Book Promo & Interview: Rarity from the Hollow (proceeds are donated to prevent child abuse) by Robert Eggleton @roberteggleton1

Book Title: Rarity from the Hollow (A Children's Story for Adults)
Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 284

Author: Robert Eggleton

Date Published: Due to be republished in July 2016

Blurb:

Lacy Dawn's father relives the Gulf War, her mother's teeth are rotting out, and her best friend is murdered by the meanest daddy on Earth. Life in The Hollow isn't great. But Lacy has one advantage -- she's been befriended by a semi-organic, semi-robot who works with her to cure her parents. He wants something in exchange, though. It's up to her to save the Universe.

To prepare Lacy for her coming task, she is being schooled daily via direct downloads into her brain. She doesn't mind saving the universe, but her own family and friends come first.

Will Lacy Dawn's predisposition, education, and magic be enough for her to save the Universe, Earth, and, most importantly, protect her own family?

Rarity from the Hollow is adult literary science fiction filled with tragedy, comedy and satire. It is a children's story for adults, not for the prudish, faint of heart, or easily offended.

Excerpt:

Excerpt from Chapter 10, “One Moment, Please”

Scene Prologue: In this scene, Lacy Dawn stands up to her abusive father for the first time. Dwayne is a disabled Gulf War Vet who suffers from PTSD, night terrors and anger outbursts. Her mother, Jenny, is downtrodden and weak-willed. Lacy Dawn has just returned home from the android’s spaceship. At this point, her powers were evident but not fully matured. She had been negotiating extraterrestrial assistance to cure her parents of their mental disorders, but rushed home after sensing an emergency there…:  

…Three minutes later, Lacy Dawn stood on the back porch. She was keen to hear a whisper. The yells could be heard half-way Roundabend. She peeked through the kitchen window.  Her mother was on the floor with her back propped against the gasoline can that hid her GED study guide.  Jenny’s nose bled. 

            “WHAT THE HELL ………GIVES YOU THE RIGHT ………………TO THINK ……….…………….that you can THROW AWAY …something that is MINE?” her father screamed.

            Jenny adjusted her position. So did Lacy Dawn to get a better view through the window.

            “Where’s my SWITCH?”  Dwayne left the kitchen. 

            Lacy Dawn felt for her knife. 

            I hope Mommy runs for it.

            Jenny moved the gasoline can to cover a corner of her study guide that stuck up. Dwayne had put the can in the kitchen two winters ago after he cut firewood.  At the time, snow on the path to the shed had been deep. Jenny didn't complain about the can in the kitchen because it turned into her best place to hide her GED book. It was convenient and the mice stayed away because of the smell. When her GED book was hid behind the refrigerator, it lost a corner to the nibbles. She repositioned her bra so that everything was contained.

            If it's okay with him, I'll take it right here with my arms over my face. God, I wish I’d worn long pants today. If he finds that book he might kill me. Maybe that'd be better.  I can’t handle anymore anyway. Welfare would take Lacy Dawn and put her in a group home. She’d have friends and stuff to do and decent clothes. That’s more than she’s got now. Who am I kidding? I’ll never get my GED or learn to drive. I’d be better off dead. She'd be better off. I ain’t no kind of decent mom anyway. 

            Jenny pulled out her GED study guide. Lacy Dawn burst into the kitchen and, at the same time, Dwayne appeared in the opposite doorway from the living room. Lacy Dawn and Dwayne stood face to face.

            “She didn’t throw away those magazines, Dwayne. I burnt them all!” Lacy Dawn looked him in the eyes. 

            I’ve never called him Dwayne before.    

            “Well, here’s my switch, little girl, and you can kiss your white ass goodbye because it’s gonna be red in a minute.”

            “I told Grandma that you had pictures of naked little girls my age kissing old men like you.”

            “Well, your grandma’s dead and gone now and it don’t make no difference.”

            Dwayne grinned at Jenny and resumed eye contact with Lacy Dawn. Jenny did not move. The GED study guide was in the open. Lacy Dawn straightened her posture. 

            “Not that grandma -- the other one -- your mom. I tore out a page and showed her. She said the Devil must’ve made you have those pictures with naked girls way too young for you to look at. She told me to burn them to help save your soul before it was too late and you ended up in Hell.”

            Dwayne raised the switch to waist level. Lacy Dawn took a step forward. 

            “I was sick of them being in the trunk under my bed anyway. I did what Grandma told me to and now they're gone.”

            “That was my Playboy collection from high school. I bought them when I used to work at the Amoco station before I joined the Army.”

            Dwayne lowered the switch and leaned against the door frame. Jenny sat up straighter and slid her GED study guide back behind the gas can. Lacy Dawn maintained eye contact.    

            He's starting to lose it. Where’s my new butcher knife?

            Dwayne looked to the side and muttered something that she did not understand. He raised the switch and then lowered it.   

            “But, Mom knew I had them when I was in high school and never said nothing. Hell, those girls were older than me back then. I bet they’re all wrinkled now -- with tits pointing straight to the ground, false teeth, and fat asses.” 

            Dwayne muttered again. Lacy Dawn maintained eye contact. 

