Bewitching Blog Tours, Guest Post/Giveaway - Ada Adams author of Revamped

Wow, I have a really terrific guest post from a fabulous author!  Please welcome Ada Adams as she shares how ReVamped went from tv script to novel.  Plus there is a giveaway at the end to win a Kindle copy of ReVamped!

ReVamped

Ada Adams

A simple mission turned deadly.

Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue.

When a human girl is kidnapped by a group of rogue vamps, Dawn discovers that there is more going on in Angel Creek than meets the eye. And it all connects to Ethan, the cute newcomer who seems too perfect to be true, Sebastian, the mysterious vampire with a turbulent past, and even Dawn herself. Dawn must not only succeed in revamping the troubled recruits, but must also prevent the vampire race from being overtaken by a malevolent villain who has a strange and obsessive fascination with her. As threat escalates, romance blooms, and ghosts from her past begin to surface, Dawn is sure of only one thing: her life will never be the same.

Character (Re)Development – From a Script to a Novel

ReVamped was originally created as a TV pilot script for an action/adventure comedy show about a group of misfit vampires and the girl responsible for revamping them into protectors of a small town. One interesting thing that I encountered while transforming the script into a novel was the fact that my characters had to be almost completely redeveloped. I found this to be especially true for the main character of Dawn (who actually used to be named Gabrielle).

Dawn, uhh, I mean Gabrielle from the script was a lot different the Dawn you meet in the novel. While both girls were extremely strong physically, Gabrielle had a much tougher personality. And, unlike nineteen-year-old Dawn (who was born in 1996), Gabrielle was a two-hundred-year-old vampire. She was one no-nonsense, smart, strong, sarcastic vampire chick!

However, once I began turning the script into the novel, I found that her sarcasm didn’t translate well on the page. In fact, she was often coming off as a little mean. In a show script, you can write a sarcastic line, and as long as the actor delivers it properly, it can come off as very funny and incredibly charming. However, if the actor happens to take it into too much of a sarcastic extreme, then you get an unlikable character. I’m sure we’ve all seen our fair share of such characters in film and TV. When writing a novel, writers don’t have the luxury of relying on talented actors to make the words jump off the page. Still, we have to ensure that the character will come off the way he/she is supposed to, or else, the reader will interpret them as unlikable individuals.

While writing the novel, I found myself having to tone down Dawn’s sarcasm, and having to amp up her humanity and vulnerability. As a result, I chiseled away some of Gabrielle’s perfections and got a very “human” vampire character (who is still able to kick a lot of butt, of course)! Dawn is also very shy and somewhat inept when it comes to guys—a trait that was definitely not part of the script.

When I read through the script (now that I have spent a lot more time with the novel), I see Gabrielle as someone that Dawn could have easily become—an older version of what Dawn could have been if she hadn’t met the misfits, Sebastian, and Ethan. However, now that she is on a journey with them, I definitely think that Dawn’s life and personality development will take a much different turn.

I thought that I would share a scene from ReVamped’s script and compare it to a similar scene in the novel. By the way, Alexander is Sebastian—another name, history, and personality change that I’m so very happy I made! Alexander actually had a very good reason for hating the president (which didn’t make it into Sebastian’s story, but it did have something special to do with Gabrielle). Burk’s Falls is Angel Creek.

When performing the scene from the script, the actors can, of course, easily ignite the tension, attraction, and the sparks between the characters. However, if you read the dialogue on the script, the passion between the two is almost non-existent. Personally, I think that the novel scene is much, much better. What do you think? :)

 * * * * * * * * 

REVAMPED SCRIPT

EXT. BURK’S FALLS CITY LIMITS – DAY

CUT TO:

GABRIELLE crosses into the town and passes by the “Burk’s Falls” sign. She is holding a large leather binder in her hand. She pauses and opens to the first page.

CUT TO:

A PHOTO of ALEXANDER, 21 (rugged, unsmiling).

GABRIELLE

Alexander Johnson. Turned in 1845 at age 21. Son of wealthy British shipbuilders who disowned him upon his transformation.

