GODS AND FORBIDDEN RULES WITH ZOE FORWARD!

Today, I'm pleased to have Zoe Forward as my guest talking about her book DAWN OF A DARK KNIGHT where we have a strong heroine with a destiny predetermined and a hero to protect her only to find out she’s the one woman he can’t have. We all have a wonderful longing for tormented heroes who discover love only to be told ‘NO!’ Find out more about what Ashor does in defiance of that single nasty word! A fascinating tale to be sure!

   

 What did you see, hear or dream that inspired your book?

I’ve been a paranormal romance and mainstream fiction addict for decades. And I grew up a fan of Indiana Jones and Ann Rice. So, writing paranormals was a no brainer.  For Dawn of a Dark Knight everything came together at the right creative moment — my love of Egyptian mythology, my interest in archaeology, my ideas about a new type of paranormal hero and more. It all just gelled.

I, too grew up with Ann Rice and Indy! I guess that's why I love the same genre.

Which one of your main characters came across strongest to you?

I just love both main characters in Dawn of a Dark Knight.  The heroine, Kira…who wouldn’t want to be her? She’s an adrenaline junkie good at handling weapons with a cousin that drags her on black market art deals.  And she’s got a magical ability to heal by touch, which propels her towards a mind-blowing relationship with the world’s hottest, yet tormented hero.

And then there’s the raw, tormented Ashor. He struggles to obey the rules laid down by the gods he works for, but stresses when he can’t.  He desperately desires the woman destined to be the sacred healer for the Scimitar magi (Kira), but the gods’ rules dictate he cannot be involved with her. On top of this he keeps blacking out and going on hunts to take out the guys that do most of the daemon summoning, the Hashishins.  Killing these guys, even though they are clearly hostiles, violates the no-killing-humans-unless-attacked rule.

How long did it take you to fall in love with your Hero/Heroine?

Oh, about the moment they appeared in my head, especially Ashor.  A hard as nails, loyal to death, hot, tattooed badboy walking the edge of right and wrong…what better hero is there?

Ah, yes. We do love our bad boys! What would life be without them?

Did you borrow certain traits for your characters from someone you know personally?  Which ones?

I can say with certainty I’ve never based a character on an immediate family member. But I have borrowed traits from acquaintances for some of the characters I’ve developed.  When I’ve done so, it is done with love for these are characters that make me smile.

Is this book a single category or can we expect to see more of your characters in a series?

DAWN OF A DARK KNIGHT is the first book in the Scimitar magi series. The sequel, FREEDOM FOR A KNIGHT, has just entered the editing phase and is due out next year. In the second of the series there’s a new magus with a curse that forces he and the woman he loves to kill each other within days of meeting in each lifetime. They’ve been cursed for over a millennia, but can they break the curse this time around?

What is your most difficult “no-no” when you write? (Show vs. tell, dialogue, plot problems, passive voice, etc.)

I used to have a terrible habit of with falling into passive writing…and I still have moments.   But my editor has beaten it out of me.  J 

When you take a break from writing, what do you do to allow your brain time to regroup?

Honestly, I have so little free time between working full-time as a veterinarian and being a mommy that writing for me is my “break.”  And I love every minute of it.

Being a Veterinarian must be a fascinating calling. I wanted to be one when I was growing up, but it didn't happen. Being a mom is the all time number one position there could ever be, though.

Would you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

Outlines are not for me. So, I guess I’m a pantser. I have a rough idea of plot points when I begin, but allow the story to play itself out as I write.  For me, the characters dictate much of the action.  I’ve tried fighting with characters to get the plot to move in the direction I desire, but sometimes the characters don’t agree.  And, generally, they win.

In one sentence, tell us what your book is about.

Two must choose to follow the gods’ rules or follow their hearts.

What is your one “guilty” pleasure?

Chocolate. In particular, Butterfinger…especially those little hearts and bells they make for the holidays.

I'm one of the strange one's who believe that chocolate and peanut butter do not mix. But I'm a little odd that way.

Thanks for guesting with me today and, as usual, it's always fun to be able to get to know my fellow roses.

DAWN OF A DARK KNIGHT

In the shadows of our world, a secret band of warriors fights to protect us. They are the last line of defense against an evil no human can stop.

An ancient nemesis has resurfaced. Duty demands that Ashor Vlahos, Scimitar Magi commander, recruit a magical healer to fortify the remaining eight magi. The gods' choice is the woman who helped him escape torture a decade ago. Ashor couldn't have imagined a better punishment for his vow-breaker homicidal incidents than for the gods to bind him irrevocably to the only woman in the universe he cannot have. The soul-searing desire she ignites in him is strictly forbidden.

Kira Hardy, M.D. is a brilliant, hardworking internal med resident with big secrets. But when Ashor asks for aid after a brutal daemon attack, she is sucked into his dangerous, secret world. Enslavement to the magi, no matter how hot they are, may be an unattractive life plan, but being targeted for death by their enemies is less tolerable.

She must trust the sexy, tormented Ashor to keep her safe while he must deny his ultimate desire and keep Kira at arm’s length lest he bring destruction down on them both. As a centuries-old evil catches up to them, they face a crucial decision—follow the gods' rules or follow their hearts.

Excerpt:

Her captor dragged Kira deep into the shadows of a recessed doorway. He clinched her chest so tight that she couldn’t breathe. A dizzy terror hazed her mind.

Keep it together.

He rolled her inwards until her face pressed tight to his chest as if he feared she would scream.

“I’ll shoot,” she murmured against his rock-solid pecs, burrowing the muzzle of her Glock into his abdomen.

“Go ahead, sweetheart. Add it to the tally for the night. It’ll sting like a bitch, but I guarantee it won’t kill me.”

He sounded disappointed about the last part. Something about that lightly accented baritone struck her as familiar. Kira reined in her escalating fear enough to do an aura screen. He had none of the inherent darkness of a Hashishin. He radiated mystical vitality and ancient power. But not evil.

With a good push, she got herself some space. Yet he didn’t release her. She cricked her neck upward. It was a good ways up since this gladiator dwarfed her by almost a foot.

“Ashor?” She shook her head and whispered, “This can’t be real.”

Author Links:

Website: http://www.zoeforward.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorzoe.forward

Buy on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Dark-Knight-ebook/dp/B00ADAD9AU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354129181&sr=8-1&keywords=dawn+of+a+dark+knight

Chatting with Kim Hornsby

The Entertainment Industry today is all a-buzz with twisted faery tales and I know I'm a fan of them myself. I heard all the originals while on my mother's lap at bedtime as a small child and dreamed of putting stories together to catch the imagination of kids everywhere. So, it's an honor and I'm very pleased to be chatting with suspense author Kim Hornsby. She's had an intriguing life herself so it's no wonder she writes romantic suspense! Join us today to find out all about her latest book Necessary Detour and her unusual love of Nursery stories. 

What did you see, hear or dream that inspired your book?

 

Necessary Detour came from an AHA moment that turned out to be not so amazing. I was trying to dream up a high concept and thought if I took Nursery Stories and made them into grownup books, the series would sell. But the agents I queried all agreed that nursery stories would never sell. I’m still not sure why, when Once Upon a Time is a hit TV show, but this was three years ago. The novel was originally called Goldy and the Bayers and loosely follows the Goldilocks story. I still think it’s clever and fun but it wasn’t until I renamed the book “Necessary Detour,” that I got someone interested. Go figure.

   

      I think that no matter how good a story is, when you pitch to an agent or a publication,   

      the title has to be the catchy part.

Which one of your main characters came across strongest to you? 

Goldy/Nikki really spoke to me because she is a singer and although I never dealt with fame of that magnitude, I did experience a small degree of celebrity and fans. The side you present to the public is so different from the real you, when you sing professionally in big concerts or in theatre. I even had a stalker in those days, who was wheelchair bound and still have the ‘love’ letters he wrote me. He called me ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ and used to come to my performances on Maui. It all started when I went into the audience one night and sang to him. I had no idea it would affect him that way! He eventually tried to get me fired from singing gigs and got nasty, but like Goldy’s stalker, he was a letter writer. And, another sick person, years later, threatened to cut my tongue out with a Coke bottle when my husband fired him at work. People can be weird. We were living in Canada and we had to get the RCMP involved.

It’s totally sad what some people can and will do to try to ruin the fun and absolute pleasure that gifted people try to convey to make the lives of others a little brighter if for a short time. I’m sorry you had to go through all of that. I’m sure it was pretty scary.

How long did it take you to fall in love with your Hero/Heroine? 

I fell for Pete the moment he grabbed Goldy at the grocery store to prevent her from falling backwards and I saw his blue eyes.

Ah, the eyes are indeed the window to the soul. It seems Pete had the kind of soul to win her heart!

Did you borrow certain traits for your characters from someone you know personally?  Which ones?

Goldy is snoopy, especially when she thinks someone might be in danger. I am a tiny bit snoopy but I’d like to think that I go out on a limb to help people whether they know they need help or not. So I guess you could say I’m snoopy but helpful!

Is this book a single category or can we expect to see more of your characters in a series?

