Author Interview with Florence Witkop

I’m interviewing Florence Witkop, author of urban fantasy novel “Wolf Legend”. Questions are bolded, and Florence’s responses are in regular font.

1) What’s the hardest part of being an author?

Actually writing. It’s easy when I’m home alone and was also easy when the only other people home were the kids. It’s a lot more difficult when other adults are around. It’s harder to push another adult out of my space!

2) Can you give us a short synopsis of Wolf Legend? 

   Jane, living at her family farm in northern Minnesota, guides Buck, a wolf researcher, to an island to check out the local legend of huge wolves there. She knows it’s ridiculous but the money entices her. Once there, however, a  monstrous wolf charges through their camp… and Jane’s mind connects with the mind of the wolf. They are both blown away by the mental connection and Jane follows the wolf to find out how such a thing can happen and Buck follows her… straight through a cave and into another universe where the huge dire-wolves of prehistoric times live. Jane’s mental connection with the alpha she-wolf is all that keeps them alive in that dangerous world and the alpha wolf asks Jane to bring an injured pup back home to be healed. She does and then she and Buck must deal with the consequences of having a huge, dangerous but lovable psychic wolf pup in today’s world.

3) Is this part of a series, or stand-alone?

  Both. This is the second of the Legends trilogy, but each book stands alone. Each is about a legend that turns out to be true, but that’s the only connection. Different characters, different setting, different everything except that they all deal with legends.

4) How many hours per day do you spend writing?

   It varies. When I’m working, I spend at least a half dozen hours a day. But marketing takes a lot of time so when I’m dealing with that, I write less.

5) What is your favorite book in the same genre as yours?

   

Wolf and Iron, a science fiction novel in which the world falls apart and all that saves a bookish type guy trying to make it across the country to the safety of his uncle’s ranch is a lone wolf that adopts him.

6) What are you working on now?

   The third and last of the Legends trilogy. Earth Legend is about the legend of Ceres, the goddess of the harvest and fertility. One of her descendants stows away on a colonizing space ship because she knows that her ability to keep the plants alive in that alien environment will be essential to keep the colonists alive. She’s caught, of course, and thrown in jail and might be thrown out the airlock unless she can convince those in charge that she’s who and what she says.

Wolf Legend

Title: Wolf Legend

Author: Florence Witkop

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Jane, who dislikes wolves because they kill livestock, takes Buck Portman, wolf researcher and wildlife professor at the nearby college to an island for a week to seek out the huge wolves legend says have been seen in the area. She’s skeptical until a huge wolf runs through their camp… and mentally connects with Jane. Both woman and wolf are startled by their mental connection. The wolf invites Jane to follow so they can sort out what’s between them. Jane takes off after the wolf in the dark, followed by the confused professor. She follows the wolf through a cave and into another world, one populated by larger-than-life, dangerous animals, including the wolves of the legend. Her mental connection to the alpha she-wolf is all that saves their lives in that dangerous place. Days later, when they return to their world, at the request of the alpha wolf they take her wolf pup with a broken leg so it can be healed. Problem is that wild wolves are not allowed as pets in our world so the professor must technically care for the wolf with Jane’s help. But he has reservations. The huge dire wolf pup is in the wrong world. As it grows, will it remain a pet or become a dangerous predator? As the attraction between Jane and the professor grows, so do the problems inherent in having a huge prehistoric wolf in today’s world.

Author Bio

Florence’s stories begin as simple tales of contemporary life, often in small towns or the wilderness she knows so well. Where they go from there is what makes them special. There is always a strong sense of place. Sometimes they cross genres and contain paranormal, sci/fi, or fantasy elements. There is usually a romance and there are always characters her readers like and would enjoy having as friends.

Most of all, there is a story because what Florence does best is tell stories. Well plotted stories that carry the characters towards a logical conclusion that always includes a happy ending.  Stories that shine light on the human condition while they celebrate the world we live in.  Stories that her readers relate to and remember long after the reading is over.

