Guest blogs

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    Guest blog: Rebecca Zanetti …

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    Rebecca ZanettiToday, I’m pleased to welcome New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti to my blog. Rebecca writes several different series in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Take it away, Rebecca:

    Q&A WITH REBECCA ZANETTI

    Jennifer: Welcome, Rebecca! Please tell readers about your upcoming book, Marked, which will be out on Dec. 22.

    Rebecca: Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much for having me over today – it’s fun to visit! Marked releases in December and is a very sexy story about fate, destiny, friends, and enemies—sometimes all in the same paragraph and within the same relationship. Here’s the better description: 

    MarkedJanie Kayrs has known Zane almost her whole life. He was her friend in the dream world. She trusted him. But that was before he kidnapped her, spiriting her away to an isolated cabin to learn what her dreams never told her. Like how dangerous he looks. How he got on the wrong side of the negotiating table. And how much sexier he is in real life…

    Zane is a battle-hardened warrior, used to command and solitude. But Janie has drawn him from the minute they met. His need for her could destroy everything he’s worked for, but the risk is too sweet not to take it. They call her the Chosen One. But when it comes down to the questions of peace or war, life or death, safety or passion, it will be Janie who makes the choice…

    Jennifer: This is the seventh book in your Dark Protectors series. Can you tell us a little about the series?

    Rebecca: Absolutely! At its core, the Dark Protectors series is about family. The Kayrs family leads not only the vampire nation, but also the Realm, which is a coalition of vampires, shifters, and witches. Years ago, an evil vampire race called the Kurjans declared war on the Realm by creating a deadly virus that infects vampire mates. The virus attacks chromosomal pairs and takes mates from immortal to human, and maybe down to death. No cure for the virus has been found for mates, and the vampires, who are male only, know that time is running short.

    The time has finally come for Janie Kayrs to meet her fate and either win…or lose the war.

    Jennifer: You write in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance and romantic suspense. What about these genres appeals to you?

    Rebecca: Great question! I like switching back and forth between genres because there’s no chance to get bored in doing so. The paranormals are fun to write because anything goes. When you’re making up a world, you can create whatever dimensions you’d like. With the romantic suspense, I just love the twists and turns…and surprises. It’s wonderful getting a fan email that they didn’t see something coming. Finally, the contemporaries are a nice break from the darker genres.

    Jennifer: You also write the Maverick Montana and Sin Brothers series. Can you tell us a little about those series?

    Forgotten SinsRebecca: The Sin Brothers series is about a group of brothers created and raised by a black-ops military group to be killers. They break free and try to live normal lives, but they have kill chips embedded near their spines that are set to detonate soon. So the brothers have to go after the group in order to get the correct codes…and they find adventure and love on the way. Of course. 🙂

    The Maverick Montana cowboys are ranchers in the middle of Big Sky country who find sexy romance and a bit of intrigue on the way. This series is fun because they live in a small town, and anybody who’s ever lived in a small town knows that people meddle and gossip. So there are some hilarious adventures in Montana.

    Jennifer: Have you always wanted to be a writer? What got you started on your writing journey?

    Rebecca: You know, I have always wanted to be a writer. But I think I’m one of those odd people who’ve wanted to be a lot of things. I started as an art curator, worked in politics, and then went to law school. I liked being a trial attorney, but I enjoyed teaching about law more. Then finally, I figured it was time to sit down and write something. Once you open those floodgates, there’s no closing them. Plus, I can be more myself when writing and being imaginative than I could in the other professions. It’s okay to let the crazy out a little bit now. 🙂

    Jennifer: What’s next for you? What are you working on?

    Rebecca: I’m working on a couple of projects right now. The first one is a series called The Realm Enforcers, and it’s a spinoff from the Dark Protectors. The first book, Wicked Ride, features Kellach Dunne on a motorcycle, chasing a dangerous drug kingpin through Seattle while being thwarted at every turn by a sexy vice cop who has no problem shooting him. The book releases in June of 2015.

    The other project is a brand new series called the Scorpius Syndrome. This is a gritty, post-apocalyptic romance featuring a band of former gang bangers just trying to survive and cling to some sense of humanity. The first full book will be released in January of 2016. Here’s a quick blurb:

    When a deadly infection kills off much of the U.S. population, it’s survival of the fittest on the mean streets of L.A., and Jax Mercury is definitely at the top of the food chain. But after he meets the woman who may hold within her body the cure for the Scorpius Syndrome and finds himself inescapably drawn to her, duty wars with desire, and it’s anyone’s bet which will be the winner…  

    I also have a fourth Maverick Montana story (Hawk and Dawn’s book) coming out in July of 2015, and the fourth Sin Brothers book, Total Surrender, releasing in March of 2015.

    Thank you again for having me here today – I had a ball. 

    Jennifer: Thanks for taking the time to stop by. I appreciate it!

    ALL ABOUT REBECCA

    New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti writes dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and contemporary romances. She’s sold from the slush pile, from auction, from pre-empt, and most recently from a short conversation with an editor that turned into a five book deal. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Currently, she is writing the bestselling Dark Protectors series from Kensington, with the tenth book, Marked, being released in December; the bestselling Sin Brothers series from Grand Central, with Total Surrender, book 4, being released in March of 2015, and finally, the Maverick Montana series from Entangled, with Rising Assets, the third book, hitting the New York Times and the USA Today Bestseller lists. Find Rebecca at: www.rebeccazanetti.com

    GIVEAWAY TIME

    To celebrate the release of Marked, Rebecca is giving away a print copy of Fated, book 1, and a print copy of Forgotten Sins, book 1. To enter, use the form below.

    Here’s Rebecca’s question: Let me ask you this: Any fun plans for the holiday season?

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • · ·

    Guest blog: Danielle L. Jensen on Stolen Songbird …

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    Danielle JensenToday, I’m pleased to welcome Danielle L. Jensen to my blog. Danielle is the author of Stolen Songbird, book 1 of the Malediction trilogy.

    Q&A WITH DANIELLE

    Jennifer: Welcome, Danielle! Please tell readers about your new book, Stolen Songbird.

    Danielle: Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Jennifer!

    It’s starting to not feel very new anymore! Now that Stolen Songbird has been on the shelves for five months, my focus has almost completely shifted to the sequel, Hidden Huntress. But I digress J

    Stolen Songbird is about an aspiring opera diva who is kidnapped by trolls and married to their prince in order to break the curse binding them to their underground kingdom. Except that it doesn’t work, and she’s forced to find a way to make a life for herself amongst the trolls. At first all she cares about is escape, but as she becomes involved in the complex politics of the trolls, her sympathies grow towards the oppressed underclass of half-bloods, and she joins the revolutionaries who are fighting to help them. Revolutionaries that just happen to be led by the troll prince she’s married to.

    Jennifer: This is the first book in your Malediction trilogy. Can you tell us a little about the series?

    Danielle: That’s actually a really tough question, because it’s hard for me to talk about the series as a whole without spoilers. Instead, I’m going to give you the first page of Hidden Huntress, which I recently posted on my Goodreads Ask thread. (Note: Hidden Huntress is in the editorial stage, so this excerpt is still subject to the red pen of my editor!)

    Chapter 1

    Cécile

    My voice faded into silence, though the memory of it seemed to haunt the theatre as I slumped gracefully, trusting that Julian would catch me, however much he might not want to. The stage was smooth and cool against my cheek, a blessed relief against the heat of hundreds of bodies packed into one place. I tried to breathe shallowly, ignoring the stench of too much perfume and far too few baths as I feigned death. Julian’s voice replaced mine, and his lament echoed across my ears and through the theatre, but I only half-listened, my attention drifting away to fix on the all too real sorrow of another. One far out of reach.

    The audience erupted into cheers. “Bravo!” someone shouted, and I almost smiled when a falling flower brushed against my cheek. The curtain hit the stage floor, and I reluctantly opened my eyes, the red velvet of the curtains pulling me back into an unwelcome reality.

    “You seem distracted tonight,” Julian said, hauling me unceremoniously to my feet. “And about as emotive as my left boot. She won’t be best pleased, you know.”

    “I know,” I muttered, smoothing my costume into place. “I had a late night.”

    “Shocking.” Julian rolled his eyes. “It’s tiring work ingratiating yourself with every rich man in the city.” He took my hand again, nodded at the crew, and we both plastered smiles on our faces as the curtain rose again. “Cécile! Cécile!” the audience shouted. Waving blindly, I blew a kiss to the sea of uniform faces before dropping into a deep curtsey. We stepped back to let the rest of the cast take their bows before coming forward again. Julian dropped to one knee and kissed my gloved fingers to the roaring approval of the crowd, and then the curtain dropped for the final time.

    Stolen SongbirdJennifer: What appeals to you about the young adult and epic fantasy genres?

    Danielle: Epic fantasy has always been my favourite genre, primarily because I enjoy the escapism. I really like the fast-paced and character focused nature of YA.

    Jennifer: What inspired you to write the Malediction series?

    Danielle: I had a dream about a beautiful city that was buried and partially destroyed by rubble. It stuck with me, and I started building a story to fit the setting, which is a very unusual way for me to start a novel. My ideas tend to spring from situations and characters.

    Jennifer: What are some of your favorite young adult and epic fantasy books/authors and why?

    Danielle: I’m so unfaithful when it comes to favourites – I’m always changing my answer. My love for epic fantasy began as a child with Tolkien and Eddings, and it moved on to Anne McCaffrey, the Dragonlance universe, Barbara Hambly, Robert Jordan, Jacqueline Carey, and GRRM, etc. etc. For YA epic fantasy, I’m a big fan of Garth Nix. The most important thing for me is that the characters be memorable, but I also really enjoy long series with big sweeping worlds that you get to see a lot of. I think YA is starting to push into that territory, which makes me happy, because my side project fits right into that niche.

    Jennifer: Have you always wanted to be a writer? What got you started on your writing journey?

    Danielle: Nope. My first university degree is in finance, and I worked in that industry for quite a few years. It wasn’t actually a job that I was well suited to, because I’m a chronic daydreamer and I get bored really easily. The idea to try writing a novel came from a coworker, and I started trying to put those daydreams onto the page in 2006. Given my first book was published this year, I think it’s fair to say it took me a few years to get the hang of it.

    Jennifer: What’s next for you? What are you working on?

    Danielle: I’m working on the edits for Hidden Huntress, but I’m going to spend the bulk of the next few months finishing my new epic fantasy project. I’m in love with the characters, but only my parents have read it, so it’s too soon to say if it will ever hit the shelves. Cross your fingers for me!

    MORE ABOUT DANIELLE

    Danielle was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. At the insistence of the left side of her brain, she graduated in 2003 from the University of Calgary with a bachelor’s degree in finance. But the right side of her brain has ever been mutinous; and in 2010, it sent her back to school to complete an entirely impractical English literature degree at Mount Royal University and to pursue publication. Much to her satisfaction, the right side shows no sign of relinquishing its domination.

    You can learn more about Danielle and her books on the following sites:
     
    GIVEAWAY TIME
     
    Danielle is offering a copy of Stolen Songbird, along with some signed swag. The contest is open to those 13 and older worldwide. To enter, use the giveaway form below.
  • · ·

    Guest blog: Mandy Baxter on U.S. Marshals …

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    View More: https://kminterphoto.pass.us/mandy-bonillaToday, I am happy to welcome Mandy Baxter (aka Amanda Bonilla) to my blog. Mandy’s new romantic suspense book, One Night More, comes out on Sept. 2. As Amanda Bonilla, she writes the Shaede Assassin urban fantasy series.

    Q&A WITH MANDY BAXTER

    Jennifer: Welcome, Mandy! Please tell readers about your upcoming release, One Night More.

    Mandy: Thanks for having me on your blog, Jennifer!

    Jennifer: This is the first book in your U.S. Marshals series. Can you tell us a little about the series?

    Mandy: The U.S. Marshals series focuses on a new hero and heroine in each installment. Each marshal is on a case that the heroine is involved with in one way or another. My poor heroes are torn between duty and love and they try to close out the cases they’ve been assigned to work on, while protecting the women they’ve come to love.

    Jennifer: What appeals to you about the romantic suspense genre?

    Mandy: I’m an action movie junkie! Writing RS is fun because I get to channel my inner action movie star. It’s the perfect combination of romance and action!

    One Night MoreJennifer: What inspired you to write the U.S. Marshals series?

    Mandy: I’m a huge fan of the series Justified. Not to mention the fact that Timothy Olyphant is yummy! I’ve always been intrigued by the marshals service so it was a natural fit when I started working on a proposal for a romantic suspense.

    Jennifer: What are some of your favorite romantic suspense books/authors and why?

    Mandy: There are so many great authors/books out there! I love Julie Ann Walker, Julie James, and Carolyn Crane to name a few. I love their snappy dialog, unique voices, and blend of action and steamy romance.

    Jennifer: Have you always wanted to be a writer? What got you started on your writing journey?

    Mandy: Definitely! I started writing when I was sixteen. I played with it off and on for a couple of decades. LOL. Then, one day I decided that if I really wanted to be a writer that I needed to sit my butt down and finish something. After I finished my first book, I was hooked. I just kept writing and writing and writing. I doubt I’ll ever be able to quit.

    Jennifer: You also write urban fantasy as Amanda Bonilla. Will you be writing more books in your Shaede Assassin series?

    Against the DawnMandy: I’m definitely going to see Darian’s story through to the end. I’ll be publishing a novella in November and book 5 will be out next spring. The series will end at six books, though I’ve been tinkering with the idea of spin-off books for some of my favorite characters that I can’t seem to let go of.

    Jennifer: What were some of the challenges of writing in a new genre?

    Mandy: It took me a bit to get comfortable writing 3rd person, multiple point of view. I was so used to writing in 1st person that it felt foreign. In the past, my books have had an emphasis on action/plot with romance being secondary. It took me a while to get used to making the romance/sex the primary focus of the story. Not that I’m complaining. Hehe.

    Jennifer: What’s next for you? What are you working on?

    Mandy: I have a pretty full plate at the moment. I’m working on getting the next two books in the U.S. Marshals series ready for publication as well as a PNR series for St. Martin’s Press that will be released next year. I’m also plugging away on the Shaede Assassin series. No rest for the wicked! LOL!

    Thanks again for having me as a guest on your blog, Jennifer!! XOXO

    MORE ABOUT MANDY

    Mandy Baxter lives in rural Idaho. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshiper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves black clothes, pink appliances and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock.

    For more on Mandy’s books, visit her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.

    GIVEAWAY TIME

    Mandy is offering a print copy of One Night More. You must be 18 or older to enter/win. The giveaway is open to U.S./Canada residents only. To enter, use the giveaway form below.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • · ·

    Kait Ballenger on paranormal romance …

    41 Comments

    Kait BallingerToday, I am pleased to welcome Kait Ballenger to my blog. Kait is the author of Execution Underground paranormal romance series. Take it away, Kait.

    KAIT BALLENGER ON PARANORMAL ROMANCE

    Jennifer: Welcome, Kait! Please tell readers about your newest release, Immortal Hunter.

    Kait: Thanks for having me, Jennifer! Immortal Hunter is book two in my Execution Underground paranormal romance series. The book follows a demon exorcist, David Aronowitz, who has to partner with his ex-fiancé, the half-Fae Allsún O’Hare, to catch a nasty demon murdering in Rochester, N.Y. It’s a reunited love story. David and Allsún are characters who were introduced in book one in the series, Twilight Hunter, and we get to see the story fully unfold here as they attempt to reconcile their past.

    Immortal HunterJennifer: This is the second book in your Execution Underground series. Can you tell us a little about the series?

    Kait: The Execution Underground (for which the series is named) is an international covert organization of elite men, hunters of the supernatural, who fight to protect humanity from the evil creatures lurking among us. The series focuses on the Rochester, N.Y. division of the E.U. and the six hunters that comprise that team. Each hunter is trained for a different specialty, so there is a different paranormal creature being hunted in each book. Demons, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, shapeshifters, witches, you name it, they’ve probably got it covered. 😉 For comparison: it’s JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood meets earlier seasons of the TV show Supernatural.

    Jennifer: What appeals to you about the paranormal romance genre?

    Kait: I love that in paranormal romance I can mix elements of romance, fantasy, and suspense and roll them all into one. I love the sexy alpha heroes and kickass heroines that can be found in paranormal romance. When I open a good paranormal romance novel, I know I’m going to be whisked away into a story that keeps me on the edge of my seat and that’s ultimately what I love about the genre: there is so much great tension! I try to capture those elements in each one of my novels.

    Jennifer: What are some of your favorite paranormal romance books/authors and why?

    After DarkKait: Some of my favorite paranormal romance authors are JR Ward, Gena Showalter (who I was lucky enough to be placed beside in an anthology titled After Dark), and Laurel K Hamilton. I read across multiple genres though, so some other favorite authors are J.K. Rowling, Charlaine Harris, Suzanne Collins, Lisa See, and I recently fell in love with Julie Ann Walker’s Black Knight Inc. series. The thing I love most about all the above authors is the outstanding and unique narrative voices in all their series and the tension. I’m a sucker for really good tension. If a book has me flipping the pages and eagerly reading without wanting to close the book, I know it’s a winner.

    Jennifer: Have you always wanted to be a writer? What got you started on your writing journey?

    Kait: Writing wasn’t always an interest for me, because reading was difficult for me for a long time. I was considered a “non-reader” until the time I was in about fourth grade and picked up the Harry Potter series. That’s ultimately what made me fall in love with reading and I started writing my own stories shortly after that. I remember writing a fifty-page paranormal/fantasy story when I was in fifth grade LOL. It wasn’t until I was in college and had already spent a semester majoring in Spanish, before I realized writing was my true dream. For me, my dream of writing has always been fueled by the fact that I love to read, and when I write a book, my goal is to write a book I would love to read.

    Jennifer: What’s next for you? What are you working on?

    Twlight HunterKait: I’m currently working on Midnight Hunter, the third book in the Execution Underground series. I also have a few things about to go out on submission, which haven’t been picked up for publication yet, so hopefully readers will be seeing those projects soon as well.

    Thanks so much for being here today, Kait!

    ALL ABOUT KAIT

    Kait Ballenger is a full-time paranormal romance author, wife, former professional bellydancer, and soon-to-be-professor. She has a BA in English from Stetson University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. She lives in Central Florida with her screenwriter husband and three sweet furry babies, all three of whom are named after fictional characters. Kait hopes that one day with hard work and dedication, she will be a bestselling author, and then, people will name their pets after her characters, too.

    You can follow Kait on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Google +.

    GIVEAWAY TIME

    Kait has generously offered up some books for giveaway. Three winners get their choice between either a signed paperback of After Dark, a signed paperback of Twilight Hunter, or an e-book of Immortal Hunter. 

    The giveaway is open to those 18 and older, U.S. only. No purchase necessary, and void where prohibited. To enter, use the form below.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway