Interview & Giveaway with Larissa Ione

Larissa Ione Interview Intro:

Hello everyone!  LITERAL ADDICTION and Book Monster Reviews are very proud to welcome the incredible Larissa Ione to our sites today! 

 

A veteran of the Air Force, Larissa traded in her career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing.  She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds.  She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of champagne chilling the fridge… just in case. 

She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S Coast Guard husband, teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe. 

Larissa is the proud creator of the DEMONICA and LORDS OF DELIVERANCE series, and is one half of Sydney Croft (the other ½ being Stephanie Tyler), the creator of the ACRO novels.  She also has some amazing single titles available.  You can find her entire backlist HERE.   

DEMONICA is a complete series with 5 titles and several related novellas.  The reading order is:  “Pleasure Unbound”, “Desire Unchained”, “Passion Unleashed”, “Eternity Embraced” (#3.5), “Ecstasy Unveiled”, “Sin Undone”, “Demonica: Overkill” (#5.4) and the “Supernatural” Anthology (#5.5).

LORDS OF DELIVERANCE has 3 installments currently – “Eternal Rider”, “Immortal Rider”, and “Lethal Rider” which was just released on 5/22/12.  “Rogue Rider”, book #4, is due out on 11/22/12. 

For those of you not yet familiar with Larissa’s work, we thought we’d give you the synopses for the available full-length books in those 2 series to get you up to speed.

DEMONICA Series

“Pleasure Unbound” Book #1:

In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life . . . 

She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life. 

Two lovers will dare to risk all.

Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul . . .

“Desire Unchained” Book #2:

Pleasure is their ultimate weapon . .  

Runa Wagner never meant to fall in love with the sexy stranger who seemed to know her every deepest desire. But she couldn't resist the unbelievable passion that burned between them, a passion that died when she discovered his betrayal and found herself forever changed. Now, determined to make Shade pay for the transformation that haunts her, Runa searches for him, only to be taken prisoner by his darkest enemy. 

A Seminus Demon with a love-curse that threatens him with eternal torment, Shade hoped he'd seen the last of Runa and her irresistible charm. But when he wakes up in a dank dungeon chained next to an enraged and mysteriously powerful Runa, he realizes that her effect on him is more dangerous than ever. 

As their captor casts a spell that bonds them as lifemates, Shade and Runa must fight for their lives and their hearts-or succumb to a madman's evil plans.

“Passion Unleashed” Book #3:

FORBIDDEN TEMPTATIONS 

Serena Kelley is an archaeologist and treasure hunter-and a woman with a secret. Since she was seven, she's been the keeper of a powerful charm that grants her health and immortality . . . as long as she stays a virgin. But Serena isn't all that innocent. And when a dangerously handsome stranger brings her to the brink of ecstasy, she wonders if she's finally met the one man she cannot resist. 

FATAL DESIRES 

Wraith is a Seminus demon with a death wish. But when an old enemy poisons him, he must find Serena and persuade her to give him the only known antidote in the universe-her charm. Yet, as she begins to surrender to his seductions and Wraith senses the cure is within his grasp, he realizes a horrible truth: He's falling for the woman whose life he must take in order to save his own.

“Ecstasy Unveiled” Book #4:

A DEMON ENSLAVED

Lore is a Seminus half-breed demon who has been forced to act as his dark master's assassin. Now to earn his freedom and save his sister's life, he must complete one last kill. Powerful and ruthless, he'll stop at nothing to carry out this deadly mission. 

AN ANGEL TEMPTED

Idess is an earthbound angel with a wild side, sworn to protect the human Lore is targeting. She's determined to thwart her wickedly handsome adversary by any means necessary-even if that means risking her vow of eternal chastity. But what begins as a simple seduction soon turns into a passion that leaves both angel and demon craving complete surrender.

Torn between duty and desire, Lore and Idess must join forces as they battle their attraction for each other. Because an enemy from the past is rising again-one hellbent on vengeance and unthinkable destruction.

“Sin Undone” Book #5:

HER TOUCH IS DEADLY

As the only female Seminus demon ever born, master assassin Sinead Donnelly is used to being treated like an outcast. She spent decades enslaved, and now vows she'll die before she'll relinquish her freedom again. Then Sin's innate ability to kill her enemies goes awry: She creates a lethal new werewolf virus that sparks a firestorm of panic and violence. 

HIS HUNGER CAN'T BE DENIED

Half-werewolf, half-vampire Conall Dearghul is charged with bringing in Sin to face punishment for the plague. And she's no stranger: He's bound to her by blood, and the one sexual encounter they shared has left him hungering for her raw sensuality. Worse, Sin is the underworld's most wanted and Con soon learns he's the only one who can help her . . . and that saving her life might mean sacrificing his own.

LORDS OF DELIVERANCE Series

“Eternal Rider” Book #1:

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him. 

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

“Immortal Rider” Book #2:

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured…and plotting revenge.

Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath – and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul…and her heart.

“Lethal Rider” Book #3:

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, Regan Cooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he's about to become a father.

Demon-slayer Regan Matthews never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he's ever wanted-a family.

They sound as amazing as they are, trust us!  If you haven’t read Larissa’s books yet, you really need to bump them up to the top of your TBR list ASAP and find them from your favorite bookseller immediately.  For now though, let’s find out some more about this fabulous author and her work.

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  Hi Larissa!  We’re so happy to have you here today.  Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down and chat with us, we really appreciate it.