She writes about people who are as normal as apple pie (most of them, anyway) who unexpectedly find themselves in the middle of situations ranging from the heartwarming through the difficult and all the way to the horrendous. But Florence’s characters choose to act instead of running away. In the process, they survive, thrive, overcome whatever obstacles large or small are thrown in front of them, and while they are at it, they find time to fall in love.

Florence was born in the city and has lived in the suburbs, small towns, the country and the wilderness area of northern Minnesota, where she still lives with her husband and a cowardly cat named Smoke.

At various times in her writing career she’s been a confession writer, a copywriter, a ghost writer and an editor. She writes short stories, novellas and novels.  Her work has been categorized as romance, science-fiction, fantasy, mainstream and eco-fiction, to name a few genres that it fits so beautifully into.

 

Links

Amazon link:   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009R6WMT0

Smashwords link:  http://www.smashwords/com/books/view/287109

 

Giveaway

There is a tour-wide giveaway for a $30 amazon gift card! Wow. 🙂 Click the link below to participate.

Go here to participate in the giveaway.

Author Interview Dark Energy Tour

I’m hosting an interview for the book tour for urban fantasy novel “Dark Energy”. My questions are bolded, the author’s responses are in regular font.

1)      Can you give us a short synopsis of Dark Energy?

Dark Energy is a urban fantasy that takes place in the near future about 50 years after a disaster causes almost everyone in the world to become wizards. The protagonist, Josephine O’Connor, is a rare Category 6 wizard so she is a lot more powerful and even though she has the experience of an 84 year-old, she has the youthful body of a woman in her early twenties. She’s recently discovered that she’s immortal rather than just aging very slowly. Josephine uncovers an important secret about the Valituras, a power-hungry organization that has lived in secret for centuries. They have amassed powerful dark magic and infiltrated all levels of the government. Now that their existence is publicly exposed and Josephine’s discovery leads to the capture of more Valituras agents, they decide to make a big move and declare war against the country. Josephine scrambles to protect herself and her loved ones from this powerful foe. Her two life-long friends, Helen and Alice, are also immortal and assist her on this quest.

As she uncovers more clues in her search to expose the hidden identities of the Valituras leaders, her boyfriend grapples with his new talent of white magic which proves to be a potent yet unreliable source of power. Even as Mark’s abilities expand, he struggles to avoid burnout which will lead to a coma and reversion back to mainstream magic. When the U.S. government’s MADA department hires him to attempt restoration of an ancient historical site, American Stone Henge, the Valituras target him for termination.

As Josephine’s psychometry brings her closer to the truth about the Valituras, it becomes a race against time and she fears the answers will come too late.

2)      Is this part of a series, or a stand-alone?

This is the third installment of the Grumpy Old Wizard series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

3)      Why should everyone read Dark Energy?

Dark Energy is a fun adventure and an interesting take on immortality. I would recommend it to any urban fantasy lover who enjoys a contemporary setting with plenty of magic, adventure, and little bit of humor.

4)      What are you working on now?

I am currently working on the fourth installment of the Grumpy Old Wizards called Terramezic Energy where a new foe is discovered and that Earth’s ancestors used to possess more advanced magic that allowed them to travel and colonize other worlds in distant galaxies.

Dark Energy

Title: Dark Energy

Author: John O’Riley

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Josephine uncovers an important secret about the Valituras, a power-hungry organization that has lived in secret for centuries. They have amassed powerful dark magic and infiltrated all levels of the government. Now that their existence is publicly exposed and Josephine’s discovery leads to the capture of more Valituras agents, they decide to make a big move and declare war against the country. Josephine scrambles to protect herself and her loved ones from this powerful foe.

