Guest Post & Giveaway, Kali The Ghosting of Sepulcher Bay by Eric Griffith

Kali 

The Ghosting of Sepulcher Bay

Eric Griffith

Kaliope "Kali" Stergakos is dealing with divorced parents, a crush on a boy her best friend also adores, and spirits of the dead talking to her all the time. Even worse, they take over Kali's body when she sleeps. Despite growing up in a suburban necropolis where the dead outnumber the living, this possession stuff never happens to anyone else.

At least, it didn't. Kali and her friends, both living and dead, find evidence of other possessions and unearth a plot by ghosts to take over the bodies of the living, permanently. Now it's up to her to prevent the ectoplasmic minions of a formerly-dead madman from stealing the bodies they desperately crave.

 How to Create Ideas

By Eric Griffith

It's Black Friday. Which should be a day of dark weirdness, a secondary All Hallow's Eve, the sequel we get to Halloween each year to make us pay for eating so much tryptophan inside delicious fowl. Instead, it's a day to go shopping and hope you don't get trampled by people who want the same deals. So, I appreciate you not doing that—go shopping online today, after you read this. Go out tomorrow.

Today, I'm going to talk about ideas. Specifically the answer to that old chestnut, "Where do you get your ideas?" (I've heard that some writers hate this question. I am not one of them.)

The answers I've heard range from "Pougkeepsie" (Harlan Ellison) to "out of my head" (Neil Gaiman) to "from the skulls of small children." (I don't know who said that last one, maybe I dreamed it, but I like it.) My answer is, like most writers, "I have no idea."

It's an answer Gaiman says people hate, and I know why they do: people want the magic bullet. They want to know how you can do something they admire, like tell a cool story, when really writing just looks so damn easy except for the ideas part. That's where they stumble.

Ideas can appear anytime, anywhere; sometimes you just need room to think. For example, not long ago, in the shower, I had almost an entire sequel proposal for my novel BETA TEST pop almost fully formed into my head. All I had to do was absently rubbed a bar of Irish Spring on my chest until it was little more than a bluish-green nub as it spiraled fully-formed like Athena in my think-meat.

Sometimes, you have to work at an idea. That's why writing is a job like any other, it takes some elbow grease. (The problem is, it doesn't look like working. Even though it is.) For example, I purposefully sat down with a notebook and demanded an idea from my brain one time when I had nothing to write. I gave myself parameters: it had to be a story for young adults, it had to have a female protagonist. I thought about the popular teen heroines I both admire and didn't, and what they were up against—and inevitably it seemed to involve vampires and werewolves.

So I thought about other supernatural options. And eventually I had the bare bones of what would be KALI: THE GHOSTING OF SEPULCHER BAY, a girl with an unfortunately ghost possession problem, exacerbated by living in a town where the dead outnumber the living by 1,000 to 1. Time from that sit-down with idea notebook to writing was just a couple of weeks. Because when the idea is good, it's not worth waiting. It' s time to write! And I'm so glad I did.

Links:

Buy Kali on Amazon

Buy Beta Test On Amazon(ONLY 99₵!)

 Author Website

 Goodreads 

Twitter

Giveaway is for one ebook of Kali.  Open internationally, ends 11-27-12

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post & Giveaway, Kali The Ghosting of Sepulcher Bay by Eric Griffith

Kali 

The Ghosting of Sepulcher Bay

Eric Griffith

Kaliope "Kali" Stergakos is dealing with divorced parents, a crush on a boy her best friend also adores, and spirits of the dead talking to her all the time. Even worse, they take over Kali's body when she sleeps. Despite growing up in a suburban necropolis where the dead outnumber the living, this possession stuff never happens to anyone else.

At least, it didn't. Kali and her friends, both living and dead, find evidence of other possessions and unearth a plot by ghosts to take over the bodies of the living, permanently. Now it's up to her to prevent the ectoplasmic minions of a formerly-dead madman from stealing the bodies they desperately crave.

 How to Create Ideas

By Eric Griffith

It's Black Friday. Which should be a day of dark weirdness, a secondary All Hallow's Eve, the sequel we get to Halloween each year to make us pay for eating so much tryptophan inside delicious fowl. Instead, it's a day to go shopping and hope you don't get trampled by people who want the same deals. So, I appreciate you not doing that—go shopping online today, after you read this. Go out tomorrow.

Today, I'm going to talk about ideas. Specifically the answer to that old chestnut, "Where do you get your ideas?" (I've heard that some writers hate this question. I am not one of them.)

The answers I've heard range from "Pougkeepsie" (Harlan Ellison) to "out of my head" (Neil Gaiman) to "from the skulls of small children." (I don't know who said that last one, maybe I dreamed it, but I like it.) My answer is, like most writers, "I have no idea."

It's an answer Gaiman says people hate, and I know why they do: people want the magic bullet. They want to know how you can do something they admire, like tell a cool story, when really writing just looks so damn easy except for the ideas part. That's where they stumble.

Ideas can appear anytime, anywhere; sometimes you just need room to think. For example, not long ago, in the shower, I had almost an entire sequel proposal for my novel BETA TEST pop almost fully formed into my head. All I had to do was absently rubbed a bar of Irish Spring on my chest until it was little more than a bluish-green nub as it spiraled fully-formed like Athena in my think-meat.

