Christmas Traditions-Karily Bentley Author of Demon Lore
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Karilyn Bentley, author of Demon Lore. Now out on audio book! Yippee! Great Christmas gift. Just say’n. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets see what Christmas Traditions Karilyn is sharing and a little about Demon Lore’s audiobook. Thanks for joining us!
What makes you angry?
Injustice in the world.
Do you throw a Christmas get together?
Does inviting the whole family to go ice skating count? It started off small and now all the kids (aka my nieces and nephews) look forward to it all year along.
Favorite holiday memory
When I was a child, we didn’t have a lot of money, so we’d make “special” gifts. Like a 24 carrot necklace (get the pun??). We’d also hide the gifts, then attach yarn to them so you’d have to unwrap the ball of yarn to get to your gift (while crawling over and under other’s yarn strings). Dad would hide gifts and write funny poems telling where to find them. He’d usually write two to three poems per gift. We’d have to run around the house trying to figure out what the poem was talking about in order to find our gift.
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?
Gin Crawford, the heroine of the Demon Huntress series. She’s snarky and troubled and it was fun to watch her grow and change. Writing a snarky character was fun because she says things I wouldn’t dare. Since she’s imaginary she can get by with it. <grin>
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
I’d love to have telekinesis. That way I could move things by thinking of it. Like, sit and write while dusting. I hate dusting! <g>
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN: Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite Christmas movie: A Christmas Story
Favorite Christmas book: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Last Christmas or holiday book read: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Favorite color: Green
Stilettos or flipflops or elf shoes: Elf Shoes
Coffee or tea or hot chocolate: tea
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: ebook or paperback
Pencil or pen or candy cane: Candy Cane
Favorite Christmas Carole or song: Wizards in Winter (by TSO)
All-time favorite Christmas present: jewelry
Favorite dessert: Carrot cake
Christmas Candy or Cake: Cake
Favorite thing to do to relax during the holidays: read
Champagne or gin or eggnog: champagne
Paranormal or Historical: Paranormal
Wonder Woman or Top Model or Tinkerbell: Wonder Woman
Favorite Christmas or holiday TV show: The Grinch
Hot or cold: Cold
POV: First
I’d die if I don’t have: lotion
Review or Not: Review
Tell us a little about Demon Lore, narrated by Joan Kukore.
Gin Crawford has enough problems dealing with her empath abilities. Finding out she’s the world’s newest demon-slayer is the last thing she needs. Unfortunately, when she slips on a mysterious bracelet she is given no other choice. On the plus side, her new gig comes with Tall, Dark and Handsome, a mage who may or may not have her best interests at heart. Thrust into a power-play between good and evil, Gin must choose a side before she becomes the next victim in the ongoing battle.
The audio book is wonderful! I listened to a snippet of it. I love audio books to listen to while running errands, or taking a break out in the sunroom.
A peek between the pages of A DEMON LORE. To hear a snippet of the audio book, click here.
The evil man-thing stands on my porch, his lips turning in a menacing smile of death. I don’t need to touch him to know he wants me dead. Muscles freeze, trapping my breath in my lungs. Like a rabbit in view of a wolf, I’m immobilized, waiting for death’s blow. Time slows, his gaze locks on mine, trapping me in place.
Move, move, move! My mind screams as the man’s fingers twitch.
But the spike of adrenaline explodes into my limbs too late to stop the backhand blow slamming across my jaw.
I superman it halfway across the living room. Land on the hardwood floor in a thud of pain-ridden limbs. My jaw morphs into a screaming ball of nerves. My head no sooner hits the floor than I hear the bracelet scream, a high-pitched wail quivering through my skin like vibrations from a tuning fork. The bracelet tightens around my wrist, cutting off the circulation, and then it loosens with a pop at the same time I hear the door click closed.
Ohgodohgodohgod, I’m going to die. I don’t want to die. No, no, no, no, no. Pain and terror hold me crumpled on the floor as my mind crawls backward in time.
But I’m no longer a child, fearful of fists and words, cowering on the ground.
I’m a fighter.