Great question. If this books does well (and it’s #2 in Free Kindle Suspense-right up there with best selling men authors) I might think about continuing with the original series of nursery stories all grown up. The next novel is titled Jacqueline Beane Stalks. What do you think, readers?

Interesting. I think calling her Jacqueline Beane Stalker might make it a little more fun, especially if she was the one doing the stalking for a change. But, that is just my opinion and I’m not a suspense writer. How fun, though!

What is your most difficult “no-no” when you write? (Show vs. tell, dialogue, plot problems, passive voice, etc.)

I have so many! I write a crappy 1^st draft to get the story down, then go back in about 11 times. I’d have to say that showing is a repeat offender as well as explaining too much and not giving the reader enough credit. I really want to write smart, knowing my reader is following, but I’m afraid of being too vague sometimes. Luckily my critique group catches these and I can rely on them to call me out. I’m told my dialogue is good and rarely have to change anything to do with the plot but I have loads of problems with what we like to call, circling the ferry, which means not getting to the point. My critique group has all kinds of secret codes and terms!

I’m learning how valuable a good critique partner can be, thanks to TWRP. Not to mention, making friends with other writers is a little like therapy.

When you take a break from writing, what do you do to allow your brain time to regroup?

I still have children at home so I try to spend time with them even if one is a brooding teenage boy. I take him driving which is not stress free but has nothing to do with writing. And my 10 year old daughter, we draw, shop, giggle a lot. One of my favorite things is to walk my dogs in the forest. Like Goldy, the woods give me strength and grounds me.

Would you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

I used to think I was a pantser but I’m realizing that’s not true. I am an avid list maker so that was my first clue that I like to see things on paper to get myself organized. I am getting ready to write book 2 in my Dream Jumper series and although I’m just plotting in my head right now, I shall be taking my thoughts to paper soon. I have a graph I use to plot and also use Pinterest boards to inspire me. Very visual!

There are so many different things that tend to inspire the stories that we create. I think it’s fascinating how we all come up with our ideas. Visual stimulation tends to be number one. Another for me is auditory. Sometimes, a few words of spoken conversation between two people I don’t know can stir up all kinds of ideas.  However, visual is my number one, too.

In one sentence, tell us what your book is about. 

When International rock star, Goldy, announces her retirement, she hides at her lakehouse to avoid the media fall out and a stalker whose threats are getting more heinous, but finds that she can’t stop spying on the mysterious man across the bay to save her own life.

What is your one “guilty” pleasure?

Writing books is my guilty pleasure. I work full time at Macy’s, am raising 2 kids, have 2 boisterous dogs, a neglected husband, and a terribly messy house! I can’t wait to quit my day job to write full time. :)

Your books are truly wonderful sounding and I will certainly add this one to my TBR pile for this year. I’m sure many others will too and that will help add to your dream to write full-time.

Thanks for having me Lisa! 

You're very welcome. I enjoyed visiting with you today and getting to know you better.

NECESSARY DETOUR

After a stalker's attack, rock star Goldy Crossland flees L.A. for her secluded lake house in Northern Washington. Retired from the music business, she hopes to avoid both the press and her psychotic fan. But obscurity leaves her restless, and when a mysterious and disturbingly handsome new neighbor moves in, she can't resist spying.
 

Pete Bayer is undeniably attractive, but Goldy quickly realizes there's something strange going on in the log house across the bay. Is he a member of the paparazzi? Or a much more sinister threat? Despite her suspicions, Goldy can't deny her fascination with him.
 

When the press discovers her hideout, it's Pete who offers an escape route, but it comes with a price. Unwillingly drawn into his dangerous world, Goldy soon learns the reason behind Pete's secrecy and her crush on her charming neighbor takes a deadly turn.

Buy link

http://amzn.com/B00AUM76

Author Links

www.kimhornsby.blogspot.com

www.kimhornsby.net

www.facebook.com/kimhornsby1

And don't forget to check out her other book; The Dream Jumper's Promise.

Having fun with Niecey Roy!

I’m very pleased to have Niecey Roy as my guest today. Learn a little more about her and her fascinating new release Fender Bender Blues!

What did you see, hear or dream that inspired your book?

Fender Bender Blues was inspired by my very own little fender bender. I was huge and pregnant and, well, crabby. As I was leaving a parking lot, a big truck backed into my front bumper. I got out to rip some major butt and out stepped a super hot guy who handed me his insurance information. He was adorably apologetic. I couldn’t stay mad. Ha! The idea of Fender Bender Blues was born, but I put my own spin on it.

It’s always cool when you can put a complete spin on something that happened in life to make your stories strong and compelling.

Which one of your main characters came across strongest to you?

Rach. I really connected with her. A lot of the frustrations she felt through the book was something I felt myself at one time. Just trying to find my place in the adult world and not having a great time of it!

I think growing up and having responsibilities that you never expected is one of the harshest of life’s lessons. But look what blessings they turn into!

How long did it take you to fall in love with your Hero/Heroine?

Oh, it didn’t take no time at all. I loved them the moment I brought them to life on paper!

Did you borrow certain traits for your characters from someone you know personally?  Which ones?

There’s a lot of me in Rach. Definitely. But her dad is a special character for me, as well. He kind of reminds me of my dad J

Sounds like family is a strong bond for you! No doubt your dad is a great role model!

Is this book a single category or can we expect to see more of your characters in a series?

Well, now J It’s a single-title, but there’s a character in this book I’d like to make a reappearance in another book. His name is William. Even my critique partner loved him. There was a scene with him that I had to edit out, and I’m still very sad about losing that scene. Anyway, I’m guessing he’s going to show up sometime.

I think it’s funny how other characters in what was supposed to be a single book decide they want their turn. 

What is your most difficult “no-no” when you write? (Show vs. tell, dialogue, plot problems, passive voice, etc.)

I use a lot of dialogue tags. I wouldn’t ever have noticed them if not for my amazing editor. She pointed it out and I worked like mad to get the unnecessary ones (which were a lot) out of the manuscript.

When you take a break from writing, what do you do to allow your brain time to regroup?

I don’t get much time to write, so I don’t take much time away from it, ha! I work two jobs, plus have little kids and a husband who works rotating shifts. I spend every spare moment either reading or writing.

Sounds like you have a very busy life.

Would you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

I always thought I was a panster because I kind of sit down and start writing... But then as soon as I get a decent grasp on the MC, I notice I get the paper and pen out and start plotting out scenes as I see them unfolding. I actually stick close to what I write down, and when I visualize it, it’s almost like seeing a movie play out.

In one sentence, tell us what your book is about.

How about three?

Her life took a wrong turn. He's driven by success. They didn't count on crashing into love...

What is your one “guilty” pleasure?

Pizza. I LOVE pizza. And Rach from Fender Bender Blues does, too J

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love pizza! I know I certainly do!

FENDER BENDER BLUES

Her life took a wrong turn. He's driven by success. They didn't count on crashing into love...

Rachel Bennett loved her job until the day she finds herself doubting her choices.  Now she's hunting for a new career, but starting over isn't easy.  Her plan is simple—no distractions until she finds her dream job.  She didn't plan on fate throwing her a curveball in the form of a fender bender with a sexy guy in an expensive suit.

Craig Larsen is a wealthy, successful business owner with a plan of his own: survive his current PR nightmare and stay away from his overly determined ex-girlfriend.  His need for control and personal success is turned upside down when he meets Rach, a sassy redhead who can't drive.

Soon they find themselves battling with Rach's grumpy old neighbor, toilet-papering the trees of a high school nemesis, and fighting over the last slice of pizza.  Can two very different people plus one fender bender equal a chance at forever?

EXCERPT:

       “Now what?”

       “Nothing.”Rach sniffed.

       Craig shifted to eye her warily. “Since when do you answer me with single words?”

       “Since I decided I’m not talking to you,” she answered with a shrug, crumpling up the white paper wrapper from her sub.  

       Craig leaned his face in close to her neck and enjoyed the startled jerk of her shoulders. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. His breath shifted a few strands of hair at the nape of her neck as he whispered, “Why, because you want me?”

       “You’re incorrigible,” she said, breathless, her cheeks flushed.

       She’s enjoying this. The thought pleased him. Rach was on her back beside him now, her eyes closed. He glanced around the park to see if anyone was watching. No one was. He could swoop in for a kiss and no one would catch him. No one would care, he told himself. She won’t mind…

        “I can feel you staring.”

        Craig smiled down at her. “So what.”

        She peeked at him with one green eye. “So stop it.”

       “And if I don’t?” Maybe she’d tackle him, push him down on the blanket and…

She didn’t. She promptly closed her eye and went back to pretending indifference. “I’ll hit you, that’s what.”

       “Not if I do this, you won’t.”

       He’d only meant it to be a short kiss, but the pleasure of touching his lips to hers kept him there longer. Her tongue was velvet soft and warm against his and the slow mating of their mouths quickened his heartbeat even as he told himself, It’s no big deal, just a kiss.

       She nipped his bottom lip and sent heat sliding through his body. The woman could kiss.

       She whispered soft against his lips, “Now why don’t you admit that it’s you who wants me.”

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