Sometimes, you have to work at an idea. That's why writing is a job like any other, it takes some elbow grease. (The problem is, it doesn't look like working. Even though it is.) For example, I purposefully sat down with a notebook and demanded an idea from my brain one time when I had nothing to write. I gave myself parameters: it had to be a story for young adults, it had to have a female protagonist. I thought about the popular teen heroines I both admire and didn't, and what they were up against—and inevitably it seemed to involve vampires and werewolves.

So I thought about other supernatural options. And eventually I had the bare bones of what would be KALI: THE GHOSTING OF SEPULCHER BAY, a girl with an unfortunately ghost possession problem, exacerbated by living in a town where the dead outnumber the living by 1,000 to 1. Time from that sit-down with idea notebook to writing was just a couple of weeks. Because when the idea is good, it's not worth waiting. It' s time to write! And I'm so glad I did.

Links:

Buy Kali on Amazon

Buy Beta Test On Amazon (ONLY 99₵!)

 Author Website

 Goodreads 

Twitter

Giveaway is for one ebook of Kali.  Open internationally, ends 11-27-12

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hear Me by Skye Warren: Review, Guest Post, Excerpt, and Giveaway

Title: Hear Me
Series: Dark Erotica #3
Author: Skye Warren
Published: September 2012
Tour: Yes
Format: Ebook provided by author for review

She doesn’t remember her past, only her training. She can’t talk, not that a good slave should speak out of turn. None of that matters when she wakes up in the warm, rustic room. Her new master is distant but kind. There’s only one problem: he doesn’t want her.

Longing for the shackles of safety, she pulls from the last dregs of her will to prove her worth as a slave. It seems to be working. He responds first to her body and next to her submission. The secrets of his past haunt the cabin, fraying the tightening bond between Master and slave, but it is her own memories that may finally unravel it.

This book contains a bonus short story Escape, set in the same dark erotica world.

WARNING:
This book contains explicit scenes of sex, including dubious consent and captivity situations. The BDSM does not conform to literary conventions, making it sometimes more realistic, and other times not. This is a work of fiction not appropriate for anyone uncomfortable with these situations or anyone under the age of eighteen.

“Even if only to drift down to the bottom, entombed in sand castles and chained in seaweed.”

Skye Warren is one of those authors that quickly made it to my favorites list.  Her writing is dark and captivating, and it can haunt you long after the last page is turned.   Her words have such beauty, she can make the scariest and ugliest thing seem precious.

The first chapter jumps right into it.  There is a woman who can’t speak.  She can’t remember anything before her captivity, but she knows she is a slave – a sexual slave.  It doesn’t take long before my heart is just breaking for her.  I can’t even imagine what kind of things have to happen to someone to make them forget everything other than how to serve you. 

“Her fragile happiness lay on the floor of the kitchen in shards, plowed again and again by the fierce iron cock of her Master.”

This book has some brutal situations in it.  This woman isn’t just a submissive, she is a shell of a human.  She has no choice to make for herself, no decision is her own.  Kneeling with her nose to the ground is nothing but an everyday effort for her.  And its taken over.  This makes her feel safe.  But now she has a new Master, and he is rewriting the rules.  She feels safe. She feels cared for.  But just as soon as you begin to feel that with her, just as soon as you exhale – BAM! Skye rips it all out from under you and you are floundering, wondering what is happening.  How can this woman survive this??

Right from the first page I was drawn into this story.  It was exciting to see the slave struggle to discover who she is, while trying to learn about her new Master and his wants and needs.  As the puzzle starts to come together, and new facts come to light, I was shocked over and over.  To say that this story had surprises puts it lightly. 

If you like stories about power exchanges, dubious consent, some hot sex and BDSM, you will like this story.  There is a heart here that has been broken by a series of people who took control of a young woman who got in over her head without even realizing it.  And it cost her everything.  But the question you are wondering throughout the story is will she make it or not? Will she be happy?  And just whois she anyway?  Well, I know. I read the story.  Now its your turn, so hop to it!

*******

Guest Post

*******

How Dark is Too Dark
By Skye Warren

Thanks so much for having me on Fictional Candy! I’m Skye Warren, author of the Kindle bestselling Dark Erotica series. I’m here to share with you guys my latest release, Hear Me, which early reviewers are calling “disturbingly arousing” and “beautifully written.”

I write dark erotica, which means that there’s plenty of sex, explicit acts. I also write about taboo or kinky acts. I can choose to be more detailed or less. Include a certain act that thrills or disgusts me, or not. But already I am out of some reader’s comfort zones.

Of course the warnings should clue readers in, but how far is too far? When should I pull back?

All of my warnings are pretty strongly worded to scare off the undecided, although some still slip through the cracks and end up shocked. I even put “erotic nonconsent” right there on the cover!

Dark erotica often depicts immoral acts, like dubious consent. But the point isn’t that these things are okay. In fact, part of what dark erotica is about is exploring the (often negative) effect that these events have on the people who commit and receive them. For me, that is the appeal. And in my opinion, insisting no one writes about these issues is just putting our heads in the sand. It doesn’t make them go away. It just makes it easier to get away with and to shame victims.

When I’m daydreaming in the check-out line, my mind travels to darker places. If I didn’t write, I would continue to dream, but I have found it to be so fulfilling to share my work with like-minded readers.

