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13 Wicked Days of Christmas With Jess Haines

December 23, 2011 in Author Interviews, Contests


AAD 2012 Featured Author JESS HAINES Joins us for The Thirteen Wicked Days of Christmas! Also, it’s her BIRTHDAY today so everyone show her some love!

So let’s get this show on the road…

What’s next for you book-wise in 2012?

My next scheduled release is set for July 3rd, 2012, when STALKING THE OTHERS (book 4 in the H&W Investigations series) hits the shelves!  I’m very excited for this book–I know I say that about all of them, but I really mean it this time, lol!  If you’ve read the third book, DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS, then you know that Shiarra has some pretty hefty problems to face.  Considering what my editor had to say about STALKING THE OTHERS (“Yowza!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! … H-O-T!!!! I was blown away.”), I’m confident that my readers won’t be disappointed.  ;)

What is the worst gift you’ve ever received or given?

Oh, lord. My friends and I all have sick and twisted senses of humor.  The worst gift I’ve ever given was a can of Spam and a plastic Taco Bell spork (don’t ask, it was an inside joke).  The worst I ever received was an unwrapped Bart Simpson-themed fanny pack with a matching pen and pencil set. This was for Christmas in 1989–I was 8–while watching the other kids at the family party open things like a brand new Sega Genesis, giant stuffed animals, new Barbies, etc.

Favorite Holiday food?

Candy canes and fresh, homemade cranberry sauce!

LEAST Favorite Holiday song?

The three types of song guaranteed to set my teeth on edge are the cats meowing carols, dogs barking them, and that one song, I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas.

Do you have any Holiday traditions?

Every year, I pull out my Dr. Demento’s Christmas songs CD and sing along with all my favorites in the car so I don’t have to listen to the regular carols on the radio.  Said favorites include The Twelve Gifts of Christmas, I’m A Christmas Tree, and Christmas at Ground Zero.  When I get bored of that, I pull out Weird Al and sing stuff like The Night Santa Went Crazy.

Don’t judge me.

Any favorite Holiday memories?

The crazy Thanksgiving and Christmas parties we used to throw at my mom’s house back when she still lived out here in California.  She always used to make the most fantastic White Russians, mashed potatoes, and baked ham.  Those were the days!

If you could share one lesser known fact about yourself with our readers, what would it be?

When I was younger, I had aspirations to become a herpetologist (someone who studies reptiles and amphibians). I got an early head start when I was a teenager by owning over 30 lizards, all purchased with my own money or caught in the wild.

All my hopes and dreams of being a professional lizard keeper were dashed on the rocks of despair when my fully grown, 5′ long iguana decided to go for a stroll while I was cleaning his cage.  My mom found him behind the toilet in her bathroom.  You can imagine the reaction.

I wasn’t allowed to have lizards anymore after that until I moved into my own place, lol.  While I still love lizards, snakes, frogs, etc, right now all I have is a leopard gecko.

 

Hunted By The Others (H&W Investigations #1)

Shiarra Waynest’s detective work was dangerous enough when her client base was strictly mortal. But ailing finances have forced her to accept a lucrative case that could save her firm – if it doesn’t kill her first. Shiarra has signed on to work for a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact owned by one of New York’s most powerful vampires. As soon as Shiarra meets sexy, mesmerizing vamp Alec Royce, she knows her assignment is even more complicated than she thought. With a clandestine anti-Other group trying to recruit her, and magi being eliminated, Shiarra needs back-up and enlists her ex-boyfriend – a werewolf whose non-furry form is disarmingly appealing – and a nerdy mage with surprising talents. But it may not be enough. In a city where the undead roam, magic rules, and even the Others aren’t always what they seem, Shiarra has just become the secret weapon in a battle between good and evil – whether she likes it or not…

 

 

 

Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions, Ms. Haines! We can’t wait to see you again next year in New Orleans for Authors After Dark 2012!

 

Jess Haines is a displaced New Yorker with a penchant for the silly, the obscure, and the fantastical. Los Angeles is home for the time being, since it consistently meets her daily quota of strange. She is currently working on the H&W Investigations urban fantasy series. Find out more about Shiarra Waynest, drop me a line, or join my mailing list at www.jesshaines.com!

