Author: DelSheree

DelSheree Gladden was one of those shy, quiet kids who spent more time reading than talking. Literally. She didn't speak a single word for the first three months of preschool. Her fascination with reading led to many hours spent in the library and bookstores, and eventually to writing. She wrote her first novel when she was sixteen years old, but spent ten years rewriting it before having it published. Native to New Mexico, DelSheree and her family spent several years in Colorado for college and work before moving back home to be near family. When not writing novels, you can find DelSheree reading, painting, sewing, and working with other authors. DelSheree has several bestselling young adult series and has hit the USA Today Bestseller list twice as part of box sets. DelSheree also has contemporary romance, cozy mystery, and paranormal new adult series. Her writing is as varied as her reading interests.

Surprise Post: Stephanie Wardrop (author of Snark and Circumstance)

Today I’m pleased to welcome Stephanie Wardrop and her character, Georgia Barrett

Don’t fear the peeper(s)

An essay by Snark and Circumstance’s Georgia Barrett
Autumn is a big deal in New England. In fact, around here, people practically think they invented autumn, or, at least, autumn’s big holiday, Thanksgiving. I’m not a big fan of Thanksgiving. I know that it is good to be thankful for the things you have, and I am, usually. I am thankful, for instance, that my mom is finally off my back about making friends at my new school (and has been downright giddy since the perfectly preppie Michael Endicott has been coming over to our house.) I am grateful to have met some cool people at school, finally, who prefer punk to pep rallies, and that I get to write stuff like this for the school’s alternative paper.  But I think there is something inherently creepy about a holiday that (1) celebrates the white Puritans’ having their butts saved by the native people that they would soon drive off their own land and (2) features the carcass of a dead animal as not just the centerpiece of the dinner table but makes that dinner the whole point of the day. (Well, that and football).

It’s hard to stick up for turkeys – they can be pretty unpleasant – but somebody has to.

 
(This is it, folks: Plymouth Rock. I don’t live near it, but my mom dragged us to see it one day. I expected something a little more impressive, didn’t you?)

But when my family first moved here, I discovered a phenomenon even more disturbing:

They come by bus, usually in pairs, arriving in the morning so they can hit as many early bird specials as possible before returning to their southern points of origin.  White haired and wind-breakered, they wear sensible shoes to provide optimal stalking comfort. Armed with cameras, they descend on quiet New England towns with a lust born by the botanical/chemical miracle that occurs when the decomposition of chlorophyll meets a surge in plant sugars[1].  It’s the

Invasion of the Leaf Peepers!

I had never heard of these people who go on “Fall Foliage” tours and descend on towns like Longbourne with a rabid desire to see some leaves that have changed color. I wasn’t prepared for the throngs of senior citizens invading the town green like Vikings descending on a fishing village. I wondered what sort of people were willing to spend a whole day on an exhaust-spewing bus, touring from town to town, just to see some brightly colored foliage.

The first peepers I encountered all but knocked me down on my way to school. Later, another set of peepers clogged the entrance to Starbucks and I couldn’t get my iced soy chai in time to run to my English class without being late. (Apparently leaf spotting requires constant injections of high-grade caffeine to keep the eyes sharp.)
It’s just leaves, people, I wanted to yell at them, but that seemed kind of snotty, so I just wondered where they lived that didn’t have non-deciduous trees, [2]and I felt sort of sorry for them.

Because once I started to look around, I realized that by mid-September, Nature puts on a pretty impressive display of colors around here.

I started paying more attention as I walked back home that day. The air was crisp, like biting into one of those really sweet, really juicy apples you can pick this time of year. I reveled in the crunch of the leavesunder my feet without thinking, as I usually do, that the leaves crunch because they are dead and that means winter is coming.  (And I hate winter.) I looked up at the canopy of ochre and russet and scarlet overhead and it reminded me of the stained glass windows in the church my sister Leigh used to go to, only it was more beautiful because it was natural and because it would not last. There was something unbearably lovely in the idea that the display would vanish in just a few days.


So now I get out of the way of the peepers. It’s kind of cool, actually, that the peepers take a day out and get on a bus just to admire something natural and beautiful.  Most of us are too busy just plowing ahead with our days to notice what’s around us. So on the one hand, I hope that when I am old and retired I have better things to do than drive around looking at leaves; on the other hand, I’m starting to think that maybe there is nothing better to dothan that, really. And if I do become a peeper, I swear I will never knock anyone down. It’s a limited engagement, sure, but for a few weeks, the leaves are there for everybody. Like so many things in life, you should take care to enjoy it while you can.
Georgia Barrett is the narrator of the Snark and Circumstance e-novella series, a contemporary YA take on Pride and Prejudice, available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.

Find Stephanie’s books on Amazon:
Snark and Circumstance(novella 1) on Amazon 
Charm and Consequence (novella 2) on Amazon 
Pride and Prep School (novella 3) on Amazon
Prom and Prejudice, releases in January
Find Stephanie and her characters online at:  
World’s Oldest Fledgling Blog 
Facebook 
Twttter
The photo above is by @fitzmulligan and from The MA Insta Foliage site, http://www.massvacation.com/fall/?gclid=CKeyy5zLqroCFRGi4AodOTgAJw

[1]Note to my lab partner, Michael Endicott: See? I was paying attention in bio yesterday.
[2]Again, Michael: Totally paying attention,

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Character Artwork: Haunting Joy by Lena Goldfinch

Today I’m please to welcome Lena Goldfinch to the Blogfest to introduce us to the characters in her novel, “Haunting Joy.” 

The story behind the cover of Haunting Joy: a ghostly little story

Haunting Joy by Lena Goldfinch
Release date: October 21, 2013

Joy’s new dress has a secret – one with a little supernatural history, one that’s a little more than she expected.


It all starts one ordinary afternoon, as seventeen-year-old Joy tries on some thrift-store clothes her grandmother gave her. The little white dress fits perfectly. Trouble is, now it won’t leave her alone. Soon Joy is swept up in an extraordinary journey to help a ghost complete some unfinished business. If only that didn’t involve Joy driving through dangerous intersections…or calling up her high-school crush, Nick…or getting stuck at a cemetery after dark.

Will Joy accept this ghostly challenge to be “more”? And just how far will she go to uncover the truth?



Light YA Paranormal



“I never believed in ghosts.
Until it happened to me.”

Lena: As an author and a freelance cover designer, I have the absolute best time coming up with covers for my stories. I found a photo of a perfect dress for Haunting Joy on Flickr, and the dress designer gave me permission to use it on the cover. The dress is really a character in the story, because Joy (the main protagonist) is haunted by a thrift-store dress that her grandmother buys for her. Joy is sort of a tomboy, so she’s perplexed at being drawn to the dress — any dress — but especially to a floaty white sundress with straps. 

Wendy Firmin is the owner of the Creole Sha on Etsy and she designs gorgeous, funky-chic “Eco Upcycled” clothing. So the dress I  found wasn’t only feminine, floaty-looking, and white, it was also a recycled dress, which Wendy had put her unique design spin on. That made it doubly perfect for my story! (Unfortunately, the dress is already sold. I wonder who’s wearing it these days…and if it’s possibly haunted. ;))
Here’s the original dress from Wendy and my two “haunted” versions, with a supernatural, glow-y effect, courtesy

of Photoshop. The pink & purple one is for the ebook and the black & white one is for the print edition.

Thanks for setting up the blogfest, DelSheree! And a special thanks to Wendy Firmin of Creole Sha: Eco Upcycled Clothing for Casual Living. 🙂

Haunting Joy is on sale this week for 99 cents on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and iBooks.

Stay up to date on Lena and her characters at

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Character Artwork: Wicked Hunger by DelSheree Gladden

Wicked Hunger is getting a face lift, and today I’m revealing the new cover!

Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. They have to be when they are hiding a deadly secret. Day after day, they struggle to rein in their uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering in order to live normal lives. Things only get worse when Ivy Guerra appears with her pink-striped hair and secrets. 

The vicious hunger Ivy inspires is frightening, not to mention suspicious. Vanessa’s instincts are rarely wrong, so when they tell her that Ivy’s appearance is a sign of bad things to come, she listens. She becomes determined to expose Ivy’s secrets. Vanessa tries to warn her brother, but Zander is too enamored with Ivy to pay attention to her conspiracy theories. 

One of them is right about Ivy … but if they lose control of their hunger, it won’t matter who is right and who is wrong. One little slip, and they’ll all be dead.

Now that you know a little more about Wicked Hunger, I’d love to hear your thoughts!!

Here is the front cover that will be used for the ebook, and …



… Here is the full cover for the paperback!

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Character Artwork: Eolyn by Karin Rita Gastreich

Today let’s delve in the world of Karin Rita Gastreich’s Eolyn, High Maga, and Daughter of Aithne






Images of Eolyn, by Karin Rita Gastreich
My novels Eolyn, High Maga, and Daughter of Aithne tell the story of a woman struggling to define her own path in a world largely ruled by men. 
In the first novel, we meet Eolyn as a girl with a remarkable but forbidden gift.  Fleeing the soldiers of the Mage King, young Eolyn takes refuge deep in the South Woods.  When she meets the mysterious Akmael, destined to assume the throne of this violent kingdom, she embarks on a path of adventure, love, betrayal, and war.  Bound by magic, driven apart by destiny, Eolyn and the Mage King confront each other in an epic struggle that will determine the fate of a millennial tradition of magic.
Cover art for EOLYN by Jesse Smolover
The second book, High Maga, begins about four years after Eolyn ends.  Early in the story, Eolyn’s fledgling coven is destroyed and the kingdom invaded by an army that commands a terrible and malevolent magic.  Eolyn discovers a weapon that could unravel their power, and must find a way to deliver this weapon to her king. This is a darker novel than the first, deeply entrenched in the brutal realities of war.  And Eolyn is older, more mature and capable of taking on greater and ever more complex challenges.
The artwork for Eolyn and High Maga illustrates very nicely the evolution of Eolyn’s story and character between these two novels.  I’ve had the privilege of working with wonderful artists in both cases: Jesse Smolover, who did the cover art for Eolyn, and Thomas Vandenberg, who is putting the final touches on the cover art for High Maga. 

Jesse’s image of Eolyn captures her innocence and nascent power as she steps out of a sheltered life in the South Woods with the hope of restoring women’s magic to the life and culture of her people.
Thomas’ illustration for High Maga shows us Eolyn in battle, a vivid image of a determined woman who has already suffered loss and sacrifice, yet who refuses to surrender in the face of danger. 
I have loved Eolyn in all her stages of development.  It’s such a privilege to work with a complex character for whom every new experience becomes an opportunity for growth and change, and it’s really delightful to see these changes reflected in the artwork for my novels.
Detail from the cover art for HIGH MAGA, 
by Thomas Vandenberg.
My third novel, Daughter of Aithne, is in the works so I can’t talk a whole lot about it, but I know that when we see the face of Eolyn for this final book in the series, it will be reimagined once more to reflect the growing years of her experience and the changing context of her world.  
Find out more about Karin and Eolyn online
Blog for Eolyn:  http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.com
Blog Heroines of Fantasy:  http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Eolyn/110814625640244
Twitter:  @EolynChronicles

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Surprise Post: Uriah Crowe (Twin Souls by DelSheree Gladden)

Today, Uriah, from Twin Souls, is taking the stage with a message and a warning. 

My mother loved to tell me stories from our tribe when I was young. She always said that the stories carried our history. They carried the truth of who we are. Even from a young age, I understood the truth of her words. That didn’t mean I wanted to hear the stories. I feared that hearing about the heroes would change me into something I did not want to be. A hero. I wanted to tell her to stop, but she loved the stories so much that I could never ask such a thing. 
So I listened, night after night, until I could no longer deny what I was destined to become. 
The story I want to tell you now is not about a hero, but a warning to never forget who you are and where you come from. Knowledge like that is powerful and may save your life one day as it did mine. 
***
Long before I was born, Deer Hunter and White Corn Maiden were born to my Pueblo, San Juan Pueblo. Deer hunter was revered because he never came back from a hunt empty handed. White Corn Maiden caught the other’s attention because of her fine pottery and beautiful embroidery. 
The beauty of Deer Hunter and White Corn Maiden brought them together. They were favored of the Gods, but the Elders warned them not to become so enraptured with each other that they forgot their people. Against the Elders advice, the two spent more and more time together until Deer hunter stopped hunting and White Corn Maiden abandoned her pottery and embroidery. They forgot their religion and traditions despite warnings that harm would befall the village if they continued in this way. 
Their selfishness caused them to pledge that they would never be parted, yet White Corn Maiden fell ill and died three days later. Her soul wandered for four days in order for her to seek forgiveness from those she had wronged in life. Deer Hunter could not accept White Corn Maiden’s death. He sought out her spirit and even though she begged him to let her go, he could not. He pledged his love once more and she relented, and did not allow her spirit and body to leave the mortal world as she was meant to. 
Soon, Deer Hunter began to realize that keeping White Corn Maiden in the mortal realm could not last. She began to decay and he soon sought to escape her. White Corn Maiden could not leave him, though, and wasted to bones as she chased after him. The village wasted away along with her just as the Elders had warned. 
Seeking to end the torture of the village, a majestic figure with a large bow and two arrows appeared in the village center, calling out for Deer Hunter and White Corn Maiden. When they appeared, he cursed them for their selfishness. Ruin had been brought to the village because of them. Their punishment for abandoning their religion and traditions was to serve as a reminder to the people of the Pueblo for all eternity of how important upholding their traditions and religion was. He placed Deer Hunter on one arrow and shot him into the sky. White Corn Maiden followed after him, both becoming stars that roamed the sky forever, White Corn Maiden eternally chasing behind her husband yet ever catching him. 
***
To learn more about DelSheree and characters like Uriah, you can find them online at: 

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Surprise Post: Lucy Crowe

Let’s see what Lucy Crowe’s Characters from “Sugar Man’s Daughter” are up to today!

I gave my blog over to a couple of my characters today to better address the issue of 911 Next Generation. This is Delilah’s first “Cop’s Kids” blog, and Bobby is her guest of honor. Let her know how you think she’s doing!
                          
Bobby Blogs
            I’m Delilah’s first victim. She’s managing a blog called “Cop’s Kid” and I’m her opening guest. “What the hell is a blog?” I say. “Sounds like something you slop down your front at the truck stop.”
            “It’s just little diary entries about your life.”  She doesn’t look up from her keyboard; her fingers are doing a crazed hunt and peck pattern.
            “Nobody wants to know about that. Why don’t you talk about something important?”
            “Such as?”
            “911. You can’t text it.”
            The fingers flutter and pause. “Of course you can. And besides, lame-o.”
            Delilah is fifteen. That’s the problem.
            “Your local dispatch center isn’t set up to receive texts. Or pictures. Or blogs.” I tap her head with my knuckles.
            “Shut up!” She swats at me. “What happens if I send one?”
            “Poof, it’s gone. How the hell do I know? But they don’t get it, okay?”
            “Seems like this should be national news so we all quit making mistakes.”
            “You don’t know the half of it, baby.” She’s got a picture of me up on her screen, looking tough behind my Ray Bans. Ha. “Your generation screws up the call all the time.”
            “Because we feel entitled and we have too much. Blah-blah, what else is new?”
            “You call for help on your little cell phones and fail to give an address or leave a call back number.”
            “Aren’t you supposed to figure all that out?”
            Delilah is an honors student. Scary, ain’t it?  
            “The best the dispatcher can do is to triangulate to the nearest tower. Which in your case is four miles away just outside Wapsi.”
            “Seems inadequate.”
            “Not. Just give them your address.”
            “My address is like a million digits long, thanks to you people.”

