Interview + Review for Dianne Duvall!!!

Hello my lovelies!! Today I am honored to welcome one of my all-time favorite authors, Dianne Duvall on her release tour for Darkness Rises!! I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have her on the blog :) To make things even better, she sat down for an interview with me AND I got the opportunity to read an ARC of Darkness Rises so be sure to stay tuned after the interview for that review!

But wait! There's more...

 

 

Be sure to answer Dianne's question in the comments below for your chance to win a SIGNED copy of Predatory containing a novella of the Immortal Guardians series :D Plus you'll get some pretty kick ass swag! OPEN INTERNATIONALLY, MUST BE 18+ TO ENTER. Don't forget to leave your email address so the winner can be contacted! Contest ends Sunday Oct 27 11:59:59 PM EST.

 

Answer this question from Dianne!! Don't forget your email address!!

 Are you reading any special books to get yourself in the Halloween spirit?  Let me know for a chance to win a signed copy of PREDATORY, my last release, + Immortal Guardians swag.

 

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy meeting this absolutely amazing author!

 

Welcome to my humble blog, Dianne! First let me tell you what an honor it is to host one of my favorite authors :) I love your new take on the vampire mythology. Tell us about the Immortal Guardians and what makes them so unique.

Although my Immortal Guardians series falls under the heading of vampire romance, vampires aren’t the heroes in it.  They’re the villains.  (Or rather they’re ONE group of villains.  Others have reared their heads as the series has progressed.) Vampires are humans who have been infected with a very rare symbiotic virus that behaves like no other on the planet.  This virus conquers and replaces the immune system, then lends its host heightened senses coupled with incredible speed, strength, and regenerative capabilities.  It also causes photosensitivity, a need for blood, and progressive brain damage that rapidly drives humans infected with it insane.  

Immortal Guardians, on the other hand, are men and women born with extremely advance DNA, who are infected with the same virus.  Their advanced DNA lends them abilities humans and vampires don’t possess — such as telepathy in the case of Étienne, the hero of DARKNESS RISES — and protects them from the more corrosive aspects of the virus so they suffer no brain damage.  As a result, immortals spend their nights hunting and destroying the insane vampires who prey upon humans.

 

I love that distinction between the Guardians and vamps. It truly makes for an intriguing premise as the every day human doesn't know there is a difference between the two beings. How did you come up with the inspiration for your Immortal Guardians series?

I never know what might inspire me.  The idea to make vampirism the result of a virus, for example, arose from watching documentaries and educational programs in which historians expressed their belief that much of the vampire mythology that has existed for centuries resulted from a simple misunderstanding of such illnesses as porphyria.  When I sought a way to differentiate between immortals and vampires, the notion of having the virus cause progressive brain damage and madness in humans was inspired by a biography of King George III, whose madness many in the medical field now believe resulted from the same illness:  porphyria.  The laughter and teasing immortals frequently engage in was simply inspired by the laughter that’s such a large part of my own life.  So, inspiration can come from many sources.  J

 

I've heard that theory! I do think it's plausible it originated from a misunderstanding of diseases and having disease be the source of vampirism makes it seem more likely this could actually happen. Do you have any favorite characters? In particular, do you have any favorite Immortal Guardian? If so, why?

My favorite vampire in the series would be Cliff.  His heroic struggle to stave off the madness just breaks my heart.  Darnell, Chris, and Sheldon are pretty evenly tied for my favorite mortals in the series.  My favorite Immortal Guardians, however, tend to change with each book. Étienne and Krysta, the hero and heroine of DARKNESS RISES, are my current favorites.  I simply love the teasing banter they share.  But, if I had to choose just one, it would be Seth, the eldest and most powerful Immortal Guardian.  He carries so many responsibilities on his broad shoulders and has seen such tragedy in his long existence.  I think he deserves a HEA more than anyone.

 

Personally, I adore Cliff and his struggles, as well as Seth. He's the most intriguing character I've read in a very long time and I find myself rereading the parts centered around him the most :) What has been the most fun about exploring the world of the Immortal Guardians?