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Jess Haines is graciously offering up to one lucky reader a copy of HUNTED BY THE OTHERS (or, if the winner already has it, another book from my list of their choice). International shipping is OK. Just leave a comment letting us know what your favorite Holiday song is. And don’t forget to wish Jess a Happy Birthday, too!

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13 Wicked Days of Christmas With Jaye Wells

December 22, 2011 in Author Interviews, Contests

Next up we have yet another WLP favorite author, Jaye Wells! We looooove her books so much, and we hope you learn something new here today if you’re not familiar with her. If you’re already a fan, well look no further and hear what she has to say!
What’s next for you book-wise in 2012?
I’m very excited because the fifth and final Sabina Kane novel, BLUE-BLOODED VAMP comes out in June. Fans of the series definitely won’t want to miss out on the exciting conclusion to Team Awesome’s long journey. Here’s the blurb:
Sabina Kane is on the hunt. Her prey: Cain, the father of the vampire race and the one who murdered her family and her friends. Unfortunately, Cain is hunting Sabina, too.

The one man who holds the key to defeating Cain is, of course, Abel. A mage with secrets to spare and, hopefully, the power to match it. Unfortunately, for Sabina, he’s in Rome and may not want to be found.

Sabina sets out for Italy with her friends, Giguhl and Adam Lazarus, to track down the only man who can get her the revenge she hungers for. But will he help her or oppose her? And just who is Abel, really? Worst of all, when Sabina figures out the goddess Lilith has a plan for her-she realizes this trip is getting deadlier by the minute. As they say: when in Rome-SURVIVE.

What is the worst gift you’ve ever received or given?
Well it depends on your perspective to determine whether this was the best or worst gift I’ve given,  but I gifted a sex toy to a Jewish friend for Hanukkah once. She kept complaining about how she was in this dry spell and was so miserable I figured it was the least I could do. We’re still friends and she doesn’t complain about not getting any anymore, so I guess it ended up being the best gift.

What is your favorite Holiday food?
I think the shorter answer would be do list the holiday foods I dislike. I know it’s a cliche, but I freaking hate fruit cake. It’s the candied fruits of the devil.

What is your least favorite Holiday song?
Look, I know this is going to lose me some readers, but I hate the Chipmunk Christmas song. Who are they fooling anyway, everyone knows Chipmunks are stone-cold Satanists. If you play that song backwards, they’re chanting, “The dark master wants us to kill you with our ear-stabbing lyrics and high-pitched saccharine cuteness.”

Do you have any Holiday traditions?
Pretty much the holidays include a last-minute anxiety-riddled scramble to finish my Christmas shopping interspersed with shameful binges on peppermint bark and roasted meats. I have this huge family and we all congregate on Christmas Day for a Mexican food Bacchanalia that ends with us all groaning and swearing we’ll never eat again–until it’s time for dessert. The fact none of us have diabetes is a Christmas miracle!

Any favorite Holiday memories?
I found out I was pregnant with Spawn (my now-nine year old) on Christmas Eve 2001. It was pretty awesome, despite the nausea.

If you could share one lesser known fact about yourself with our readers, what would it be?
I have an unholy fascination with all things Dolly Parton. My favorite holiday song is “Hard Candy Christmas.”

 

Thank you so very much for taking the time to answer our questions, Ms. Wells! We are very excited to see you next year in New Orleans for Authors After Dark 2012!

Email:  Jaye@JayeWells.com

Find Jaye Online: Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Click For a List of Jaye’s Upcoming Appearances

About Jaye

After several years as a magazine editor and freelance writer, Jaye Wells finally decided to leave the facts behind and make up her own reality. Her overactive imagination and life-long fascination with the arcane and freakish blended nicely with this new career path. Her Sabina Kane urban fantasy series is a blend of dark themes, grave stakes and wicked humor. Jaye lives in Texas with her saintly husband and devilish son. Her work is represented by Rebecca Strauss of McIntosh & Otis.

 

 

 

 

The Sabina Kane series

RED-HEADED STEPCHILD (Sabina Kane #1)

Read Chapter 1 here!