LARISSA: Thanks so much! It's great to be here!

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  We always start out by getting to know our guest authors a little bit better.

Q1): Can you tell us 3 things about yourself that we couldn’t find out easily on the Internet?

LARISSA: Well, I can't wear watches with batteries because my body has some sort of weird electrical/magnetic thing that burns out the batteries within a couple of days. I need to order a solar-powered watch one of these days. I also only shave one leg at a time...as in, one leg per shower. I know, strange, but I just don't have the patience to do both at the same time! My third thing is really bizarre -- I have this condition that makes me get really irritated/enraged when people cough. Not like, a cough or two, but constant coughing. It's an actual rare medical condition, but I can't remember the name of it. Anyway, my husband lives in fear when he has a cold...

Q2):  What are 2 things that always make you smile, and 2 things that never fail to piss you off?

LARISSA: Baby animals always make me smile. Also, snow. I love snow. What pisses me off? Cruelty to animals enrages me. So do taxes. Oh, don't get me started on taxes!

Q3):  What are some of your hobbies and/or things that you enjoy doing when you’re not writing or taking care of other author business?

LARISSA: I love video games -- RPGs in the style of Dungeons and Dragons are my favorite. I also love movies, reading, and taking my dog to the lake.

Q4):  What are some of your favorite TV shows and movies?

LARISSA: I love science fiction and fantasy movies like anything Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. Such fun! My favorite TV shows are True Blood, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Drop Dead Diva, Master Chef, Food Network Star, Dexter, Gray's Anatomy, and Supernatural.

Q5):  If you could spend the day with any of your characters, with whom would you want to spend it, and what would you like to do?

LARISSA: Eidolon. I'd want him to show me around Underworld General. I'm fascinated by emergency medicine, so I'd love to watch him work! I could hang out with Shade or Con on ambulance runs, too!

Q6):  What is a typical writing day like for you?  Do you have a routine that you follow?  Are there specific things that you have to have with you to get the creative juices flowing? Do you have any interesting writing quirks, etc?

LARISSA: I really have no typical writing day. I used to...until I got a dog. Now my schedule revolves around her hyperness. She's a 100 lb King Shepherd with a TON of energy, so I can't get any work done until she's worn out. But basically, I sit down on my couch with my laptop and just try to work as I'm able. I work from the time I get up until the time I go to bed. I always have the TV on too...I need background noise, and music won't work because I end up singing instead of writing.

Q7):  Are there any authors and/or titles that you feel inspired you to become the writer you are today?

LARISSA: Stephen King. He really gave me the courage to take risks and go balls-to-the-wall with my writing. I don't hold back, and sometimes that gets me in trouble.

Q8):  Was there any specific inspiration behind the creation of the LORDS OF DELIVERANCE series?

LARISSA: Not really. I just always wanted to write about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and as I was working on Ecstasy Unveiled, I found the perfect spot for them!

Q9):  Will “Rogue Rider” be the conclusion of the series or do you have others planned after (maybe a spin off)?

LARISSA: Rogue Rider will kick off Reaver's book, which I believe will be called a Demonica novel. The two series are so intertwined that really, the LOD series is simply a continuation of the Demonica series. I think readers who are waiting for another Demonica book without having read the Lords of Deliverance series will be a little lost (and will be missing a HUGE chunk of important information) if they go straight from Sin Undone to Reaver's book. I consider the LOD series to be Demonica books #6, #7, #8,& #9. Reaver's book will be #10.

Q10):  What were some of the challenges (research, literary, psychological, logistical, etc) in bringing the LORDS OF DELIVERANCE series to life?

LARISSA: I think the biggest challenge has been that all four books are so connected that they're basically one big book, where the Demonica books were more stand-alone. The LOD series goes much deeper into the Demonica/LOD world and much deeper into mythology, so keeping everything straight was an issue.

Q11):  Do you miss the DEMONICA series, or has it been enough to keep them alive by mentioning them in the LORDS OF DELIVERANCE books and your Anthology contributions? 

LARISSA: Well, again, the two series are so intertwined that I was kind of always still with the Demonica series. Yes, the focus has been on the Horsemen, but all the characters have always been there. Now, people ask why I shifted to the LOD series instead of continuing on with Demonica, and the reason is really that I kind of needed a break from the hospital setting. I couldn't think of where else to go, and the choice came down to getting stale and forcing a story, or shifting gears and going with something new. I went with new, but I wanted to stay in the same world. Now that I've done that, my mind is refreshed and I have more UGH stories in my head.

Q12):  Your series have really become instant favorites with the readers.  Is there anything in particular that you’re especially proud of with regards to what you’ve done to date? 

LARISSA: You know, I'm proud of the fact that for the most part, readers trust me. They trust me to take characters they hate and redeem them. Oh, I've pissed off a few readers and lost a few others with some of the things I've written (the Regan/Thanatos plot in Immortal Rider, most notably), but for the most part, readers tell me they trust me to make sense of the plots and characters even if they aren't sure how I'll do it. I keep telling people -- in the Demonica/LOD world, things are not EVER as they seem. Be patient -- all will be revealed. :)

Q13):  Do you have anything else in the works that you can share with your readers and fans?

LARISSA: Stay tuned -- lots of fun stuff coming up, including (hopefully soon) a revised cover for Rogue Rider!

 

Q14):  Is there a question you thought it would be great to be asked in an interview but have never been asked?  How would you answer that question?

LARISSA: I can't think of anything. Interviewers have been pretty thorough!