CUT TO:

EXT. SMALL DRIVEWAY OF A DILAPIDATED HOUSE - DAY

Alexander working on his car in front of his house. His back is turned to Gabrielle. Gabrielle walks towards him, still reading the file.

GABRIELLE

Brooding, mysterious, strong, but self-deprecating. Ugh. Who wrote this crap?

Gabrielle stops in front of the car.

GABRIELLE (CONT.)

Alexander Johnson?

Alexander pauses, turning around to look at Gabrielle. When he sees her, he drops his tools, startled. He quickly recovers, stands up and wipes off his hands.

ALEXANDER

(clearing his throat)

Depends. Who wants to know?

GABRIELLE

My name is Gabrielle. I’m here on behalf of the President. You’ve been summoned as a protector of Burk’s Falls. I assume you know what that entails.

Alexander looks intently at Gabrielle, then recovers once again and scoffs loudly.

ALEXANDER

What happened to the High School Musical gang? They were doing quite a number on the town from what I’ve heard.

GABRIELLE

They're no longer with us. They served their century. The job is your responsibility now.

ALEXANDER

(firmly)

No.

GABRIELLE

(incredulous)

What do you mean, “no”?

ALEXANDER

(smirks)

No. Nope. Nah. I don’t think so. Not interested.

Is that clear enough for you?

GABRIELLE

Whether or not you’re interested is beside the point. This is your duty!

ALEXANDER

Yeeeah, no. I don’t know if your President told you, but I don’t really embrace this whole “vampire fad”. I’m not interested in anything related to vampires, being a vampire, or serving the vampire government.

GABRIELLE

What about your obligation to protect humans?

ALEXANDER

I’m not interested in humans either – not even the sniveling, vulnerable ones so many vampire idiots fall for. You could say I’m only interested in myself. So if you wouldn’t mind leaving, I’d love to get back to work.

Gabrielle rushes to stand in front of Alexander. They look at each other for a moment.

GABRIELLE

(firmly)

You can’t do that.

Alexander suddenly becomes very agitated. He presses his face into Gabrielle’s.

ALEXANDER

Listen. For the past century I’ve been doing exactly what I want, when I want. I don’t owe anything to anyone - human or vampire - especially not your president. Now leave me alone before I make you leave!

GABRIELLE

(unfaltering)

You know that you can be prosecuted for disobeying the orders. Every one of us must serve for at least a century.

ALEXANDER

(stony-eyed)

 Then it’s a good thing that I’m not one of you!

He storms off into his house.

REVAMPED BOOK

I ordered Seth to wait in the car, and slowly made my way up the dirt path in the direction of what I had hoped was Sebastian’s residence. The longer I walked, the darker and more daunting the clouds above me became. Finally, with a booming crash of thunder, the sky tore open, releasing a fresh downpour of cool rain. This time, it was faster and heavier, pummeling against Hannah’s note and drenching her small, neat writing.

I considered turning back and meeting with Sebastian another time, but my curiosity got the best of me. I examined Hannah’s note, squinting to make out some of the smudged words.

Sebastian York is a twenty-one year-old Scorpio. He has gorgeous light gray eyes, the color of sparkling glaciers. His midnight-black hair is slightly curly, and just long enough to make you daydream about running your fingers through his locks. He’s super tall and really, really hot. Just try to peel your eyes away from all those lean muscles! Yum! He’s brooding, mysterious, strong, and self-deprecating (or at least, he seems like the type)—the perfect vampire!

I had to stop myself from reading the rest. Hannah’s report on Sebastian was a little over-the-top for my taste. Not to mention, much too unbelievable. I scrunched up the soaked paper and tucked it into the pocket of my jeans. I smiled to myself, thinking that the bubbly redhead had a promising career ahead of her as a writer of cheesy romance novels.

The hike through the forest led to a secluded clearing. The trees parted, revealing a striking building, more akin to a grand mansion, than a house in the woods. While made in the same style as the buildings in town, the three-story structure had a stately, regal air about it. Clad in white stone with Grecian temple-inspired columns towering across its entire façade, it very much resembled the majestic inn on the grounds of the Angel Creek Park.