So back to the question: where do I draw the line? The truth is, I don’t. The distributors and credit card processors (aka. Amazon and PayPal) do it for me. While there are certain things I wouldn’t be comfortable writing, I would do anything to tell the story. That doesn’t mean that I enjoy every kink. I don’t. Sometimes I may write about something in a positive light that I find disturbing, just to explore. Other times I may write about something that I am perfectly fine with in a negative light, because that is right for the characters.

Dark erotica is about exploring, thinking, learning about sex. Yes, it’s also often hot. And the romance can be sweet, depending. But I think there is a power in knowledge, and that’s what really drives me to write and read dark erotica.

If you like dark and erotic books, I hope you’ll consider my new release Hear Me. You don’t have to read any of the previous series, it stands alone. And if you do decide to read Hear Me, I’d love to hear what you think on twitter or Facebook.

Skye Warren

http://www.skyewarren.com

Excerpt

Even the earth conspired to keep her. Branches grabbed at her skin like talons; the beach was quicksand, dragging her down. Hope was too abstract to compete with the sound of men shouting behind her. Even her fear was drowned by the ragged beat of her heart.

“Melody!” The voice sounded closer than the thrashing of leaves and branches.

Run, run away, don’t look back.

Her eyes, already stunted by lack of food, filled with grit and precious moisture. If she made it to the water, she could float away. Even if only to drift down to the bottom, entombed in sand castles and chained by seaweed. They would take her prisoner; they would keep her safe.

A battered person was cracked soil, but dreams were like weeds. She could survive this. That was the goal she set for herself, huddled in the cold, damp cell. She had clung to it as they touched her, beat her. Trained her.

The line of frothy water was in her sights, but disappointment seared her. She was too far away, the sand too thick.

An extra burst of energy propelled her two more stumbling steps. Her legs gave out. She clenched and released fistfuls of sand, not even sure she was actually crawling forward.

Coolness lapped at her fingertips, surprising her. Her mind, tired and rusty, turned that information over. She had made it. Water. Safety? No, freedom.
A slow, steady thwapping noise drew her gaze upward. A small green boat bobbed in the shallow water. Gentle waves flicked its hull, almost soothing, like the caress of a flogger. The rhythm thrummed through her. Even without the sting of impact, her mind began the slide.

No. Subspace meant security but not today. Right now it meant death, and she refused to die.

She blinked away the salt in her eyes and clawed through the water to the boat. With a strength that surprised her, she climbed over the edge, tumbling into the grimy bottom. It rocked gently with her weight then settled back into the gentle bob.

The boat wasn’t tied down anywhere, but there wasn’t an oar. Not that she had the strength to use one or a place to go.

Never mind. Her wish had been granted. She would drift out to sea, like a message in a bottle.

Her head lolled against the rim of the boat. She breathed in the pungent smell of earth and moss. Her last thought before she drifted off to sleep was fanciful. She imagined a giant plucking her from the water, unfurling her like a scroll, and reading the lines slashed into her skin.

She wondered what they would say.

Read HEAR ME Now

Amazon| Barnes & Noble | All Romance Ebooks

 

Giveaway

Skye Warren is giving away a $100 Amazon gift card and four $25 Barnes & Noble gift cards on this tour. Enter to win by leaving a comment below. What do you enjoy about reading dark books?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Or go to this page for instructions: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/Yzc4ZGVmYzNjM2IyOTk2MGU3OThjZTBlMDc5OWEwOjA=/

Hear Me by Skye Warren: Review, Guest Post, Excerpt, and Giveaway

Title: Hear Me
Series: Dark Erotica #3
Author: Skye Warren
Published: September 2012
Tour: Yes
Format: Ebook provided by author for review

She doesn’t remember her past, only her training. She can’t talk, not that a good slave should speak out of turn. None of that matters when she wakes up in the warm, rustic room. Her new master is distant but kind. There’s only one problem: he doesn’t want her.

Longing for the shackles of safety, she pulls from the last dregs of her will to prove her worth as a slave. It seems to be working. He responds first to her body and next to her submission. The secrets of his past haunt the cabin, fraying the tightening bond between Master and slave, but it is her own memories that may finally unravel it.

This book contains a bonus short story Escape, set in the same dark erotica world.

WARNING:
This book contains explicit scenes of sex, including dubious consent and captivity situations. The BDSM does not conform to literary conventions, making it sometimes more realistic, and other times not. This is a work of fiction not appropriate for anyone uncomfortable with these situations or anyone under the age of eighteen.

“Even if only to drift down to the bottom, entombed in sand castles and chained in seaweed.”

Skye Warren is one of those authors that quickly made it to my favorites list.  Her writing is dark and captivating, and it can haunt you long after the last page is turned.   Her words have such beauty, she can make the scariest and ugliest thing seem precious.

The first chapter jumps right into it.  There is a woman who can’t speak.  She can’t remember anything before her captivity, but she knows she is a slave – a sexual slave.  It doesn’t take long before my heart is just breaking for her.  I can’t even imagine what kind of things have to happen to someone to make them forget everything other than how to serve you. 

“Her fragile happiness lay on the floor of the kitchen in shards, plowed again and again by the fierce iron cock of her Master.”

This book has some brutal situations in it.  This woman isn’t just a submissive, she is a shell of a human.  She has no choice to make for herself, no decision is her own.  Kneeling with her nose to the ground is nothing but an everyday effort for her.  And its taken over.  This makes her feel safe.  But now she has a new Master, and he is rewriting the rules.  She feels safe. She feels cared for.  But just as soon as you begin to feel that with her, just as soon as you exhale – BAM! Skye rips it all out from under you and you are floundering, wondering what is happening.  How can this woman survive this??

