At the Round Table with Heather Keuhl

Welcome to the Round Table.  Today I would like to welcome author Heather Keuhl,  as we talk about her book Malevolent Dead.

Thank you so much for taking time to stop in Heather.  Please tell us a little bit about yourself....

Thank you for having me. Well, I’m a stay at home mom for an adorable son and the wife of a wonderful man. When I’m not writing I am either reading or attempting to keep my garden alive.

1.  Have you always considered yourself a writer?
I’ve considered myself a writer since I started writing stories back in sixth grade, but I didn’t really take the title of “writer” seriously until I got my first book published in 2009. I mean, I had over 40 short stories published at the time, but to me a writer wrote books and that was my goal; to get a book published.

2.  What inspired you to pen this novel?
Malevolent Dead was inspired from the events that took place in Fade to Black. I was inspired by Sarah and the decisions she had to make. I just had to know more about her and more about her world.

3.  Why werewolves?
I figured it was time for something new. I mean, vampires have been a bit over-done and while some of my secondary characters are vamps, I wanted a different creature in the lead role. And lets face it, thanks to movies and literature werewolves don’t have a very good reputation.

4.  How do you keep your writing different from all the other stories in this genre?
I think the fact that my lead character is a werewolf is what sets my writing apart. I try to do new things with my world, not the same old stuff that everyone else seems to be doing.

5.  How difficult was plot development?
Not very. I usually know how it begins and ends when I sit down to write. I have fun with the middle, letting the characters do what they want and seeing where it takes us.

6.  What was the hardest part about writing this particular novel?
The problems with writing Malevolent Dead was that Fade to Black was already published. I had a lot of feedback, most of it positive, and it seemed that everyone wanted certain things to happen in the sequel. I finally had to tell myself that I was writing to please myself.

7.  Who is your favorite character and why?
Even though she is a secondary character, I love T.D. Drake. She’s a bad ass witch who loves to play with guns. She’s everything I wish I could be; strong in mind and in body.

8.  How did you come up with your title?
Malevolent Dead is the name of the vampire owned night club in Charleston, SC. Since most of the events center around its owner, the born vampire named Damian, I decided that the club name would also work as a title.

9.  What was the publishing process like for this particular novel?
I submitted Malevolent Dead to Eternal Press first, since they are the press that accepted the first book in this series (Fade to Black). I was pleased to discover that they were interested in the sequel and accepted it. Of course there was some editing to be done, but I love the way it turned out. And I just love the cover art. Amanda Kelsey is the artist and she has done such a beautiful job.

10.  What is one thing you hope your readers will take away from your work?
I’ve created a world where you can walk outside during the day and see a dragon fly by, get bitten by a vampire that night, and fall in love with a werewolf under the light of a full moon. I want readers to feel like anything is possible.

11.  What is one thing your readers can always expect regardless of the cover?
My books will always have nonstop, edge of your seat action and breathtaking romance.

12.  What is one thing your readers might not know about you?
I collect coins. I have a lot of different coins from various countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Uganda.

13.  What do you like to read when you're not writing?  Who is your favorite author?
I like to read the same genre that I write. Some of my favorite authors are Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Kayden McLeod.

14.  Are you currently working on any new projects?
The third installment of the Sarah Vargas Series, Blood Moon, has been recently contracted with Eternal Press and will have a March 2011 release date. I have two other novellas submitted to publishers and I’m currently writing a YA paranormal romance set in the same world as my previous books.

15.  Where can readers connect with you?
Readers can visit me at http://www.heatherkuehl.com or  http://www.heatherkuehl.blogspot.com or even follow me on Facebook  and  Twitter    

16.  Do you have any upcoming events or news you would like to share with us?
Like I said earlier, Eternal Press has accepted Blood Moon for publication in March 2011. And with Malevolent Dead’s release on September 7th, I will be visiting a lot of blogs and even doing a live chat. For a complete list of dates just visit my website and click on “Events.”

17.  Where can your book(s) be purchased?
For ebook copies of my books, please visit Eternal Press. For readers that are interested in print copies, Amazon has those available.


Thank you again Heather for stopping in.  It has been such a pleasure to learn about you and your book.  Please be sure to keep us updated and stop back anytime.  Wishing you much success in the future.

***** Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton was fantastic! A definite page turner from the moment you open the book.



Teagan Wylltson had plans for her future. Working with Apes and teaching them sign language was all part of it. She was going to work with animals, get a scholarship and become a Veterinarian. She was going to get her life in order before she ever thought about boys.



Her mother was an artist and author, her father a librarian. A home filled with love, a father always reading them stories and a mother painting and writing about places she thought were only from imagination. She never expected that the world her mother wrote about was an actual place, or that the stories her dad told were true legends.



When Finn Mac Cumhaill came into her life, things changed from the moment he walked through their door. Having never taken interest in boys before, Teagan couldn't deny the chemistry she felt with Finn. Her best friend Abby tried warning her that there was something odd about Finn and she should be very careful. But as Teagan learns of Irish Travelers and and creatures of the night, Teagan never expected to face the battle of her life, one she would fight with Finn.



When her mother dies after being touched by a shadow man, Teagan must learn of her true origin when the same shadows kidnap her dad. Entering the world her mother wrote about, Teagan, Finn, and her little brother Aiden face creatures they never believed existed as they set out to rescue her dad, and each other.



As she comes to realize that she was born of the same blood as the "Shadow Men", Teagan struggles to accept who she is and who she wants to be. Battling with shadow men, goblins and fallen angels, Teagan comes face to face with the greatest evil of all.



Can she save her dad and the others, without giving in to the dark side?



This is one title where I just want to tell you everything, yet don't want to give too much away. I found this book to be one that you just can't put down until you get to the end. I love Celtic Mythology and Hamilton did a great job bringing it to life with Tyger Tyger.



So without giving too much away, I give Tyger Tyger ***** (5) Stars, BK Walker, http://bkwalkerbooks.weebly.com





View all my reviews

**** Review of Spirit by Andrew Feder

Spirit by Andrew Feder

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Spirit by Andrew Feder is a great twist on spirituality. Delving into the world of astral projection, this book will definitely leave you wondering..."What If".

Randall Lender went from rock bottom to being one of the world's greatest motivational speakers. Teaching what he has learned about life, love, and spirituality, Randall is beloved by most of the world, with one minor exception...The Guilders.

The Guilders, leaders of religion who think it has to be their way or no way, don't like what Randall teaches, and want to see him disposed of. When Randall cancels his schedule for the day, he takes a much needed meditation and out of body experience. Only today, Randall finds himself thrusted into someone else's body.

Not understanding what happened, Randall comes to the realization that he is in big trouble when he comes to his senses in a murderer's body. Now facing execution, his lawyer Sandy, a public defender, must learn to trust that he is actually Randall Lender in another body, and help him to learn what happened and how to get back to his own body.

In a great spiritual warfare, Spirit brings to light the meaning of metaphysics, and the chances one takes during astral projection. "What if" it happened to you?

Feder did a fantastic job with this title, giving insight to astral projection and constantly leaving you wondering, "What If?" We all know that there is a constant battle between good and evil, a difference in religions, leadership, government, but what if this is exactly what happens?

I give Spirit **** (4) Stars, BK Walker, http://bkwalkerbooks.weebly.com

View all my reviews >>

http://www.andrewfeder.com/Spirit.html 

Winner for Hope Ocean

The winner for Hope Ocean is Lorrie Struiff.  Congratulations Lorrie!  Please watch for an email for further details :).

Thank you to all for visiting Lily's interview and leaving a comment for her.

***** Review of Heart of a Warrior by Margaret West

Heart of a Warrior by Margaret West


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Heart of a Warrior by Margaret West was "OMG" phenomenal! Becoming enthralled from the first sentence I couldn't put this book down until I finished it!Belinda Carter escapes to Arizona looking for some comfort from her father as she is going through a nasty divorce. Upon her arrival, she finds a distaste for several people who claim to be helping her father and that her dad is actually in the hospital recovering from a heart attack.Though her dad has told her much about the Navajo that live on a Res nearby her fathers home, Belinda seems to keep putting her foot in her mouth when she meets Yuma, the Navajo Chief.She is worried about her father and wanting at the same time for the Navajo Clan to like her for her, not because she is her Harry's daughter. She finally gets to see her dad after a fight about visiting hours, where she was going to sleep, and apologizing for making the Chief angry.While trying to keep the peace with Yuma, Belinda is also worried about her fathers store, which she is sure that is on its downfall and that the current caretakers are running it, and her fathers good name into the desert ground. She doesn't trust Jez Landsdowne any farther than she can throw him and he continually proves his actions to be dishonest.When Aponi, (Yuma's niece) and Belinda go for a night swim, Jez once again proves his ill intentions and Yuma must come to the rescue. This is when their relationship begins to flourish, even though they are continually butting heads.West did a fantastic job with The Heart of a Warrior. The plot was perfect, with added humor I found myself laughing at times, angry at others while rooting for Belinda to come out on the winning side. I really liked Yuma's stubborness and Belinda's feistiness, West did a great job mixing the chemistry between these two.The only thing I was left with was wanting more at the end of this title.West did a superb job capturing the essence of Native Americans and it will definitely capture your heart! I give it ***** (5) Stars, BK Walker, http://bkwalkerbooks.weebly.com/

View all my reviews >>

Search Amazon.com for The Heart of a Warrior by Margaret West

A lot of Hope & a bit of Faith with Lily Oak and Book Giveaway

Today we welcome Lily Oak,  owner of Hedge-Witchery Books and author.  This magnificent young lady has the biggest heart I've ever seen.  Not once,  but twice she has put together books to raise money for a cause.  Her fist book,  Hope Moon was put together in just 3 days for the Haiti Appeal,  and Hope Ocean was put together in just 7 days to help with the Mexican Gulf disaster.  Please give Lily a warm welcome as we chat with her about her writing,  and be sure to check out the giveaway,  as one lucky winner will win a copy of her book,  Hope Ocean.  Thank you so much for being with us today Lily.

Please tell us a little about yourself.....
I write articles on paganism and witchcraft for e-zines and magazines. I write creatively and am currently working on my first full length fiction project. I run Hedge-Witchery.com which is the site I use to house all the pagan and witchcraft related writing I do as well as provide moon phase and seasonal information. I also do Oracle Card & Stone readings. I also run  Hedge Witchery Books which is my new publishing and writer promotion venture, and edit Incantation e-zine.

What do you see as your influences on your writing?
Wow lot's of  things! I think if I'm really honest with myself I always things I offer up the best of myself in my written work, and that's the bit I want to leave behind.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Time and focus. I'm always doing a million things at once and love living in chaos so working on the novel is very challenging.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?
I would like to do more novels and novellas though at the minute it seems my poetry work is getting more noticed.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set
formula?
I start  with the characters, put them in a situation and the plot is built from how the characters I envision would respond. Apparently this is slightly backwards as a lot of writers tell me they start with plot and write characters to suit.

What drew you to write about paranormal fiction?
It's the kind of thing I like to read myself. Also it's a genre that really allows your imagination to run wild.

How do you keep your writing different from the vast variety of
 stories (in your genre) out there today?
I don't think it really takes a huge effort, like I said previously there really isn't anywhere a story can't go within this genre. There's such a massive scope that covers paranormal fiction.

How did your title come into play?
Well the books I'm promoting at the minute, I didn't actually write ha ha ha! ok I wrote contribution for them but they are both short anthology's that were put together on ridiculous deadlines for charity.

Can you tell us a little bit about the main characters and/or the plot in your book?
Hope Ocean is a mystical, magical, slightly occult anthology, themed around the ocean.This small collection, by a wide variety of writers, was put together in just 7 days. Their aim was to raise money and awareness to aid wildlife charities dealing with the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Hope Moon is a collection of short stories, poetry and articles inspired by the moon and its influence over us. This pagan-esque anthology was put together in just 3 days in order to help raise money for the Haiti earthquake appeal, and for every copy in sold a donation is made.

 
What were your feelings when you first novel was accepted for publication?
Technically it hasn't yet... but as I run a publishing company I'm not sweating it too much! ha ha ha

Who is your favorite author?
I hate this question but if I had to pick just one I'd have to go with Jean M Auel


If you could leave readers with one legacy, what would you want it to
be?
To notice the magic in the everyday, I think if my writing has any agenda other than just entertaining people, thats it, to make them notice the little details that hold the magic in life.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out in this genre?
Don't be influenced by trends!


Is there a website that readers may find you at?
www.hedge-witchery.com
www.hedge-witcherybooks.com

Facebook,  Twitter,  or Myspace?
All on the 'Keeping in touch' page on www.hedge-witchery.com


Thank you so much for stopping in Lily.  It has been a grand pleasure.  So now let's get to the giveaway.
For anyone that leaves a comment for Lily,  with your email address you will be entered to win a copy of Hope Ocean.  Please be sure to leave your email address so I have a way to contact you :).  Winner will be drawn July 5.

Extra Entries:

• Become a follower of my blog by clicking follow on Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs (+3 entries)
• Become a follower on Twitter (+2)
• Become a fan on Facebook (+2)
• Repost this giveaway - and let me know where you have posted it (+1)

Don't forget for everyone that purchases Hope Moon or Hope Ocean,  the proceeds go to help support a charity.  Both are available in paperback and as electronic download. Thanks for stopping in and good luck!

VBT Pit Stop with Lorrie Struiff

Hi Brandi,


It’s such a pleasure to appear on your blog. Thank you for hosting me.



You asked if I had to do a lot of studying on gypsies for my novella.

Let me answer the question this way. Other than the study of gypsies, much more research was required other than that of the Romani people. But let me address the Roma first.

There are a lot of wonderful sites and books pertaining to the origins, the beliefs and the lore of the Roma clans. Once I began the research, I found so many interesting facts, so many stories about the culture; I think I became lost for about three days, at least. I was enrapt, held spellbound by all the fascinating material.

Items about how many Roma still live in the U.S.A. today—over a million. How their talents and beliefs are romanticized in movies, TV, and novels. They are stereotyped with gazing into a crystal ball or reading tarot cards and palms. The Roma men are always playing a romantic melody on a violin. Then we jump to the evil curse side or the potions they mix for different ailments. Love potions, bad luck potions, etc.

I found their origins are tied to nature itself. They protect the land, not harm it, and hold nature foremost in their way of life. And it is in their ethnic nature to decipher signs and omens from their surroundings. Oh what spine chilling stories can be garnered from their folklore, like werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters.

For instance, Romanian gypsy villages believe that cemeteries are occupied by werewolves, the natural enemy of the vampire. The werewolves enter the cemeteries for the sole purpose of viciously destroying vampires wherever they find them. It’s believed that because of this, the world of the living people are kept safe from complete takeover of the world by the “world of the dead.”

Who wouldn’t be fascinated with the Roma?

Of course I took liberties with the crystal amulet my main character, Rita, wears in the novella. Er, to be honest, I took many liberties which I’m swearing to, is creative license.

The other research I did involved delving into some police procedure. Rita is a homicide detective in her town of Keyport, PA. She is hunting a serial killer targeting prostitutes.

Then, Rita’s love interest is FBI agent, Matt Boulet. Now this manly hunk comes to us from New Orleans, known for its voodoo. So, I dug into a bit of voodoo to make his background beliefs in the paranormal legit and easier for him to trust Rita and her family’s psychic powers.

So, all in all, the research was quite extensive as it is with any author who needs credibility for a story line. I didn’t use all the information I found while being held entranced, but just enough to clue the readers, bring them into the story for the wild ride, and to make the readers feel like, “Hey, this could happen!”



Everyone has secrets.

Homicide Detective Rita Moldova has a secret, a crystal amulet from her Roma bloodline that shows her the last image a victim had seen before they died. Now, a ritual killer is terrorizing her town and the crystal’s magic has suddenly stopped.

FBI agent, Matt Boulet, is sent to lead the task force and gives the group strange orders. Worse, Rita senses he is holding back a deep dark secret about the killer.

When she confronts her seer mother’s advice, she learns another secret about their clan that she finds impossible to swallow.

Rita swims through a whirlpool of confusion as the investigation continues. Can Rita deny the lore of the ancients? Can she deny her growing feelings for Matt Boulet?



Excerpt



Before Rita had time to get her fingers on the gun, the man had shot out of the door, yanked her forward, and somehow shoved her headfirst onto the front seat. She skidded over the vinyl bench seat, her nose and cheek hitting hard, blocking her breath for a moment. Rita yelled; the door slammed shut. She scrambled to sit upright, gagging when she inhaled the dank, moldy scent of the interior. A metal object, hanging from the roof above the mirror, clunked heavy against her head. She swallowed the acrid taste in her throat.

The driver’s door opened and the man slipped inside. One corner of her mind wondered how he could have possibly run around the front of the van so fast.

Rita rubbed her bruised temple and twisted the door handle. It was stuck. She rammed her shoulder into the door. It didn’t budge. The window was up. Her purse with the gun lay on the sidewalk. She worked the lock button and slammed into the door again. The impact sent shock waves down her arm to her fingertips. Shit. The van was rigged. Rita looked at the serial killer, her heart banging against her ribs, her breathing short and shallow. Tapping the mic with frantic fingers, all she could do was pray.

The man grinned.

Gypsy Crystal is available in PRINT and Multiple E-book formats at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Gypsy-Crystal-Lorrie-Unites-Struiff/dp/1770650415/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Visit my website to read the reviews and more info

http://struiff.wordpress.com/

Thank you for stopping in.  It's been a pleasure.