Q15):  Would you like to say anything special to your readers while we have you here today?

LARISSA: Just...thanks for all your awesome support and reviews. Word of mouth is what sells books more than anything, and without that, I wouldn't be able to keep writing in this incredible world. As long as readers are reading, I'll keep writing!

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  Thank you so much again for being with us today.  We’re honored to have you and can’t wait to chat with you a little bit more in the Live Chat later on.  We’d absolutely love to have you back to promote & celebrate the release of Reseph’s book in December! 

LARISSA: Thanks so much! I'd love to come back!

If you would like to keep up with Larissa, you can find her online here:

Website:  http://larissaione.com/blog/news/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLarissaIone

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/LarissaIone

GoodReads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/375143.Larissa_Ione

Larissa is graciously offering up totebags full of swag to a winner from Book Monster Reviews and another winner over at the LITERAL ADDICTION Website.  Be sure to head over there and enter as well. 

Fill out the Rafflecopter widget for Larissa’s Event, follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

GOOD LUCK!!!

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Interview & Giveaway with Kelly Gay

Kelly Gay Interview Intro:

Hello everyone!  LITERAL ADDICTION and Book Monster Reviews are very happy to welcome Kelly Gay to our sites today!  

Kelly is just your average bookworm who likes to spend an embarrassing amount of time in make-believe places.

She’s had many jobs, ranging from construction (she can drive a backhoe, tar and shingle a roof, and frame out a house), to waiting on tables, threading film through a projector, managing a horse farm, and selling men’s underwear (you wouldn’t believe the talent that takes).

In the writing world she’s a 2010 double RITA finalist, a three-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, and a recipient of an NC Arts Council Fellowship grant in Literature.

She’s also the proud creator of the CHARLIE MADIGAN series. 

CHARLIE MADIGAN currently has 3 available titles, and 1 upcoming shortly – “The Better Part of Darkness”, “The Darkest Edge of Dawn”, and “The Hour of Dust and Ashes” are currently available.  “Shadows Before the Sun” will be released on 7/31/12.

For those of you that haven’t heard about Kelly’s CHARLIE MADIGAN series yet, here are the blurbs to get you up to speed:

“The Better Part of Darkness”

 CHARLIE MADIGAN Book #1:

Charlie Madigan is a divorced mother of one, and a kick-ass cop trained to take down the toughest human and off-world criminals. She's recently returned from the dead after a brutal attack, an unexplained revival that has left her plagued by nightmares and random outbursts of strength that make doing her job for Atlanta P.D.'s Integration Task Force even harder. Since the Revelation, the criminal element in Underground Atlanta has grown, leaving Charlie and her partner Hank to keep the chaos to a dull roar. But now an insidious new danger is descending on her city with terrifying speed, threatening innocent lives: a deadly, off-world narcotic known as ash. Charlie is determined to uncover the source of ash before it targets another victim. But can she protect those she loves from a force more powerful than heaven and hell combined?

“The Darkest Edge of Dawn”

 CHARLIE MADIGAN Book #2:

It takes a strong woman to keep the peace in a city of endless night. . . .

Deep beneath Underground, a cunning bid for power and revenge has begun—one that threatens to make Atlanta the new battleground in the ultimate confrontation between good and evil. The powers of hellish Charbydon have the upper hand after plunging the city into primordial night. And under the cover of darkness, a serial killer targets the most powerful Elysians in the city, the angelic Adonai. For Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner Hank, tracking deadly predators is all in a day’s work . . . but this case will test the limits of their strength and friendship as it draws them into a deadly world of power plays, ancient myths, explosive secrets, and a race against time that risks all that Charlie holds dear.

“The Hour of Dust and Ashes”

 CHARLIE MADIGAN Book #3:

To save her sister, she must stop a silent killer. . . .

Protecting Atlanta from the off-world criminals of Underground is tough enough, but now Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner, Hank, learn that the addicts of the offworld drug ash have begun taking their own lives. Ash makes humans the perfect vessels for possession, and something or someone is leading them to their deaths. Charlie is desperate to save her addicted sister, Bryn, from a similar fate. As New Year’s Eve approaches, Charlie makes a deadly bargain with an ancient race of beings and embarks on a dangerous journey into hellish Charbydon with Hank and the Revenant Rex to save Bryn and make it back before time runs out. Only, for one of them, coming home means facing a fate worse 

than death. . . .

“Shadows Before the Sun”

 CHARLIE MADIGAN Book #4:

COMING 7/31/12

Between life and death lies a chasm of pain beyond imagining. . . .

Elysia may be a heavenly off-world destination, but beyond it, in the siren city of Fiallan, the Circe have punished Charlie Madigan’s partner, Hank, into a tortuous state between life and death. With all the proper legal channels cleared, Charlie heads to Elysia, not knowing what she’ll find, or if she’ll ever see the siren again . . . while at home, jinn crime boss Grigori Tennin has begun an all-out hunt for the divine being Ahkneri. Tennin’s tactics set off a chain reaction that puts Charlie in the crosshairs of the shadowy creature known as Death, and stirs Ahkneri from her long sleep—and if Vengeance wakes, Atlanta will never be the same.

They sound wonderful, right!!?  Before you go and hunt them down from your favorite bookseller, let’s learn some more about Kelly and her books.

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  Hi Kelly!  We’re very happy to have you here today and are thrilled to let the world know about your CHARLIE MADIGAN series.  Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us.

KELLY: Thanks for asking me. Very happy to be here! :)

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  We always start by getting to know our guest author a little bit better.

Q1): Can you tell us 3 things about yourself (no matter how random) that we couldn’t find out easily on the Internet?

KELLY: Hmm, okay. Well… 1) I can’t go to sleep if I know there’s a cabinet or closet door open in the house. 2) I love socks, but hate wearing socks and shoes together. I like wearing socks alone. And shoes without socks—like flip flops and sandals. That sounds weird, LOL. And 3) I have a crush on the Geek Squad guys—something about those uniforms… 

Q2):  What are 3 things that always make you smile?

KELLY: I always smile when peeking in on my kids asleep – so cute! Sitting down with a bag of Doritos definitely puts a smile on my face. And my animals.     

Q3):  If you could spend the day with anyone – alive, dead, fictional, etc – who would you want to spend it with and why?

KELLY: My grandparents. Because I miss them.


Q4):  What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing or taking care of other author business?

KELLY: Spending time with my family, especially outdoors since I’m always in the house working. Reading! There never seems to be enough time for that these days. And I love going out to the barn, tooling around, grooming my horse, bathing her, sweeping the aisle, cleaning stalls – the barn is my zen place.

Q5):  How has your road to publication been so far?

KELLY: My initial road was about 15 years worth of writing, submitting, and getting rejected. Long and full of ups and downs. But the road since selling has been great so far, still full of ups and downs as any career... It’s also been an adjustment and a huge learning curve. I’m my own boss, my own business person, assistant, publicist, webmaster, writer, etc… So I had to learn to wear a lot of hats and manage my time so that I could tend to the business side of things yet still keep the majority of my time for writing.    

Q6):  Are there any specific authors or titles that you feel have inspired you to become the writer you are today?

KELLY: Oh yes. Growing up, I was a huge fan of Walter Farley and Time Life Book Series about ancient cultures and mythology. Then as a teen: Anne Rice, Marion Zimmer Bradley (MISTS OF AVALON), Mary Stewart (THE MERLIN TRILOGY), Tolkien, Lewis… All of them wrote about the things I was naturally into. They showed me how limitless one can be in terms of imagination, how it’s okay to push boundaries and write what you really want to write about and be as big or as subtle as you want to be. It’s all about the storytelling. 

Q7):  What are the best and worst parts of writing for you?

KELLY: The best things are having an avenue to get my work to readers, to have the support of an agent, editor, and publisher. Being my own boss and setting my own hours. The very best thing, though, is my readers and fans. It’s so cool when others ‘get’ my work, understand and feel deeply for my characters and support the books. That’s always been my dream—to share the crazy ideas in my head, to entertain people and hold them captive with my tales. Yep, coolest thing ever.

Worst things are the mental monkeys, the pressure and stress to deliver on deadlines and to deliver on books already bought and paid for, to not disappoint people, to make each book better than the next... Oh, those mental monkeys!    

Q8):  What is a typical writing day like for you?  Do you have a routine that you follow, specific things that you have to have with you to get the creative juices flowing, unique writing quirks you must adhere to, etc?

KELLY: Movies always inspire me, so does art, and being outdoors for some reason. But no quirks per se that I must adhere to. Thing is, when I have a deadline to meet, that deadline doesn’t care about those things, so I have learned to write without any must-haves (as long as I have a writing apparatus, I’m good to go). I tend to move around in my house. Sometimes I write in the living room, my bedroom, outside on the deck. I’m still trying to figure out a way to write in the hammock, but that never seems to work!

My writing day is fairly set. I drop my kids off at school, workout for 30 minutes (before I come home, because if I come home I will never get back out and do it), then home and shower and sitting down to write by 9 am. I usually write from then until 3-3:30. If I’m behind, I will write at night as well. 

Q9):  What type of scenes (dialogue, action, sex, etc) do you enjoy writing the most and why?

KELLY: I cycle through favorites. And it tends to depend on the characters and what’s happening. I love writing gritty action scenes—the kind of stuff where the main character gets her ass kicked, but keeps on fighting anyway. I have a lot of fun writing fun/flirty dialogue. The dialogue between Charlie and Hank is always something I end up smiling about while writing. And the hotter scenes… Yeah, I like those too! :D

Q10):  Was there any specific inspiration behind the creation of the CHARLIE MADIGAN series?

KELLY: I really lean toward the first person POV, the grit and action, and the strong female archetype of the genre, so I was really inspired by the genre itself. I knew from the very beginning, back in 2005, that I wanted to write about a divorced single mom in a UF world. That idea was a big inspiration to me because it was in the genre I love, but it was also very different at the time. I was inspired by my own children. I’d think how awesome it’d be to have this kick-ass heroine who has a child to protect. You think she’s badass now? Just wait until you threaten her kid. That always got me revved up to write and not give up on the story. I wanted Charlie to be grounded and without a traumatic past. Charlie is 31 years old. She knows who she is and what she wants out of life. Her journey is really about this new stage: Mothering a pre-teen, keeping her city safe from dangerous supernatural creatures, moving on from divorce, and hopefully finding something better at the end of her personal and professional struggles.   

Q11):  How many books do you have planned for the series?

KELLY: Originally, I only had three planned. And besides the first book, none of the others went in any direction I foresaw when I first sold. Glad about that! It’s hard to answer this question. A lot depends on sales figures and such. I know I’d really like to write some companion novels featuring other characters in the Charlie Madigan world -- The Druid King being one of those. In this 4^th Charlie book, several threads are resolved, but others left open. There is room to continue… if my publisher wants me to!