The driveway finally came to an end, and I found myself next to a luxury antique car. Its cherry-red hood was propped wide open, and it took a moment before I noticed that there was a figure tinkering with the machinery underneath. He wore a pair of loose, black pants; the muscles on his bare back flexed as he strained to tighten something with a metal wrench.

Hannah’s words flashed through my mind as I stood frozen in place, observing Sebastian’s profile. My gaze traveled along his tall, lean frame, my pulse quickening in response to the wet raindrops sliding down his chiseled arms. Flustered, I quickly raised my eyes up to his face, gliding over his sharp angular jaw and high cheekbones, and finding a resting place atop his glistening, dark locks. Embarrassed by my unexpected attraction to the vampire in front of me, I sharply looked away, thankful for the cooling sensation of the wet raindrops against my skin.

Suddenly, Sebastian sensed my presence. His entire body tensed as he spun around; the wrench firmly grasped in his hand, ready and poised for an attack. The moment his eyes fixed on me, he froze, a look of sheer terror seizing his face. The metal tool fell out of his hand, hitting the cobblestone with a loud clank. The noise seemed to break the spell he was under. As his gaze connected with mine, the look of horror that came over him just moments before immediately vanished.

“Sebastian?” I asked breathlessly, unnerved by his startling reaction.

He didn’t reply. Instead, he continued to examine every inch of me with his cool, gray eyes. My entire body blazed under his scrutinizing stare, but despite my uneasiness, I couldn’t bring myself to look away from him. His gaze was both terrifying and thrilling, all at once.

The strong wind frantically tugged at my hair, as if trying to snap me out of my trance. In spite of nature’s best efforts, I simply stood there, locked in an unnerving staring contest with the mysterious vampire. A deafening clap of thunder shook the earth, causing me to jump, and startling Sebastian back to his senses.

“Who wants to know?” he finally responded. There was a sharp edge to his smooth, velvety voice.

“My name is Dawn,” I said, attempting a smile. “I’m here on an assignment from the Vampire President to train the new guardians of Angel Creek. Since you’re one of the five vampire residents, I thought you’d want to know about the mission and take part—” I paused abruptly, distracted by the angry scowl forming across his face.

Another earsplitting roar of thunder sounded before he spoke. “Not interested,” he said curtly, his eyes still intent on me. He was boldly exploring my face, his gaze slowly traveling down my body.

“Dawn, did you say?” he asked curiously, his voice a little less brisk.

I nodded, crossing my arms in a self-conscious effort to shield myself from his gaze. “So can we count you in?” I asked hopefully.

“No.”

“What do you mean no?” I sputtered in disbelief. I was quickly becoming annoyed with the shirtless, ill-mannered vampire.

“No. Nope. Not interested. Is that clear enough for you?”

“Really?”

“Yes, really—no.” He turned away, waving his hand in my direction, as if to let me know I was dismissed.

“Why?” I asked, stretching out to grab his arm. Thankfully, he had moved just before I could reach him, as mid-grab, I realized that touching Sebastian was a bold move I had not fully thought out.

He turned around to face me, the heated look in his eyes causing me to take a slight step back.

“I don’t really embrace this whole vampire fad. I’m not interested in anything related to vampires, being a vampire or serving the Vampire President. Got it?”

“What about your obligation to protect humans?” I questioned.

“I’m not interested in humans either, not even the sad, vulnerable ones so many vampire idiots fall for. You could say, I’m only interested in myself.” He smirked, his tone once again reaching sub-zero temperatures. “So, if you wouldn’t mind leaving, I’d love to get back to work.”

“But, but…you can’t do that. When I tell the President that you’re here, he’ll order you to join the group.” I was grasping at straws.

All of a sudden, Sebastian charged toward me, thrusting his face directly into mine. He was so close our noses almost touched. I raised my eyes to meet his, the raindrops from his wet locks dripping onto my forehead. I fought the temptation to blink, as droplets of water slid down my eyelashes. I was not about to show him any weakness.

“For the past century I’ve been doing exactly what I want, when I want. I don’t owe anything to any human or vampire—especially not the President. Now, please leave, before I make you leave!” he said through clenched teeth.

“Fine!” I yelled, pressing my fists tightly against my legs in an effort to prevent myself from striking him. “But, just so you know, you’re a really sucky vampire.” I mentally kicked myself for the lame retort. At the same time, I also chastised myself for having wanted this aggravating snob to join the group in the first place.

“Please don’t come around here anymore.” With those final words, Sebastian stormed off into the house, slamming the heavy door behind him.

I was left alone on the wet driveway, feeling confused and angry, but also somewhat excited by our meeting.

* * * * * *

Kindle  Print

"Many people sing in the shower. I, on the other hand, write scenes in my head and act them out."

At age five, Ada read her first chapter book - Pippi Longstocking. Ever since that moment, she developed an intense passion for the stories and characters found within the pages of literature.

In her career as an actress and a writer, Ada currently spends most of her days immersed in imaginary worlds. Much like the characters she enjoys playing and writing about, Ada is a martial artist with a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. She is also a big proponent of lifelong learning, and has attained Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (it aids in creating characters with unique quirks!) as well as a Master's of Science in Education.

Ada strives to bring a fresh voice and perspective to fiction. She has been writing creatively for many years. "ReVamped" is her debut novel.

She lives in Toronto, Canada, and enjoys adventurous nature hikes with her adorable puppies Cara and Oreo.

www.revampedbook.com

www.facebook.com/revampedbook

www.twitter.com/Ada_Adams

www.goodreads.com/book/show/13495198-revamped

Guest Post: Wings of Desire by Arianna Skye, Bewitching Blog Tours

Today I welcome author Arianna Skye to the stage to talk to us a bit about self publishing, and the ups and downs that go along with it.  It's very interesting!  Readers, I hope you enjoy the post, and welcome to Arianna!

Not your (grand)mother's fairytale...
Rhiannon Kinsley's life goes from boring to downright crazy when a freak lightning bolt strikes her laptop. To make matters even more bizarre, strange words and symbols flash across the computer screen and she hears a mysterious voice. Time to call the men in white coats! Then Cerne Silverwing, an intriguingly sexy man, appears. He insists she's a faerie princess whose fate will determine his own. What a crock! Now she knows who really needs those white coats.


With the Dark Faerie forces threatening their kingdom, Cerne kidnaps Rhiannon and brings her to Fey, a land where magic knows no bounds. He's performing a duty to save his kingdom and nothing more--a duty that will bring him his wings and the strengthened magic that comes with them. If he doesn't unite with the princess as her consort, those wings will never grow. But this princess grew up in the land of laptops and instant messages, and she's convinced they're both crazy. Despite their differences, the two are thrust together to defeat the whip-wielding Dark Faerie Queen before she takes over their kingdom. Passion and peril aside, will Rhiannon and Cerne discover their true destiny?

Why I Chose Self-Publishing

Wings of Desire was my first complete as well as published novel. I originally sold the book to a small press and recently had the rights turned back to me. I could have shopped the book around to other publishers, but a lot of publishers don’t usually want to take a chance on a book that was already published elsewhere. Another big issue that affected my decision, was that erotic stories involving faeries are a hard sale. This book is a little long for traditional standards, coming in near a whopping 110K words. With these factors in mind, I decided to research self-publishing instead. There are some costs involved, so it’s not without risks. In my case, I decided the benefits outweighed the risks.

I was able to locate a rather inexpensive editor. It pays to have friends, though. I also needed to pay for my ISBN. An ISBN costs about $125, however when you buy in bulk through Bowker ISBN services, you get 10 for the price of two. I can then use the other ISBNs for my other projects. The most expensive part of this venture has so far been the cover art, and even that was worth the money. If you are familiar with photoshop or any other graphic editing program, you can easily design your own cover. Matter of fact, I’ve just designed the next cover for the second book in the Fey Chronicles series. Not because I wasn’t happy with the first cover, but I’m currently in between jobs and funds are a little tight right now.