            Wow. Really? And this from a cop’s daughter.
            “It’s actually simple,” I tell her. “The roads are set up and numbered in a grid pattern, starting with 00 on the south and on the east and working up from there.”
            She’s stopped typing and her face is crinkled in consternation.
            “Or you can just read the number on the blue sign in your yard.”
            “Bite me,” she says. The fingers are tripping again; she’s brought a county 911 map up already. “All right, I see what you’re saying. But if I use my GPS I don’t need to know any of this.”
            “Until it fails.”
            “It doesn’t.”
            I give up. “What did you want to talk about?” I say.
            “Nothing, I’ve got enough now.”
            Trouble with girls that age? You can never tell if they’re pissed or just preoccupied. 
Stay up to date with Lucy Crowe and her characters online at: 
Facebook : Goodreads : Amazon : Website : 

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Meet the Characters Cutest Couple Contest

It’s time to vote again! This week we’re voting for the Cutest Couple in some of today’s hottest new fiction! 

Read on to meet the couples and then vote on the Rafflecopter for your favorite. At the end of the month one lucky voter will win the Winning Couple’s book! 

Cady and Brian (Arcadia’s Gift, Arcadia’s Curse by Jesi Lea Ryan)

Name:  Arcadia Marie Day – but only pretentious adults, teachers on the first day of school and pissed off parents ever call me by my full name.
Nickname:  Cady – pronounced “K.D.”  Not like the people who cart golf clubs around.
Hobbies & Talents:  I like to run. It keeps me in shape without resorting to team sports. Oh, and I guess I have this “talent” now for reading people’s emotions psychically. There is also this weird thing I can do when I channel emotional energy…but I better not get into that. It’s all rather complicated.
Biggest Fear:  Losing the people I love. Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of that this year.
Favorite Food:  I’m an herbivore mostly. Not a full vegetarian, but close. I guess pasta with marinara would be my favorite food.
Where do you see yourself in five years?  If you would have asked me a few months ago, I would have had no clue. Lately, I’ve been considering going to med school.
Quote:  “For the love of Ian Sommerhalder!” Because really, he’s as close to god as an agnostic like me gets.
Name:  Bryan Thomas Sullivan
Nickname:  Just Bryan…NOT Byron! I am not some dead, Victorian poet.
Hobbies & Talents:  I love music, all kinds. I play piano and guitar.
Biggest Fear:  As a hemophiliac, the fear of bleeding has been drilled into me since birth. It was especially bad after my brother died from the same disease. Fortunately for me, my girlfriend, Cady, has discovered a way to protect me. It’s not a cure, but I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I feel, well, sort of invincible.
Favorite Food:  I’m a seventeen year old guy. If it’s edible, I’ll eat it.  
Where do you see yourself in five years?  I’ll probably be doing something with music. Maybe working as a music teacher during the day and gigging in a local band on the weekends. Heck, even if I’m playing guitar in bus stations for tips, I’ll be happy. My parents, probably not so much.


Quote:  “Kissing you was the most fun I’ve had all year.” <— Total understatement by the way. Kissing Cady rocks my world.
Get your copy of Arcadia’s Gift now in Amazon Paperback : Amazon Kindle

Mason and Olivia (Invisible by DelSheree Gladden)

Name: Mason
Nickname: I’ve got nothing for this one. Maybe if a few more people could see me someone would have given me a nickname by now.
Hobbies: I’m kind of limited in this area since I’m invisible and all that, but I enjoy playing catch with Olivia’s dad. Does putting my invisibility to use pulling pranks on people count as a hobby? If so, that one’s my favorite!
Biggest fear: Being taken away from Olivia. I can’t imagine not being with her, and not just because she’s the only one who can see me. There wouldn’t be any point in existing if she wasn’t in my life.
Favorite food: I’m not terribly picky. Olivia’s mom is an awesome cook. I love just about everything she makes.
Worst habit: Thinking I know what’s best for Olivia. Let me tell you, you can get yourself into a lot of trouble this way!
Quote: “Only one thought causes me more pain that leaving Olivia, and that is seeing her hurt. I want to tell her I’ll never leave, but if that’s what it takes to keep her safe, I’ll have no other choice.”
Name: Olivia Mallory

Nickname: Ollie, but Mason is the only one who calls me that.
Hobbies: Definitely not basketball! It’s been confirmed that I am the worst player in the world. Other than that, protecting Mason is my main focus. That’s not really a hobby, but it’s what I care about most.
Biggest fear: Losing Mason. I won’t let anyone take him away from me.
Favorite food: Not salads, but for some reason I seem to eat a lot of them. French fries, definitely French fries.
Worst habit: Um, I have a bad habit of being rather oblivious to, well, a lot. It gets me into trouble more than I care to admit.
Quote: “It does scare me to think of Mason being away from me and finding something better. He’s my best friend, the person I can’t imagine living without.”
Invisible is now available only on Amazon in paperback and Kindle! 

You can find me and my books online at
Amazon Kindle US : Amazon Paperback US : Amazon Kindle UK : Amazon Paperback UK : 
B&N :  Kobo :  Goodreads : DelSheree’s Blog : DelSheree’s Website : Facebook : Twitter : Wattpad : Amazon

Brian and Lou (The Secret of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel)

Brian and Lou met on a tour of the Scottish Highlands; he’s a tour guide there, and she was on vacation.  She was cranky and depressed by the rain, and he was captivated by the quiet, pretty tourist in his group.  Soon, they were traipsing all over Scotland, caught up in a centuries-old mystery.  Lou is shy and nervous, and Brian can’t get enough of her, even when she’s buried in dusty manuscripts doing research.  Their first official date involves pizza, a bonfire, and a Scottish beach.  Read THE SECRET OF ISOBEL KEY to see more of this cute couple!
About the book:
Lou is in the middle of a quarter-life crisis. Fresh out of college, she’s unemployed and unsure of herself. But when she gets the chance to escape to Scotland with her best friend, it could be the answer to her quest for self-discovery. The trip is not at all what she expected, especially when her tour guide turns out to be the dreamy historian Brian, and together they embark on a hunt for information about Isobel Key, a woman accused of witchcraft in the seventeenth century.

They set out to learn the truth of the condemned witch, but Lou isn’t prepared for the knowledge that awaits her. She must face her own demons if she has any hope of righting the wrongs of the past.

Flashing between seventeenth century Scotland and a contemporary romance, THE SECRET OF ISOBEL KEY is a mystery that will please readers of all ages. Coming 2013 from Bloomsbury Spark!


Website: Twitter: @Jen_McConnel : Blog: Goodreads: Amazon: Facebook: Pinterest: 

Micah and Lily (Heal Me by Angela Fristoe)

For Lily nothing is better than having a best friend who somehow manages to hold you together when everything in your life is falling apart. Until that friend becomes a friend with benefits. Both Lily and Micah are dealing with things that most of their friends don’t understand. When they’re together it’s easy to forget how the lives they thought they’d have are completely changed. But neither of them know if they’re ready for the intensity of their relationship, because both know that sometimes love isn’t enough.
Smashwords
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Character Bios: Adiana, Nadia, and

It’s time to meet a few more amazing characters! 

Today we have Adiana from Karin Rita Gastreich’s fantasy novel, “Eolyn,” Nadia from Melinda Dozier’s novel “Love and Other Games: Trouble with Gold,” and Jack from HL Carpenter’s “Jack and the Fountain of Youth.” 

Adiana of Selkynsen

From Eolyn and High Maga
Karin Rita Gastreich
Adiana’s parents, wealthy merchants from the province of Selkynsen, recognized her talent for music early on. At that time, women of education were being persecuted as the Mage King sought to purge his land of the Magas. Though Adiana was not a maga, her parents feared knowledge of music would make her vulnerable.
Confident the tide of violence would pass, they sent young Adiana to a neighboring kingdom to complete her studies.  While Adiana was away, the purges claimed her parents. Her mother was burned at the stake and her father beheaded. Adiana found herself orphaned, denied of her inheritance, and left to fend for herself.
Adiana’s fate turned for the better thanks to her father’s former steward, who rescued Adiana from withering prostitution and took her in as his own daughter.  Some years later, Mage Corey recruited Adiana into his Circle, where she established herself as his most valued musician. 
A close friend of Eolyn, Adiana becomes a leading figure in my second novel High Maga. Though war separates musician from maga, their paths remain connected. Adiana does not command magic like her friend, but her extraordinary music confers its own power, bringing her both salvation and doom.  

Author Bio:
KARIN RITA GASTREICH lives in Kansas City and Costa Rica. A member of the biology faculty at Avila University, her past times include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance.  Karin’s first fantasy novel, EOLYN, was released by Hadley Rille Books in 2011, and was nominated for the 2012 Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award.  The companion novel, HIGH MAGA, will be released in April 2014. Karin’s short stories have appeared in Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, 69 Flavors of Paranoia, and A Visitor to Sandahl.   She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency. Follow Karin’s adventures into fantastic worlds, both real and imagined, at http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.comand at http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com. 

Blog for Eolyn:  http://eolynchronicles.blogspot.com
Blog Heroines of Fantasy:  http://heroinesoffantasy.blogspot.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Eolyn/110814625640244
Twitter:  @EolynChronicles

Nadia

From: Love and Other Games: Trouble with Gold
Melinda Dozier

Name: Nadia Hoffman
Nickname given by Ty (the hero): Lucky Charm/Lucky Lady
Age: 25
Nationality: Swiss
Occupation: Event Planner at Swiss Sports Association
Hair Color: Blonde
Hair Style: Long, layered
Eyes: Blue
Clothes: Work uniform, per staff handbook; off work she prefers to wear Jeans, Uggs and a big toasty sweater.
Quirk: Don’t tell anyone, but she wears days of the week panties!
Greatest Fear: To disappoint her father.
Pet Peeve: Hates tardiness.
Life Goals: Earn a position at the Olympics Committee Headquarters in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Skills and talents: Although Nadia isn’t a top athlete, she has been an award-winning skier in college. She also is known for her organizational and planning skills.
Excerpt:

 “So, where are you from, Nadia?” He scooted to the edge of the settee so that their knees touched.
She held out her hands and smiled. “Switzerland.”
“Home country, then? I could learn a lot from you.” He rubbed his chin. “Let me guess your sport … You have a classic look about you, like a ballerina … Figure skating?”
She lowered her head and batted her lashes. “No, I’m not a figure skater.”
“Well, you do have that ice queen appearance —”
“I beg your pardon?” She pulled her knees away from his. “I’m not an ice queen.”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that.” Shit. There he went and put his foot in his mouth. “It’s a good thing. You have that perfect lean body and you’re well poised – like someone on the ice.” Shit. He ran his hand over his forehead. Just when he was making some headway into getting to know her.
More information can be found at www.melindadozier.com

Love and Other Games is available at Amazon, B&N and Kobo.

Name: Jack Ponsi Dileonardo Thomas

Age: You wouldn’t believe me
Occupation: That’s sort of difficult to answer. I’m kind of undercover.
Appearance: I look like an average guy.
Jack and The Fountain of Youth
by HL Carpenter
[Jack puts down his pencil.] Look, HL, can you please just interview me? This is kind of—I really don’t like talking about myself so much.
HL: But Jack, even if we interview you, you’ll have to talk about yourself.
Jack: We could talk about Nessa. Sí, that is a great idea. Nessa is beautiful, and smart, and she—
HL: We like Nessa, too. What do you suppose she sees in you that makes her believe your story?
Jack: Story? That sounds like I made the whole thing up. I didn’t. I really am five hundred years old, and I really did come to Florida the first time with Juan Ponce de León. And I really did find fabled fuente, and I really did take a drink, which is why I really am five hundred years old. It’s all true. It’s not a story.
HL: We believe you. That’s why we wanted to write your story—ummm, that’s why we wanted to  write about you and Nessa.
Jack: So what’s the question?
HL: Ummm…
Jack: Sí. Let’s talk about Nessa.
HL: Okay. You and Nessa were both concealing big secrets when you met, and you both had to take a big risk. What made you willing to do that?
Jack: Nessa’s worth any risk. I would brave a hurricane if I thought I could win her love.
HL: If you could change one thing about the way it all worked out, what would it be?
Jack: That Nessa could have met my sister, Maria. They are much alike, and they would have been great friends.
HL: What are you most grateful for?
Jack: That Nessa will have the opportunity to get to know my TiaBella.
HL: Is there anything else you’d like us to ask?
Jack: No, that’s enough talk about me. Now I have a question for you. What do you know about rabbits?
HL: We loved one once. Why do you ask?
Jack: Because Nessa’s rabbit, Harey, doesn’t like me. I need to know what to do to get on his good side.
HL: Make Nessa happy. That should make Harey happy, too.
Jack: I can do that. [Jack smiles and stands up.] I need to pick up TiaBella from the airport. Come by Nessa’s later, HL. You’ll want to see how the story turns out. Bring your friends, too.
HL: Thanks for the invitation, Jack. We’ll see you there.
====
Author Bio:
HL Carpenter is a Florida-based mother/daughter duo who writes from their home in Carpenter Country, a magical place that, like their stories, is unreal but not untrue. When they’re not writing, the Carpenters enjoy exploring the Land of What-If and practicing the fine art of Curiosity.
 Book Buy Link:
Amazon book page link: http://www.amazon.com/Jack-The-Fountain-Youth-ebook/dp/B00EYR6M8Y/
Other Works:
The SkyHorse, a young adult novel published by Musa Publishing.
Tovi thinks finding a flying horse is fabulous luck—until a mysterious stranger says finders aren’t always keepers.
Contact info:
Author email: HL_Carpenter –at- HLCarpenter.com
Author Website: http://www.hlcarpenter.com/
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/HL-Carpenter/e/B007SHS9LA
LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/hlcarpenter
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820921.H_L_Carpenter

Character Interview: Rosie (In Polyester Pajamas by Catherine Dougherty)

Today we;re welcoming Rosie, the leading lady of Catherine Dougherty’s novels In Polyester Pajamas and In Woolen Bikinis! 

1. Can you tell my readers who you are?  My name is Rosie Blume and I’m a mother, wife, born-again Christian, real estate agent, and an entrepreneur. I’m also Jean’s best friend. (She’s the main character from in Polyester Pajamas.)
2. For those readers who are meeting you for the first time, what do you look like?
I’m a middle-aged, simple looking woman, and many say I look younger than my current age of 47. I have shoulder-length brown hair (no gray in it yet) and hazel eyes. I weight about 150 lbs. and I’m 5’4” tall. 

3. What’s one feature a reader would recognize right away if they saw you?

I have a cheery disposition so I smile a lot. Sometimes Jean says my positive attitude can get on her nerves. We met earlier this year when we were both Realtors for the same agency. Her desk was situated right next to mine and every time I smiled, she’d say it was like staring at sunshine and made her eyes hurt.
4. Girls love scars and interesting birthmarks. Any you’d like to reveal to my readers?
There’s a small scar on my forehead. It’s the result of a car accident I was involved in when I was five. I lost my mother and baby brother then. The three of us were on our way to my grandmother’s house and it was dark out. My mom was angry at my dad and driving way too fast. An animal ran out in front of us and she lost control and hit a tree. I was thrown from the car before it rolled over. That’s the only reason I survived.
5. Can you tell us a little about your family?
As I mentioned, my mom and baby brother died in the accident. My Dad died several years later from a heart attack when I was a teenager. I have a step-mom, Eloise, who is still alive and currently lives in a nursing home. My husband Jack is the love of my life, and we have two grown sons, Jonathan and Tommy. Jonathan is a teacher in Maine and Tommy is currently attending college at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). I want to tell you more about my family, but I can’t right now. You’ll have to read the books to find out.
6. Who are you closest to, and who do you wish you were closer to?
I am closest to my family and my best friend Jean. There is someone else I wish I could be closer to, but again, I have to refrain from telling you more.
7. Where do you call home, and has that always been the same place?
I’ve always lived in the Lake Region of New Hampshire. It’s my home and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. It’s just so beautiful here.
8. What is your biggest fear? Is there anyone you trust enough to tell?
My biggest fear is not finding out the secret I reveal to Jean during our slumber party (in Polyester Pajamas). I don’t know how anyone can live without a very best friend to confide in. Also, I encounter an issue later on that rattles my faith (in Woolen Bikinis). I am able to tell Jean and my family about it, but it’s hard to because it scares them.
9. It seems like everyone else has a secret. Do you?
Yes, I’ve carried one around for a very long time. I tell Jean about it as I’ve mentioned, but even after telling her, I’m not sure if it’s time to reveal it to anyone else and to try to solve the mystery behind it.
10. What makes your character laugh out loud?
It’s Jean–Jean makes me laugh out loud. She gets so stressed out over everything and does some crazy stuff. She calls me at all hours of the night and day with her man problems and can be so dramatic. I can remember when she called me from a restaurant because she was lusting after some guy. It took all I had to hold back the laughter. She’s so funny! What a drama queen! She’s also lots of fun to be with. Whenever we’re together, we get into some pretty comical situations.
11. What is one strong memory that has stuck with you from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?
It is when my mom and brother died. As you can well imagine, it had a great impact on me.
12. If you could take one night off, where would you go and who would you go with?
This is an easy question! I would go with Jean to her cottage at Long Sands Beach in York, Maine. We’d walk along the shoreline, drink wine, eat plenty of lobster and other seafood, knit, dance, and talk all night long. We’d have another pajama party!
13. What does you most value in friends?
Honesty and sincerity. Out of those qualities come love and mutual respect. True friendship.
14. Which words or phrases do you get accused of over-using?
All things happen for a reason.
15. If you could change one thing about your life what would it be?
I wouldn’t change a thing–not even the bad parts. They’ve formed me into who I am today and I like who I’ve become.
16. Some of your friends have special abilities. Which talent or ability do you wish you had?
I could be a little more daring like Jean, but I think that time will come. In fact, I know it will in the next book of the series–in Red Leather Jackets. The novel is currently being written and will be released in 2014.

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Character Interview: David and Jon (Sign of the Throne by Melissa Eskue Ousley)

Let’s meet the guys of Melissa Eskue Ousley’s new novel Sign of the Throne!

Today we’re interviewing two characters from the book, Sign of the Throne: David Corbin and Jonathon Reyes. 
Let’s start with David Corbin. 
David, tell us about yourself.
I’ve just returned to Newcastle Beach after traveling in the South Pacific. A few months ago I graduated from college with a degree in business and will soon be joining the London branch of my father’s firm, Corbin Industries. Well, that’s the plan, but…I’m no longer sure I want to leave California. I’ve met a girl, and it’s made me rethink some things. 
Do tell–who’s the girl? What’s she like?
Her name is Abby Brown. She works at the Newcastle Beach Inn and also babysits for Riordan and Cassandra Buchan, who are friends of my parents. When I first saw Abby working in the cabana by the pool at the inn, I had the strangest feeling we’d met before. It was like deja vu. Maybe it was just because I thought she was beautiful. She has the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. 
Have you talked to her?
Yeah. I ran into her a few times and finally managed to have a real conversation with her at the Buchans’ house. I think we were both nervous at first, but then once we started talking it felt like we hit it off. I told her about cage diving with great white sharks in Australia and she acted like I was completely crazy, but I think she was a little bit impressed too. I like that she banters with me. Most girls don’t—maybe because I can come off as reserved, like, I don’t know, the strong silent type.  I know I’m not exactly approachable, and I probably scare a lot of girls off. Plus, I’m in a long distance relationship with a girl named Amelia, so I haven’t exactly encouraged flirting from other girls. 
Uh-oh. So you already have a girlfriend.
Sort of. Amelia is the daughter of my dad’s business partner from London. We’ve known each other for a long time even though we don’t see each other too often. But I’ll be seeing more of her if I move to London, and I’ll be working under her father’s supervision until he thinks I’m ready to move up in the business. Amelia is very beautiful and intelligent, and we get along okay, but we don’t have that much in common. It’s tricky though because I know it would mean so much to our parents if we ended up together.
Wow—no pressure. What are you going to do?
I don’t know.  But I’d better figure it out because Amelia’s coming for a visit soon. Do I keep dating her and move to London? Or do I take a chance and see if there’s a future here with Abby? I feel such a strong connection to Abby—what if I’m too scared to take a risk and miss out? I did take a risk the other night—I offered to drive Abby home on my 1961 Harley. I like it that she was adventurous enough to ride with me—we had a lot of fun together. Amelia, on the other hand, won’t go anywhere near my bike.
You have a big decision ahead of you. Maybe you should talk to your parents about the pressure

they’re putting on you.

Maybe. I’m starting to realize that I’ve allowed other people to direct my life rather than figuring out what I want for myself. But don’t get me wrong. My parents are great, in spite of the pressure I feel to go along with their plan for my career and my love life. They adopted me as an infant, and I’m grateful for the wonderful life they’ve given me. I admire my dad, Philip Corbin, for working so hard to build his company. He’s taught me a lot about how to be a leader. I just hope I can live up to his expectations. And I’m really close to my mom, Margaret. When I was away at college we used to talk on the phone almost every day. 
You’ve had a great life so far, and it sounds like you have a promising future. Has life handed you any major disappointments?
Funny you should ask, because I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. No. I’ve never been sick, never gotten hurt, never wanted for anything. And I’m starting to think maybe that’s not normal, because bad things do happen to people.  All the time.
I can’t remember anything horrible happening to me, except…something weird did happen to me once, and I was never sure if it was real or just a nightmare. There was this monster in my room—some kind of black beast with red eyes. The memory is kind of foggy, but in the morning I found a silver seashell under my pillow. It wasn’t there when I went to sleep. Does that sound crazy?
Maybe your parents put it there.
That’s what I thought too. But they swore they didn’t. I’m sure they thought I made the whole thing up. What bothers me most about this is even though I know the seashell is real, I don’t know if the monster was. What if it wasn’t just a dream? But that sounds insane. I can’t talk to anyone about this.
What about your friends? Can’t you talk to them?
Well, the thing is…I have a lot of friends from high school and college, but nobody I could talk to about something as crazy as this. I don’t even have anyone I would consider a best friend. Can you be surrounded by people and still be alone? I feel like that sometimes, but I know I’m not totally alone. I’m probably closest to my mom and Moira Buchan, a friend of our family. They seem to know me better than anyone. I tried to talk to them about this, but they just brushed it off, insisting it was a dream. I’m not convinced it was.
What about Abby? Maybe you could talk to her.
Are you kidding? I don’t want to scare her away.
Fair enough. I hope it works out. Let me ask you one more question. What song best captures your life at this point in time?
“Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash (or maybe “London Calling”).
Thanks, David. Let’s move on to talk with Jonathon. Jon, what impression do you make on people when they first meet you? 
They think I’m a dead sexy rogue who doesn’t take life too seriously. 
David? Is there a problem? He’s shaking his head and laughing.
Hey Corbin, you had your chance. It’s my turn now. Shut it.
Do you guys always act like this, Jon? 
No.  Usually I only want to destroy him when Abby’s involved. 
I see. Well then, moving on…what do people think about you after they’ve known you for a while?
They still think I’m easy on the eyes. But, if they really know me, like Abby does, they know I do take some things seriously.  Abby knows I’d do anything for her or for my mom. I take school seriously too, even though people may think I’m a slacker. I’m a senior in high school but I’m also enrolled in Dr. Buchan’s psychology class at the University of Santa Linda. Not that I share that with everyone—I do have a reputation to uphold.
Tell me about your relationship with Abby. Are you dating?
Not anymore. We’ve known each other forever, and we’ve always been best friends. We tried dating, but Abby decided we’re better off as friends. I wouldn’t mind giving it another try, but I don’t want to pressure her. I think she might have a crush on Corbin, and to be honest, I’m not thrilled about it. I want her to be happy, but I don’t want her to get hurt.
Why do you think she would get hurt?
Just look at him. He’s cocky, he’s spoiled, and he’s going to rip out her heart.
He doesn’t seem that bad to me. Is it possible you’re feeling jealous because Abby likes him and you still have feelings for her?
Maybe a little. But it’s more complicated than petty jealousy. I love Abby. She’s my best friend. I’m the one who has always been there for her, the one who understands her. So yeah, maybe I’m a little over-protective sometimes. But Abby and I come from the same world. David Corbin? He’s from a totally different universe.
What are you saying? He’s an alien?
Yeah, I am. Only kidding, Corbin. What I mean is Abby and I both come from Santa Linda. We live next door to each other. My mom works in medical records at a health center, Abby’s mom is a school teacher, and her dad’s an accountant. We go to the same school, and we’re both working to save for college. I work as a life guard at the Newcastle Beach Inn, and Abby works in the pool’s guest services cabana. But David is from Newcastle Beach, which is the wealthiest neighborhood in Santa Linda. He didn’t have to work to go to college—he just had everything handed to him. So how can he understand Abby like I do? 
Maybe he’ll surprise you. Let’s change gears. If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
I’d probably be hanging out with Abby at her house or mine. Maybe we’d go to the beach.
What is it that you want out of life?
To be happy and for the people I love to be happy. And I want to make my mom proud. She works so hard and does so much for me, and I want to do something with my life to show her I appreciate all she’s sacrificed to take care of me. I don’t yet know what I want to study in college, but I know she’s proud that I’ve already started taking classes. She didn’t have the opportunities she’s provided for me.
What are you most afraid of?
I’m most afraid that something bad will happen to people I love. After that, not much scares me, except maybe the fear of not taking a risk. I’d rather take a risk in doing something and fail than to never take a chance. Abby teases me sometimes about flirting with girls who are, let’s be honest, out of my league, but I’d rather take a chance and be rejected than miss out. 


What song best captures your life at this point in time?
Well, I did say I was dead sexy, and I try not to take myself too seriously, so naturally it would have to be “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred. That’s a classic, and Abby and my mom would think it was hilarious if I started strutting my stuff to that song.
I suspect you’ve done that before.
You would be right. We act endearingly dorky at the Reyes house. It’s part of our charm.

Catch up with David and Jon as well as Melissa Eskue Ousley online at

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