            I must have hit a nerve. He always mutters when he's thinking too hard.  

            “Anyway, you’re both still getting switched even if Mom told you to do it. But, I won’t make it too bad. She wouldn’t like it.”

            He paused.  The point of the switch lowered to the floor.

            Damn.  I can't think of a new name. 

            "Tammy, bammy, bo mammy…" Dwayne sang. (Dwayne named all of the switched that he used on Lacy Dawn and Jenny to discipline them.)

            “If you even touch me or Mommy with that thing, I’ll tell everybody about Tom’s garden. (Tom is a neighbor who grows marijuana.) I’ll tell Grandma, the mailman, my teacher after school starts, and the food stamp woman when she comes next week for our home visit. I’ll tell Tom that I’m gonna tell the men working on the road at the top of the hill. I’ll tell all your friends when they come by after the harvest. And, I’ll call that judge who put you in jail for a day for drunk driving if Grandpa will let me use the phone. I swear I’ll tell everybody.”

            “Oh shit," Dwayne said.

            I knew this day would come -- ever since she brought me those DARE to Keep Kids off Drugs stickers to cover up the rust holes on my truck….

            “Lacy Dawn, drugs are bad. I don’t take drugs and hope you never will either.”

            “Cut the crap, Dwayne. This ain't about drugs. The only thing this is about is if you even think about switching me or Mommy, that garden has had it -- period.”

            “But smoking pot is not the same as taking drugs,” he let go of the switch. Thirty seconds later, Lacy Dawn picked it up and hung it in its proper place on her parents’ bedroom wall.

            “I love you, Daddy,” she said on the way back to the kitchen.

            Dwayne went out the back door and walked to his pick-up. The truck door slammed. It started, gravel crushed, and the muffler rumbled. He floored it up the hollow road.

            Things will be forever different. 

            Lacy Dawn sat down on a kitchen chair, did her deep breathing exercise, smelled an underarm and said, "Yuck."

            Things will be forever the same unless DotCom can help me change them. (DotCom is the name of the android, a recurring pun in the story.)

            Jenny got off the floor, sat on the other chair, scooted it closer beside her daughter, put an arm around her, and kissed the side of Lacy Dawn's head.

            The muffler rumbled to nonexistence.

            “Asshole,” they screamed out the open kitchen window at the exact same time without cue.

            “He used to be a good man,” Jenny giggled and hugged…. (This phrase is an intergenerational familial saying that Lacy Dawn turned into a chant and used to magically elevate above the ground, and to travel back and forth between her home and the spaceship without getting her tennis shoes muddy.)                                                            

Excerpts of Two Book Reviews – Gold Medal Awards

Awesome Indies:

“…a hillbilly version of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, only instead of the earth being destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass, Lacy Dawn must…The author has managed to do what I would have thought impossible; taken serious subjects like poverty, ignorance, abuse, and written about them with tongue-in-cheek humor without trivializing them…Eggleton sucks you into the Hollow, dunks you in the creek, rolls you in the mud, and splays you in the sun to dry off. Tucked between the folds of humor are some profound observations on human nature and modern society that you have to read to appreciate…it’s a funny book that most sci-fi fans will thoroughly enjoy.”

http://awesomeindies.net/ai-approved-review-of-rarity-from-the-holly-by-robert-eggleton/

Readers’ Favorite:

“…Full of cranky characters and crazy situations, Rarity From the Hollow sneaks up you and, before you know it, you are either laughing like crazy or crying in despair, but the one thing you won’t be is unmoved… Robert Eggleton is a brilliant writer whose work is better read on several levels. I appreciated this story on all of them.”

https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/rarity-from-the-hollow

Purchase Links:

                              

                

http://www.doghornpublishing.com/wordpress/books/rarity-from-the-hollow 

Author Interview:

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I grew up in an impoverished household and would write stories to entertain myself and others. It was free recreation for me and my family. I shared my stories with others in the neighborhood, such as clerks in stores and service station attendants (gas stations used to employ people to pump the gas – lol). In a way, I guess that it was an early model of networking. My stories got better and my audience grew. In the eighth grade I won the school’s short story writing competition and began to dream of getting my family out of poverty by becoming a rich and famous author.

2. How long does it take you to write a book?

Rarity from the Hollow is my debut novel. It took about six months writing after work to finish to the point of being ready for professional editing. Of course, the editing took longer than the writing and continues to this day. The second edition of the novel is scheduled for release next month, so I guess writing is a never ending process until one moves on to the next project. The next full-length Lacy Dawn Adventure is Ivy. It took a couple of months to write but is pending the long process of editing until I build greater name recognition and feel comfortable with its release.

3. What do you think makes a great story?

What makes a great story is very personal. For me, the most wonderful stories are those that find the perfect balance between literary and genre – escapism with strong meaningful content that creeps into one’s consciousness long after the last page has been read. I’m usually disappointed with stories that are total escapism or that are so heavy that they are no fun to read.

4. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I’m a retired children’s psychotherapist. For the last year or so, I’ve worked harder on my fiction than if I was working a full-time job. However, most of this work, unfortunately, has involved self-promotion. Rarity from the Hollow is a traditional small press publication. This means that while I didn’t pay for anything related to its publication I am responsible for almost all of its promotion. If I don’t, it doesn’t really matter how great a story that I’ve written because nobody will have heard about it and won’t read it. I don’t have a set work schedule, but that might be a good idea because I feel exhausted. I work until I’m tired or hit a roadblock, take a break, and then start again at all hours of the day and night. Thanks for the suggestion – a work schedule – I believe that such may increase outcomes.

5. How do you balance family and writing?

I’ve been married for forty-five years next month (help me remember my anniversary, please, lol). We have one grown son. Both are one-hundred percent supportive of my writing, but I still have to do my chores, like take out the trash. I’m a goal-oriented person. For me, this means that if I have something that needs to be taken care of, it interferes with my concentration until I’ve met my responsibility. Usually, I’ll divide it into smaller tasks, accomplish a piece, like part of dinner or cutting a parcel of the lawn, return to fiction writing or promotions, then take care of another part of the task. It’s hard to imagine how in the world some younger authors balance writing with family responsibilities, especially if they have younger children.

6. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I am so full of ideas for books that it sometimes feels annoying, possibly presenting an impediment to productivity. Looking back, as a debut novel, I believe that I tried to put too many ideas in Rarity from the Hollow. It includes serious social commentary about poverty, domestic violence, child maltreatment, substance abuse…treated with satire and comedy. While the novel has been well-received, a couple of book reviewers have found that it had too much content. On the other hand, the same thing was said about Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land. Galaxy reviewer Floyd C. Gale gave it a mixed review, saying "the book's shortcomings lie not so much in its emancipation as in the fact that Heinlein has bitten off too large a chewing portion."

I had a vivid childhood – impoverished with a war damaged father; a dramatic adolescence = antiwar protests and corresponding incarcerations; and, over forty years in an emotionally charge field – children’s advocacy. My ideas come from my personal and even more personal professional experiences.

7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book/s?
I was surprised by two aspects of finally pursuing my dream of writing a novel: first, the words flow sooooooooooo easily; secondly, it is sooooooooooo hard to stop them.

8. How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?

Rarity from the Hollow is my debut novel. I love it, so have a bunch of other people, and I would love to say it is my favourite. A top Amazon book reviewer found:

"Rarity from the Hollow written by Robert Eggleton, to be fully honest, was much more than expected and a great read – semi-autobiographical literary work full of beautiful and ugly things, adventure, romance, pain and humor…."

But, my favourite novel that I’ve written is Ivy, the next full-length Lacy Dawn Adventure. I hope that it will be your favourite, as well. It is less convoluted and simply asks, how far will a child go to save a parent from addiction?

9. Are your characters based on anyone you know?

All of my characters are based on real-life people. I accentuate attributions for effect. Some are personal friends, most of having passed on to the great unknown. Other characters are based on my professional experience as a child advocate for over forty years: weak and powerful; victims and perpetrators; lovers and haters….

10. Do you have a favourite place you love to write?

I’m not sure that I would call it a “favourite” place to write, but I write best in the living room of my small house in a lower class neighbourhood. It’s where my computer is located. I’ll draft notes on a laptop when I go to parks, restaurants…. I can imagine a hundred better places to write, but, the proof is in the pudding. Do you know from whence that phrase originated? Email me and I’ll tell you what my grandma said that it means.

11. How hard is it to get published?

In my opinion, except for self-publishing which requires an author to make an investment, something that not every talent can afford, there is no publishing industry. So, given no actual industry, it would be next to impossible to get published in today’s marketplace. Sad.

12. What do your family and friends think about your books?

Also sad, I don’t have a large family and most of my friends have passed. I remember going to parties in my youth and when a step in any direction that was more than an inch would be on someone’s toes. In contrast, some authors, especially high school students, have a zillion friends who buy and submit book reviews to Amazon whether they have read the book or not. I waited too long to begin my journey into fiction for such an advantage.

Every member of my family, mostly nieces and nephews, is proud of me, but not necessarily because I wrote an award winning novel. They love and respect me for my contributions to family. As is youth, I’m sure that they would be more impressed if I had created an award winning video game.

13. What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love vegetable gardening – can’t wait for my tomatoes to harvest – tons! I have an old Dodge truck that I’m enjoying as I rebuild it. (It was mentioned in Rarity from the Hollow.) Reading in all genres is a passion. I’m looking forward to WVU football, then basketball afterward. That’s just a sample. I like a lot of stuff.

14. Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their craft? If so, what are they?

I’m a novice with only one novel under my belt. I’ve read a couple of books on the craft of writing, as have most other aspiring authors. The phrase, “show don’t tell” keeps me alert when writing. With respect to the craft of writing, I believe that fine tuning the show structured under a headline is the art of the craft. For me as a reader, it would have to be an exceptional story to entertain me if it would be simply told.

15. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I was a weird kid. I never dreamed of being an astronaut or superstar when I grew up. When I was twelve, I went to work part-time working in a drug store. The first career aspiration that I remember was to become a pharmacist, but I think that was because Mr. Knight was the kind manager of the store who gave me the job. Frankly, and I have many fond memories of my childhood, I was a survivalist focused on doing what I could day by day to help my family stay together. With much regret, I kind of zoned out during school, which I mostly regarded as an obstruction to earning a little money. I went to college to avoid the military draft during the Vietnam War, fell in love in my sophomore year, and for the first time envisioned a brighter future. As an angry young man, I majored I social work as the best fit for “fixing the world.” From that point forward, with a goal in mind, I made perfect grades. I was awarded a Master’s degree in 1977, have been married for forty-five years, forty of which have involved a very successful career in child advocacy.

16. What are your favourite books and which authors inspire you?

I’m not sure that you have enough bandwidth for me to make a complete list of inspirations and favourite books, so here’s a few. Ferlinghetti, the poet of the Beat Generation, showed me how to enjoy my anger about political and societal issues. Similarly, Vonnegut’s anger in Breakfast of Champions helped me stay strong as a children’s advocate and as a writer, and how to experiment with my writing style outside of commonly accepted structures and formats. Nora Roberts knows how to get me in a romantic mood. The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Harry Potter series reinforced my faith in the potential of adolescent morality and the future of the world. Watership Down by R. Adams was such a sweet adventure that some of this element just is a necessary ingredient of even the scariest, saddest, or most erotic story. The versatility in cross-genre and the use of humour by Bradbury had to have been a subliminal inspiration, especially now that I think about it. Dean Koontz has been masterful. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by D. Adams and Another Roadside Attraction by Robbins pushed me into the wilder side of writing regardless of censorship, as did the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comics. And, Stephen King’s use of everyday horror convinced me that alarming scenes can be created by using almost anything as a prop. Piers Anthony sure knew how to write a goofy pun and has always gotten me to giggle. There’re a lot more books and authors that I hold dear, a lot more.

17. For an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for getting their material published?

My recommendation for self-publishing is to never release anything without professional editing, or as close to it as one can afford. I believe that premature release has been the kiss of death for a lot of talented writers. It seems like a zillion come and go almost every month.

I’m not sure that there is a “do and don’t” list for achieving publication by a traditional publisher. They each have submission guidelines and warn that violation will result in discarding, but I have no reason to believe that it’s true, or that compliance with guidelines improves the odds of recognition. I’m a novice, so if anybody has a successful strategy, please le me know. I’ve read a lot of success stories, struggling authors like George Martin finally getting a break, and it mostly seems to boil down to luck. As I said before, I’m trying to gain greater name recognition before pitching my next novel.

A few authors, including a former Editor of Reader’s Digest who found that Rarity from the Hollow was the best science fiction novel that he had read in several years (http://warriorpatient.com/blog/2015/05/18/58/), have advised me to publish more books. Dog Horn Publishing, the traditional small press that I’m affiliated with has requested my next novel. I’m hesitant. If you spend ten minutes on Amazon, you’ll find a dozen authors that you’ve never heard of with huge backlists and low sales ranking. I’ve decided to take a little different path.

18. What are you working on now?

I’ve been spending a lot of time on self-promotions of Rarity from the Hollow. This has involved writing several articles and guest posts for book blogs, with a couple of assignments pending. Based on my experience marketing Rarity over the last year, I’m rewriting Ivy, the next full-length Lacy Dawn Adventure, so that it will be a little less controversial. There’s only so much shock that most readers can handle.

I’m putting finishing touches on a set of poems that I plan to submit. One of my poems won first place in a international science fiction poetry competition a few month ago. http://wildcat.wsc.edu/clubs/willycon/zine/poetry/2015/Our_Real_Warmth.php

I’ve submitted an academic styled essay on child maltreatment in fiction to a journal that is pending and a short story, close to YA, to a magazine.

And, I’m putting together a group of original psychotherapy exercises for teens that will either be a self-help book or a manual for professional who work with kids – I’m still deciding how to play it.

I’m always got a bunch of stuff on my plate. Thanks for asking and for your help by allowing me to tell your readers a little about myself and my debut novel, Rarity from the Hollow.

About The Author:

Robert Eggleton has served as a children's advocate in an impoverished state for over forty years. He is best known for his investigative reports about children’s programs, most of which were published by the West Virginia Supreme Court where he worked from 1982 through 1997, and which also included publication of models of serving disadvantaged and homeless children in the community instead of in large institutions, research into foster care drift involving children bouncing from one home to the next -- never finding a permanent loving family, and statistical reports on the occurrence and correlates of child abuse and delinquency.

Today, he is a recently retired children's psychotherapist from the mental health center in Charleston, West Virginia, where he specialized in helping victims cope with and overcome physical and sexual abuse, and other mental health concerns. Rarity from the Hollow is his debut novel and its release followed publication of three short Lacy Dawn Adventures in magazines: Wingspan Quarterly, Beyond Centauri, and Atomjack Science Fiction. Author proceeds have been donated to a child abuse prevention program operated by Children’s Home Society of West Virginia. http://www.childhswv.org/ Robert continues to write fiction with new adventures based on a protagonist that is a composite character of children that he met when delivering group therapy services. The overall theme of his stories remains victimization to empowerment.

Author Contacts:

Website Lacy Dawn Adventures

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Amazon Author Page

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Book Review of Blood Secrets (Blood series #2) by Elizabeth Morgan @EMorgan2010

Book Title: Blood Secrets (Blood Series #2)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 528

Author: Elizabeth Morgan

Date Published: 22 April 2016

Synopsis:

When your life is messed up to begin with, how much worse can it really get?

Heather Ryan's life has never been simple. The latest in a long line of descendants who have made it their mission to hunt down and slay the Ancient Vampire, Marko Pavel, she is also the first born Infected. Up until recently, the biggest downside to living with the Vampyrric Virus was simply that she craved blood, but after receiving a DVD from her deceased Grandmother Sofia and being kidnapped with friend and so called guardian Werewolf, Brendan Daniels, she quickly discovers that she is also the inspiration behind the Vampires’ attempt to create a whole new breed of super monsters—Hybrids.

The truth comes at a cost, but how much does one have to sacrifice to gain success?

Following the breadcrumbs left by her psychic Grandmother, Heather and Brendan find themselves in new territory. Venice is where Heather hopes to find Marie, the second Bloodling of Marko, along with Brendan's three taken Pack members. But an old Peace Pact between the Italian Pack and the Colony means they are left hunting blind, and due to the Italian Alpha's reluctance to believe their story of kidnap and experimentation on Loup-Garous, time is running out. So when help comes from an unlikely source, they have no choice but to accept.

All families have secrets, but blood can't lie.

Caught up in an intricate and complicated scheme spun by the one she trusts the most and the friend of her enemy, Heather soon discovers that she is the pawn in a plan she would never have been able to conceive. But how many of her new allies were in on the game, to begin with?

Review:

Blood Secrets by Elizabeth Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Blood Series. I loved it!

Heather Ryan is a wonderful character. I like her very independent and determined attitude, but sometimes I wanted to shake her and tell her to stop being such a pigheaded idiot. She is a vampire slayer, and a darn good one at that. She is an infected (part vampire) herself; her mother was attacked while carrying her. She has to drink blood, diluted in cranberry juice, to keep healthy.

Brendan Daniels is also a fantastic character. He is a werewolf, sworn to help Heather after making a deal with her grandmother thirteen years previously. He has a lot of charisma and a wicked sense of humour, but he also carries a lot of pain.

The story continues from the end of Cranberry Blood, which had ended on a cliffhanger. This time, the story is told through the eyes of not only Heather and Brendan, but through the eyes of Eve (the Alpha werewolf's daughter) and a new character called Galen. Galen is an intriguing character. I wasn't sure what to make of him at first, considering he's one of Marko's first bloodlings along with Marie. However, as the story progressed and I got to know him better, his actions made better sense. I don't want to give too much away, so will leave it there.

I must admit that I found this story a little confusing at times, especially in the beginning where I wasn't sure where the story was heading (I think I should have re-read Cranberry Blood to remind myself of key plot points). However, as events unfolded my confusion lessened. The sexual tension between Heather and Brendan fairly sizzled! I kept hoping that these two would make a move at some point, but the opportunity never seemed to turn up (again!). That being said, the danger they faced kept my heart pounding! Eve doesn't do too badly either. She's one tough Loup-Garous and I admire her greatly. The story has several twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Heather's grandmother has a lot to answer for. An enemy becomes an ally, and Heather has to embrace her inner demon to help rescue her friends, but at what cost? This kept me hooked, wanting to know what would happen next. I reached the end with mixed feelings. I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers. However, I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see what is going to happen next!

Elizabeth Morgan has written a fast paced and exciting sequel to what would seem to be a fantastic series. I love her fast paced writing style, and the story flow was wonderful. I have added her to my favourite authors list.

There were no scenes of a sexual nature as such, but there is mention of harvesting of eggs and artificial insemination, as well as explicit bad language and violence, therefore, I do not recommend this book for readers under the age of 18 or those who have a nervous disposition. I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love erotic paranormal romances filled with sexy werewolves and a vampire slayer. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

           

About The Author:

Elizabeth Morgan is a multi-published author of urban fantasy, paranormal, erotic horror, f/f, and contemporary; all with a degree of romance, a dose of action and a hit of sarcasm, sizzle or blood, but you can be sure that no matter what the genre, Elizabeth always manages to give a unique and often humorous spin to her stories.

Like her tagline says; A pick 'n' mix genre author. "I'm not greedy. I just like variety."

And that she does, so look out for more information on her upcoming releases at her website: www.e-morgan.com

Away from the computer, Elizabeth can be found in the garden trying hard not to kill her plants, dancing around her little cottage with the radio on while she cleans, watching movies or good television programmes - Dr Who? Atlantis? The Musketeers? Poldark? American Horror Story? Heck, yes! - Or curled up with her two cats reading a book.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page
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Facebook 
Twitter

Guest Blog & Book Promo: Killer in Wolf's Clothing by Kelli A. Wilkins

An Inside Look at… Killer in Wolf’s Clothing

By Kelli A. Wilkins

www.KelliWilkins.com

Hi everyone,

Today I’m sharing an inside look at (and two excerpts from) my latest release, Killer in Wolf's Clothing. This super-hot gay paranormal/shifter romance is a fun look at the werewolf legend and blends mystery, danger, humor, and sizzling love scenes.

Here’s the book summary:

Killer in Wolf’s Clothing

A super aggressive Alpha male, a serial killer, and a visit to a kinky sex club… What has Larry gotten himself into?

When Larry learns that his boyfriend Greg changes into another man during the full moon, he has a hard time accepting it—until he meets Deke, Greg’s alternate Alpha personality.

Deke doesn’t play nice and has no time for games. He only wants two things—to get laid and to get revenge against the arsonist who murdered his friends. Finally free from Greg’s restraints, Deke is ready for action, and Larry is more than willing to submit to Deke’s needs.

Together, Larry and Deke set out to find the killer. Their hunt takes them to an all-night Alpha sex club where things heat up for the two of them. But when Larry unwittingly falls into the clutches of the murderer, it’s up to Deke—and Greg—to save him before it’s too late. 

As readers may know, I write in nearly every romance genre (historical, fantasy, gay, paranormal, and contemporary) and my books vary in heat level from mild to super-sizzling hot. Killer in Wolf’s Clothing is a blend of several genres (gay, contemporary, and paranormal) and readers might be wondering how this unusual story came about.

Although I write horror and romance, I’m a traditionalist when it comes to my “monsters” and I didn’t think I ever would (or could) write a “werewolf in love” story. In my book, werewolves are ferocious, snarling animals who closely resemble the creatures from the movie Dog Soldiers. 

In some werewolf lore, the cursed human doesn’t physically grow a tail and pointed ears, but rather takes on wolf-like characteristics and becomes more aggressive and violent. I decided to use this as the basis for my “werewolf” and instead of having Deke turn into an actual wolf, he becomes an Alpha male. As Larry says in the book, “It’s more Incredible Hulk than American Werewolf in London.”

But the uniqueness of this romance doesn’t end there. Not only is Deke and Alpha male, he’s out for revenge against a fellow Alpha who murdered several of his friends.

Although the book is a paranormal romance involving a serial killer, right from the start, I knew I had to balance the dark subject matter with a light tone; otherwise the story would get too heavy. (After all, this is a romance!) So I decided to have a little fun with the story and the characters. 

What would be your first reaction if someone you loved told you they changed into a werewolf? Disbelief? Shock? Send that person to the psych ward? It’s a little hard to take such things seriously, so I gave Larry a smart-ass sense of humor when it came to dealing with Greg’s affliction. The jokes and his sarcastic wit added a comedic element and eased the tension when things got very… hairy. (Sorry!)

Spoiler Alert!

When the book was originally published by Amber Quill Press, I left the ending open, so readers could decide for themselves how things would turn out for our threesome. Would Greg be cured of his “werewolf” disease and not turn during the next full moon? If so, what would happen to Deke? Would Larry turn into an Alpha or remain human?

Personally, I wasn’t sure how I wanted it to end. Over the course of the story, Deke and Larry develop a bond and get along great. (Larry even tells Deke that he and Greg can share him.) Deke opens up a bit as he comes to terms with his past and realizes what truly matters in life. Greg relaxes his hold on Deke, and appreciates the fact that sometimes it’s good to have a brute like Deke around.

A few readers told me that they wished the book had a clear-cut ending. This time around, it does. I thought about the different ways I could take the story and came up with a satisfying conclusion that leaves everyone in a good place.

Here are two mild excerpts from Killer in Wolf’s Clothing:

“I don’t know how it happens, but during the phase of the full moon there’s a physical transformation. I get aggressive and bigger—”

“Bigger how exactly?” Larry teased.

He smiled. “Get your mind out of the gutter. I change, physically change.”

“Into what? A wolf with a tail and pointy ears?”

“No, it’s not like in the movies. I don’t turn into a monster. I become someone else.”

Larry dismissed him with a wave of his hand. “That’s impossible. Maybe you have an undiagnosed personality disorder. Have you seen a psychiatrist?”

“Three of them. They all told me I suffered from delusions.” Greg drank down more of his beer. “One woman said my Alpha persona was a manifestation of my true male sexuality fighting against the gay side of me.” He laughed. “I didn’t tell her that my Alpha self is gay, too.”

Larry sat up. “He is?”

“Oh yeah, definitely.”

“Wow, that’s good. I mean… Wait... you’re acting way too serious about this.”

“I am?” He arched an eyebrow and stared into Larry’s blue eyes. “Would you like to see the video?”

***

Larry lay down on his side, facing Deke. Up close, the musky, manly scent was stronger, and his heart beat faster. What did Deke have in mind? “Now what?”

“This.” Deke leaned forward and kissed him hard on the mouth. Deke’s rough, stubbled chin grazed his cheek, and he tensed for a second. Deke kissed him again, hot, needy and insistent. Larry felt himself giving in. He wanted this; he wanted Deke to take charge. He smelled so good he’d let Deke do whatever he wanted.

Deke’s tongue plunged into his mouth and Larry kissed him back, desperately craving more. They kissed for a few minutes, teasing each other with their tongues. Just when things were heating up, Deke pulled away.

“I knew you’d like it. You act like you don’t want to be my love slave, but you do, I can tell.”

Larry pursed his lips. How did Deke know? When he and Greg played their games, he wanted Greg to take charge, but he never did. Deke wouldn’t hesitate about taking over—and he was more than willing to let him.

***

Order your copy of Killer in Wolf’s Clothing here:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G3V9VWW

Apple:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1126206487

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1113758712?ean=2940153330563

Page Foundry:  http://www.inktera.com/store/title/a62046e9-434b-4062-be2f-93813f065bfb

Kobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/killer-in-wolf-s-clothing-1

If you’re a fan of gay paranormal romances, I hope you’ll check it out and let me know what you think. If gay love stories aren’t your thing, visit my Amazon author page to catch up on all of my romances.

Happy Reading!

Kelli

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 95 short stories, 19 romance novels, and 5 non-fiction books. Her romances span many genres and heat levels.

In 2016 Kelli began re-releasing her romances previously published by Amber Quill Press. Visit her website and blog for a full title list, book summaries, and other information as it becomes available. Look for her Medallion Press historical western romance, Lies, Love & Redemption, coming in September.

Her writing book, You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction is a fun and informative non-fiction guide based on her 15 years of experience as a writer. It’s filled with writing exercises and helpful tips all authors can use.

If you like to be scared, check out Kelli’s horror ebooks: Dead Til Dawn and Kropsy’s Curse.

Kelli posts on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor. She also writes a weekly blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/.

Visit her website, www.KelliWilkins.com to learn more about all of her writings, read book excerpts, reviews, and more. Readers can sign up for her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb.

CATCH UP WITH KELLI

Here are a few links to find Kelli & her writings on the web

Website: www.KelliWilkins.com

Blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins

Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb

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

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1123678.Kelli_A_Wilkins

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KWilkinsAuthor/

Release Day Blitz: I Saw You by Elena M. Reyes @ElenaMReyes

Title: I Saw You

Author: Elena M. Reyes

Genre: Erotic Romance

Release Date: June 27

Success brought fame.

With fame came money.

And money brought every single whore to worship at his feet.

Chester Green has it all living the coveted life as rock’s hottest front man—traveling, partying, and in every city, burying himself between the thighs of a groupie or two. He gorged on the perks for more than a decade until life became dull, and the taste of a woman became bland on his tongue. Nothing excited him. Nothing, until the day life literally crashed into him.

Arianna Garcia is tough, fiery, and doesn’t back down or fall sway to his charms. She isn’t a groupie, making the hunt so much harder and the rewards so much sweeter. His money and fame mean nothing to her.

All he wanted was to relax and release some pent up tension.

Now all he wants is her.

The chase is on.

Bodies grind—pulsed around me while I walked through the dance floor. Sexual tension dominated, fucking controlled the inebriated patrons while they danced to the latest club anthem pumping through its speakers. An erotic tango used to entice their partners. To forget responsibility and follow the member of the opposite sex home.

My heart raced the farther we walked in.

She was here.

I felt it with every fiber of my fucked-up being that inside these walls, a room bursting with people living and laughing, she was here without me.

Without me. Those words burned as I swallowed back my ire and pain.

We had it all at one point. The way our lives meshed seamlessly; the way our hearts recognized in the other that one missing piece. We were happy and in love, until I lost sight of what was important. Until it was too late to right the wrong she’d suffered at the hands of someone I trusted.

Fooled me.

Because of my blindness she walked away from me—from us.

Making my way through the club, I tried to avoid the flirtatious hands that recognized me. Heard the shit they whispered:

“Holy fuck is that…”

“That’s one man I love to bend over for.”

“Heard his cock was huge…I’d let him break me for just a taste.”

Vapid women that saw me as nothing more than a fun night: the rock legend that screwed anything with a pair of tits. The same asshole that, come morning, would disappear.

A fantasy.

Whispers surrounded me, made me uncomfortable. Last thing I wanted to do at the moment was play the persona I was on stage. Fuck them. Let me fucking breathe.

“Hey, handsome.” An overdone redhead blocked my path, her hand splayed over my pecs to stop me from moving forward. “Can I have your autograph?” she purred, the sound anything but sexy. Forced. A practiced maneuver she’d more than likely used to land herself a dick for the night.

“Sure,” I hissed out through a fake smile. “Do you have something for me to sign?”

“Here.” She giggled while handing me a small Bic pen, and I cringed. That sound was nothing like my girl’s soft laugh. Without an ounce of shame, she lowered her top to reveal her bare right breast. Right there, in the middle of that club for everyone to see.

“No.” Didn’t even try to hide the disgust in my tone.

“Please…” she batted her lashes “…I’ll even let you feel me up.”

At this, a genuine smirk bloomed. “Well…”

“What the fuck, Chester!” Ashley, cock-blocker extraordinaire, snapped. My would-be best friend was useful at times, I’d give her that.

“Sorry.” I grimaced, trying like hell to look genuine in my apology. “But you heard the lady. No can do.”

Before the redhead could respond or give Ashley shit, I walked off and toward the upstairs roped-off section. The VIP section of the Garcia’s club, Deseo, had been cleared and secured for the famous band wanting to let loose at their fine establishment. Would she still be as generous and accommodating if she’d known that the celebrity sitting on her plush leather seats was to be me? The same asshole who’d broken her heart, but after begging her parents, convinced them to help him one final time.

Provided them the proof needed; the lengths I’d gone to get my woman back. As of yesterday at nine a.m. the media knew everything.

A man who loved his female blindly, but let himself become manipulated by the industry. On the bullshit demands to always be someone I wasn’t. All I wanted was to enjoy her. Savor the newness of our relationship without the weight of the world—of my fame—pressing us down.

I’m sorry. Sorrier than she would ever know.

There, at the top, I stood and surveyed the room below while the boys ordered drinks.

The harsh bass and provocative rhythms encased the room, lulled everyone within these walls into a hyperactive sense of want. Lust. Sex.

My eyes scanned the room, desperate to see her. So fucking desperate, in fact, that I’d lowered myself—my pride—and stalked her best friend without relenting. Drove her up a wall until she told me where I could find my girl.

I only had tonight. Leaving, she was taking a small vacation to regroup. Escape from the memories that haunted her as much as they did me.

Did she know that I relived our memories? How I meant every single fucking word I’d said.

“This place is sick,” Ashley complimented the new hot spot I’d reserved for the tonight as she sidled up next to me. “Have you come here before?” Her tone held amusement, something that boiled my blood.

Flexing my hands, I breathed in deep through my nose before answering her. “The owner is a close friend. Amazing person.” She’d done enough to put me in this situation. I wasn’t about to let her off easily. Funny, Ashley sure as hell wouldn’t be sitting here looking so smug if she knew the real reason I’d brought her here.

With furrowed brows, she eyed me shrewdly. “He or she?”

My answer? I raised a brow and turned my attention back toward the dance floor, trying like hell to find her. Those curves I’d memorized while I enjoyed her body. To catch a flash of the soft, light brown hair I loved to wrap around my fist while I dominated her much smaller form.

My girl wouldn’t be made to feel second to no one. Fuck and no.

A song she loved came on, and I chuckled low. “Of course.” How many times had I complained about her love of pop music? Now, I’d give my fucking soul just to hear her sing once more, off key and all.

“Did you say something?” Ashley asked between sips of her drink. I ignored her and continued my search.

“Hey, C., isn’t that Ari down there?” Rick yelled over the music, and every head in our group turned. My eyes zeroed in on her, and my chest constricted. From head to toe, I categorized every fucking inch of her body. Admired the way the low-cut, black-halter dress she wore accentuated her every curve.

“Fuck,” Cris hissed out, and for a fraction of a second, I turned his way. Was enough for me to see the way his vision hardened. How he followed with great interest the direction my girl was in. “I think we should leave.”

His words were harsh, but just below the surface there was also a small tinge of worry.

And so I turned. Like a perverse masochist, I watched as Arianna was led onto the dance floor by some unworthy asshole. How he spoke into her ear. How she threw her head back, laughing at something he’d said.

There was no other way to describe the sounds that emitted from the back of my throat. Loud. Angry. Hurt. An agonized growl that caused the two strangers a few steps away from me to move back a bit.

“Motherfucker’s dead.” Muscles coiled tight, I took in a few deep breaths while a red haze overflowed my vision. Nothing good would come out of me flying over to them in a bout of rage. She’d never forgive me.

“Chester,” Ashley cooed while placing her hand on my chest—a touch meant to calm and sooth the angry beast within me. It had the opposite effect.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” I snapped, the storm of emotions brewing within causing me to lash out. Anger spiking, I threw her hand roughly off my chest. It’s because of her bullshit that I was in this mess.

She moved back a bit, a look of fear in her eyes. Not that it lasted long; bitch was persistent and leaned in again. “Cheetos,” she hummed, and I bristled at the childhood name. “Don’t be mad, baby. She’s moved on…look.” Her hand pulled my face to look toward them. “Ari—” Ashley trailed off when I turned my glare on her for a brief moment.

Enough to shut her the fuck up, and then I turned to watch the woman I had lost in the arms of another.

The jackass dancing with my girl pulled her in close as a slow song began. Her smile, sweet and innocent, was blinding. A woman who seemed to be enjoying herself, but they didn’t know her as I did.

Those emerald green eyes gave her away.

I rushed toward her before my boys could stop me.

Heard the yells of my name.

Ashley screamed for me not to do this.

It was too late.

Enough of this shit.

No more waiting.

Arianna Garcia was fucked.

AMAZON * B&N * KOBO * iBOOKS

Elena M. Reyes was born and raised in Miami Florida. She is the epitome of a Floridian and if she could live in her beloved flip-flops, she would.
As a small child, she was always intrigued with all forms of art—whether it was dancing to island rhythms, or painting with any medium she could get her hands on. Her first taste of writing came to her during her fifth grade year when her class was prompted to participate in the D. A. R. E. Program and write an essay on what they’d learned.
Her passion for reading over the years has amassed her with hours of pleasure. It wasn't until she stumbled upon fanfiction that her thirst to write overtook her world. She now resides in Central Florida with her husband and son, spending all her down time letting her creativity flow and letting her characters grow.

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