As she uncovers more clues in her search to expose the hidden identities of the Valituras leaders, her boyfriend grapples with his new talent of white magic which proves to be a potent yet unreliable source of power. Even as Mark’s abilities expand, he struggles to avoid burnout which will lead to a coma and reversion back to mainstream magic. When the U.S. government’s MADA department hires him to attempt restoration of an ancient historical site, American Stone Henge, the Valituras target him for termination.

As Josephine’s psychometry brings her closer to the truth about the Valituras, she fears the answers will come too late.

Author Bio

John O’Riley has been writing as far back as he can remember. He is an author of novels and an award winning writer of screenplays in the category of urban fantasy, comedy, mystery, science fiction and young adult. His movie feature screenplay, Cursed, is an Honorable Mention Winner for the 2012 Screenplay Festival. His most recent accomplishments include the screenplays Cursed, Project Pandora, Pinky Swear, Incipio, and Bad Sister which have been listed as Quarter Finalists, Semi Finalists, and Top Finalists in the 2012 Screenplay Festival, 2012 Filmmakers International Screenplay Awards, 2012 StoryPros International Awards, 2012 Pulsar Sci Fi Screenplay Contest, and the 2012 Reel Authors International Breakout.

He was raised in California then Washington state and has lived in Missouri, Oregon, and Florida. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and French and worked in a variety of bookstores including Borders and was the manager for one of the bookstores in Florida that was actually owned by Goodwill.

He loves reading fantasy, science fiction, and humorous fiction. Some of his favorite authors include Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, S.J. Viehl, Kat Richardson, J.K. Rowling, Angie Sage, Jayne Krentz, and Janet Evanovich. He currently resides in Washington state and owns a parakeet named Amy who helps inspire him.

Links

Author Website: http://johnoriley.webs.com.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JohnPatrickORiley?ref=hl

Dark Energy at Amazon

Dark Energy at Nook

Author Interview with S.G. Daniels

I’m hosting an interview with S.G. Daniels, author of YA Urban Fantasy “The Druid’s Doorway”. My questions are bolded, responses are in regular font.

1) What is the hardest part about being an author?

For me, it would have to be face-to-face marketing. I’m one of those people who likes to stay at home and work alone, but I’m working on breaking out of that comfort zone. I’m actually looking forward to setting up book signings, and attending UtopYA again in June 2014.

2) Can you give us the short synopsis of your book?

Sure! Jake is a high school senior who grows up believing he caused his mother’s death when he was five years old. He’s plagued with traumatic flashbacks when he thinks of her, and for that reason he avoids emotional relationships so he doesn’t experience the pain of losing someone again. When his friend Hailey asks him to a school function, it triggers a chain of events that reveal guarded family secrets about his mother. What was after her when she was alive is now after Jake, and it will stop at nothing to get him. Jake will come face-to-face with death, and his decisions will affect everyone around him. He’ll have to decide if he can live with his choices.

3) Is this part of a series or a stand alone?

It’s part of a series. There are at least three books, and a novella planned for the story. Each book will continue the theme.

4) How many hours do you write per day/week?

I work full time, so computer related author time is limited to a few hours in the evenings, and on weekends. My thoughts never stop running through scenarios, so I carry a note pad and pens to jot things down as they pop in my head.

5) What is your favourite book in the same genre as yours?

Hmm, that’s a good question. I can’t say I’ve read any YA books with my same theme. I actually had to ask my editor what she thought it might be. I had no clue how to categorize it. YA urban fantasy was as close as we could get. I suppose Harry Potter is similar. The whole idea of portals has fascinated me since I read Outlander years ago.

6) What are you working on now?

Right now, I’m working on the second book, The Druid’s Lair, and a prequel novella for the series.

About The Druid’s Doorway

Title: The Druid’s Doorway

Author: S.G. Daniels

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Jake Reese thinks he’s just a screwed-up high school kid living in a small town isolated in the Arizona desert. Traumatized at an early age by his mother’s sudden death—and believing he might have had something to do with it—he’s allowed his guilt and lack of self-confidence to rule his life.

Hailey is the fiery little redhead that sees Jake as more than a just a good friend. When she invites him as her date to a school function, it brings down the walls he’s built to protect his heart, and sets off a series of events that threaten not only Jake’s life, but that of everyone around him.

The discovery of a portal on the outskirts of town brings Jake face-to-face with death and reveals a closely guarded secret about his mother. No longer is his memory of her the only thing that haunts him. Something evil from her past has escaped through the portal, and nothing will prevent it from trying to steal Jake’s future.

Can Jake overcome his fears to keep Hailey safe? Will the decisions he’s forced to make destroy everyone he knows and loves? And ultimately…is he strong enough to live with those choices?

Author Bio

S.G. Daniels lives in rural Central Illinois with her husband of thirty-one years, and two spoiled cats, Payne and Jenks. She works full-time in a local medical facility as a patient accounting refund specialist. Most of her evenings she can be found in front of her computer, working on story ideas, or learning the ins and outs of the writing world. On the weekends, if she’s not spending time outside, she’s usually found nose-deep in a book. When S.G. unleashes her inner daredevil, she usually takes off through winding timber trails or country roads on the ATV. Her weaknesses are iced tea and pretzels, especially when she’s working on a story.

Links

Website: www.sgdaniels.com
Twitter: @SGDanielsAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/s.g.daniels.author
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sgdanielsbooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7515006.S_G_Daniels

Release Day Party The Druid’s Doorway

We’re celebrating the release for YA urban fantasy novel “The Druid’s Doorway” today!

Visit the author’s website here: http://www.sgdaniels.com/

About The Druid’s Doorway

Title: The Druid’s Doorway

Author: S.G. Daniels

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Jake Reese thinks he’s just a screwed-up high school kid living in a small town isolated in the Arizona desert. Traumatized at an early age by his mother’s sudden death—and believing he might have had something to do with it—he’s allowed his guilt and lack of self-confidence to rule his life.

Hailey is the fiery little redhead that sees Jake as more than a just a good friend. When she invites him as her date to a school function, it brings down the walls he’s built to protect his heart, and sets off a series of events that threaten not only Jake’s life, but that of everyone around him.

The discovery of a portal on the outskirts of town brings Jake face-to-face with death and reveals a closely guarded secret about his mother. No longer is his memory of her the only thing that haunts him. Something evil from her past has escaped through the portal, and nothing will prevent it from trying to steal Jake’s future.

Can Jake overcome his fears to keep Hailey safe? Will the decisions he’s forced to make destroy everyone he knows and loves? And ultimately…is he strong enough to live with those choices?

Author Bio

S.G. Daniels lives in rural Central Illinois with her husband of thirty-one years, and two spoiled cats, Payne and Jenks. She works full-time in a local medical facility as a patient accounting refund specialist. Most of her evenings she can be found in front of her computer, working on story ideas, or learning the ins and outs of the writing world. On the weekends, if she’s not spending time outside, she’s usually found nose-deep in a book. When S.G. unleashes her inner daredevil, she usually takes off through winding timber trails or country roads on the ATV. Her weaknesses are iced tea and pretzels, especially when she’s working on a story.

Links

Website: www.sgdaniels.com
Twitter: @SGDanielsAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/s.g.daniels.author
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sgdanielsbooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7515006.S_G_Daniels

Giveaway

There’s also a giveaway where you can win Kindle copies of the book. Giveaway is international. To participate, simply fill in the Rafflecopter form below!

Visit the Rafflecopter giveaway here!

Cover Reveal Party The Druid’s Doorway

 

We’re happy to celebrate the cover reveal party today for “The Druid’s Doorway”, a YA urban fantasy novel by author SG Daniels.