My head spins, but I refuse to lie on the floor waiting to be killed, so I attempt to stand. Evil Guy laughs as I ass-plant it. Laughs as a moan escapes my lips. He takes a step toward me, right arm drawn back for a hit. His fist hurls toward my face, but I manage to block it with my left arm. My right arm, the one with the bracelet, shoves forward, slamming into his chest.
His black eyes widen, mouth open in surprise, his hands fluttering to his chest before dropping. I stare at my hand, stare hard, for I’m as surprised as Evil Guy. The bracelet had become a sword, a long, thin spike of metal extending from the silver links, straight into Evil Guy’s heart.
A sword?
Definitely a sword. The flat of the blade rests against the back of my hand, cool metal heating from the warmth of my skin. Small silver links circle around my palm, lending stability to the two-foot long sword.
I’m not sure which scares me more, Evil Guy paying me a visit or the fact the bracelet performed a morphing trick.
Links for Demon Lore: Amazon B&N The Wild Rose Press iBooks and Audible
About the Author:
Karilyn Bentley’s love of reading stories and preference of sitting in front of a computer at home instead of in a cube, drove her to pen her own works, blending fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny.
Her paranormal romance novella, Werewolves in London, placed in the Got Wolf contest and started her writing career as an author of sexy heroes and lush fantasy worlds.
Karilyn lives in Colorado with her own hunky hero, a crazy dog nicknamed The Kraken, a silly not-quite-a-puppy, and a handful of colorful saltwater fish.
Where to find Karilyn
Website: www.karilynbentley.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1
Blog: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/karilynbentley
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karilyn-bentley
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Demon Lore Audio Book!
Views: 289
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Audio Book, Dark Fanasy, Demon's Lore, Karilyn Bentley, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 14 comments.
Holiday Recipe & A Magic Redemption
Happy holidays to all! I’m so excited today is the release of A MAGIC REDEMPTION, the fifth book in A Demon’s Witch Series. Yippee!! Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets see what A MAGIC REDEMPTION is all about! Also, check out my Holiday Recipe for Fantasy Fudge. Pssst. To celebrate my new release I’m giving away a $10.00 Amazon gift card. Read to the bottom of the post, tell me the name of Synn’s pup in the comments to be entered for a chance to win Thanks for joining us!
A Magic Redemption has been in the process for quite some time. Synn the heroine of the book has wandered in and out of most of the books in A Demon’s Witch Series. Kidnapped as a child, her captors murdered her family and forced her into training as a warrior assassin. When an assignment goes horribly wrong, she sees an escape and exchanges valuable information for protection and takes freedom in Ireland. Gavin Shaughnessy is the publican at his family’s Irish pub. He is certain Synn is meant to be his and isn’t bothered by her past. He must find a way to convince her, their future together is stronger than the dark memories that haunt her dreams.
I always knew I’d have to tell Synn’s story, but had to wait until all the pieces fell into place from the other books in the series. I’m super excited to share her incredible adventure and heart-warming story with you now. I certainly hope you enjoy reading A Magic Redemption as much as I did writing Synn’s tale.
Although A Magic Redemption is the fifth book in A Demon’s Witch Series, it can be read as a stand-alone like all the other books in the series. Before we get into A MAGIC REDEMPTION, a little holiday fun and a recipe!
Twinkle Bright – Elves Secret Santa
Direct from the North Pole, welcome to the Elves Secret Santa party! Here at the North Pole it’s extremely busy, but we still have time for a little holiday fun and shenanigans.
Let me introduce myself. I’m an elf and my name is Twinkle Bright because my elf hat has twinkle lights wound all around the scalloped edge and the pointy top.
I make yummy Hot Chocolate for Santa and the elves from a secret family recipe passed down from generation to generation. My hot chocolate keeps everyone warm and toasty inside at the North Pole. There is even an automatic dispenser in Santa’s Sleigh providing him with hot chocolate during his travels on Christmas Eve. It goes good with the cookies the children leave for him.
While I am mixing up large batches of hot chocolate, I listen to Christmas Carols from a variety of pop, country and rock artists. I always taste each batch to insure it’s up to elf standards. . You would think I’d get tired of hot chocolate, but no — never. I love the steaming chocolaty drink. I usually keep mine in an insulated mug so it stays warm while sampling the cookies in the elves’ bakery. Frosted sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies are my absolute favorites.