Even formatting the book for eBook was considerably inexpensive. The company I went through charged me around $50 to format the book, including a Table of Contents with hyperlinks. I decided to put the book up through Createspace as well. It was a challenge, yet still fun and exciting, figuring out how to format headings, chapters and page numbers. Did you know Microsoft Word has a save as PDF option? It made things a little easier.

I’m rather pleased with the results. Self-publishing has gotten a notoriously bad rep, because of the options that are now open. There’s Smashwords, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes and Noble Pubit that anyone and their mother has access to. Because of this, the quality of books available are less than average. However, if you hire a professional editor and produce an eye-catching cover, you can publish a book just as good (and maybe even better) than a traditionally published book.

I will offer this caveat: I am not trying to preach about self-publishing. I am also a traditionally published author. Self-publishing simply worked better for Wings of Desire. Yes, there are some pitfalls with self-publishing, but there are pitfalls with every publishing option. Research is important, no matter what venue you choose, be it self, small press, or traditional publishing. 

About the Author  

Arianna Skye is the erotic pen name of paranormal romance author, Sidney Ayers. She loves infusing stories with humor. What would the world be without a little bit of laughter? Arianna writes a plethora of genres, ranging from historical, to paranormal, to contemporary.

A native of Michigan, Arianna still lives in the same town she grew up in. No matter how hard she tries, she just can’t seem to get away. Michigan is in her blood, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

To learn more about Arianna/Sidney and her books, you can visit either one of her websites  at www.ariannaskye.com      or     www.sidneyayers.com

Facebook

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www.twitter.com/sidney_ayers

Dark Side of Purgatory - LJ Hadaway - Review/Giveaway

Title: Dark Side of Purgatory

Author: LJ Hadaway

Format: Ebook provided by Bewitching Blog Tours for review

Everyone knows Jaxon Slater. He's the life-of-the-party guy. He's the fun guy we want to invite to our outdoor barbeques but not marry our daughters. He is our nephew, the next-door neighbor who drinks too much, a friend of a friend that overdosed on heroin. He's the class clown in high school that was always in trouble from drinking and driving.

Jaxon Slater has 'pushed the envelope' and tried to scam his way through most of his life. He's charismatic and good-looking. Many things come easy to Jaxon. Sobriety isn't one of them. He's tried staying clean numerous times but always falls into a relapse, using one more time. His long time sponsor had warned him plenty. His last use of heroin landed him dead--in Purgatory.

Jaxon believes he is having a terrible nightmare until he finds an old friend and recalls how he died. Reality sets in and Jaxon begins to learn the rules of the strange land. He runs into a mean bunch of guys and an unlikely guide. To have a chance at saving himself, he must complete a quest: find a certain young woman and steer her away from the highway of destruction that killed him.

Old temptations linger, and dark forces shadow his path. Can Jaxon survive the abyss of his deepest fears to find redemption?

This is a pretty dark story.  If anyone has ever been or known an addict, they will definitely identify with this, and parts of it might even be difficult to read.  To me that means this book is a great success, making the reader feel something even if it isn’t necessarily warm and fuzzy.  First level of this story is about a guy, Jaxon, who has died.  He is currently in purgatory and he has a “mission” to complete before he can proceed to what can only be assumed as is Heaven.  If he fails, well… down he goes. Second level to this story is the compounding factor is that Jaxon is an addict.  Alcohol and heroin have hurt him, his family and his friends for most of his life until they finally killed him for good and sending him into what he initially believes is a nightmare, but soon learns that his new reality is the actual nightmare. 

Jaxon wakes up after falling off the wagon and a one night stand with a petite blonde he met at the bar.  But something is off.  Maybe it’s the lack of movement around him, that strange smell, or the fact he was back in the old neighborhood.  Maybe it is because he is talking to his old friend, Shorts, who was decapitated on his bike years previous.  So Jaxon is…dead?  The scenery purposely lacks vibrant color, which in my opinion we often associate with joy.  There are no birds or butterflies, no children playing in the street, no sprinklers taking care of the lawns.  Everything is still and quite eerie.  This visual really grabbed me, made me feel like this was indeed Purgatory.   

Much of this story is Jaxon revisiting key points in his life.  Some of them are good, but most definitely are not.  Much in the way an addict has steps they need to accomplish before they finish treatment, Jaxon needs to go back and review these points to realize what happened and move past.  Some instances require forgiveness and some require realization.  At times it can be very emotional and sad.  But there are some good times, like a very sweet and tender moment involving his niece that gives me hope that all is not lost on Jaxon.  But much like an addict, he is his own worst enemy.

Jaxon is giving the task of “saving” someone on the living side of things.  A young girl, Dale, is on the edge of going the same path as he.  In my opinion her story was not as interesting as his, but then when everything comes together there is a light shown on everything that kind of makes you go “ahh!  Of course!”  The author did a wonderful job of weaving this whole story together and giving you enough surprises along the way to keep you interested and entertained.

Overall I really enjoyed this book.  Parts were quite raw and depressing.  This is a story about an addict who hurts everyone around him, after all. I found reactions and situations to feel very true and real.  I think readers looking for something a bit different will enjoy this.  For me personally there were a few slow spots, but that can happen with any book.

Illicit Magic Tour - Excerpt/Giveaway

Illicit Magic on Goodreads

More than three hundred years after the most terrifying witch hunts the world has ever known, it's happening again.
 Racing from attack by the ruthless Brotherhood in London to the powerful witch council in New York, twenty-four-year-old novice witch Stella has to put her faith in strangers just to stay alive but she might not be any safer in their midst than from the danger she is running from. Sent to an extraordinary safe house by the sea to learn her craft, Stella finds there is more than one dark secret in her new family: Étoile’s sister is spoken of in fear and sadness; Marc is supposed to be a powerful witch but is missing his magic; where does the owner of their safe house vanish to every day and why does Evan have the eyes of someone not quite human? There is only one secret that someone will do anything to keep quiet, but whose secret is it and will Stella have to pay the price for silence?

Excerpt

Sharp, murmured voices passed me on the wind. I couldn’t make out what they were saying but there was the sound of confusion and dissent; then a barked order calmed them. I caught the sole word “silence” from a low voice as it hissed past me. The footsteps shuffled and stamped again but no one uttered a word. It was like they were all listening for me. I felt like a fox, terrified and cornered, knowing that the beagles were just behind me, waiting to catch my scent.

Above me I could just see the first quarter of the moon breaking in the sky, casting a dim glow over the city. My jacket was a dark padded cord, good for blending in with both the hedge and low light. My breath was catching like little puffs of cloud in the air so I pulled up my cheap, striped scarf and covered my mouth to keep the plumes from straying to where they could be seen.

Without moving the rest of my body, I strained my head towards my pursuers, the scarf tightening about my neck until I tugged it loose again. I tried to count how many footsteps I could hear as they shuffled, fanned out and regrouped.

With only my pounding heartbeat for company I waited for what seemed like eternity. I tried to count Mississippi’s to gauge the time but my mind stumbled over the count and I threw the thought away. I waited for seconds, minutes, hours for them to rush past me, or at least turn and stamp a different way, hoping miserably that they really hadn’t seen me dart into this street.

Finally I couldn’t hear a thing but the blood rushing in my ears. Had I made it up? Was I really paranoid enough to think someone would bother following me? Probably. Possibly. It wasn’t the first time I’d been extra cautious, but it was the first time since the news has been full of murder. I shivered and tried to shake away the icy fear.

Edging my way across the privet, the leather of my long boots brushing against each other as I sidestepped, my toes scuffed against the scrub of garden. Fronds of hedge needled my back through my winter coat as I brushed by and fresh drops of dew slid uncomfortably past my scarf and inside my collar.

With my mouth set in a firm, grim line, clamped so tightly shut I was close to grinding my teeth, I poked my head forward, mere millimetres from the hedge but enough to see a gloved hand shoot towards me and grab my coat, the fingers clawing at my shoulder to snatch a handful of material and drag me into the open. A gasp escaped me. How had they gotten so close without me realising? Another hand, yellowed at the fingertips and reeking of tobacco, reached for my neck.

A gruff male voice snarled, “Gotcha!”

I shrieked and my whole body went rigid as I closed my eyes tightly. The air went thick and heavy around me, the cold momentarily disappeared and the blood in my veins surged as electricity crackled through my body. For the merest second all the low light and dull sounds of the city disappeared as the power rushing through me overwhelmed and took possession of me.

With the hand at my neck and the fear pumping alongside the electricity, I thought I would die in this moment, but when I opened my eyes again I was on the other side of the street, looking at my attacker grasping at the air where a second ago my neck had been. I saw his fist punch savagely through the air where my jaw should have been. If I had still been there, he would have smashed it for sure.

I felt dizzy and willed myself not to faint. The last of the shriek ebbed in my throat as I realised that I had barely focused on the task but had ended up exactly where I thought I should be when I’d glimpsed that section of empty street. Perhaps my strange gift (I never could decide what I should call it) only worked properly when I was terrified. Moving through space wasn’t something I had even been able to control before. And right now, I wasn’t afraid to admit that I was absolutely, gut-wrenchingly, terrified. 

*~*~*~*

Author bio:

Hi, I'm Camilla and I'm the author of the Stella Mayweather Series, an urban fantasy/mystery. The series starts with Illicit Magic and a lonely young woman, Stella, who has been caught up in a terrifying witch hunt and is whisked thousands of miles away to what she thinks is safety to learn her craft. The series is a blend of magic, mystery and romance with a splash of humour - and while the girls really do go all out to save themselves, there's always a hunky guy or two on hand to help them out. The series continues with Unruly Magic and Devious Magic, both out now.

I live in London, England, but I try to travel as often as I can – I’ve been all over the US and Europe. In my day job I'm a journalist and editor so I write for magazines, newspapers and websites throughout the world (my favourite assignment was spending a week riding rollercoasters - if you listen carefully you can probably still hear me screaming) but writing fiction has always been my first love.

Web links:

Website: www.camillachafer.com

Blog: www.camillachafer.com/blog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CamillaChafer

Twitter: @camillawrites 

Interview with Ciara Knight, author of Rise From Darkness

Rise from Darkness, Battle for Souls

by Ciara Knight

Alexander Lorre gives new meaning to the term “tormented teen”. He’s a newly fallen angel, which means he has the self-control of a three-year-old, the hormones of a teenager and the strength of an angel. When he rescues Gaby Moore from drowning, the chemistry between them is undeniable. With a local demon threatening Gaby’s life, he struggles to find a balance between remaining close enough to protect her but distant enough to control his desires.

As danger draws closer, Gaby uncovers shattering secrets that will lead to an ultimate choice. Will she fight alongside her father, an earthbound hunter killing fallen angels and demons, give into the demon blood coursing through her veins and join the demon world, or save the man she loves from both? The first two choices damn her, but the last one could destroy them all.

Hi Ciara!  Thank you for taking the time to interview with me today!

Thank you for having me here, Liz. I’m excited to meet some of your followers and hang out with you today.

  

I’ve just finished reading Rise From Darkness and found it to be quite interesting.  Can you please tell the readers a little something about this story?

 Sure, I ‘d love to. Alexander is a fallen angel with the hormones of a teenager, strength of an angel, and the self-control of a three-year-old.  When he discovers Gaby has been branded by a demon, he feels compelled to protect her. Of course, things are never what they seem and Alexander gets more than he bargained for.

  

My favorite character in this story is Alexander.  He’s proven himself to be selfless in his care for others, willing to give up everything for those he loves – yet he is full of this self-deprecation.  How did this character come to you, is there any particular inspiration?

Alexander’s greatest weakness and best asset is his desire to protect the ones he loves. Everything else fell in around this key trait of his. I think we can all feel for him because he’s made this epic mistake, and continues to make wrong choices, but for all the right reasons.

This story is quite involved, lots of secrets and a lot of history come into play.  Did you have to do a lot of research to write about angels and demons?

The only things I really researched were some demon names, and a little digging in to Greek Mythology. Everything else is part of the world building for the story. I did take a little bit of creative license. J

I think that is what makes the story unique.

Can you tell us what might be in store in the future for Gaby and Alexander?

I can tell you that their story has just begun. There is so much more to be revealed. Who and what Gaby is, and what they will ultimately face. Book II, Fall From Gace, will be released in June. This second installment will dig deeper into the world of Earthbound creatures and how they tie in with Heaven and hell. You’ll learn a lot about why they are on Earth, and what they have to do to save mankind.  Book III, Ascension of Evil, will be out in October, and will be the final book of the Battle for Souls series. This will be the epic battle between good and evil.

Ciara, you have several books out and several set for release.  Can you tell us what a typical day of writing is like for you?

I would love to tell you that I get up, sip on my coffee, and write all day, but I’d be lying. I wrote Rise From Darkness in fifteen minute sprints. I’d write at the ball field, TKD practice, and car pool line. Book II, I did have to designate some writing time because I was under contract, but even then, I mostly wrote during sprints in a chat room.

If you weren’t an author, what occupation do you think you’d like to tackle?

I always wanted to be the first female astronaut in space, but after Sally Ride beat me to that I gave up on that dream. Oh, and I found out I needed to be good at math. Okay, I’d have to go with being Indiana Jones assistant. I could handle the dirt and bugs to hang out with him.

I’ve taken a look at all of your books, and they all have really beautiful eye catching covers.  What is it like to get to pick a cover for a story that you’ve written?

I’ve been lucky. Both publishers that I’m with have amazingly talented cover artists. Dawne Dominique did all of the Battle for Souls covers.  I simply filled out a cover art sheet and she worked her magic.

And what is your favorite genre to read?

I love ALL books. I’d have to go with anything fantasy, sci-fi, or paranormal for my top picks.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the universe – alive, dead, or fictional – who would it be and what you eat?

I’d have to say Edgar Allen Poe. Since you’ve read the book, you know I paid homage to him. I guess we’d have to eat Cornish hens. ;)

Social media has become this entire entity that we have all been enthralled with, its become essential to so many people for so many reasons.  How do you feel about social media?

I love blogging. I’ve met so many fantastic buddies that way. It is a little more effort for me on Twitter, because I’m just not great at one-liners.

And in that regard, how can your readers find you online?

Website: www.ciaraknight.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5127753.Ciara_Knight

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ciaratknight

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ciaraknightwrites#

 Are there any projects you are working on that we can expect to see from you in the upcoming year?

The rest of the Battle for Souls series will be released. Also, there is a special young adult dystopian, that is near and dear to my heart, which will be released this summer. It is a story that I think you will love. It is entitled, Weighted. It is prequel to The Neumerian Chronicles. Book I, Escapement will be released next year. 

Short blurb for Weighted:

The Great War of 2185 is over, but my nightmare has just begun. I am being held captive in the Queen’s ship awaiting interrogation. My only possible ally is the princess, but I’m unsure if she is really my friend or a trap set by the Queen to fool me into sharing the secret of my gift. A gift I keep hidden even from myself. It swirls inside my body begging for release, but it is the one thing the Queen can never discover. Will I have the strength to keep the secret? I’ll know the answer soon. If the stories are true about the interrogators, I’ll either be dead or a traitor to my people by morning.

Thank you again, for taking the time to interview with me today!  Best of luck to you on your upcoming releases!

Thank you so much for having me here today, Liz. I had a blast!! 


Also be sure to check out my review of Rise From Darkness HERE

Ciara Knight always had a passion for storytelling. At an early age, she wrote several short stories and poems, and in college she started work on her first novel. It wasn’t until late 2008 that she returned to her true passion of writing. Over the past few years she has penned five novels and joined several professional writing organizations to better her craft.

When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.

Ciara is happily married and enjoys family time. She has learned to embrace chaos, which is a requirement when raising three boys, and utilizes the insanity to create stories not of this world including, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Young Adult Dystopian.

Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She’s backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.