Discovering that characters can surprise me.  It may sound odd — I’m the writer, after all, and control all aspects of the series — but it’s true.  I’m a pantser, not a plotter, which means I don’t have the entire series already outlined and summarized from beginning to end.  I know where I want series arc to take me.  However, I don’t know how many books it will take me to get there or which couples will find their HEAs along the way.

Étienne and his siblings are among the characters who have surprised me thus far.  I had initially planned to tell their stories later in the series, but I couldn’t stop thinking about them.  Sibling immortals are extremely rare in my Immortal Guardians world.  And, for two centuries, Lisette has borne enormous guilt over accidentally transforming her brothers.  The more I encountered Étienne and Richart, the more I wanted them to find their HEAs.  And I knew Lisette would never let herself find happiness until they did, so they pretty much demanded I tell their stories sooner rather than later.  J

 

I admit that I was a bit surprised that you told their stories so early, but I fell in love with them immediately. I cannot wait to read Lisette's story! If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only have 3 things, what would they be?

Assuming there was no cell phone reception, I would want one of those large hunting knives that has waterproof matches, a fishing line with a hook, and a compass in the handle (Did I mention I’ve had to research weapons for several manuscripts?); an iPad crammed full of pics and videos of my family, books, movies, music, and apps; and a solar-powered tent to power it and keep me warm at night.

 

Oooo, creative choice of things with multiple uses! I love it :) What do you like to do in your free time?

Spend time with my family, read, and garden, though I admit I’ve had very little time for the last two of late.  My TBR pile now teeters precariously near the ceiling, and I don’t know if my plants are going to forgive me for neglecting them so heinously over the last few months while I prepared for DARKNESS RISES’ release.  J

 

I commend you for even attempting to keep plants. I can't manage to keep the poor things alive. The only reason I manage to have a dog is that she gets cranky if she doesn't get plenty of attention. Last time I checked, plants don't communicate well ;) Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Write every day.  I know life can be busy and hectic and stressful and exhausting.  But, even if you can only manage to write a single paragraph on your worst day, you will be one paragraph closer to achieving your goal.  And ALWAYS look for ways to improve your writing.  If I had 30 million books in print that had been translated into 20 different languages and were worldwide bestsellers, I would still search for ways I could be a better writer.  If you’ve never taken any creative writing classes, I highly recommend that you read Stephen King’s ON WRITING (also available as an audiobook) and Christopher Vogler’s THE WRITER’S JOURNEY.  Both will help you distinguish between strong and weak writing and avoid the pitfalls into which new writers can unknowingly fall.

 

That is amazing advice <3 Can you tell us anything about what you have in store for the Immortal Guardians?

Right now I’m working on NIGHT UNBOUND, the fifth book in the series.  It will feature Étienne’s sister Lisette as heroine and Zach — a dark, mysterious, and very powerful winged figure — as hero.  Zach is yet another of those characters who surprised me.  I didn’t realize when I introduced him what a pivotal role he would end up playing in the series. J    

 

I cannot WAIT for this book. Seriously. I am dying to know more about Zach and Lisette!! Any last thoughts you’d like to share with your readers?

Thank you for your support!  You’ve been so generous, helping me spread the word about my series.  And your wonderful comments, messages, and emails never fail to make me smile.  I hope you’ll enjoy Étienne and Krysta’s story!  Thank you again!

Thank you again so much for joining me, Dianne! It has been a pleasure getting to know you a bit better :)

Lovelies, stay tuned for my review of Darkness Rises and be sure to enter to win a SIGNED paperback copy of Predatory!!

About the book:

Publisher: Zebra
Publication Date: October 1, 2013

My source for the book: Gift from author

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Description:

 

Krysta is used to getting the drop on vampires. Her "special abilities" aren't much, but the plan is simple—she plays helpless pretty young thing to lure them in. Then her shoto swords come out and it's bye-bye, bloodsucker. Until one night she finds herself with an unexpected ally. He's a vampire, all right, but different. Mysterious. Handsome. And more interested in saving her skin than draining it.

Étienne has been an Immortal Guardian for two hundred years—long enough to know that Krysta is special. He can't stop thinking about her long legs, even more than her short swords. Then he discovers the vamps she's exterminating have friends in high places, and the Guardians are in danger too. He'll have to accept Krysta's help to save them. The stakes for a mortal are high. But the cost to his heart might be higher. . .

 

• Amazon — http://amzn.to/1881z2E
• Kindle — http://amzn.to/1auybnw
• Barnes & Noble — http://bit.ly/1ftUHTI
• Nook — http://bit.ly/19LJGor
• iBooks — http://bit.ly/16Oc1cS
• Kobo — http://bit.ly/1bgYDFx
• Audible — http://bit.ly/1eLWUbT
• Walmart — http://bit.ly/1h7RzIP

 

WHAT I LIKED:

 

This series is incredibly original and contains some of the most interesting characters I've read in quite a while. I stumbled across Dianne's work in the bookstore and I'm hooked. Never have I fallen so hard and so fast for every character in a book, especially the secondary characters! From the moment I encounted Etienne, I couldn't wait to get my hands on his story.

 

Krysta was a perfect match for Etienne. She's prickly, stubborn, and a born warrior. While she isn't too keen on Etienne when she first meets him (and can you blame her? She does think he's a vampire after all), the attraction is undeniable. As more of their story unfolded, I found myself turning the pages faster and faster to find out what happened. The moment I finished the book, I flipped right back to the beginning and started re-reading it. There are VERY few authors I do that.

 

Beyond Etienne and Krysta, I adored learning more about my favorite couples and the secondary characters. Zach is turning into such a mysterious character and I was thrilled to see that his book is the next one. Dianne has a talent for creating a rich environment and plot that grabs you from the first paragraph and never lets you up.

 

While this is part of a series, it is stand alone. That being said, I HIGHLY recommend reading the previous books so you can love the characters as much as I do :)

 

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

 

Having to wait for the next book to be released!

 

 

OVERALL VERDICT: 5/5 Blue Duckies!!

 

 

If you are looking for a fantastic paranormal romance that's action packed, suspenseful, steamy, and has beautifully written characters that stay with you long after you've finished the book, then run out and grab your copy today! And be sure to read all of the others!!

Meet Dianne!

Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series.  Her debut novel, Darkness Dawns, was nominated for the RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance by RT Book Reviews and for Best Paranormal Romance—Vampire by The Romance Reviews.  Ensuing books in the series — Night Reigns, Phantom Shadows, and Predatory — have all been deemed Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, The Romance Reviews, and/or Night Owl Reviews.  Her latest release, Darkness Rises, has been declared a Top Pick by both Night Owl Reviews and The Romance Reviews as well. 

Dianne loves all things creative.  When she isn't writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and once even appeared onscreen as a machete-wielding maniac not unlike the vampires in her novels.

 

Connect With Dianne Online

Website: http://www.dianneduvall.com
Blog: http://dianneduvall.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianneDuvallAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/DianneDuvall
Youtube: http://www.youtube
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dianneduvall
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4400405.Dianne_Duvall

 

 





Interview with Charlie Daye!!

Hello lovelies! Who's ready for another exciting author interview? Today, the fantabulous Charlie Daye joins The Lindsay Show!! Everyone grab your coffee or tea and please help me welcome Charlie.

Thank you so much for stopping by, Charlie! When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I actually started writing when I was 13 and it just kind of took off from there. 

Oh that's awesome to start at that age. When I was 13, I was still swearing I hated to write lol. If only I could go back in time and tell teenage me that I'd be an author 14 years later ;) What has been the most difficult part about being a writer?

Writers block... it's a pesky thing that seems to coincide with the disappearance of my muse Simone. She can be temperamental, that one. 

Ugh, I hate writers block. Luckily I've got a fantastic muse and some wonderful betas to help me with that :) Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with your pen name?

Yes, Charlie Daye is a pen name. It's a combination of my real name and a family name. 

Very clever! Who are your favorite authors?

I Love Dean Koontz. I have read almost everything he has ever written. Other honorable mentions would be Kim Harrison, Lisa Jackson and Laurell K. Hamilton. 


Those are wonderful authors. I've never read much Dean Koontz, but what I've read is phenomenal. What type of books do you like to read?

I am a total fiction girl. I love paranormals, heart pounding suspense, thrillers, romance - although I do tend to steer clear of contemporary romance novels. 

I am very much the same way! What do you like to do in your free time?

Read, my TBR pile is way to long. I also love a really great action movie.

I'm pretty sure all of us could be crushed by the size of our TBR piles lol. Where is your favorite place to vacation?

Disneyland. 

*Gasp* A fellow Disney lover!!! Sorry, I always get excited to meet a fellow Disney lover :) If you were stuck on a desert island and could have only three things, what would they be?

My Kindle, my Ipod and Dominic Purcell! ha ha. 

LOL!! I love your priorities :) Who needs food or water when you've got those things? ;) Are you a plotter or a pantser with your writing?

I would like to say I'm a plotter but if truth be told I really do write by the seat of my pants. I may start out wanting to go in one direction but once I start writing my books have been known to take on a life of their own. Most of the time I have to look back at what I wrote and ask myself, "What the heck just happened here?" because it's not what I had planned. 

Absolutely nothing wrong with being a pantser. Fighting your story is a sure way to get yourself in trouble. Why did you choose to write a paranormal romance?

I'm a sucker for a good romance especially when it has a happy ending. I also have an obsession for the supernatural. So, it just made sense to put the two together. 

That is eerily similar to my logic behind writing paranormal romance :D What has been the most fun about working on your books?

Ooh.... that' an excellent question. It's a mixture of a few things. I love working on the covers. I also love the rush I get when my readers post on my author page asking me when the next book in a particular series will be released. It gives me such a rush!!

I couldn't agree more! That has to be one of the best feelings ever. What has been the hardest scene for you to write? 

In the Reservation (book 3 in my Curse Breaker's Trilogy) there was a gang rape scene. It's only like 5 pages long but it took me almost 2 weeks to write those 5 pages and there wasn't that much detail in them either. 

Oh wow, I can certainly understand how that would take you a long time to write. That must've been so difficult! Do you have any favorite characters? If so, why?

Markus, from Gypsy's Dance. He's the oldest of the Raydon Brothers and for some reason he seems to be the epitome of sexiness. I've found that he also seems to be a favorite among some of my female readers. Those some will admit that they'd be more than happy to take any of the Raydon boys home. 

Ooo, I'm intrigued now. Any time someone is described as "the epitome of sexiness," I must read more lol. How did you come up with the premise for Breeders?

The idea for Breeders came to me after talking to my BFF and a crazy thing that happened to her during a weekend trip to Vegas. I couldn't help but put her story to paper. Now granted, she was REALLY pissed off at me when she found out but once we got to talking about the story line she couldn't wait to read it. 

Ok, anything that happens in Vegas has GOT to be great inspiration! Tell us about the world/setting in Breeders. How did you come up with it and is any of it based on personal experiences?

The book itself takes place in several locations. It starts in Vegas, then moves to Huntington Beach, CA before winding up in The Colony - which is a fictional California location. Is it based on personal experience? Absolutely. Just not mine. 

That's awesome, I can't wait to dive into it! Tell us more about your main characters please.


My heroine's name is Sicily Chase. She's a 27 year old, plus size,  kindergarten teacher with an amazing personality and slight flare for the dramatic.

My hero's name is Auzi Reed. He's a Breeder who could sway you to his desires with a simple touch of his hand. He's more about protecting rather than manipulating and his father is head of their colony. 

My not so nice guy is Ripon Breed. He's also a Breeder whose special gifts fall under the sexual touch catagory. He's arrogant, self centered  and just an all around ass.



Can I just say I love your characters' names and they sound so interesting! Is there anything else you’d like to mention about Breeders?

You will meet a slew of interesting characters in this book. Some you'll love, some you'll hate. At times you'll find yourself really upset, perhaps a little turned on and by the end of the book you'll be cheering for the good guys. Breeders is a romance from start to finish. It's about instant connections and life long friends.


That sounds like the mark of a truly great book <3 Is this part of a series? If so, what can we expect with the other books?

I haven't decided if it's going to be part of a series yet or not. If you really love the book this could be really disappointing, I know. There are so many wonderful characters who deserve their own stories. The problem is I just haven't had any ideas come to mind yet - you just never know. 


Well, I know how it is to be at the mercy of your muse. Hopefully the ideas start flowing! What's next for you? 

I am currently in the process of writing a series of books about warrior women whose sole purpose is to hunt down the men that break women's hearts. We'll call them love's avenging angels. The stories are a little darker than what I normally write and I'm not sure how much romance if any will actually be involved but so far the initial reviews are very good. 


I'm loving that premise and cannot wait to hear more!! Anything else you want your readers to know?

I'm currently running a contest on my FB page for my readers. I'm looking for interesting stories to use as inspiration for an upcoming novel based on my readers' life experiences. If there is story is chosen it will be featured as the premise for an upcoming book and the winner will receive a signed copy of said book as a thank you! So, if anyone has a story to share they should stop by my author page and share it with me!



Lovelies, definitely check out that contest! Charlie, thank you so much for stopping by! It has been a pleasure getting to know you better :)

Breeders...Buy it Now!

My name is Sicily Chase. All I wanted was one last, fun filled girls's weekend in Vegas before summer break was over. I wanted to hang out by the pool, do some shopping, hit the clubs, meet a hot guy - you know let loose. Well, I did all that and then some but little did I know my one night stand would turn into so much more not to mention introduce me into a supernatural world I never knew existed.

Buy it Now:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• All Romance eBooks 

Meet Charlie!

Charlie Daye began writing at the tender age of thirteen. With an obsession for romance, happy endings and the supernatural she delves into your greatest fantasies and worst nightmares. She will have you laughing, crying, falling in love and getting angry. She will always give you a HEA but getting there is the journey worth taking.

Charlie Daye was born in Lynwood, California. Her greatest passions are music and writing. Her first short story was written at the age of thirteen. At the time her entire class was asked to write a short story for Halloween as part of a homework assignment. Most of the kids in the class wrote one to two page stories... Charlie wrote eight. The short story titled The Haunted House went on to win her district wide awards and was published locally. From their she began writing poetry as means of expression.

The House is her debut novel. The Colonial is her second full length novel. Stay tuned for more fun stories coming your way!

For updates on my books or just to spend some time in my fun and crazy world check out my webpage at charliedaye.com or find me on Facebook!

Connect with Charlie:

• Website
• Facebook

Blog tour stop for Caroline Levy!!

Lovelies, my dear friend Caroline just released her very first novel, Welcome to the Family!! Please join me in congratulating her!!! She crashed my blog today for a guest post so read on to find out more about her!

Hi Lindsay, firstly many thanks for having me on your blog. *waves* hello to all your lovely followers.

This is an exciting time for me. The release of Welcome to the Family is quite a big deal. It’s my first book to be published to its all extra shiny and exciting. Although to be honest I think I will be getting excited with every book I publish J

I have been pondering on what to do this blog post about as you have been kind enough to leave it as a guest post, so I have free reign to run amuck all over your blog lol... I jest

I have decided to make this post about one of the characters from the book as, I don’t know about you but I often wonder about the little things that you don’t always get to know via the book. Like does Megan actually eat junk food & does she really follow the no fraternising with your protector rule?

All about....

Mina Azariel Aka: Megan Ardent

Age well you never ask a Vampire their age especially a female one. *whispers* ‘about 150 years old’

Megan was born in a time when women didn’t run the show, well not officially anyway. She comes from one of the main five vampire family’s. The family crest is of two lions fighting.

Megan is the main receptionist on Topline Towers, to the outside world that is. In the Vampire world she is the top negotiator for Topline. There are many factions and family’s that do not get along and Megan has a gift for  getting two parties to agree terms on usually business deals.

Megan also has a passion for fashion, she owns her own boutiques in all the major cities of the world.  Mina’s is very high end, only the elite get in.

Fredo is her protector, she never goes anywhere without him. ‘I can honestly see why’

Frederic Henry Aka Fredo

Fredo is a Were-Panther, sexy as hell and he knows it. Quite the ladies man, but totally devoted to Megan. He hates that Megan pines after Jack, as he knows it will never happen.

Megan has had a crush on Jack for over fifty years but Jack won’t even entertain another Vampire. He sticks to wooing the human ladies.

Her favourite colour is, yes you guessed it red J

Megan has told me she does eat junk food, her favourite, is dark chocolate. Melted onto a man’s body is a bonus.

Megan loves to read, one of the books she is reading at the moment is Frost burned.

Megan’s favourite flower is a red rose & she loves to tango.

The one thing Megan is sure of is that she is going to be really good friends with Angel. So watch this space as she will be showing up in Protecting the family J

Many thanks for letting me share a little more about the lovely Megan.

Happy Release Day to the amazing Caroline Levy!!!

Hello lovelies! Today is the release day of one of my very amazing friends, but it's a bit more special than most release days. Today is Caroline Levy's FIRST release, ever!!! Everyone take a minute to SQUEEEEEEE!! Ok, did you squee? You better have! :)

Read on to find out more about her debut paranormal romance, Welcome to the Family! Then be sure you go buy it!!!

Welcome to the tour for Welcome To The Family! A debut vampire novel by Caroline F Levy, it’s out now at Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords, and Moon Rose Publishing. Why not check out a little more about the book below?

Blurb

“Do you believe in things that go bump in the night?”

At only a few hours old, Angela is left on the steps of St Paul’s church. Alone in the world, the only link she has to her past is a pink blanket bearing an emblem with two crossed swords and a snake.

A troubled childhood spent in orphanages leads to Angela attempting to rebuild her shattered life as an adult. Meeting the priest who found her eighteen years previously, she gets a job and a boyfriend, and settles into her new life.

Until she meets Jack.

Drawn to her new boss, she throws herself into work, feeling an unusual bond with people she hasn’t known very long.

Angela becomes embroiled in this new life, feeling a change within herself. A change which isn’t altogether human. Within this change she finds a terrifying secret…a secret which involves her past, her present, and definitely her future…

Trailer

Author Bio

I was born in Chatham, Kent in 1970. I now live in Yorkshire with my daughter and our five mad cats.

My first memories of any book would have been my mother reading The Enormous Turnip. It must have driven her mad, as it was always our first choice when asked what we should read tonight.

I grew up with the classics; Little Women, The Railway Children, but it would have been The House That Died and Bluebeard that I remember wanting to read.

I can remember writing a verse for the school song, and being chosen as a winner for what was then 3rd year juniors. I stopped reading so much in my late teens to my mid twenties. Life seemed to always be too busy for that pile of books I so wanted to read. It was when I went into hospital to have my daughter, that I had time to read again--and thankfully I haven’t stopped since.

However, it wasn’t until my late twenties that I realised I wanted to write. I have spent a few years trying to complete an online creative writer’s course; without much success, but it led me to what I am writing now. So never give up if you really want to write!

I am very influenced by Fantasy fiction / Horror, most of the books I read are in this genre. I have many Authors I like to follow; Anne Rice was very influential in the beginning. I also discovered Laurel K Hamilton and many, many more. I could go on about different Authors I like to read. However, I will say that this year I have also discovered there are literally, well, probably thousands of very talented Indie Authors out there. And a very welcoming and friendly bunch they are too, but I digress--yes, I get very excited about the subject of books!

I have finished my first novel called Welcome To The Family, which will be published April 29th 2013. I also have other novels in the pipeline, Nikki’s Revenge and Protecting The Family, due out later in the year.

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