Now, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. But you must promise not to tell…anyone.
We do a secret Santa gift exchange around here and this year I got Bob, her job at the North Pole is name checker to make sure Santa has all the correct spellings of the girls and boys. One year she spelled Chrys’ name Chris and wow what an uproar.
Luckily Santa caught it, but we had to rush to change all the tags on her packages. Whew!
I’m getting Elf Bobi a package of 120 different color markers in a jewel encrusted case for marking off the correctly spelled names after she checks them.
Do you think she’ll like that?
Do you like fudge? Great, I’ll share with you my favorite Fantasy Fudge Recipe.
3 cups of sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 – 5 oz can of evaporated milk (do not use sweetened condensed milk)
1 – 12 oz package semi sweet chocolate chips
1 – 7 oz jar marshmallow cream
1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
You may add chopped nuts if you wish
Bring sugar, butter and evaporated milk to a full rolling boil in a large saucepan over medium heat, stir constantly
Cook for four minutes or until a candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees.
High altitude takes about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and add chocolate chips and marshmallow cream, stir until melted.
Add vanilla and nuts. Stir until blended.
Pour into a greased 9×13 pan, spread evenly.
Cool completely and cut into squares.
A sneak peek between the pages of A MAGIC REDEMPTION!
He showered, pulled on sweats, and stretched out on his empty king-sized bed. After his long flight, a peaceful sleep came quickly until Synn’s nightmare invaded his dream world. Gut wrenching terror tore through him until he was able to disengage himself from the nightmare. There’d be no phone call this time. For a moment he considered shifting, but he might need a vehicle after arriving at her home. He yanked off his sweats and pulled on jeans, a sweater, donned a coat, and grabbed his keys.
He found her sitting cross-legged on the bedroom floor. Storm curled in her lap. The usually active pup was lying still just peering up at her. When Gavin approached, Storm moved one ear forward and turned her head to look at him. “It’ll be okay, girl.” He knelt in front of Synn, brushed the hair away from her face. A vacant stare met his gaze into her eyes like she was in a trance. This couldn’t be good.
He’d seen her nightmare. Something was trying to control her. He wouldn’t let it happen. Releasing a breath, he took hold of her shoulders. She’d been like this once before. When she came out of it anyone within arm’s reach could be in danger. Though her magic was tempered these days, it wouldn’t be for long… Changing strategy, he repositioned himself behind her, caught her up in a bear hug, and pushed the pup out of her lap. Storm yelped and went grudgingly but refused to leave her side.
“Synn, it’s me Gavin; you’re safe.” He gave her a little shake. Arms and legs began flailing. She let out a blood curdling scream and kept screaming until he thought the neighbors a few miles away would hear and call the police. He held her tightly, sat down on the floor, and pulled her into his lap. “Synn. Synn. You’re all right. We’re at the cottage.” The screams turned to sobs. She leaned her head back and blinked.
Panic seized her. “Gavin, you’ve got to get out of here. He’s coming for me and will kill everyone associated with me, including Storm.” She reached for the pup cuddling her close to her chest. “I’m so sorry. I knew this would never work. I don’t deserve a normal life.”
“That’s enough. It was a nightmare. That’s all.”
She turned her large aqua eyes on him and raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
Available from Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon AU, Amazon CA, Kobo , itunes, The Wild Rose Press, Barnes and Noble Wal-mart.com
About the Author:
Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance. She has an over-active imagination, which led to writing her first vampire romance as a tween to the chagrin of her mother and delight of her friends. After many years as a paralegal, then an IT Manager, she decided to live out her dream of pursuing a publishing career.
With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of witches, shapeshifters, demons, faeries, and gryphons, with a Navy SEAL or two mixed in telling their tales. Her books tell stories of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.
Thank you so much for indulging my excitement at the release of my eighth book with The Wild Rose Press and reading a bit about A MAGIC REDEMPTION! I hope you enjoyed the recipe!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Magic Redemption, Fantasy Fudge, Ireland, magic, Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler, Twinkle Bright the Holiday Elf, Urban Fantasy, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview with Suzanne Johnson Author of Frenchman Street
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings trilogy
Favorite book: Stephen King’s The Stand
Last book read: Kevin Hearne’s Hounded
Favorite color: Teal
Stilettos or flipflops: barefoot!
Coffee or tea: coffee
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: ebook (*ensue guilt*)
Pencil or pen: pen
Favorite song: “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
Streak or not: not
Favorite dessert: NY-style cheesecake
Favorite junk food: Cheetos (*ensue guilt again*)
Favorite thing to do to relax: binge-watch reality TV
Champagne or gin: gin
Paranormal or Historical: paranormal
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Top Model
Favorite TV show: The Deadliest Catch
Hot or cold: cold
POV: Deep
I’d die if I don’t have: diet soda
Review or Not: Sure
A peek between the pages of FRENCHMAN STREET!
“So, what’s the plan…” I trailed off at the sound of the front door slamming, followed shortly by the appearance of a very wet merman in the doorway of the study. Water dripped from Rene’s jeans, his t-shirt was plastered to his chest, and….was he bleeding?
“I hate elves. They should all be shot. And cats. Why would any sane person have a damned cat if it can’t shift into a bigger cat?” He stalked to the corner cabinet, helped himself to a drying charm, and, within seconds, was no longer dripping. The side of his face was covered in dried blood.
“How did you get injured?” I was going to tear Quince Randolph a new one. He had promised not to hurt Rene. Never mind that the shifter’s face had already healed.
Rene threw a bag in my lap on his way to the bar to wash off his face; he also poured a drink. We needed to get out of Barataria before all of us became alcohol-dependent. The white paper sack, which smelled of fried shrimp and fresh French bread, also had a long rip along the side. Somehow, he’d managed to keep it dry.
He came back and took a seat next to me, drink in hand.
“Rene, you didn’t answer me. What did Rand do to you?”
The toasted merman turned on the sofa to face me, and leaned close enough for me to think, not for the first time, that he might have the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen—almost a liquid black, with long lashes. He’d also let his hair grow out into a messy tangle and grown a short beard. It looked good on him. “Did you know the elf’s transport was guarded?”
Well, no. “So his guard cut you?”
“Yep. Leaned over and sniffed me like a dog. Or a freaking cat. I might have swatted it on the nose before it took a swipe at me. Cats and merfolk don’t get along, babe. They think we’re sushi.”
Signed print copies of all books in the series available from the author: https://www.suzannejohnsonauthor.com/shop
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Frenchman Street!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Freenchman Street, Sentinels of New Orleans, Suzanne Johnson, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 3 comments.
Interview Beth Woodward Author of Embracing the Demon
Give a warm welcome to Beth Woodward, author of Embracing the Demon!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Beth Woodward and Embracing the Demon, Book Two of Dale Highland Series. Pssst… Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!
What inspired this particular story?
Writer’s Digest used to run a monthly flash fiction contest where they ran a prompt, and you could submit a 750-word or less story based on it. The prompt one month was, “You wake up covered in blood, with a knife in your hands, a dead body next to you, and no memory of what happened.” Most people, in that situation, would probably have a reaction of, “Oh no, this couldn’t be! I would never kill anyone!” But my twisted brain came up with a character who woke up, looked around, and thought “Oh, no, not again.”
I was too late for the flash fiction contest. But I really like the piece, so I brought it to a writers’ workshop I participated in at the time. I got peppered with questions about why this particular woman would kill the man. Someone even suggested she was possessed. But my mind just started spinning and I thought, “What if the demon is just part of her?”
The original flash fiction piece became the prologue of The Demon Within. It’s one of the few parts of the story that’s remained relatively unchanged from the first draft onward.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
I’ve been writing since I was a kid, so my friends and family all knew I was a writer. But what has surprised me through the years is how many people—friends, family members, and significant others—treated it like a pipe dream, as if I were saying, “I want to be a fairy princess,” instead of a real, attainable goal. This attitude diminished my confidence in my writing, and I was reluctant to share it for a long time.
So my advice to anyone who wants to be a professional writer is to support yourself with people who support and encourage you. It’s a tough road, but it is achievable. I’m lucky that the people I’m around now, especially my husband, always cheer me on.
Why do you write what you write? Ie. Contemporary, paranormal, suspense, etc.
I write science fiction and fantasy because I love the idea that the world is more than what meets the eye. Working within the sci-fi/fantasy realm gives you the permission to invent and create and just be as weird and crazy as you want. Sci-fi and fantasy allow you to explore the world—or an entirely new world—through the realm of possibility. They remind you to always keep yourself open to possibility.
I also tend to include a lot of romance in my stories because…well, because that’s what I enjoy reading. My favorite kinds of romances are what you might call “complicated romances.” Much as I dig reading contemporary romances, there aren’t very many things, logically, that can keep two consenting, modern-day adults from being together. But the sci-fi/fantasy aspect adds a whole new layer of complication. We can’t be together because our races are bitter enemies, or because you’re mortal and I’m immortal, or because I can only come out at night and you live where the sun never sets. My favorite romances are the ones where you have no idea how the leads will get their happily ever after, or if they even can. That’s what keeps you turning pages.
You’ve got a time machine, a cloak of invisibility, and one hour. Where would you go, and what eavesdropping would you do?
I lost both my parents young: I was 13 when my dad died and 30 when my mom passed away. I’d love to see them again one last time. I’d go back to a time when they were really happy, maybe to their wedding day. I’d toss the invisibility cloak (I hadn’t been born, so no chance of being recognized), don my very best 80s shoulder pads and poofy hair, and crash the wedding. The good news is, it’s one place where no one would be surprised to see someone who looks suspiciously like the bride. (“Oh, don’t you remember me? I’m cousin Sally!”) The bad news is, my parents’ wedding was very small, so hopefully my time would be up before anyone realizes the bride doesn’t have a cousin Sally. Maybe I’ll bring the invisibility cloak, after all…
A sneak peek between the pages of Embracing the Demon!
He wore a gray suit with a dark shirt and a blue tie that fit him so perfectly I knew it must have been custom made for him. His dark blond hair had been combed and gelled into submission. Normally, it stood up in random spikes around his head—not as a stylistic choice, but because he had the tendency to run his fingers through it nervously until it went in about 14 different directions.
Until that moment, I hadn’t been convinced he’d survived the fall off the roof of Amara’s estate. Every night in my dreams, I stared at his broken body, tears running down my face. I wasn’t sure why I cried: because I had killed him, or because he had destroyed me.
But here was John, very much alive, looking like the fantasy of some billionaire boss about to have hot monkey sex with his secretary on the desk. He didn’t look like the John I remembered, who’d spent most of our time together wearing blood-covered t-shirts. Which one was the real John, I wondered, the suave businessman or the urban warrior? And then I noticed the pin on his lapel: a flaming angel that matched the ones on the others’ pendants. John had declared his allegiance, and it wasn’t to me.
“My apologies for the mess,” he said. “Ephraim, Leah, please clean that up. Make sure you dispose of the body well. I don’t want him coming back to haunt us one of these days.” A man and a woman jumped out of their seats and scooped up the body, leaving just a puddle of blood behind. Guess they’d be getting that later.
John turned to the rest of the group. “Let’s not forget why we’re here. This illness is already devastating our community, and it’s getting worse. The Zeta Coalition created it with the intent of wiping out supernaturals—angels and demons. And if we can’t cooperate, they will succeed.”
“She’s the daughter of our worst enemy!” someone shouted.
“Amara is dead. And Dale is not Amara.” He paused. “Covington is right. We need more information if we’re going to survive this, and Dale is our best hope of gaining access to their records containment facility.”
“What about taking an army and storming the compound, like we talked about a few weeks ago?” someone asked.
To my surprise, it was Tina who answered. “The compound is too heavily fortified, and its underground architecture would make it difficult to strong-arm. We’ve run the scenario many times, accounting for the different variables. The most likely outcome is that we’d end up trapped down there while the Zetas pick us off.”
“There must be another way,” a woman said.
“Maybe, but this is the best way,” John replied. “We all know Dale can do things that no one else can. Her return may have been a coincidence, but we should use that to our advantage.”
“I haven’t agreed to anything yet,” I managed to get out through gritted teeth.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Beth Woodward, Embracing the Demon, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
