer at home instead of in a cube, drove her to pen her own works, blending fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny.
Her paranormal romance novella, Werewolves in London, placed in the Got Wolf contest and started her writing career as an author of sexy heroes and lush fantasy worlds.
Karilyn lives in Colorado with her own hunky hero, a crazy dog nicknamed The Kraken, a silly not-quite-a-puppy, and a handful of colorful saltwater fish.
Where to find Karilyn
Website: www.karilynbentley.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1
Blog: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/karilynbentley
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karilyn-bentley
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Demon Lore Audio Book!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Audio Book, Dark Fanasy, Demon's Lore, Karilyn Bentley, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 14 comments.
Peggy Jaeger Author of Christmas & Cannolis
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Peggy Jaeger, author of Christmas & Cannolis. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets find out a little about Peggy and her Christmas & Cannolis. Thanks for joining us!
What inspired this particular story? I love big families. Since I’m an only child, that makes sense, no? Hee Hee. And I love the American/Italian family I created in 3 WISHES, the San Valentinos. They have a lot of branches on their family tree and I’ve mentioned the pseudo-wiseguy member, Uncle Sonny in both 3 Wishes and A Kiss Under The Christmas Lights, so I wanted to explore him and his family branch. Because family is everything to Sonny, he has a big one. 4 sons and his bellissima figlia, Regina. Regina has known heartache in her life but has been able to pick herself up and move forward with the help of her family. When a new man comes into her life that she’s willing to pledge herself to, her domineering – yet loving – family intervenes, comically though it is, and throws a wrench into her potential happiness. How Sonny deals with the new man is typical of a proud and over protective Italian father. I knew this needed to be a Christmas story because the holidays are all about love, family, and faith, and this family has all
What is your favorite Christmas tradition? When we decorate the four trees I have in my house every holiday season, I play Christmas CD’s all day while I bake and decorate. The smells coming from the oven warm my heart, as do the myriad of brightly decorated trees around my house.
Why did you choose the cover concept you did? Regina San Valentino owns her own bakery, so I knew I wanted at least some kind of bakery or baking scene on the cover. And since the title mentions my favorite Italian dessert – cannoli – I knew I had to have some kind of representation of it as well. Since this is a Christmas story about two people who find each other around the Christmas holidays, the character depiction needed to be festive and positive. What’s more festive than a pair of lovers, garbed in Santa hats, kissing for a romance cover?
Favorite holiday memory : The year my “Santa” left Rock’em Sock’em Robots for me under the tree. Quick backstory: I’m an only child and a girl, to boot, but my favorite toy to ask Santa for when I was 6 was Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots. I didn’t get it, so I asked again when I was 7…then 8….then 9. When I added it to my list on my 10th Christmas, my mother told me that Santa wouldn’t be bringing that to me because I’m a girl and the toy I was asking for was a “boy toy.” Can you spell c-r-u-s-h-e-d? Fast forward 30 years and I told that story around the dinner table of my husband’s parents when we were visiting for the holidays. On Christmas morning there was a huge present under the tree with my name on it and when I opened it…yup! Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots. “Santa” brought the perfect present, 30 years after I asked for it. Love that man!
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why? Like Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth, I’d want to be able to know when someone is lying. Of all the vices there are in the world – and there are a lot! – I hate lying most of all. I’d use my superpowers to force criminals to tell the truth, politicians to be held accountable for their lies, and force people in general who have hurt one another through vicious lying to be punished.
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite Christmas movie: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 1946, Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed “Every time a bells rings, an angel gets her wings!”
Favorite Christmas book: Scrooge – gotta love a holiday redemption story!
Last Christmas or holiday book read: (HeeHee) my own, CHRISTMAS AND CANNOLIS (!)
Favorite color: green
Stilettos or flipflops or elf shoes: stilettos
Coffee or tea or hot chocolate: WATER!
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: ebook
Pencil or pen or candy cane: candy cane
Favorite Christmas Carole or song: A Cool Yule, by Bette Midler
All-time favorite Christmas present: Rock ‘em Sock’em robots – long story, fav gift!
Favorite dessert: Death By Chocolate Trifle
Christmas Candy or Cake: Cake -always
Favorite thing to do to relax during the holidays Read by the fire
Champagne or gin or eggnog: None. I don’t drink alcohol
Paranormal or Historical: Regency
Wonder Woman or Top Model or Tinkerbell: Wonder Woman
Favorite Christmas or holiday TV show: The original Cartoon GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS ( again, gotta love a holiday redemption story!)
Hot or cold: cold
POV: third
I’d die if I don’t have: Diet Mountain Dew
Review or Not: review!
Tell us a little about Christmas & Cannolis!
With Christmas season in full swing, baker Regina San Valentino is up to her elbows in cake batter and cookie dough. Between running her own business, filling her bursting holiday order book, and managing her crazy Italian family, she’s got no time to relax, no room for more custom cake orders, and no desire to find love. A failed marriage and a personal tragedy have convinced her she’s better off alone. Then a handsome stranger enters her bakery begging for help. Regina can’t find it in her heart to refuse him.
Connor Gilhooly is in a bind. He needs a specialty cake for an upcoming fundraiser and puts himself—and his company’s reputation—in Regina’s capable hands. What he doesn’t plan on is falling for a woman with heartbreak in her eyes or dealing with a wise-guy father and a disapproving family.
Can Regina lay her past to rest and trust the man who’s awoken her heart?
A peek between the pages of Christmas & Cannolis:
It had been a long, long time since a guy’s hands had been on me in anything resembling a carnal way. My ex had decamped to parts unknown five years ago after signing the divorce papers and I’d been so busy rebuilding my life that adding any kind of relationship to it wasn’t even a notion. Besides, with my hovering parents, one of whom worked for me while the other popped in daily to check up on their only daughter, I had enough on my plate fending off the men they wanted to introduce me to. Guys who, for the most part, had shady lifestyles, carried concealed, and owed my father innumerable favors. And by favors I mean the kind that usually get signed for in blood and paid back the same way.
Welcome to mia familia.
Buy Links: Amazon: WILD ROSE PRESS Nook
About the author:
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Tying into her love of families, her children’s book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.
Peggy holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer’s Disease during her time running an Alzheimer’s in-patient care unit during the 1990s.
In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.
In 2017 she came in 3rd in the New England Reader’s Choice contest for A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and was a finalist in the 2017 STILETTO contest for the same title.
In 2018, Peggy was a finalist in the HOLT MEDALLION Award and once again in the 2018 Stiletto Contest.
A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072?ref=bookmarks
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmj122687/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peggy-jaeger
You-Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDR8RRIlssIyS0FYZWeGqsg/videos
BookGorilla: https://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B00T8E5LN0/peggy-jaeger/kcc
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Christmas & Cannolis!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged big American/Italian family, Christmas & Cannolis, Contemporary Romance, Peggy Jaeger by Tena Stetler with 14 comments.