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she’s on. She’s never brought her work home with her—until now.

This time, it’s personal.

 

 

 


 

THE MAGE IN BLACK (Sabina Kane #2)

Sabina Kane doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, leader of the vampire race, wants her dead. So when she arrives in New York to meet her mage relatives, the reunion puts the fun in dysfunctional. Not only is mage culture completely bizarre, but everyone seems to think she’s some kind of ‘Chosen’ who’ll unite the dark races. Sabina doesn’t care who chose her, she’s not into destiny. But the mages aren’t Sabina’s only problem. In New York’s Black Light District, she has run-ins with fighting demons, hostile werewolves and an opportunistic old flame. Sabina thought she’d take a bite out of the Big Apple – but it looks like it wants to bite back

Wicked Lil Pixie review.

 

 

 

GREEN-EYED DEMON (Sabina Kane #3)

Things to do:

1. Rescue sister.
2. Murder grandmother.
3. Don’t upset the voodoo priestess.

The clock is ticking for Sabina Kane. Her sister has been kidnapped by her grandmother, the Dark Races are on the brink of war, and a mysterious order is manipulating everyone behind the scenes. Working on information provided by an unlikely ally, Sabina and her trusty sidekicks–a sexy mage named Adam Lazarus and Giguhl, a Mischief demon–head to New Orleans to begin the hunt for her sister. Once there, they must contend with belligerent werewolves, magic-wielding vampires and–perhaps most frightening of all–humans. But as much as Sabina is focused on surviving the present, the past won’t be ignored. Before she can save those she cares about most, she must save herself from the ghosts of her past.

Wicked Lil Pixie review.

 

SILVER-TONGUED DEVIL (Sabina Kane #4)

Life is looking up for Sabina Kane. Now that her scheming grandmother is dead, the threat of war has passed and the rulers of the dark races are about to sign a treaty to ensure ongoing peace. Her relationship with sexy mage Adam Lazarus is strong and all her friends are around her. Even her magic training is progressing further than she ever expected. The only two dark spots in her otherwise settled life are her guilt over her sister Maisie’s fragile mental state and Sabina’s own sinking sense that she’s got unfinished business with Cain, the mysterious cult leader she let get away months earlier. When a string of murders rock the New York dark races community and threatens to stall the peace negotiations, Sabina finds herself helping to find the killer. Her investigation leads her down troubling paths that have her questioning everything – and everyone – she knows. And the closer she gets to the murderer, the more Sabina realises this is one foe she may not able to kill.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Jaye Wells is giving up one copy of Silver-Tongued Devil!! To enter, simply comment and show Jaye some love!

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13 Wicked Days of Christmas With Darynda Jones

December 21, 2011 in Author Interviews, Contests

Guess who we have today!!! Darynda freaking Jones! Another WLP favorite, we are very excited she agreed to let us interview her. I seriously need more Charley Davidson right now. Now!

What’s next for you book-wise in 2012?

2012 is going to be busy! Both Third and Fourth Graves will be out, THIRD GRAVE DEAD AHEAD on January 31st and FOURTH GRAVE BENEATH MY FEET in the fall. And the first two in a YA trilogy are coming out in 2012. DEATH AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR will be out in April and DEMONS, DEATH, AND DETENTION will be another fall release.

What is the worst gift you’ve ever received or given?

I bought one of my BFFs a gift that I thought was adorable. It was a yellow rubber ducky dressed in bondage. I laughed so hard when I saw it, practically cackled as I wrapped it. Then I noticed some of the words on the package and stopped. I read and reread to make sure I understood. Since I had nothing else to give her, I went ahead and gifted her with the bondage themed duck with the explanation that I had no idea it was a “personal massager” when I bought it. I was mortified. She actually seemed a little mortified as well. Thank goodness our friendship is strong.

What is your favorite Holiday food?

Love me some turkey and dressing!

What is your least favorite Holiday song?

Probably the Twelve Days of Christmas. It’s so . . . repetitive. It’s like a holiday version of 100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.

Do you have any Holiday traditions?

Besides eating? Well, every year my brothers and sister and I get together and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. It’s become a tradition. One that I look very forward to. Then we have our big Christmas dinner with in-laws and cousins and such on Christmas day.

Any favorite Holiday memories?

So many! Most of my fondest memories are of Christmases growing up. We were very close with my aunts and uncles and would have HUGE Christmas dinners. So fun! I remember when I was five trying to stay up all night to see Santa. My father, wanting to put out our presents and get to bed, told me I could open one present if I would go to sleep after. I was thrilled. I felt so special. My siblings didn’t get to open one that night. Just me. Take THAT, Luther, Randy, Annette, and Quentin! (In all fairness, Quentin wasn’t actually born yet.)

If you could share one lesser known fact about yourself with our readers, what would it be?

How about the fact that I could live in an office supply store. I love them. I would roll around naked in them if people would stop snapping shots and posting them on their Facebook pages. So rude.

*snickers* That was fantastic, thank you so much Ms. Jones for agreeing to let us feature you. We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans for Authors After Dark 2012!

 

Winner of the 2009 Golden Heart® for Best Paranormal Romance for her manuscript FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT, Darynda was born spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. After the Golden Heart final, she pimped herself as best she could, landed an amazing agent and sold to St. Martin’s Press in a three-book deal. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of more than 25 years and two beautiful sons, aka the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

She can be found at:

www.DaryndaJones.com.

Twitter @Darynda

Facebook

 

 

The Charley Davidson series:


FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT

A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.”

But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice.

Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life…and it turns out he might not be dead after all.

In fact, he might be something else entirely. This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

Wicked Lil Pixie review.

 

 

SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT

Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Can she keep those she loves out of harm’s way? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel
her as she does?

Wicked Lil Pixie review.

 

 

 

 

 

THIRD GRAVE DEAD AHEAD – Coming January!

*Blurb removed to avoid spoilers for SECOND GRAVE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Darynda Jones is offering up one signed copy of SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT to one of our lucky readers! To enter, please leave a comment letting us know what your favorite holiday food is.

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13 Wicked Days of Christmas With Stacey Kennedy

December 20, 2011 in Author Interviews, Contests

Next up for our The Thirteen Wicked Days of Christmas feature is the lovely Stacey Kennedy! She took the time to sit down with us and answer some interview questions we have for her. Check out what she has to say!

What’s next for you book-wise in 2012?

2012 is an exciting year for me and my books. Werewolves Be Damned will be releasing in April 2012. It’s an urban fantasy romance series that’s great fun! There are four books in that series, and I’ve completed a bunch of other books after it too so that should keep me busy for a while.

I’ve also just finished the second book in the Frostbite series titled, Demonically Tempted. I hope to have it off to my editor by the middle of December and that it will release in early 2012.

Other than those, I have two new series that I’m planning on starting. Both are urban fantasy romances and both have me excited to write. Now if I only I can find the time to write them.

What is the worst gift you’ve ever received or given?

Oh, I best not answer that question in case one of my family members reads this interview. All I will say is that I have over the years received some interesting gifts.

What is your favorite Holiday food?

Turkey and dessert. Give me anything chocolate…and I’m in bliss!

What is your least favorite Holiday song?

I’ll admit that I love Christmas songs, and truthfully, I’ve never heard one that I don’t like. My only pet peeve is when stores play them too early in the winter season and then usually by the time Christmas rolls around, I’m sick to death of hearing them!

Do you have any Holiday traditions?

We always go and cut down our own Christmas tree. For me, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without that wonderful aroma of a real tree. It’s a fun filled day as we get the kids all bundled up to go to the Christmas tree lot and spend the day finding the perfect tree! Then we get to come home and decorate it. The kids love it…and so do I.

Any favorite Holiday memories?

Every Christmas is a favorite holiday memory for me. I love it! Seriously, I’m one of those people who insanely decorates my house, and always has a Christmas movie on around that time. I can’t get enough of Christmas and wish it came more than once a year.

If you could share one lesser known fact about yourself with our readers, what would it be?

Hmmm…I guess one lesser known fact about me is that I used to horseback ride. I spent the majority of my childhood and all the way up to college at a horse farm. It’s around this time in the year that I miss it most. I used to love to go out with my horse on a cold winter morning and take a trail ride through the snow. I do miss it. But with kids and busy life my favorite hobby has taken a backseat. One day, I’ll get back into it and I can hardly wait until I do.

Let’s take a look at her upcoming release, which Stacey Kennedy is giving away!

 

Ghosts harass and annoy Tess Jennings to save their souls. Sometimes she helps them. Other times she ignores them. But one ghost will give her no choice.

Kipp McGowen, a cop with the Memphis Police Department, will stop at nothing to gain her help, including using his ghostly charms to seduce her. Tess must help solve the five year old cold case of Hannah Reid, because solving the case will save Kipp. But a bigger problem presents itself. Tess is falling in love with a ghost. Now she must decide. Keep Kipp forever or find the killer…

 

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to let us interview you, Stacey. We can’t wait to meet you in New Orleans for Authors After Dark 2012!

Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn’t plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she’s got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband.

Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Stacey Kennedy is giving away a copy of Supernaturally Kissed. To enter, just comment and show Ms. Kennedy some love! Contest is open til January 5th, and is international.

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13 Wicked Days of Christmas With PJ Schnyder

December 19, 2011 in Author Interviews, Contests

Guess who we have this time!! It’s none other than one of our favorite people, PJ Schnyder. Nat says if PJ was a man, she’d marry her in a heartbeat! Spaz concurs.

What’s next for you book-wise in 2012?

I’m working on the next books in each of my series and hoping they’ll be accepted. *fingers crossed* There’s the 2nd book in the Triton Experiment series from Carina Press and the 3rd book in the Terra’s Guardians series from Decadent Publishing. I’ve also got more steampunk coming in a new anthology.

What is the worst gift you’ve ever received or given?

Ooooh. Worst gift I’ve ever given. One year, I visited a friend in college and came down with the flu on the way. Oh yes, I gave the gift of the virus right before everyone left for semester break.

What is your favorite Holiday food?

Pie! I love any kind of homemade fruit pie, especially apple, peach or cherry. Also love homemade pecan pie or sweet potato pie. And of course, homemade pumpkin pie. Yum!

What is your least favorite Holiday song?

I’m not real fond of Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer. The more traditional carols are some of my favorites, especially the Little Drummer Boy or Silent Night. In the not so traditional range, I do love some of the pieces by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Do you have any Holiday traditions?

I’d like to say I do. Growing up, the PJ Mommy filled the house with Christmas decorations and candy. I baked cookies and helped my little sister and brother decorate them. The PJ Daddy built a warm fire in the fireplace and made sure we didn’t knock the Christmas Tree over. But the years flew by and we all grew up. The PJ Mommy lives in Thailand now and my lil sis is moving to Canada. My little brother is deployed overseas. The PJ Daddy has made sure I’m always welcome at the old house with his new wife. Recently divorced myself in the last couple of years and settling into a new apartment, I’m finding my way and I’m sure new traditions will come together in the years to come. (I might start baking cookies again…and Pie!)

Any favorite Holiday memories?

One favorite holiday memory and the picture says it all.

If you could share one lesser known fact about yourself with our readers, what would it be?

A long, long time ago…I saw the PJ Daddy eat Santa’s cookies. o.o

 

Drowning Tides (included in the Love’s Immortal Pantheon Vol. 5 anthology)

Lora loved being a mermaid, reveled in the freedom of the sea. But an ancient danger approaches and her friend, Katherine, needs to live up to her potential or countless lives will end.

In an effort to coax Katherine ashore to spend time immersed in the emotions humans generate so easily, Lora steals the breath of life from unwary divers. For every human life, she has three days and three nights to fill her lungs with air and walk among them.

Seeking the perfect bait for Katherine, Lora goes ashore … but finds love instead.

Status: release to Print in Winter 2011 from Tease Publishing LLC

 

All Romance eBooks

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: PJ is giving away an ecopy of Drowning Tides and a scarf handknitted BY PJ out of Handmaiden Sea Silk, a luxurious silk combined with Sea Cell (a cellulose based fibre made with Seaweed). To enter, simply leave a comment giving PJ a warm welcome!

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