Right from the first page I was drawn into this story.  It was exciting to see the slave struggle to discover who she is, while trying to learn about her new Master and his wants and needs.  As the puzzle starts to come together, and new facts come to light, I was shocked over and over.  To say that this story had surprises puts it lightly. 

If you like stories about power exchanges, dubious consent, some hot sex and BDSM, you will like this story.  There is a heart here that has been broken by a series of people who took control of a young woman who got in over her head without even realizing it.  And it cost her everything.  But the question you are wondering throughout the story is will she make it or not? Will she be happy?  And just who is she anyway?  Well, I know. I read the story.  Now its your turn, so hop to it!

*******

Guest Post

*******

How Dark is Too Dark
By Skye Warren

Thanks so much for having me on Fictional Candy! I’m Skye Warren, author of the Kindle bestselling Dark Erotica series. I’m here to share with you guys my latest release, Hear Me, which early reviewers are calling “disturbingly arousing” and “beautifully written.”

I write dark erotica, which means that there’s plenty of sex, explicit acts. I also write about taboo or kinky acts. I can choose to be more detailed or less. Include a certain act that thrills or disgusts me, or not. But already I am out of some reader’s comfort zones.

Of course the warnings should clue readers in, but how far is too far? When should I pull back?

All of my warnings are pretty strongly worded to scare off the undecided, although some still slip through the cracks and end up shocked. I even put “erotic nonconsent” right there on the cover!

Dark erotica often depicts immoral acts, like dubious consent. But the point isn’t that these things are okay. In fact, part of what dark erotica is about is exploring the (often negative) effect that these events have on the people who commit and receive them. For me, that is the appeal. And in my opinion, insisting no one writes about these issues is just putting our heads in the sand. It doesn’t make them go away. It just makes it easier to get away with and to shame victims.

When I’m daydreaming in the check-out line, my mind travels to darker places. If I didn’t write, I would continue to dream, but I have found it to be so fulfilling to share my work with like-minded readers.

So back to the question: where do I draw the line? The truth is, I don’t. The distributors and credit card processors (aka. Amazon and PayPal) do it for me. While there are certain things I wouldn’t be comfortable writing, I would do anything to tell the story. That doesn’t mean that I enjoy every kink. I don’t. Sometimes I may write about something in a positive light that I find disturbing, just to explore. Other times I may write about something that I am perfectly fine with in a negative light, because that is right for the characters.

Dark erotica is about exploring, thinking, learning about sex. Yes, it’s also often hot. And the romance can be sweet, depending. But I think there is a power in knowledge, and that’s what really drives me to write and read dark erotica.

If you like dark and erotic books, I hope you’ll consider my new release Hear Me. You don’t have to read any of the previous series, it stands alone. And if you do decide to read Hear Me, I’d love to hear what you think on twitter or Facebook.

Skye Warren

http://www.skyewarren.com

Excerpt

Even the earth conspired to keep her. Branches grabbed at her skin like talons; the beach was quicksand, dragging her down. Hope was too abstract to compete with the sound of men shouting behind her. Even her fear was drowned by the ragged beat of her heart.

“Melody!” The voice sounded closer than the thrashing of leaves and branches.

Run, run away, don’t look back.

Her eyes, already stunted by lack of food, filled with grit and precious moisture. If she made it to the water, she could float away. Even if only to drift down to the bottom, entombed in sand castles and chained by seaweed. They would take her prisoner; they would keep her safe.

A battered person was cracked soil, but dreams were like weeds. She could survive this. That was the goal she set for herself, huddled in the cold, damp cell. She had clung to it as they touched her, beat her. Trained her.

The line of frothy water was in her sights, but disappointment seared her. She was too far away, the sand too thick.

An extra burst of energy propelled her two more stumbling steps. Her legs gave out. She clenched and released fistfuls of sand, not even sure she was actually crawling forward.

Coolness lapped at her fingertips, surprising her. Her mind, tired and rusty, turned that information over. She had made it. Water. Safety? No, freedom.
A slow, steady thwapping noise drew her gaze upward. A small green boat bobbed in the shallow water. Gentle waves flicked its hull, almost soothing, like the caress of a flogger. The rhythm thrummed through her. Even without the sting of impact, her mind began the slide.

No. Subspace meant security but not today. Right now it meant death, and she refused to die.

She blinked away the salt in her eyes and clawed through the water to the boat. With a strength that surprised her, she climbed over the edge, tumbling into the grimy bottom. It rocked gently with her weight then settled back into the gentle bob.

The boat wasn’t tied down anywhere, but there wasn’t an oar. Not that she had the strength to use one or a place to go.

Never mind. Her wish had been granted. She would drift out to sea, like a message in a bottle.

Her head lolled against the rim of the boat. She breathed in the pungent smell of earth and moss. Her last thought before she drifted off to sleep was fanciful. She imagined a giant plucking her from the water, unfurling her like a scroll, and reading the lines slashed into her skin.

She wondered what they would say.