Q12):  What were some of the challenges in bringing the series to life?

KELLY: This goes back to Q10 and writing about an older, divorced heroine with a pre-teen daughter. I was going to do it; I was already committed to Charlie, but I did wonder if it would appeal to the urban fantasy audience at the time. I got rejected quite often by agents who didn’t think it was right for the genre. So it was a challenge to keep faith with what I’d written, and not start changing things. 

Q13):  What are you the most proud of with regards to your career thus far?

KELLY: Hmm. This is a question I’ve never been asked before. I’m the kind of person who isn’t comfortable talking about my own stuff in this regard. I was very happy to have that first Charlie book make Best First Book and Best Novel with Romantic Elements in the 2010 RITAs. I never thought an urban fantasy would have a chance in hell, so that was really cool and I was thrilled for not only the book but for the genre as well. Plus, I’d been an RWA member for years and started my path to publication writing contemporary and paranormal romance. To be recognized by the organization was just awesome. But really I’m just proud to have books on the shelf and people who like to read them.  

Q14):  What’s up next for Kelly Gay?  What do you have going on in the next couple months that your readers might be interested in?

KELLY: The 4^th Charlie book, SHADOWS BEFORE THE SUN, comes out at the end of July. And I’m currently writing the third novel in my Young Adult series, Gods & Monsters, which I write as Kelly Keaton. 

I’m also venturing down a few new paths, so much more to come… ;-) 

 

Q15):  Is there anything special that you’d like to say to your readers while we have you here today?

KELLY: Thank you! That doesn’t even come close. I feel so lucky; my readers are some of the best, nicest, funniest people out there. Their support and friendship is humbling and very inspiring. 

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  Kelly, thank you so much again for being with us today.  We’re very happy to help you promote your backlist & the upcoming “Shadows Before the Sun”.  We’d love to have you back to promote your next big release if you’d be interested.

KELLY: You’re welcome. And thank you!

If you want to keep up with Kelly, you can find her here:

Website:  http://kellygay.com/home

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Gay/126055456697

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/kellyhgay

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869203.Kelly_Gay  

Kelly is graciously offering up 2 Kellys in One: A signed Kelly Gay novel (SHADOWS BEFORE THE SUN/Charlie Madigan #4) and a signed Kelly Keaton novel (DARKNESS BECOMES HER/Gods & Monsters #1) + swag to 1 winner from Book Monster Reviews the same two books + swag to 1 winner from LITERAL ADDICTION. 

(Winners may specify a personalized signature or a generic signature).

Open internationally.

To Enter:

Fill out the Rafflecopter widget for Kelly’s Event, follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

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Interview and Giveaway with Karina Copper

Karina Cooper Interview Intro:

Hello everyone! LITERAL ADDICTION and Book Monster Reviews are very happy to have the wonderful Karina Cooper with us today.

Karina has a great ‘unofficial’ bio on her website so we thought we’d borrow it for today’s Event:

“My name is Karina, I write things:

San Francisco provided me with a home only until the wanderlust struck. I was raised all over the U.S. like some kind of tiny blonde* gypsy, and marinating in the melting pot of so many cultures may be the source of this wild imagination. No matter where I was or what I thought I wanted to be when I grew up—actress to artist, web designer, fashionista or author—I was always creative. As far as careers go, daydreaming for a living kicks so much ass.

I’m married. You can tell by the facial tic.

The mancandy caught me in a shiny net woven from the tears of embittered virgins. So powerful is that net that I’m helpless to resist him when he looks at me with those big blue eyes and asks, “Can we have one more cat? Please?”

We live in marital bliss in the beautiful(ly dreary) Pacific Northwest with four cats, two rabbits, the dream of a dog and a passel of adopted gamer geeks. I put my foot down about more animals, so he keeps bringing these poor lost gamers home… It’s like kicking a puppy, I swear.

And I'm a geek. 'Cause geeks are sexy…

*A Blonde what?  Look, I was, like, ten. By sixteen, it was darkening. It's been over a decade since I've seen my natural hair color. There it's black. Now, it's purple. Tomorrow, maybe red. Bets, anyone?”

Karina’s ‘official’ bio states that after weaving happily ever afters for all of her friends in school, she eventually grew up (kind of) and fell in love with writing. She broke into the scene with her gritty Dark Mission series, introducing a world that RT Book Reviews calls “an electrifying start”.
One part glamour, one part total dork, and all imagination, she writes dark and sexy paranormal romance and Steampunk-flavored historical urban fantasy. When she isn’t writing, Karina is an airship captain’s wife and Steampunk fashionista. She lives in the beautiful and rainy Pacific Northwest with a husband, four cats, two rabbits, the fantasy of a dog and a passel of adopted gamer geeks.


She’s the proud creator of the DARK MISSION Paranormal Romance and ST. CROIX CHRONICLES Historical Urban Fantasy series.


The DARK MISSION series currently has 5 installments – “Before the Witches – A Novella”, “Blood of the Wicked”, “Lure of the Wicked”, “No Rest for the Witches – A Novella”, and “All Things Wicked”. The 4^th full length novel, “Sacrifice the Wicked”, is due out 9/25/12.

The ST. CROIX CHRONICLES is new. Its first installment, “Tarnished”, was just released yesterday – 6/26/12 – and we’re here to help Karina promote and celebrate.

For those of you not yet familiar with Karina’s work, we thought we’d give you the synopses of the available full length books to get you up to speed and peak your interests a bit…

Tarnished

 ST. CROIX CHRONICLES Book #1:

In Victorian London, where science skirts the line between magic and mechanics, one stubborn miss will face shadows from her past, demons from her desires, and choices that will forever shape who she is.
 

A brand-new, sexy series from Karina Cooper featuring fearless heroine Cherry St. Croix-debutante by day, bounty hunter by night-set in an alternate London where proper Victorian society sits above a seedy steampunk underworld teeming with dubious loyalties, advanced technology, and incredible magic

Blood of the Wicked

 DARK MISSION Book #1:

As an independent witch living off the grid, Jessie Leigh has spent her life running, trying to blend in among the faceless drudges in the rebuilt city. She thought she was finally safe, but now she’s been found in a New Seattle strip club—by a hard-eyed man on a mission to destroy her kind.

A soldier of the Holy Order, Silas Smith believes in the cause: trawling the fringes of society for the murderous witches who threaten what’s left of the world. Forced into a twisting web of half-truths and lies, he has to stay close to the most sensuous and electrifying woman he has ever seen and manipulate her into leading him to the witch he has to kill: her brother. Silas doesn’t know that Jessie’s his enemy, only that he wants her, needs her, even as he lies to her… and must protect her until his final breath.

Lure of the Wicked

 DARK MISSION Book #2:

Naomi West was plucked from one prison and placed undercover in another: the gilded cage that is Timeless, New Seattle’s premier spa and resort, where owner Phinneas Clarke—the most seductive man Naomi has ever met—may be hiding a killer. She’s an agent of the Holy Order, trained to hunt the guilty and render justice. But while she’s tracking down a rogue agent on a killing spree, Phin is determined to uncover her most damning—and dangerous—secrets. Whatever the cost.

All Things Wicked

 DARK MISSION Book #3:

Juliet Carpenter thought of the coven as family, but when she falls for a man that betrays them all, she’s left alone and desperately searching for a reason why.  Caleb Leigh has spent the last year in hiding, unable to escape his demons.  When Juliet finds him again, her need for vengeance clashes with the hunger still burning between them.

It’s a fight born from the embers of a half-forgotten attraction and the wounds of a past too raw to ignore.  With enemies circling and secrets threatening to consume them, Caleb has no choice but to fulfill a promise made long ago – Protect her, save her.  Even if it costs him his blood, his body…and even what’s left of his mind.

1.Juliet Carpenter thought of the coven as family, but when she falls for a man who betrays them all, she’s left alone and desperately searching for a reason why. Caleb Leigh has spent the past year in hiding, unable to escape his demons. When Juliet finds him again, her need for vengeance clashes with the hunger still burning between them.

It’s a fight born from the embers of a half-forgotten attraction and the wounds of a past too raw to ignore. With enemies circling and secrets threatening to consume them, Caleb has no choice but to fulfill a promise made long ago—protect her, save her. Even if it costs him his blood, his body…and what’s left of his mind.

Mmmm, hmmmm…. Can’t get online or out to your favorite book-seller fast enough can you!?  We know.  Make sure you add them to your TBR lists, but for now, let’s get to the interview and learn some more about Karina and these wonderful series.

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews: Hi Karina! We’re very happy to have you with us today and we’re hoping that maybe we can turn some new readers on to your work.  Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to spend some time with us and let our readers get to know you a bit better.   

KARINA:  Thanks so much for having me! The instant I saw the name Literal Addiction, I knew it was the site for me. Literary, addictive, just like me! (Am I addictive? I like to think so, but then, I just can’t quit myself, so I may be biased.) 

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews: We always start by getting to know our guest authors a bit better…

Q1): What are 3 things about yourself, no matter how random, that we couldn’t find out easily on the Internet?

KARINA:  That’s a hard one! For anyone who follows me on Twitter @karinacooper, you know that I’m fairly open about my life, what I like and what I do. So I’m going to have to really rack my brain to come up with something I haven’t shared. So, let’s see...

1.    I have a total of ten piercings, only six of which are on my face or ears. (Between writing this and sending it off, one of the remaining four was accidentally ripped out the back of my neck by my very contrite hair stylist. So make that nine!)

2.    I think gay porn is probably one of the most awesome things on the internet. (What? You asked for random and unknown! I’m desperate here...)

3.    I once got an F on a history paper written from the point of a view of a Roman citizen. The teacher failed me because I liberally peppered it with phallic innuendo and euphemisms. I was thirteen, and between my mother and I, we argued it into a pass grade. Those Romans, man. Decadent.

Q2): When you’re not writing or taking care of other author business, what are some of your favorite things to do?

KARINA: When I’m not burying myself in this job, which is hard work but the best kind, I’m spending my Friday nights at a Live Action Roleplay (LARP) game at my local university. We dress up as mythological critters out of urban legend and fairy tales, run around having adventures and solving riddles. It’s quite geeky and very much fun.

On the side, I’m into the Steampunk community in a big way (if Tarnished wasn’t an obvious enough clue). The mancandy is the head of the local Steampunk Society, and I fulfill a very specific function on his airship, the FCS Avonlea. To with: the Captain’s American wife. Imagine Evie from the third Mummy movie, but without the accent, and that’s me.

I’m a storyteller by nature, so all my hobbies involve games, storytelling, shared fun in LARP or table-top or even just video game settings.

Q3): What are 3 things that can always make you smile no matter what?

KARINA: Easy!

1.    My cats and rabbits, especially when they’re cuddly.

2.    Twitter. Between my followers and the people I follow, there’s always something that makes me crack a grin.

3.    Corny jokes and puns. I can’t help myself, I laugh every time.  

Q4): What’s a typical writing day like for you?  Do you have anything that you absolutely have to have with you to get the creative juices flowing or any interesting writing quirks, etc? 

KARINA: Oh, boy. My typical writing day is usually a routine, and doesn’t change much day to day in terms of hours. What I’m doing inside those hours might, but the end result is always pages.

I get up around 9 or 10am, depending on how late I was up the night before. I make coffee first thing, feed the animals, check my email (although email really is the first thing I check the instant I wake up). Until about 1 or 2pm, I work on all the other stuff that revolves around writing: blogs, copyedits, things that I can be distracted from without harming the creative wave, as it were. The mancandy, who works swing shift hours, gets up around 1, I make him lunch and then usually do a few chores with him or go back to work.

He leaves for work at 3, wherein I sit down and start working on the writing portion of my day. I usually have a goal of 20 pages, and since the mancandy doesn’t get home until 12am or 2am, depending on his work overtime needs, I’ve been known to work right through to when he does. Sometimes, on some days, I’ll pause long enough to watch a favorite TV show, usually not more than 2 hours, before I get back to it.

I’m pretty sure I’m a workaholic.

Q5): If you could spend the day with anyone – alive, dead, fictional, etc – whom would you want to spend it with, and what would you like to do?

KARINA: Neil Gaiman, hands down. It’s my goal—one of them—to one day to be able to afford one of those “Tea with Neil” auction things. I once tweeted that, and he responded back to me assuring me that he’d make a dreadful tea guest; he’d eat all the cucumber sandwiches. I was so tickled by this that I promptly assured him that should it ever come to pass, he was more than welcome to all of the sandwiches he wanted.

Neil has been an inspiration to my writing career from the start. When I learned about his “writing gazebo”, I decided right then and there that one day, I would have one. Possibly not a gazebo, possibly even something that doesn’t look like a gazebo in the slightest, but I would forever call it my “writing gazebo” and just smile serenely at people’s confusion. I decided this before I completed and sold my first novel, Blood of the Wicked, to Avon. It’s still a dream, a milestone I one day intend to reach, and it’s thanks to Neil that I have that milestone.

One day, I’d like to have tea with him and thank him for just being him.

Q6): Are there any authors and/or titles that you feel may have inspired you and/or helped you to become the author you are today?

KARINA:Can I talk about Neil Gaiman so more or would that be too stalkery? Okay, well, see the above for that one. But he’s not the only one! I once came across something Terry Pratchett had said in his alt.fan.pratchett days (remember those?). He said, “Too many people want to have written.” And without even having to ask, I knew what he meant: too many people want to have the book done, out, have the fame and accolades, and call it good.

Before I even found an agent, I saw that quote and thought, “Not me.” Like a complete stool pigeon, I declared, “I want to write! I want the too-many-deadlines and not-enough-sleep moments, I want the oh-god-they-hate-me and the my-first-amazing-review moments. I want the heartache and the tears, the encouragement and the carpal tunnel.”

Okay, I can do without the carpal tunnel.

I’m older and wiser now, and I’m less keen on about half of those things, but I’ll tell you this: I still want to write. It’s only occasionally that I think fondly of having written.

And, of course, I owe a great deal to Cherry Adair, whose plotting workshop and personal demand that I finish the book I had plotted and sell it culminated in just that. Her encouragement really did push me to submit, submit, submit, and I can never thank her enough for being there when I needed a bit of a compass.

Q7): If you could have any superpower, what would you want it to be and why?

KARINA: I always answer this question differently, depending on the day. Today, I’d want the ability to fly. I think it’s be so magical to soar through the skies like Arthur Dent; just an average Joe (or Arthur, in this case) swooping and lolly-flying about.  

Q8):  Are there any books that you could read 100 times and never get sick of?

KARINA: I think every book has a certain amount of readability, depending on the day, the mood, the need. I have a few go-tos that I always return to: among them, Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book. I have that on audio and it’s just lovely.

I always, always return to Terry Pratchett’s City Watch portion of his Discworld series, starting with Guards! Guards! I also have that on audiobook, and I can’t get enough of it.

Jenny Crusie’s Welcome to Temptation and Faking It are two of my eternal go-tos when I want something to pass the time with.

I’m sure there’s more, but I couldn’t possibly list them all!

Q9): Was there any specific inspiration behind the creation of the DARK MISSION series?

KARINA: Supervolcanoes! Seriously. I was watching a show on the Discovery Channel about supervolcanoes, and it sparked a whole though process regarding the end of the world and extinction-level events. Obviously, I toned down some of that ‘utter annihilation of the world’ bit, that’s what sparked it. The rest, as they say, is history!

Q9): What about the ST. CROIX CHRONICLES?

KARINA: I don’t remember what exactly sparked Cherry’s story directly. Being a steampunker, I was embroiled in the world long before the story came to me. When it finally did, it came with flavors of Victorian monsters and adventure stories, and I wanted to pay homage to them as much as tell an all-new tale.  

Q10): How many books do you have planned for each series? 

KARINA: The Dark Mission books will end after five, unless something crazy happens and there’s a wild outcry for more. One never knows! I tend to be one of those people who won’t stick with a series after so many books, especially ones that don’t resolve certain conflicts in a reasonable amount of time. Some authors have surprised me, like Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series, with their ability to push more books out in a series and keep me interested, but it’s rare.

To that end, I’ve got five planned for the Dark Mission, and so far, at least four mapped out for The St. Croix Chronicles. Cherry’s stories are a little bit more flexible, but as everything I write must eventually come to an organic end, she’ll find hers organically.

Q11):  What were some of the challenges that you encountered while bringing “Tarnished” to life?

KARINA: Courtesy )@*#^! titles! I’m going to fess up right now: in Tarnished, you’re going to see a Viscount’s youngest son termed “Lord” Helmsley, and in Gilded, the next book, he’s “Mr.” Helmsley. That’s because I didn’t have Maire Claremont and Sarah MacLean, or my lovely copyeditor Ellie (whose name probably isn’t something as casual as Ellie, but I call her this in a delightful tone), to catch that in Tarnished. I thought I’d been so good with the research, but oh, no. Turns out, a Viscount is Lord, his eldest is Lord out of courtesy, and then every other son is “The Honorable”, which makes them a “Mr.”.  Who knew, right? And then it gets really confusing with women!

Q12):  What about your library of literary excellence thus far are you the most proud of?  Do you maybe have a favorite book of the series so far, a favorite plot twist, a remarkable fan reaction, etc?

KARINA: I think my favorite thing so far is that my editor, Esi at Avon, fell so in love with Silas, my first hero, that she unequivocally forbids me from doing anything horrible to him ever.  When I ask her questions like, “Hey, can I kill someone?”, her immediate reaction is, “is it Silas? Because if so, then no.” And she’s been known to threaten people who try and claim him on Twitter. I’m so chuffed that my editor fell so madly for one of my roughest and most aggressive heroes! He got a lot of flak because a handful of folk just decided he was too rough to be loved, but she’s stood by him since day one.

I have to admit, I think it’s the most awesome thing when I get one-star reviews or hate mail. I’ve gotten a few (accusing me of pardoning and excusing historical and modern witch-hunts, assuring me that whatever Jesus did to me is totally forgivable if I tried, that sort of thing) and I just can’t help but think I’ve made it when I inspire that kind of reach-out aggression.

Q13):  What are the best and worst parts about writing for you?

KARINA: The best parts are the hours and hours I spend in other worlds, letting it all flow from my brain to my fingers and onto the page. I love it when people recognize my name, I love the wonderful feeling I get when they tell me my book was good and they spent all night reading. I like making people feel good, or inspiring thought or any emotion.

The worst is those times when the words don’t flow as easy, and you start thinking that you’re not a writer at all, but a poo-flinging monkey trying to recreate Shakespeare on the wall. Turns out, even amazingly talented people like Christopher Moore share this feeling, and he encouraged me as only one writer can to another on Twitter: assured me that these feelings do go away... until they come back again rather sooner than one might like. I love his pragmatism.

Q14):  What’s next for Karina Cooper?  What do you have coming in the upcoming months that readers and fans can look forward to?

KARINA: I have so much in store, I can’t even stand it!

The first is Tarnished, obviously, which is the very first in The St. Croix Chronicles, the ongoing story of Cherry St. Croix and her struggles in dealing with her family’s legacy, a Society who doesn’t want her, and a habit that could just break her.

In late September, the fourth Dark Mission book, Sacrifice the Wicked, will be coming out, and for those who are paying attention, it’s Simon and Parker’s book. Right? Like we didn’t see that coming a mile off. But it’s not what you think; and, in fact, nobody is what they say they are, and nothing is what it seems to be.

Gilded, the second book in The St. Croix Chronicles, will be coming out early 2013, tentatively, and I’m so looking forward to that! Cherry’s story continues, but you’ll have to read about how until Tarnished is devoured, lest I unwittingly spoil it for you.

After that is the fifth and final Dark Mission book, and then...? Stick around, my delicious friends, for it’s anybody’s game!

Q15):  Would you like to say anything special to your readers and fans while we have you here today?

KARINA: Can I just tell you how utterly fabulous it is to know you’re all reading my books? It really is! I think you’re all amazing and wonderful and if I could, I’d have you all over for tea and cheesecake. I delight in writing stories, and I’d do it even if I didn’t have an audience, but to know you’re out there just wows and humbles me all at the same time.

Yeah, yeah, don’t get cocky. That humility could be real short-lived. I am, after all, me! (I mostly kid...)

Thank you so much for having me here at Literal Addiction! This was fun.

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews: Karina, thank you so much again for being with us! We’re very excited that we can have you back in October to celebrate the next new releases and allow our readers to chat with you a little bit more live (Karina’s return Event is on 10/21 fans!)  

KARINA: I can’t wait! A live event is going to be insane. Do I have to censor myself? Oh, no, I bet I’ll have to behave very, very politely. I type like I talk: quickly, often grammatically incorrect and fraught with curse words. (What, you’ve read the Dark Mission series! Silas mentions bullshit on, like, the second line, doesn’t he?)

It will be smashing. I hope to see you all there!

If you want to keep up with Karina, you can find her online at her Website, on Facebook,  Twitter, and/or GoodReads.

Karina is offering up  a signed and personalized copy of TARNISHED to a winner from Book Monster Reviews and another winner over at the LITERAL ADDICTION website. If you win, be sure to tell us who to sign it to or she’ll choose your name or handle!

To Enter: 

Fill out the Rafflecopter form, follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’. 

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