Without further ado, here is the cover…

About The Druid’s Doorway

Jake Reese thinks he’s just a screwed-up high school kid living in a small town isolated in the Arizona desert. Traumatized at an early age by his mother’s sudden death—and believing he might have had something to do with it—he’s allowed his guilt and lack of self-confidence to rule his life.

Hailey is the fiery little redhead that sees Jake as more than a just a good friend. When she invites him as her date to a school function, it brings down the walls he’s built to protect his heart, and sets off a series of events that threaten not only Jake’s life, but that of everyone around him.

The discovery of a portal on the outskirts of town brings Jake face-to-face with death and reveals a closely guarded secret about his mother. No longer is his memory of her the only thing that haunts him. Something evil from her past has escaped through the portal, and nothing will prevent it from trying to steal Jake’s future.

Can Jake overcome his fears to keep Hailey safe? Will the decisions he’s forced to make destroy everyone he knows and loves? And ultimately…is he strong enough to live with those choices?

Author Bio

S.G. Daniels lives in rural Central Illinois with her husband of thirty-one years, and two spoiled cats, Payne and Jenks. She works full-time in a local medical facility as a patient accounting refund specialist. Most of her evenings she can be found in front of her computer, working on story ideas, or learning the ins and outs of the writing world. On the weekends, if she’s not spending time outside, she’s usually found nose-deep in a book. When S.G. unleashes her inner daredevil, she usually takes off through winding timber trails or country roads on the ATV. Her weaknesses are iced tea and pretzels, especially when she’s working on a story.

Links

Website: www.sgdaniels.com
Twitter: @SGDanielsAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/s.g.daniels.author
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sgdanielsbooks

Book Review ‘Destiny’s Mark’

Title: Destiny’s Mark (Guardians of Eden #3)
Author: K.H. LeMoyne
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Purchase: Amazon

The only difference between fate and destiny is choice.
Tsu Halan, Guardian defense master, has honed his skills and waited patiently over the centuries for the covenant’s promise of a mate to share his soul and a family to cherish. Close enough to taste fulfillment, the dark echoes of the past threaten with danger and death.
Jai Dashkov harbors her own painful secrets of harsh betrayal and tender loss. Her desperate search to reclaim her life doesn’t allow room in her heart to deviate for love.
Together they are stronger than apart, but the promise of the covenant is a perpetual test. One that Tsu and Jai must conquer in time or suffer an eternity for their failure.

Urban fantasy? Check. Interesting paranormal species? Check. Intriguing heroine with a smart head on her shoulders? Check. Mysterious and mesmerizing male love interest? Check. Unique setting? Well, it’s set in contemporary Asia, but I count that as unique enough. So check.

And what do we have ladies and gentlemen if we put all these elements together?

An AMAZING book. AMAZING. With caps. Because this book is just so freaking good.

Jai is my favorite heroine in…like, forever. She’s balanced. She’s an actual human being, and when I closed my eyes while reading I could picture her walking into the room and talking to me. I got to know her so well that by the end, I practically considered her my friend. She’s so…real. It’s rare to have book characters that feel as real as she did, and I loved it. Absolutely freaking loved it.

Then there’s Tsu, who I now secretly have a crush on. He was just as amazing. I could predict his moves before he even did them. He was consistent in personality from page one, but never too predictable.

Seriously, check this book out. Read it. Then go back and read the other parts. Not that I’ve read them yet, but I really should. I enjoyed this immensly. I loved how the author described everything in such detail, but didn’t go for any infodumps. The characters felt real, like old friends. And the romance, well, don’t get me started on that. The romance was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I felt for the characters when they went through hardships, and loved when things looked up for them.

New favorite paranormal romance couple ever.

Giveaway

One winner will get a $25 Amazon Gift Card, and two others will get a Guardian of Eden anthology. So three winners and all blogs in the tour are participating. But fear not, it’s easy to participate! Leave a comment on one of the blog posts (preferably this one) with a valid email address, and you’re in. It’s international, so everyone is welcome to join!