Read HEAR ME Now

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance Ebooks

 

Giveaway

Skye Warren is giving away a $100 Amazon gift card and four $25 Barnes & Noble gift cards on this tour. Enter to win by leaving a comment below. What do you enjoy about reading dark books?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Or go to this page for instructions: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/Yzc4ZGVmYzNjM2IyOTk2MGU3OThjZTBlMDc5OWEwOjA=/

Interview/Giveaway: Hidden Gifts by Elena Aitken

Hidden Gifts

Castle Mountain Lodge Series

Elena Aitken

Bo’s always known that to be a successful hiking guide at the beautiful Castle Mountain Lodge, you have to flirt with the ladies-but never get too close; have a penchant for wild adventures-but know when to pull away; and never have any ties holding you back.

And his plan was working fine…until Ella, the child he didn’t know he had appears in his life.

Morgan’s always known what she wanted out of life but when the doctor’s crippling diagnosis changes everything, she knows she needs a fresh start. Maybe changing her career and throwing herself into a totally new lifestyle at the Lodge is exactly what she needs?

And it might have worked too…

Bo knows he needs Morgan’s help to reach Ella, but will she be willing to give up the new life she thought she wanted? And can either of them let down their guard long enough to recognize that all they really need is right in front of them, in Ella…and each other.

******

INTERVIEW

******

Hi Elena! It’s so nice to have a chance to talk to you! 
So nice to chat with you too, Liz. Thank you so much for having me here. 


We’re meeting today because of your new release, Hidden Gifts. What can you tell us about this story? 
I love this story because it’s a ‘happily ever after’ and takes place in the most beautiful setting. And sometimes, I just need to read—or in this case—write a feel good book. Hidden Gifts is the second in The Castle Mountain Lodge Series that takes place at a mountain resort in the Canadian Rockies. 


This book sounds like an emotional heartfelt story. How did the idea come to you, what was the inspiration for Bo’s story? That’s a great question. I often can’t even tell you where I get my ideas, I just start thinking, “What if?” and go from there. But when I decided to write another Castle Mountain Lodge book, I knew I wanted this one to star a mountain man type of character who loved the outdoors. So I started with the character of Bo and then figured out what might be something that would change his life in a completely unexpected way.

All of your books take on a real life view of people. Sometimes it’s a terrific view, and sometimes it’s a bit damaged – just like people. Is there any sort of message you want to give your readers, something you’d like them to take from your writing? I try to write characters that are real. That means they’re not always perfect and yes, that means that sometimes they make really bad decisions. But that’s real life. My readers are also real people and I’m sure most of them have made decisions or done something that maybe they shouldn’t have. It’s always my goal to have readers identify in some way to my characters. In some cases, such as Becca in Drawing Free, that can sometimes be an uncomfortable identifier. There is so much pressure for women right now to be everything to everyone all the time. That’s a lot of pressure to be ‘perfect’ and it’s an impossible goal. So if there’s one thing I want readers to take from my writing is that just like my characters, you don’t have to be perfect or make all the ‘right’ choices. You just need to be real and true to yourself.

Elena, which of your own books is your favorite, and why?  Super tough question. I have two favorites for different reasons. (That’s allowed, right?) First, Nothing Stays In Vegas because it was the book that made it possible for me to do what I’m doing now, which is writing full time. It was a fun book to write and will always be my ‘baby’. My other favorite is Drawing Free. It was a very difficult book to write because Becca’s journey was a struggle and definitely not an easy one. I think all moms can identify in some way with Becca, even if they don’t admit it to themselves. Because it was such a hard book to write, it was so rewarding to finally have Becca’s story out there for the world to read. And when I get emails from women thanking me for that book, it means the world. 











Is there a subject out there that you haven’t written about yet, but is on your wishlist of future books to write?
Ohh, so many things that I can’t wait to tackle. But right now I really want to dig my teeth into a book about the complex relationships of a group of women. I think there is always such an interesting dynamic when it comes to groups of women, I can’t wait to develop them in a book. 

Ok, on your website you list yourself as, “a writer, a mother of twins, a swimmer, a wife, a volunteer, a runner, a friend, a triathlete, a daughter, a sister, a Brownie leader (recently retired), an auntie, a cyclist, employee and….” My question is this: How in the heck do you do it? Have you gotten one of those clones, or a robot like in iRobot? 
Oh, I wish I had a clone! The truth is, my family always comes first. So I make it a point to squeeze everything else into any time that’s left over. It’s much easier now that my kids are ten. I do 90% of my working out and writing while they’re in school. I also have a very understanding husband who knows that I’m not happy unless I’m doing a million different things.

And if you weren’t an author, what other profession would you like to do? I really had to think about this one. I’ve never really wanted to be anything else. Although for a brief period after University and before kids I was a purchasing agent. It was a lot of fun to negotiate and spend a lot of money that wasn’t my own. So...I’d probably like to be an important executive somewhere. Of course that would be pretty stressful, so maybe instead I’d like to own some sort of bed and breakfast in a hot Caribbean country. Yes, that sounds much better.

Are there any special projects in the works, something we can see from you in the future? Oh, there’ll always be something from me. I have many stories in my head that need to be written. I think the next project will be about a group of women, one of whom calls Social Services on another. And then there’ll be another Castle Mountain Lodge book. I write pretty quickly, so I hope to have a few books out every year.

Ok, time for something a little more fun. If you could transport yourself to any book by any author, which book would it be? Easy. I’d love to be inside Diana Gabbaldon’s Outlander series. I’ve always loved those books. They’re just so exciting and subtly romantic. And really...Jamie Fraser? Come on!

And another fun one: If you could be any Disney Princess, which one would you pick and why? Tough one, I don’t think I’d make a very good Disney Princess at all. BUT if I have to pick one, I’d probably pick Belle. She seems to be the spunkiest and she doesn’t put up with much from anyone.

So, what are your favorite genres to read? I read it all. But I do tend to read mostly women’s fiction with some chick lit thrown in when I need a quick, light read. Lately though I seem to be reading quite a bit of YA, even some fantasy YA which is pretty strange for me, but I’ve been enjoying it.


And of course, Elena, do you have a “must read” book that you recommend we, well, must read? Well, of course the Outlander series. But two other books I read recently were by Colleen Hoover. Slammed and the second one, Point of Retreat. They’re both YA books and I couldn’t put them down.

And lastly, if we want to stalk you online, where are the best places we can do that? Yep, I want links! Oh, I love to be stalked online. You can hang out with me on Twitter at @elenaaitken
My Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/elenaaitken.author


My website of course...www.elenaaitken.com

And please, sign up for my newsletter:Here
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me today! I really appreciate the chance to get to know you a bit better :) Thank you so much for having me, Liz. I love to chat books and writing! 


Now is your chance to win a copy of Hidden Gifts for yourself! Just enter the Rafflecopter!  Giveaway is International to people 18+.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway Ends 10-5-12

Previous Posts

Review - Drawing Free

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview/Giveaway: Hidden Gifts by Elena Aitken

Hidden Gifts

Castle Mountain Lodge Series

Elena Aitken

Bo’s always known that to be a successful hiking guide at the beautiful Castle Mountain Lodge, you have to flirt with the ladies-but never get too close; have a penchant for wild adventures-but know when to pull away; and never have any ties holding you back.

And his plan was working fine…until Ella, the child he didn’t know he had appears in his life.

Morgan’s always known what she wanted out of life but when the doctor’s crippling diagnosis changes everything, she knows she needs a fresh start. Maybe changing her career and throwing herself into a totally new lifestyle at the Lodge is exactly what she needs?

And it might have worked too…

Bo knows he needs Morgan’s help to reach Ella, but will she be willing to give up the new life she thought she wanted? And can either of them let down their guard long enough to recognize that all they really need is right in front of them, in Ella…and each other.

******

INTERVIEW

******

Hi Elena! It’s so nice to have a chance to talk to you! 
So nice to chat with you too, Liz. Thank you so much for having me here. 


We’re meeting today because of your new release, Hidden Gifts. What can you tell us about this story? 
I love this story because it’s a ‘happily ever after’ and takes place in the most beautiful setting. And sometimes, I just need to read—or in this case—write a feel good book. Hidden Gifts is the second in The Castle Mountain Lodge Series that takes place at a mountain resort in the Canadian Rockies. 


This book sounds like an emotional heartfelt story. How did the idea come to you, what was the inspiration for Bo’s story? That’s a great question. I often can’t even tell you where I get my ideas, I just start thinking, “What if?” and go from there. But when I decided to write another Castle Mountain Lodge book, I knew I wanted this one to star a mountain man type of character who loved the outdoors. So I started with the character of Bo and then figured out what might be something that would change his life in a completely unexpected way.

All of your books take on a real life view of people. Sometimes it’s a terrific view, and sometimes it’s a bit damaged – just like people. Is there any sort of message you want to give your readers, something you’d like them to take from your writing? I try to write characters that are real. That means they’re not always perfect and yes, that means that sometimes they make really bad decisions. But that’s real life. My readers are also real people and I’m sure most of them have made decisions or done something that maybe they shouldn’t have. It’s always my goal to have readers identify in some way to my characters. In some cases, such as Becca in Drawing Free, that can sometimes be an uncomfortable identifier. There is so much pressure for women right now to be everything to everyone all the time. That’s a lot of pressure to be ‘perfect’ and it’s an impossible goal. So if there’s one thing I want readers to take from my writing is that just like my characters, you don’t have to be perfect or make all the ‘right’ choices. You just need to be real and true to yourself.

Elena, which of your own books is your favorite, and why?  Super tough question. I have two favorites for different reasons. (That’s allowed, right?) First, Nothing Stays In Vegas because it was the book that made it possible for me to do what I’m doing now, which is writing full time. It was a fun book to write and will always be my ‘baby’. My other favorite is Drawing Free. It was a very difficult book to write because Becca’s journey was a struggle and definitely not an easy one. I think all moms can identify in some way with Becca, even if they don’t admit it to themselves. Because it was such a hard book to write, it was so rewarding to finally have Becca’s story out there for the world to read. And when I get emails from women thanking me for that book, it means the world. 











Is there a subject out there that you haven’t written about yet, but is on your wishlist of future books to write?
Ohh, so many things that I can’t wait to tackle. But right now I really want to dig my teeth into a book about the complex relationships of a group of women. I think there is always such an interesting dynamic when it comes to groups of women, I can’t wait to develop them in a book. 

Ok, on your website you list yourself as, “a writer, a mother of twins, a swimmer, a wife, a volunteer, a runner, a friend, a triathlete, a daughter, a sister, a Brownie leader (recently retired), an auntie, a cyclist, employee and….” My question is this: How in the heck do you do it? Have you gotten one of those clones, or a robot like in iRobot? 
Oh, I wish I had a clone! The truth is, my family always comes first. So I make it a point to squeeze everything else into any time that’s left over. It’s much easier now that my kids are ten. I do 90% of my working out and writing while they’re in school. I also have a very understanding husband who knows that I’m not happy unless I’m doing a million different things.

And if you weren’t an author, what other profession would you like to do? I really had to think about this one. I’ve never really wanted to be anything else. Although for a brief period after University and before kids I was a purchasing agent. It was a lot of fun to negotiate and spend a lot of money that wasn’t my own. So...I’d probably like to be an important executive somewhere. Of course that would be pretty stressful, so maybe instead I’d like to own some sort of bed and breakfast in a hot Caribbean country. Yes, that sounds much better.

Are there any special projects in the works, something we can see from you in the future? Oh, there’ll always be something from me. I have many stories in my head that need to be written. I think the next project will be about a group of women, one of whom calls Social Services on another. And then there’ll be another Castle Mountain Lodge book. I write pretty quickly, so I hope to have a few books out every year.

Ok, time for something a little more fun. If you could transport yourself to any book by any author, which book would it be? Easy. I’d love to be inside Diana Gabbaldon’s Outlander series. I’ve always loved those books. They’re just so exciting and subtly romantic. And really...Jamie Fraser? Come on!

And another fun one: If you could be any Disney Princess, which one would you pick and why? Tough one, I don’t think I’d make a very good Disney Princess at all. BUT if I have to pick one, I’d probably pick Belle. She seems to be the spunkiest and she doesn’t put up with much from anyone.

So, what are your favorite genres to read? I read it all. But I do tend to read mostly women’s fiction with some chick lit thrown in when I need a quick, light read. Lately though I seem to be reading quite a bit of YA, even some fantasy YA which is pretty strange for me, but I’ve been enjoying it.


And of course, Elena, do you have a “must read” book that you recommend we, well, must read? Well, of course the Outlander series. But two other books I read recently were by Colleen Hoover. Slammed and the second one, Point of Retreat. They’re both YA books and I couldn’t put them down.

And lastly, if we want to stalk you online, where are the best places we can do that? Yep, I want links! Oh, I love to be stalked online. You can hang out with me on Twitter at @elenaaitken
My Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/elenaaitken.author


My website of course...www.elenaaitken.com

And please, sign up for my newsletter:Here
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me today! I really appreciate the chance to get to know you a bit better :) Thank you so much for having me, Liz. I love to chat books and writing! 


Now is your chance to win a copy of Hidden Gifts for yourself! Just enter the Rafflecopter!  Giveaway is International to people 18+.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway Ends 10-5-12

Previous Posts

Review - Drawing Free

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post/Giveaway: The Luminary by Elle J Rossi

The Luminary

Elle J Rossi

A witch running from death. A warrior seeking redemption. Only one can win a battle that may very well cost them their hearts and strip them of their souls.

When Meera Brennan learns she’s a Luminary, one of the most powerful witches in existence, it rocks her already fragile world. The revelation explains the disturbing episodes that made her question her sanity, but does little to soothe the sting of discovering her life is now at risk. To save herself and keep peace within the veiled community, Meera will have to hone her powers and brave an ancient realm to destroy the slayer’s magickal source. She alone must dispel chaos and ensure the balance of good and evil for all mankind. 

Banished and stripped of his guardian powers because of a witch, Ghanem Adamo, former prince of the Saharren realm, receives a chance at redemption when his estranged father reveals an immortal battle destined to alter all realms. In order to protect the innocent, regain his title and reunite with his family, Ghanem must destroy the slayers’ source of power and bring down their terrorizing leader. 

Her life . . . 

Or his throne . . .

When the war against the slayers force Meera and Ghanem to work together, more than magickal sparks fly. Challenged by fate, can love survive a nefarious battle that can result in only one prize?

Buy Links:

Amazon

Extraordinary in the Ordinary

Elle J Rossi

  

Dare I say magic is all around us? Yes, actually, I do dare because I believe it truly is. Perhaps all we need to do is stare until we zone out, or allow our vision to distort to the point that we get that sparkly haze. Whatever it takes to turn the ordinary into extraordinary.

In The Luminary, Meera is introduced to her first portal. She realizes she’s seen them several times in her life, but never knew what they were. You’ve seen them too. You know how the air warps on a hot summer day, or above a car that has just turned off? That’s a portal, an entryway to another world. What if you took a chance and jumped through one with your eyes wide open? More than likely, you’d cause quite the scene. But if there were even a slight chance that it could lead to somewhere new and exciting, wouldn’t you want to give it a try no matter how high the ridicule stakes? I know I would.

Have you ever driven from point A to point B and forgotten everything in between? How in the world did you manage not to crash or get lost? Easy. Your vehicle is really a magic carpet, or better yet, a time machine. Don’t laugh. You know you’ve thought about it!

Okay, try this. The next song you hear will be your theme song for the day. Somehow it will work out and you’ll totally get it. That’s magic, my friends. Do yourself a favor and don’t play any angry music. It just creates a bad vibe all around.

The next time you feel a storm rolling in, step outside and watch the trees sway in the wind. Watch the clouds sweep across the sky. Tilt your head up and inhale deeply. That’s not just a storm, that’s a witch casting a spell. Her spell may have the simple purpose of soaking the earth. Or, someone may have really ticked her off. You better not stay outside too long in case that someone was you. Witches have been known to use lightning bolts to zap a person or two.

Your turn! Have some fun and take a stab at it. Turn something completely ordinary into something rather extraordinary.

 Elle J Rossi grew up in rural Indiana surrounded by great people, a huge family and more animals than she could count. But the sites and sounds of the world beckoned, so she left her small town to escape into a creative world full of music. As a full time singer she was able to lose herself in a thousand different songs in a hundred different places.

After meeting the love of her life and settling down, she yearned to find a new and fulfilling creative outlet. Overly fond of the happily ever after, she wondered what it would be like to have her own characters lead her down dark and twisted paths. The very first word on the very first page sealed her fate. She'd found a new love. She'd found her escape.

Now along with weaving haunting tales about the journey to love, she's creating cover art for authors around the world and loving every second of it. For fun, she cranks country music to take her back to her roots, and sings karaoke anytime she gets a chance. Her husband, two children, and a cat that rules the roost keep her company along the way and guarantee she doesn't get lost in the enchanted forest. She wouldn't have it any other way.

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Click Banner to View the rest of the The Luminary schedule!

Isn't that just such a wonderful post?  I loved it so much!  It's so dreamy, and yes, it makes me remember that magic is all around.  So now its your turn.  Is there something magical around you?  Tell me anything related to this post, and be entered to win one of two ebooks of The Luminary!  Thanks for stopping by, and thank you to Elle for such a beautiful post!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post/Giveaway: The Luminary by Elle J Rossi

The Luminary

Elle J Rossi

A witch running from death. A warrior seeking redemption. Only one can win a battle that may very well cost them their hearts and strip them of their souls.

When Meera Brennan learns she’s a Luminary, one of the most powerful witches in existence, it rocks her already fragile world. The revelation explains the disturbing episodes that made her question her sanity, but does little to soothe the sting of discovering her life is now at risk. To save herself and keep peace within the veiled community, Meera will have to hone her powers and brave an ancient realm to destroy the slayer’s magickal source. She alone must dispel chaos and ensure the balance of good and evil for all mankind. 

Banished and stripped of his guardian powers because of a witch, Ghanem Adamo, former prince of the Saharren realm, receives a chance at redemption when his estranged father reveals an immortal battle destined to alter all realms. In order to protect the innocent, regain his title and reunite with his family, Ghanem must destroy the slayers’ source of power and bring down their terrorizing leader. 

Her life . . . 

Or his throne . . .

When the war against the slayers force Meera and Ghanem to work together, more than magickal sparks fly. Challenged by fate, can love survive a nefarious battle that can result in only one prize?

Buy Links:

Amazon

Extraordinary in the Ordinary

Elle J Rossi

  

Dare I say magic is all around us? Yes, actually, I do dare because I believe it truly is. Perhaps all we need to do is stare until we zone out, or allow our vision to distort to the point that we get that sparkly haze. Whatever it takes to turn the ordinary into extraordinary.

In The Luminary, Meera is introduced to her first portal. She realizes she’s seen them several times in her life, but never knew what they were. You’ve seen them too. You know how the air warps on a hot summer day, or above a car that has just turned off? That’s a portal, an entryway to another world. What if you took a chance and jumped through one with your eyes wide open? More than likely, you’d cause quite the scene. But if there were even a slight chance that it could lead to somewhere new and exciting, wouldn’t you want to give it a try no matter how high the ridicule stakes? I know I would.

Have you ever driven from point A to point B and forgotten everything in between? How in the world did you manage not to crash or get lost? Easy. Your vehicle is really a magic carpet, or better yet, a time machine. Don’t laugh. You know you’ve thought about it!

Okay, try this. The next song you hear will be your theme song for the day. Somehow it will work out and you’ll totally get it. That’s magic, my friends. Do yourself a favor and don’t play any angry music. It just creates a bad vibe all around.

The next time you feel a storm rolling in, step outside and watch the trees sway in the wind. Watch the clouds sweep across the sky. Tilt your head up and inhale deeply. That’s not just a storm, that’s a witch casting a spell. Her spell may have the simple purpose of soaking the earth. Or, someone may have really ticked her off. You better not stay outside too long in case that someone was you. Witches have been known to use lightning bolts to zap a person or two.

Your turn! Have some fun and take a stab at it. Turn something completely ordinary into something rather extraordinary.

 Elle J Rossi grew up in rural Indiana surrounded by great people, a huge family and more animals than she could count. But the sites and sounds of the world beckoned, so she left her small town to escape into a creative world full of music. As a full time singer she was able to lose herself in a thousand different songs in a hundred different places.

After meeting the love of her life and settling down, she yearned to find a new and fulfilling creative outlet. Overly fond of the happily ever after, she wondered what it would be like to have her own characters lead her down dark and twisted paths. The very first word on the very first page sealed her fate. She'd found a new love. She'd found her escape.

Now along with weaving haunting tales about the journey to love, she's creating cover art for authors around the world and loving every second of it. For fun, she cranks country music to take her back to her roots, and sings karaoke anytime she gets a chance. Her husband, two children, and a cat that rules the roost keep her company along the way and guarantee she doesn't get lost in the enchanted forest. She wouldn't have it any other way.

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Click Banner to View the rest of the The Luminary schedule!

Isn't that just such a wonderful post?  I loved it so much!  It's so dreamy, and yes, it makes me remember that magic is all around.  So now its your turn.  Is there something magical around you?  Tell me anything related to this post, and be entered to win one of two ebooks of The Luminary!  Thanks for stopping by, and thank you to Elle for such a beautiful post!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway