Happy Birthday Escape Publishing: Interview with Juliet Madison & Giveaway

Today marks the last post in my Happy Birthday Escape Publishing celebrations! Last, but not least, I have author Juliet Madison on the blog to chat about her most recent release, I Dream of Johnny!

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Hi Juliet and thanks for agreeing to chat with me today. It's always a pleasure to talk to an Australian author, so I'm glad you could help me in celebrating Escape Publishing's 1 Year Anniversary!
Thanks for having me!

Before we begin, I have to say congratulations for I Dream of Johnny's release. I know it's always an exciting time for most author when a new story of theirs graces the world. Do you feel that way?
Thanks. Definitely! I Dream of Johnny is my second published story (my 3rd was released in October), and it sure is an exciting moment when your book goes ‘live’ online. It’s a surreal feeling knowing that people are reading something that once only existed in your imagination.

Describe I Dream of Johnny in one sentence.
A wacky romcom that proves getting three wishes isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when an unfortunate spelling error in Mandy’s high-tech magic lamp changes her wish for a Greek God into a Geek God.

Honestly, the premise of I Dream of Johnny is so catching. I have to know, where did such a cute, fun idea come from?
I thought up this idea a couple of years ago when I wondered what could happen if a wish didn’t quite ‘process’ correctly for some reason. I tried to think up something a woman might wish for that could easily be mistaken for something else, and a Greek God popped into my head. Then of course, I removed one letter, and that made geek! It was quite random ;)

I Dream of Johnny is a novella; only a short 42 pages if I'm not mistaken. Why did you decide to write it as a novella, rather than a traditional, full length novel?
I originally thought of doing it as a novel, but when I started plotting it out, I realised the story and characters could get a bit monotonous if it went for too long. I thought it would be best as something short and sweet, a quick, fun read. Plus I had other full length books I needed to write and knew it wouldn’t get written at all if I waited for the time to write it as a full length.

I know most authors tend to think of their books as their babies, but is there a story of yours that holds a special place in your heart over others? And if yes, why?
They are all my babies, but there are two that stand out for me as holding a special place in my heart (can I pick two?!). One is The January Wish which releases in January 2014, because I put a lot of myself into it. It’s an emotional, romantic story about unexpected motherhood, and I drew on my experience working in the health field to create the medical setting and health professional characters. I also set it in the small coastal town I had just moved into when I started writing the book, so the book reminds me of home. The other is The Life Makeover Club, a women’s fiction book (currently unpublished but my agent will be submitting it shortly!). It is the first book I ever wrote. I based it on my own experience and wrote it while I was undergoing my own ‘life makeover’.

Have you always wanted to write and be an author? Or was this something that just happened one day?
I’ve been writing stories since I was a little girl, but I never seriously considered being an author until a few years ago when my life went through some big changes. So in a way, it did kind of just happen one day...the decision to write seriously, not the actual finished book!

Are you an avid reader yourself? And if yes, what would we find if we had a look at your bookshelf?
I loved escaping into a fictional world as a child, and although I don’t get through as many books as I would like to these days, there is always something I’m reading. Not having a current book to read just feels weird. On my bookshelf you would find way too many books, but I still love getting new ones! I have a mixture of non-fiction, women’s fiction, and thrillers, mostly. And my Kindle shelf has a lot of fellow author’s romance ebooks, ranging from romantic comedy, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal. I’m currently reading The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty, and looking forward to reading The Returned by Jason Mott, Outback Dreams by Rachael Johns, Blood Secret by Jaye Ford, and Nobody But Him by Victoria Purman, among others.

If you would meet anyone, living or dead, real or fiction, who would you want to meet and why?
Tough question! Umm... the child in me would want to meet Moonface from The Faraway Tree so I could slide down the slippery slide in his treehouse, but the adult in me would probably love to meet the fictional Johnny Castle from Dirty Dancing so he could teach me the famous dance routine he performed with Baby. Failing that, I’d love to have a good chat with J.K. Rowling. I just love the world she created in Harry Potter.

Oh, yes! Give me Johnny Castle too please! Guess I'm seeing where I Dream of Johnny's title came from ;) What's been your most memorable experience working with and being a part of Escape Publishing?
The overall experience has been pretty fantastic. They are a dedicated, professional bunch of people who care about their authors. A highlight for me was seeing my very first cover for the first time (for Fast Forward). I was a giggling, bumbling mess, because I loved it so much and it was such an amazing feeling seeing the story I created as something visual in front of me. It was also a great moment to attend the official Escape Publishing launch in November 2012 on Sydney Harbour. That was when I felt like a real author for the first time. :)

What's in store for you next? Is there anything you're working on right now that you want to share with us?
I have two novels releasing back to back in the new year; The January Wish in January, and February or Forever in February 2014! They are the first two books in my new small coastal town series, and I’ll be working on the third next year. Currently I’m revising my women’s fiction, The Life Makeover Club, and once that’s finished in a week or two I’ll get to work on something new, though I’m not 100% sure yet whether it will be my next women’s fiction or the second book in my YA series. Luckily I’m a fast writer so I write multiple stories each year!

6 Quick Questions:
1. Lucky Number? 4
2. Favourite Movie? Dirty Dancing Love that movie too!
3. Love or Lust? Love
4. Ebook or Physical Book? I’m an ebook convert but I still love the look and feel of a physical book.
5. Favourite Ice-Cream Flavour? Vanilla
6. Night or Day? Night (says she, writing this interview at midnight! Hmm, maybe I should say morning then. Early morning ;))

Thanks again for chatting with me Juliet. Good-luck with whatever you write in the future!
Thanks!

Juliet Madison is a naturopath-turned-author with a background in dance, art, internet marketing and perfume sales (yes, she was one of those annoying people in department stores who spray you with perfume). Nowadays she prefers to indulge her propensity for multiple careers by living vicariously through her characters. She likes to put these characters into extraordinary situations and take them on a challenging journey to discover their true passion and inner strength, weaving in some laughs, tears, romance and sometimes a touch of magic along the way.

Living near the beach on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales, Australia, Juliet spends her time running her internet business, raising her son, writing as often as she can, and doing her best to avoid housework.

Visit Juliet: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

From the author of Fast Forward comes a story about three wishes, a high-tech genie in a lamp, and one very unfortunate typo...

Getting three wishes isn't all it's cracked up to be when an unfortunate spelling error in Mandy's high-tech magic lamp changes her wish for a Greek God to a Geek God. His fashion IQ is in the negatives, he’s clingier than cling wrap, and he has a penchant for breaking into song at inappropriate moments. Before Mandy can request a replacement wish, she has to put up with him for twenty four hours, and the timing couldn’t be worse — it's her friend’s wedding day, her ex will be there, and the God of Geeks insists on coming along for the ride!

Add on Goodreads!

Purchase:

Escape Publishing | Amazon | Kobo

 

 

Fantasy Bundle:

 

Details:

For your chance to win a Fantasy bundle featuring  Juliet's I Dream of Johnny well as four other fabulous stories, be sure to comment with a way to contact you!

 

Sharing isn't necessary, but always appreciated :)

 

Open internationally!

 

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As my Happy Birthday Escape Publishing celebrations come to a close, I want to say a big THANK YOU to Polina from Harlequin for helping me get all these posts ready and to all the authors who agreed to be interviewed, wrote guest posts and who released stories with Escape Publishing during their first year! Congrats on your accomplishments and here's to many, many more great stories with Escape Publishing!

 

*Note: The giveaway's for the YA, NA and Fantasy bundles will run for one more week, with winners picked and contacted on Monday the 6th of January.

 

Thanks for joining me--I hope you've had as much fun as I have!

 

Happy Birthday Escape Publishing: Guest Post by Donna Maree Hanson & Giveaway

Today, I have Rayessa and the Space Pirates author Donna Maree Hanson on the blog to guest post as part of my (almost over) Happy Birthday Escape Publishing celebrations! I'd like you all to welcome Donna!

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Writing What You Love

Thank you to Rachel for allowing me to be a guest blogger. I was published with Escape Publishing in January 2013 and it’s their first birthday this month (YAY!). Getting published with Escape Publishing changed me in a number of ways, sending me in new directions and inspiring me to write more science fiction and paranormal romance. It’s best fun I’ve ever had.

There are a number of things that inspire me to write, as a writer and as a reader too. Writing what you love is a key element, I believe. I have ideas that come naturally to me. I spent a lot of my life in fantasy worlds in my head, either on a star ship or in a land full with magic. It’s what I read. It was my escape. I realized that writing what I was imagining legitimized this totally wasteful past time (cough) and anchored me, by providing an outlet for all my bottled up creativity. Now, I escape when I write and write what I love to imagine. 

When I read, I find things that give me that ‘wow’ feeling, you know the one that starts in your toes and goes to your brain, a kind of inspirational short circuit. A few things that I love are Regency romance, Scottish historical romances, science fiction, fantasy (urban fantasy and paranormal romance too) and even horror. I adore steampunk and a bit of Victorian gothic horror. When I read something that has elements of things I like, I get excited. For example, steampunk fantasy romance for young adult readers. It’s hitting all my buttons for different reasons. I like this as a reader and I certainly like it as a writer. I always thought that a Regency period fantasy would be awesome, but then Susanna Clarke did that with Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell. But I’m sure I’ll come up with something new and exciting eventually.

After a good thirteen years learning the craft of writing, I like to experiment and play around with elements of genre, mash it all together. I mean the characters are the important things, but the bells and whistles of setting and tropes dress them up and let you have fun. Rayessa and the Space Pirates is supposedly a  young adult, science-fiction romance, adventure with a crime plot driver. Of course, I don’t think I intentionally did that when I wrote it. The story came out that way. I fell in love with the characters and they told the story. I know writers say that and people roll their eyes, but it can happen, particularly to pantsers (people who just write and let it flow, rather than plan and write an outline). Originally, I was trying to write a short story about this girl on an asteroid and I wanted to play around a little with a character who was an auditor (I audit for a living) and it was all going really well and getting longer and I thought yes I can resolve this story, when the pirates showed up. When they did, I realised it wasn’t a short story any more. I just went with it. I wrote what entertained me, what I love and really I had no idea of what the market for it could or would be.

The first real moment that inspired me to become a writer is when I had this idea for a character (actually the character appeared in a dream and I started asking who she was, how she got where she was) and there was enough story there for my first novel (still unpublished). Back in 2001, a novel where the character is in love with an alien warrior in a story with feminist undertones, didn’t really have a market (also first novels need lots of work to make them into books!). I had so much fun writing it. So write what you love, read what you love, inspire yourself.

 

Donna Maree Hanson is a Canberra-based writer (actually she now lives across the border in Queanbeyan) of fantasy, science fiction, horror, paranormal romance and soon to be romance. She has been writing creatively since November 2000.

While she aspires to publish novels, she has had about 20 short stories published in various small press and ezines. In January 2013, her first longer work is due to be published with Harlequin Escape digital publishers (link here.) This novella length work is a young-adult, science-fiction adventure/romance (space opera). Title as yet unofficial!

In 2006, she won a Varuna Long Lines Fellowship for her novel in progress, Dragon Wine. Donna has also had two of her short stories receive honourable mentions in Datlow’s years best horror.

 

Visit Donna:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Sixteen-year-old Rae Stroder lives in a hollow asteroid, a defunct refuelling station, with a brain-damaged adult, Gris, to keep her company. Low on supplies, they've been eking out an existence for years. Everything changes when Alwin Anton, ultra-clean, smart and handsome AllEarth Corp company auditor, arrives to find disarray. Full of suspicion, he interrogates Rae, threatening her with prosecution for theft. He uncovers the fact that she is not Rae Stroder at all, when space pirates attack.

During the attack, Rae is taken prisoner and Alwin Anton escapes in his space ship. The pirate women prepare Rae for sale on the infamous Centauri slave markets. It's all going badly, when she is purchased by a mysterious Ridallian.

Meanwhile, the space pirates are out to kill Alwin Anton because he holds the secret to Rae's true identity. It's a race against time to unravel the intrigue of Rae's past to secure her future.

 

Add on Goodreads!

Purchase:

Escape Publishing | Amazon | Kobo

 

 

YA Bundle:

 

Details:

For your chance to win a YA bundle featuring  Rayessa and the Space Pirates well as four other fabulous stories, be sure to comment with a way to contact you!

 

Sharing isn't necessary, but always appreciated :)

 

Open internationally!

 

**Stop by on Monday for my FINAL Happy Birthday Escape Publishing post--I'll be hosting I Dream of Johnny author Juliet Madison on the blog for a chat!**

 

 

Happy Birthday Escape Publishing: It's Love, Dude by Jenny Schwartz- Excerpt & Giveaway

 

Today as part of my Happy Birthday Escape Publishing celebrations I have an excerpt from It's Love, Dude by Jenny Schwartz as well as another chance for you to win a fantastic NA bundle!

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Zane Carlton grinned as he rested his butt on the railing that separated the cycle path from the top of the dunes. He was back home in Jardin Bay to bring glamour to the opening of a new skate park. No‐one cared that he was a surfer and not a skateboarder. What mattered was that he was a World Champion surfer and a hometown boy. But for all that he was meant to be the main media drawcard; the journalists weren’t clustered around him.

A few metres away, standing in the shade of a Norfolk pine tree, a bombshell brunette had the media pack salivating — and by the way she twisted one pretty foot around her other ankle, she didn’t know how to handle the attention.

‘Flip me,’ he muttered. ‘She’s shy.’

It was cute. It was hot. The woman was a babe. Long, curly, black hair was pulled back in a ponytail revealing an oval face that would have looked like a medieval painting of the Madonna, all serene and beautiful, except that this woman’s mouth was quite simply lush.

He took his time studying her figure.

She wore an orange sweater. The early spring morning was still cool, so she’d probably thought the sweater was sensible. But the way she filled it out was an invitation to X‐rated fantasies. Add in the narrow waist that flared out to a curvy bum, plus the knee length skirt that ended to reveal spectacular legs, and you had the reason the media had forgotten him.

Only one journalist proved immune, and she was a middle‐aged woman who’d buttonholed the local Member of Parliament, Greg Cooper.

The brunette twisted the strap of her handbag around her fingers and appeared ready to bolt.

Zane hadn’t caught her name, but he’d noticed her arrive with Greg Cooper. Evidently, the woman worked for him. Smart move. The local MP would have no trouble getting media attention despite his rumpled, grey appearance if he sent this woman to set up the gig.

Although just now she was probably rethinking her career choice. 

Welcome to the big leagues, sweetheart.

The additional media — the national sports journalists who’d driven down from Perth to Jardin Bay for the chance to interview him — were too much for her. They were brash, demanding and relentless. He knew. He’d been dealing with them for years.

A good guy would haul ass and go rescue her.

Zane frowned down at his brand‐name sneakers.

Everything he wore was brand‐name. His sponsorship deals had set him up for life since winning the World Championship three years ago. In a bit over a year, he’d retire. Sure, 30 wasn’t old, but he wanted a life. Travelling the world sounded glamorous, but one competition blurred into the other. There were hangers‐on and users everywhere. People started thinking stuff was important that he knew wasn’t. It was a life in a travelling bubble and he was sick of it. Crazy tired.

He looked back at the woman.

One more year, then he’d come back to Jardin Bay permanently.

Once he was home he could think about chatting up a shy small‐town girl who probably dreamed of forever. Probably had a boyfriend. Hell, for all he knew, she was dating some guy he went to high school with. Lucky bastard.

She smiled suddenly.

He saw the impact it had on the media: a moment of awe and then a surge forward. He looked for the man who’d won that smile.

‘Granddad?’ 

From our favourite short story writer comes a debut full-length novel about sand, sun, small towns, and surfing...

Zane Carlton is a World Champion surfer. Molly Georgiou is a shy, small-town girl. They have nothing in common except an instantaneous attraction and an impossible quest for a rare, endangered Australian marsupial. But Zane is determined to make it work, and invites Molly to take a step into his world. But Molly isn’t ready for the spotlights and attention — she loves her town, its quirks, its characters. Opposites attract, but can two such different people find both a woylie and forever?

Add on Goodreads!

Purchase:

Escape Publishing | Amazon | Kobo

 

I’m an Australian author of Coastal Romance. I have a degree in Sociology and History (people watching and digging into the past), a passion for books, a tendency to invent my own recipes in the kitchen and to take really bad photos that nonetheless make me happy.

I’ve always dreamed of living by the sea, and one day I’ll achieve it! Till then, welcome to my world of coastal dreaming.

Visit Jenny:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

 

 

NA Bundle:

 

Details:

For your chance to win a NA bundle featuring It's Love, Dude as well as four other fabulous stories, be sure to comment with a way to contact you!

 

Sharing isn't necessary, but always appreciated :)

 

Open internationally!

 

**Pop by on Saturday when I have Rayessa and the Space Pirates author Donna Maree Hanson on the blog to guest post!**

 

 

Happy Birthday Escape Publishing: Interview with Rebekah Turner & Giveaway

Today I have Chaos Born author Rebekah Turner on the blog to talk about her debut novel!

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Hi Rebekah! Thanks so much for agreeing to be interviewed today as part of Escape Publishing's 1 Year celebrations. I'm excited about the prospect of talking to you :) Let's begin, shall we?

Chaos Born is your debut novel, with it's sequel due out soon. Released in November 2012 by Escape Publishing, Chaos Born has been out in the world for almost a year now. How does that make you feel? Is it still a surreal experience?
It was very surreal at first and a bit of a whirlwind when it happened. Now it just feels great that I can get my stories out there for anyone who likes gritty urban fantasy.

For those such as myself who are yet to read Chaos Born, can you give us a little taste? Perhaps a favourite quote of yours?
"Killing Roper wasn't the worst thing I'd done and I didn't feel too sorry about it. I'd grown up fast and mean on the streets of Applecross. My white hair and lame leg had made me a target for every bully on the block, so I learnt early on to fight dirty and that regret was for pansies."

Describe your heroine Lora in 5 words.
Can't keep the bitch down

I have to say....the cover for Chaos Born is really kick-ass! Seriously, I'm totally loving it. Did you have any say in the design?
No, I wish I could take credit, but it was all thanks to the awesome design team at Escape Publishing.

If Chaos Born was ever made into a movie, who would you want to play Lora, Roman and Seth?
Lora: Kat Dennings
Roman: Tom Hardy
Seth: Timothy Olyphant

 

Kat Dennings, Tom Hardy and Timothy Olyphant

Let's talk a little about you. What's something we'd be surprised to learn about you?
I used to have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Talk us through your writing process? What goes into a typical writing session for you?
After the kids go down, I get a cup of tea and put some pick me up tunes on. Then I read over the last two paragraphs or so, then write or edit until my eyes start closing.

Who or what has been the biggest inspiration throughout your life?
My mum.

What's been your most memorable experience working with and being a part of Escape Publishing?
The launch of Escape Publishing will forever stick out in my memory. I was flown to Sydney and met the other launch authors. Everything was exceptionally posh. We had our hair and make-up done, then we were whisked to the launch location by a limousine. The venue had a great view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and there were awesome cocktails named after all the launch books. While I did not go back to the hotel with my pants on my head, it was still one of the most incredible nights out I’ve experienced.

The sequel to Chaos Born, Chaos Bound comes out next month, what's different this time around? And what's in store for you afterwards? In Chaos Bound, Lora Blackgoat is hired to find a missing person, but her investigation put her in the crosshairs of not only a violent gang, but a merchant with a taste for blood sport. Her attraction to Roman grows, but it is Seth, ex-lover and reborn hellspawn, who Lora ultimately must ask to help protect those she loves.

Next for me is finishing up a New Adult book, then getting a cracking on the third Chaos book.

6 Quick Questions:
1. Light or Dark? Light
2. Rain or Shine? Rain
3. Lucky Number? 10
4. Favourite Movie? Aliens
5. Favourite Colour? Blue
6. Ebook or Physical Book? Can I have both?

Thanks once more for joining me today Rebekah. I wish you all the best for Chaos Bound's release and then whatever comes afterwards for you!

 

Rebekah lives in sunny Queensland and has worked in the past as a graphic designer. She now does freelance work when her kids are looking the other way. An avid writer since she could scrawl in her dad’s expensive encyclopedias, she has progressed from horsey stories to tales of dark fantasy with lashings of romance and a sprinkling of horror.

Her vices include eating overpriced ice cream, watching trashy 80s action movies and buying stationery she doesn’t need.

 

Visit Rebekah:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

A fresh and exciting debut novel introducing the Chronicles from the Applecross.

Lora Blackgoat, smuggler and mercenary, has been lying low after a job gone bad made her a laughing stock in the industry. When a childhood friend turns to her for help, Lora leaps to restore her reputation and starts hunting a killer who is stalking the gas-lit streets.

She never expects that her path will lead her to the Order of Guides, a sadistic militant religious organisation - or to Roman, a deadly and dangerously attractive half-angel warrior who also hunts the killer.

When Lora discovers that the killer has broken fundamental laws of magic to enter the city, she also uncovers a conspiracy that leads back into her own dark past.

Add on Goodreads!

Purchase:

Escape Publishing | Amazon | Kobo

 

Fantasy Bundle:

 

Details:

For your chance to win a Fantasy bundle featuring Rebekah Turner's Chaos Born as well as four other fabulous stories, be sure to comment with a way to contact you!

 

Sharing isn't necessary, but always appreciated :)

 

Open internationally!

 

 

**Stop back on Boxing Day because I have an excerpt from It’s Love, Dude by Jenny Schwartz!**

 

 

Happy Birthday Escape Publishing: A Warlord's Lady by Nicola E. Sheridan- Excerpt & Giveaway

Welcome to another brilliant Happy Birthday Escape Publishing post! Today I have an exclusive excerpt from A Warlord's Lady by Nicola E. Sheridan as well as the fantasy bundle giveaway!

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I stumbled from the room, looking as though I’d been riding a horse for hours — which I had, I suppose. The Warlord’s sexual appetite was as prodigious as his hunger for power and domination. He rarely spoke to me, but I often heard him speaking at length to his generals as they walked down the marbled corridors surrounding my rooms. The Warlord’s manner was always brusque, his tone always curt and his face always hard — but man, he was handsome, and this fact alone made certain my sexual duties were never a chore. 

[Excerpt from Memoirs of a Warlord’s Love Slave, Chapter 7]

***
Sabra looked up from the book, her book: Memoirs of a Warlord’s Love Slave, a New York Times Best Seller.

She dropped it back on the crumb‐covered coffee table. There it landed, rejected in a rain of biscuit debris. The book was a mistake. It should never, ever, have been written.

Yet her eyes lingered upon the glossy cover, reluctant to completely ignore it. A model, much thinner and prettier than she’d ever be, graced the cover. In a sweeping low‐cut mauve blouse that barely covered her nipples, she smiled saucily up at Sabra. Behind the girl stood a male model, shirtless and glowering. He looked as though he’d discovered regular milk in his soy latte. The real Cain Dath could never look so spoilt.

Her stomach clenched and memories rushed through her body, leaving her hot and restless. Taking a deep breath, she struggled to push them aside and stared again at the cover of the book. It lay discarded, like a dead thing.

Having a best seller had come with a hefty price, and not just in the book royalties. Once released, it had taken investigative reporters little more than a week to decipher her nom de plume. Within two, the world media had been banging on her door. Sabra’s round, wide‐eyed face now stared back from every magazine, newspaper and television she looked at.

‘It’s been said that the Magician Warlord, Cain Dath, has a harem full of women.
Why did he kidnap you?’

‘What is special about Sabra Westwood?’

‘What can you do that all other women could not?’

So many questions and she couldn’t answer even one. She didn’t know why the
Warlord had captured her…she really didn’t.

Until her kidnapping while holidaying in Laos, she’d worked at a metal fabrication company in the payroll office. No, there was nothing particularly special about Sabra Westwood. Mousy brown hair, grey eyes, short and more than a little squat — people rarely looked at her twice. Yet there was one thing; one small thing that Sabra took pains to keep secret. This abnormality of hers, which she’d rather people not discover, did make her just a little different from every other late‐twenties, single Aussie girl. Sabra Westwood, despite all other appearances, was a Chameleon.

In a world where magical beings were as common as spots on a leopard, a Chameleon wasn’t anything particularly outrageous. It was just odd. For all intents and purposes, she was just like any other ordinary woman — except her skin contained cells
collectively known as chromatophores. The presence of these cells gave her the rather unique ability to change skin and hair colour and, if she so desired, blend in with the background. Providing she was stark naked, Sabra could blend in with anything, from a brick wall to paisley carpet. However, walking around camouflaging yourself constantly was tiresome and not entirely practical, especially given the nudity requirement; Sabra rarely used her ability and, as she didn’t like to be singled out, took pains to hide her difference.

For much of her incarceration with Cain, she’d wondered if it was her Chameleon abilities that had attracted him and his minions to her. It certainly couldn’t have been her plain‐Jane appearance. Sabra found herself pondering why the great Warlord couldn’t have found another Chameleon to satisfy his desires — if indeed that was what titillated him so much? Why her? She wasn’t even slim; less so now that she was practically under home detention — for her own protection, of course.

Sabra Westwood took a bite and released the half‐eaten chocolate biscuit onto the saucer from where it came. The skin on her fingers had turned a soft chocolatey brown to match it, but instantly returned to its usual golden olive once she released the biscuit from her grip. She could control the ability much better these days, but when she didn’t concentrate, portions of her body would camouflage to match whatever they made contact with. It used to dismay her schoolteachers no end. She snorted, and then licked her fingers clean of the melted chocolate remnants. At the warm slippery sensation, her mind was instantly thrown back to Cain’s touch. Frustratingly, Sabra felt her heart speed up. It thumped loudly in the fleshy confines of her chest and her loins tightened. Lord, I must have Stockholm Syndrome, she thought. The worst thing was that she probably did. It had been just over a year since she’d escaped; she was no closer to being relieved of the torturous, traitorous feelings and crippling flashbacks that swelled within her every time her mind roamed restlessly to her time in captivity, or the seductive captor who’d kept her there.

Sighing and pushing other more difficult thoughts aside, she glanced out the window to where several armed security men stood posted outside her home. She was back in Australia, at home, free from the Warlord’s capture, but almost enslaved again. The Australian Government was certain Cain would come to collect her, sooner or later. How they knew this and why they thought it true was a mystery to Sabra — but they fervently believed it. Now, Sabra couldn’t leave her home without armed guards, and the government insisted on placing Magical Ion Sensing Devices all around her home. No untoward magic would happen on their watch; none at all. Sabra wondered when it would all end.

Disrupting her thoughts like a gunshot, the telephone rang and echoed down the corridor. A high‐voltage spasm of excitement rippled through her body. It was him. Struggling not to run, she paused and waited for the requisite six rings, to ensure the phone‐tapping specialist was ready to do his part. Finally, she strode up the corridor, her bare feet padding on the thick, woven hallway runner.

‘Hello?’ her voice was breathy, and her hand turned as white as the slimline handset.

‘I’m coming to get you.’ The voice was low and gravelly and it resounded with fury. 

Magic, murder and mayhem collide when an ordinary woman meets a powerful warlord — and writes a bestselling, tell-all book... It's got to be Stockholm Syndrome... Eighteen fateful months ago, Sabra was kidnapped by the infamous magician warlord Cain Dath, and her body just won't let her forget. Hidden in the humid depths of the Laos jungle, she shared everything with him, but he never shared his heart.

In his position of power, Cain cannot show weakness. He must lead his people to freedom and no one — not even the woman he's fast becoming obsessed with — can stand in his way. Then Sabra sells her story of love slavery in a tell-all exposé and brings fame, fortune, and every one of his enemies down upon them both. Now, she is open to attack on all fronts, and he can no longer stay away. The man who enslaved her may well be the only man who can save her.

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Purchase:

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Nicola E. Sheridan is an Australian author of paranormal / fantasy romance. A qualified teacher and archaeologist, she has an enduring love of mythology and loves to weave lesser-known mythological creatures into her tales. Nicola lives in Western Australia with her indulgent family and two cats. Nicola’s likes are probably endless and too numerous to list here!

Visit Nicola:

Website | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Fantasy Bundle:

 

Details:

For your chance to win a Fantasy bundle featuring A Warlord's Lady as well as four other fabulous stories, be sure to comment with a way to contact you!

 

Sharing isn't necessary, but always appreciated :)

 

Open internationally!

 

**On Tuesday I have Chao's Born author Rebekah Turner on the blog for a chat!**

 

 

Happy Birthday Escape Publishing: Finding Home by Lauren K. McKeller-Excerpt & Giveaway

 

 Today I have a great excerpt from Finding Home by Lauren K. McKeller to share with you, as well as another chance to enter to win the YA bundle that includes it!

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‘Amy, we need to talk,’ Dad said.

I sat across from him at a table in a crowded restaurant that was full of the usual Sunday morning types. Dad looked completely different to the man I’d seen onstage the evening before. Then, his look had been slick: ripped jeans, designer shirt; now, he appeared a lot older than his 37 years and more tired. His hair looked a mess, sticking up in all the wrong places, and his clothes were dated.

‘About what?’ I sipped my orange juice. The cool liquid helped my head, which throbbed from my efforts of the evening prior.

‘Your behaviour at the show,’ he finished. It hadn't happened yet, but — oh, yes, there it was — the sigh. That inevitable exhalation that always seemed to occur just before Dad did something he didn't want to do. ‘You’re seventeen. You know full well that you shouldn't be drinking.’

‘I’m 18 in three months. And so what, anyway?’

‘So you can't keep acting like this.’ A frown creased his face.

I twirled my straw around. Little flicks of juice spun up the sides of my glass, creating a tiny, orange mosaic. ‘It's not like I do it all the time.’ I shrugged.

‘Just every time you come and see the show. And when you're not at the show, you're in a hotel room by yourself.’

‘And?’

‘And it's not normal, it’s not healthy, and I want you to stop.’ He ran his hands through his thick black hair and stared me down. His craggy face was a minefield of peaks and troughs, and he had the sort of distinguished nose that would make an actor on The Bold And The Beautiful jealous. It felt weird to think of the thousands of middle‐aged women who had worshipped him onstage the night before. To me, he was just my dad and a pain in the ass, at that.

A lady strutted her way over to the table. ‘Excuse me, but can I please get your autograph?’ She threw her blonde curls over her shoulders until they were resting on her double D‐sized boobs, and then shoved a piece of paper under Dad's nose. Two tables away, a group of women in their early thirties were giggling, whispering, and pointing in our direction. I averted my gaze. It was enough to make me sick.

‘Can we get out of here?’ I squirmed in my chair.

Dad ignored me, signing the napkin and making polite small talk with the lady. She leaned forward again and touched his shoulder, tossing her head back when she laughed. It would only be a matter of time before she would reached across the table to grab something and ‘accidentally’ brush her breasts against his chest. I think a tiny bit of vomit
actually began to work its way up my throat and into my mouth.

‘I'm leaving,’ I said, grabbing my bag from the floor beneath me.

‘Amy, wait.’

‘What?’ I spun around. The blonde had retreated to her table, and Dad was now indicating I should sit. I did, rolling my eyes and letting my bag slump to the ground. I’d had enough.

We sat in silence for a while, studying each other.

‘I think you should go to your aunt’s.’

‘For a holiday?’ I asked, my brow furrowing.

‘No, Amy,’ he said, sighing. That brought Dad’s total count for the day to two. ‘To
live.’

The words resonated in my head, sounding over and over again, like I was in a church hall or a bad horror movie. To live, live, live, live.

Dad was sending me away. 

Moody, atmospheric, and just a little bit punk, Finding Home takes contemporary YA to a new level of grit...

When Amy’s mum dies, the last thing she expects is to be kicked off her dad’s music tour all the way to her Aunt Lou in a depressing hole of a seaside town. But it’s okay — Amy learned how to cope with the best, and soon finds a hard-drinking, party-loving crowd to help ease the pain.

The only solace is her music class, but even there she can’t seem to keep it together, sabotaging her grade and her one chance at a meaningful relationship. It takes a hard truth from her only friend before Amy realises that she has to come to terms with her past, before she destroys her future.

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Purchase:

Escape Publishing | Amazon | Kobo

Lauren McKellar grew up in a beachside town north of Sydney, Australia. A self-confessed nerd, Lauren spends every spare second she has writing books and hungrily devouring new releases from her favourite authors. With a passion for Young Adult and New Adult fiction, she especially loves stories that are real and flawed. Lauren is a magazine editor and freelance fiction editor. She juggles her time between editing, writing, and going for long walks on the beach with her partner and their two puppies. She loves to meet new people, so feel free to chat with her on Twitter, Facebook, or on her blog.

Visit Lauren:

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

 

YA Bundle:

 

Details:

For your chance to win a YA bundle featuring Finding Home as well as four other fabulous stories, be sure to comment with a way to contact you!

 

Sharing isn't necessary, but always appreciated :)

 

Open internationally!

 

**On Saturday I have another excerpt to share with you--this time from A Warlord's Lady by Nicola E. Sheridan**

 

 

Happy Birthday Escape Publishing: Interview with Sarah Daltry & Giveaway

 

Today as part of my Happy Birthday Escape Publishing fun, I have Bitter Fruits author Sarah Daltry on the blog to talk about all things Bitter Fruit!

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Hi Sarah and thanks for agreeing to chat with me today as part of Escape Publishing's 1 year celebrations. I'm looking forward to talking to you, so we better get started.......

First off, I have to say congrats on the upcoming release of your latest novel, Bitter Fruits. How is Bitter Fruits different or similar to what you've written in the past?
Well, for starters, technically it’s my first novel. So it’s kind of not like or unlike anything! But now that I’ve done some indie publishing with my New Adult contemporary series, I’d say it’s similar in the way that it’s set on a college campus and that it’s got erotic elements. It’s different because it’s urban fantasy and linked to Biblical mythology.

What can readers expect when heading into Bitter Fruits?
I would say it’s a weird mix of mythology, contemporary New Adult, and erotic romance. Be prepared for it to get steamy at times! And the ending is… non-traditional, we’ll say!

Describe your heroine Nora in one sentence?
Snarky 

A little birdy told me that Bitter Fruits features two very different, but equally beguiling brothers vying for Nora's affection. What do you think is the appeal of writing a love-triangle featuring siblings?
Honestly, I don’t normally care for love triangles. I always feel bad for the guy who doesn’t get the girl. However, in this case, the love triangle is critical to the plot and to the future of the series. It’s based on Biblical mythology and the events that unfold require many of the elements, including the love triangle.

Talk us through your writing process? What goes into a typical writing session for you?
Oh, I am all over the place. I was just thinking I need to get more disciplined. I have days where I write all day and I’m totally in the zone. Then I will have periods of time where I’m writing 1000 words a day in five different books. And then I have times where I do nothing but think about how I SHOULD be writing!!

Have you always wanted to write?
I don’t know. I think so. I’ve always written, because stories are important to me. I’m an avid reader and have been since I was a child. I majored in English. I taught English. I was an actress for a while. I’m a hardcore gamer. I worked in film and studied cinema for a bit. Basically, I try to take in stories through any means I can, so I guess it was just natural to tell my own.

What's something we'd be surprised to learn about you?
Probably that I am a ridiculous nerd. I tried to keep it under wraps for a while, but it’s hard to be someone other than yourself. I’m starting to let it out and I’m okay with that. I think because I write a lot of steamy stuff, people think I’m very girly and very romantic, but I’m not at all. I’m a sarcastic gamer geek who would rather play Xbox than go on a romantic date!

I know some authors tend to think of their books as their babies, but is there a story of yours that holds a special place in your heart over others? And if yes, why?
On an emotional level, my novel Lily of the Valley is close to me, because I put a lot of my own experiences – the dark ones – into it. I went through a lot when I was younger and it was hard to face some of those demons, but I think it was necessary in telling that story.

What's been your most memorable experience working with and being a part of Escape Publishing? Everyone is just awesome. I really love how responsive they are and how supportive they are. Not just Kate and everyone at Escape, but all the other authors, too! It’s like a family. 

What's next in store for you? Can readers expect a sequel to Bitter Fruits?
Yes, for sure, to the second question. This is a planned trilogy. As far as when, that answers the first. I’m in the middle of so many things right now and I know Kate is being patient, but the sequel is definitely a priority. I struggle to stay in one world at any given time and I need the characters to be ready to talk to me when I write. Lately, there are too many voices. I’m trying to slow it down a little and ask some characters, nicely, to step aside momentarily.

6 Quick Questions:
1. Favourite colour? Purple
2. Day or Night? Night
3. Ebook or Physical book? Both. I read ebooks faster, but I love old books. I love the way the smell, the way the pages feel, the stories behind them. I also love used bookstores and you need physical books for them to exist.
4. Favourite Song? "Firework" by Katy Perry is my motivational song.
5. Lucky Number? 4
6. Singing or Dancing? Singing. I don’t dance!

I just wanted to say thank for again for stopping in for this little Q&A Sarah. It's been fun! Good luck with your writing in the future!

Sarah Daltry writes about the regular people who populate our lives. She's written works in various genres - romance, erotica, fantasy, horror. Genre isn't as important as telling a story about people and how their lives unfold. Sarah tends to focus on YA/NA characters but she's been known to shake it up. Most of her stories are about relationships - romantic, familial, friendly - because love and empathy are the foundation of life. It doesn't matter if the story is set in contemporary NY, historical Britain, or a fantasy world in the future - human beings are most interesting in the ways they interact with others. This is the principle behind all of Sarah's stories.

Sarah has spent most of her life in school, from her BA and MA in English and writing to teaching both at the high school and college level. She also loves studying art history and really anything because learning is fun.

When Sarah isn't writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking Facebook for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window.

Visit Sarah:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook
 

For fans of dark urban fantasy comes a novel that questions why forbidden fruit is always the most tempting...

A vampire-themed masquerade party isn’t really her scene, but Nora is sick of frat parties and bars. When she meets Alec, the appeal suddenly becomes clear. It’s obvious that they’ve been struck by the same intense mutual attraction, but Alec keeps his distance. Intrigued despite herself, Nora pushes a little deeper — and discovers Alec’s unimaginable secret...

Nora is not afraid of following Alec into the darkness, but the choice is soon taken from her. Someone is hunting her — someone tied to the secret and desperate to see it play out. But when Nora finally meets her aggressor, she finds herself hopelessly drawn to him. She needs to make a choice between the two men, but can she save them both, knowing one is destined to die?

Add on Goodreads!

Purchase:

Escape Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

 

 

NA Bundle:

 

Details:

For your chance to win a YA bundle featuring Words Once Spoken as well as four other fabulous stories, be sure to comment with a way to contact you!

 

Sharing isn't necessary, but always appreciated :)

 

Open internationally!

 

**On Wednesday I have a Finding Home by Lauren K. McKeller excerpt to share with you guys!**