Linda Thomas-Sundstrom & 'Seduced by the Moon' @GoddessFish #paranormal

Today we have author Linda Thomas-Sundstrom visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Linda is the author of contemporary, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy books for Kensington, Amazon Montlake, GothicScapes, Harlequin Nocturne, and Harlequin Desire. She loves more than anything to write, and has a resident Muse who loudly sings all these stories to her.
* Linda swears that all of her books come loaded with good karma for the readers, for helping to support her writing dreams.

A look into...

~ Blurb ~ * Can blood ties be stronger than the passions that rule the heart?
* Skylar Donovan has come to her late father’s Colorado cabin to find answers to explain his death. Instead she meets a handsome forest ranger with a dark side. A stranger who is willing to protect her from an unknown assailant. A stranger who also appears in her dreams as something other than a man. He’s werewolf, and he satisfies Skylar Donovan like no mere man ever has.
* Gavin Harris was bitten by a monster in the hills he has sworn to protect and now searches for that beast. But his deadly mission unites him with a beautiful blonde bent on a search of her own. Neither is safe from the evil they’re stalking—but the forbidden lust that burns between them might be the greatest danger of all. Buy Seduced by the Moon here... Amazon - Kindle | Amazon - Print | Barnes & Noble - Nook | Barnes & Noble - Print | iTunes | Kobo | Harlequin Find Linda Thomas-Sundstrom here... Facebook | Goodreads | Website Thank you for joining us here today, Linda Thomas-Sundstrom! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Linda Thomas-Sundstrom will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter! So be sure to leave a comment AND use the Rafflecopter below. Also, visit the other tour stops for a greater chance of winning!

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A Look At Melissa Love & 'Love On Death Row' ~ @authoressmeliss #womensfic

Today we have author Melissa Love visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Melissa Love began her love of writing since picking up her first urban fictional book. She wanted to turn her love of reading into writing. In 2001 and 2002 she went the self-publishing route and published 3 books. She knew that self-publishing wasn’t the rout she wanted to take anymore, so she continued on to write more manuscripts until she was able to get signed with a major publishing company. Writing has become a way for her to be creative in telling compelling stories and memorable characters of lies and deceits. She is also a member of the Motown Writer Network and she currently resides in Detroit, Michigan with her two daughters.

What book are you going to tell us about today? Is it part of a series? If so, what's the order the books should be read in?
* I will be discussing my new novel entitled Love On Death Row and it is a standalone book.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* I got this idea from working in a female institution as a correctional officer in Virginia, and also while watching an episode of Lifetime Movie Network.

Describe the hero in five words.
* I wouldn’t call my male character a hero by any means necessary. I will put in word that he is abusive, controlling, business minded, dominating, and arrogant.

Describe the heroine in five words.
* I would describe De’Nesha as some that is hurtful, vengeful, a loving mother, loving wife, and faithful.

If ménage/multiple partners, then pick a third hero or heroine to describe in five words.
* Betrena, I would say she is honest, loyal, looks out for your best interest, a good listener, and cares about what is best for you even though it might hurt to hear it.

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* I would have to say Betrena because she told you have felt and didn’t hold anything back especially when it came to Terence.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* Good one my favorite line in the story is when De’Nesha and her two best friends when out to lunch. They want her to go to the proper authorities to report the abuse she was having at home, but she blurted out that she was the proper authorities.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * How Far Would You Go To Save Your Marriage? From the outside De’Nesha Cole had the picture perfect life with two beautiful children and a loving husband. But on the outside, Terence was far from perfect. He was violent, controlling and abusive. When her best friends find out what’s been going on behind closed doors, they encourage her to go to the authorities, but she refused. She was determined to make her marriage work no matter at what cost and death was no exception.

~ Excerpt ~ * “These are for you! He said as he slowly brought his hands around to show me the dozen of red and yellow roses he had gotten for me. He kissed me on the back of my neck. “Well, do you like it?”
* I couldn’t believe he was acting so casual after just punching me forty minutes ago. He must be suffering from personality dissociation.
* “Of course,” I replied with a fake smile on my bruised face. “Thank you, baby.”
* “Can you forgive me for the way I have been acting? I know that’s my child you’re carrying. Is it a boy or a girl?” He asked as he rubs my stomach and kissed me tenderly.
* “I don’t know yet, it’s too early to tell, but when I go back next week I can ask the doctor and you can go with me if you want to?”
* “Hell, yeah, this is my first child, so I got to be there. I called my parents, and they are so thrilled too.”
* The only reason I hugged Terence and forgave him is because of our baby, and I know it sounds stupid, but this is our first child and I refuse to be just another single black woman raising a child alone.

Buy Love On Death Row here...
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Add to Goodreads

Find Melissa Love here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google plus

Thank you for joining us here today, Melissa Love! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

Melissa is giving away a book Scented Candle Set. For your chance to win, complete the rafflecopter entries. A winner will be chosen at the end of the blog tour.
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Welcome special guest: author Leslie D. Soule ~ @Falcondraco @GoddessFish #scifi #urbanfantasy

Today we have author Leslie D. Soule visiting. A fantasy writer who enjoys delving occasionally into steampunk and sci-fi, Leslie D. Soule is the author of the fantasy quadrilogy The Fallenwood Chronicles. She is an author who loves to try new genres and Sacramento, California is her hometown. She has an M.A. in English from National University and is a member of the English Chapter of the Sac State Almuni Association.

So, Leslie D. Soule, what/who inspired you to become a writer?
* I’ve always had a vivid imagination and an interest in creating stories. As a child, I was greatly influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
* I’ve been writing so long that it’s hard to tell when it first began. I’m currently editing one of my full-length stories from childhood though – it became the foundation and rough draft for my sci-fi novel Hybrid Space.

How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
* I’ve written a lot of stories that have never made it to publication, so it’s hard to say. They’re all tucked in a drawer, ready to be dusted off and re-worked. I remember one of Stephen King’s writer characters used to do that and I’ve always thought it was a great idea. I think it’s the guy in Bag of Bones.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
* The best piece of advice I’ve received is to not give up and the worst is that you need an agent in order to get anywhere with your writing. You can absolutely do it yourself, and you don’t need an agent in order to get published. In addition, agents tend to be very difficult to get a hold of, and I can imagine, difficult to work with. I like to work with friendly people. Agents seem anything but.

The book you’re promoting, is it a stand-alone story or part of a series?
* This particular book is book two of my fantasy series, the Fallenwood Chronicles. It’s a quadrilogy and the order is as follows: Fallenwood, Forgetting Fallenwood, Betrayer, and Retribution.

What sparked the idea for the story/series?
* I was working retail at the time I started thinking about Fallenwood and it would get really boring, so to keep myself busy, I would create all of these characters and envision scenarios for them. I used to write on scraps of paper I’d stuff into my apron, and then I’d record them when I got home. It gave me something to look forward to each day.

*** Now for some fun info… ***
Would you/have you own(ed) a snake or some other exotic pet?
* Yes, I love snakes and I’ve owned a few of them. I will probably get another one at some point.

Which do you prefer: rain or sun & warm weather or cold weather?
* I hate cold weather. I much prefer to be warm. Sunny weather is nice, but so is rain. Either, as long as it’s warm out.

If you could live anywhere in the universe, where would it be and why?
* One of my friends posted this question on Facebook the other day, asking which door I’d go through and to what fantasy realm: Narnia, Westeros, Middle Earth, Wonderland, etc. I’d definitely live in Middle Earth, because I’ve always been interested in the world that Tolkien created and its languages and history and depth.

If you were stranded on a desert island and were only allowed to have five modern conveniences with you, what would they be?
* I’d like to think I’m a very practical individual, so here we go: 1. A jet-boat so I could leave the island.  Me is smart. / 2. A harpoon, in case of sharks / 3. A fishing pole / 4. Water purification system / 5. A golden throne Why a throne, you ask? It’s a desert island. No one would see me on the throne. Well, I would still be able to sit on the throne, and look out over my island kingdom. If I’m stuck there, why not make it fun?

*** About Leslie D. Soule’s book/series… ***

~ Blurb ~ * What happens when Ash accidentally makes her way through another portal, this time into the Other Realm, and forgets she ever went to Fallenwood? More importantly, how much of one's identity is made up of memories? Fallenwood 2 is the continuing journey of heroine Ash Kensington. Struggling with a deep sense of grief, sorrow, and overall confusion, Ash tries to work her way through to a deeper, underlying meaning. This search leads her back to Fallenwood, where the mystery unravels itself as she realizes that a very sinister force may be underlying everything… ~ Excerpt ~ * As she approached the archway, she looked through it and saw the open sky beyond, with clouds that looked soft as cotton. A guard stood next to a bronze plaque with the words "Invisible Bridge—take a leap of faith!" He smiled as though radiating an inner light and Ash felt drawn to the challenge like a moth to a bug zapper. She took a deep breath and was about to take a step out onto what appeared to be nothing, when she felt the strong hands of Terces, pulling her back by the shoulders. She also felt a small force tugging at the leg of her jeans. She felt herself pulled backward several feet and then saw Terces’s brown eyes boring into hers.
* "The invisible bridge is a trap for the unwary. The clerks of the Tower are trying to kill you."
* Ash gasped at the realization of what she’d nearly done. She seated herself on the ground. "I’m so sorry. I need a moment."
* Greymalkin walked up and pressed his nose up to hers. Then he swiped her across the face with a paw. His eyes narrowed. "Who do you think you are—Indiana Jones?"

***Buy Leslie D. Soule's book here***
Amazon | Melange Books

***Find Leslie D. Soule here***
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Thank you for joining us here today, Leslie D. Soule! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your work.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Leslie will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to TWO randomly drawn commenters during the tour! So be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter below & also leave your name and email with a comment. In addition, visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-vbt-forgetting-fallenwood) for a greater chance of winning!

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Welcome special guest: author K.S. Augustin ~ @SandalPress @GoddessFish #urbanfantasy #horror

Today we have author KS “Kaz” Augustin visiting. Kaz says: I'm a Malaysian-born writer of SF&F, romance and combinations thereof, back here temporarily after living and working on a couple of other continents. I spend my time homeschooling our children, cooking and writing.

So, K.S. Augustin, What/who inspired you to become a writer?
* Stanley Weinbaum. I still vividly remember reading his short story, “A Martian Odysssey”. There was such logic, humour, wonder and humanity in it and I thought to myself, “Wow! I want to write like that!”

When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
* My English teachers must have been very indulgent, because I remember writing a few science-fiction stories at the tail-end of primary school and the first half of secondary school. They always got high marks and my first—a tale of alien invasion and how humans thwarted Their Nefarious Plans—was printed in our school annual. I'm sure all copies of that small and old publication have already mouldered into dust by now.

How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
* Besides my school efforts? One.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
* The best piece of writing advice I've ever received was: read. I can't really pinpoint the worst because any particular piece has relevance within a certain context and you never know when that context might spring up.

The book you’re promoting, is it a stand-alone story or part of a series?
* It's both! It's an omnibus, containing all five books of the Check Your Luck series. The books range in size from novella to short novels and the combined edition clocks in at 227,000 words.

What sparked the idea for the story/series?
* Coming back to Malaysia to live. My husband and I have lived and worked on four continents and we wanted our children to experience several world cultures before we settled down somewhere for the “formal” (read late secondary plus tertiary) part of their education. Once back here, I began to listen to people's stories and read about magic, witch doctors, curses, love potions and spells in the newspapers. That's how it all began—a slice of real life with a whole heap of paranormal thrown in!

*** Now for some fun info… ***
Would you/have you own(ed) a snake or some other exotic pet?
* Oh yes. I like snakes. Their skin feels amazing. But hubby would freak out!

Which do you prefer: rain or sun & warm weather or cold weather?
* I live in the tropics at the moment and yearn for those crisp, sunny Australian winter days!

If you could live anywhere in the universe, where would it be and why?
* Assuming that the universe is infinite and that all possibilities eventually play out, combined with the fact that—in some aspects—quantum mechanics is indistinguishable from metaphysical phenomena, I would have to say my Number One choice would be Iain M Banks' Culture universe.

If you were stranded on a desert island and were only allowed to have five modern conveniences with you, what would they be?
* Air-conditioning unit, fully-stocked bar, jam-packed ereader, blazing-fast dual-screen Linux desktop system, and a stylish cabin to store it all in!

*** About K.S. Augustin’s book/series… ***

~ Blurb ~ * Sometimes life is stranger than fiction.
* After the tragic death of her parents, and with nothing left tying her to the United Kingdom, Ursula Formosa returns to her homeland and a job with the eccentrically-named Singapore firm, “The Check Your Luck Agency”.
* What begins as an attempt to stave off boredom turns into a new way of life as the scales drop from Ursula’s eyes and she tentatively enters a realm that contains vengeful ghosts, toyol, demons, pontianak and curses, not to mention old-fashioned fraud and larceny. As she befriends bomohs, mediums and a young woman already centuries old, Ursula’s ideas of friendship expand into a fresh view of the world that surrounds her.
* But she isn’t going to be left to ease into things. A criminal mastermind, who is also a powerful sorcerer, is gathering mythical creatures to help him possess every living soul in Singapore, and he isn’t about to let the members of The Check Your Luck Agency stand in his way! ~ Excerpt ~ * “Did you have any difficulty finding the house?” Evelyn Long asked as she led me up a short flight of concrete steps.
* “Well, the taxi driver wasn’t too keen to drive down the lane.”
* Evelyn nodded her head. “The ignorant fear what they don’t understand,” she said.
* I made a noise that might have indicated I agreed with her sentiment, and left it at that.
* “I’m afraid Alfred is still meditating,” she began.
* “I’m sorry,” I cut in, a shade too quickly, “I knew I shouldn’t have come. Perhaps I could pay him another visit some other time?”
* I turned as if to leave and Evelyn Long grabbed me by the arm. No, “grabbed” was too gentle a term for it. Although her movement was smooth and she appeared to hold me lightly, I knew I would not be able to wrench free of her grasp without breaking flesh or limbs, or both, all of them mine. I looked up at her, startled, but saw nothing beyond polite interest. There wasn’t an ounce of strain on her face, nothing to show that she had me manacled with her slim, delicate-looking fingers.
* Who – or what – was Evelyn Long?
* “He won’t be much longer,” she said, as if commenting on the weather. “He’s been waiting to see you for more than a month now. We’re both glad you visited.”
* And I suddenly realised that nobody knew where I was. Long and his supernaturally strong wife could do whatever they wanted with me, dispose of my dead body no doubt in the acres of primeval jungle behind their house and nobody would be the wiser. A wave of energy suddenly thrummed beneath my feet, a surge so strong I was sure that Long’s wife was able to feel it pulse through my body and travel to hers at our menacing point of contact.
* “Why don’t I get you something to drink? You can relax while I fetch Alfred.”

***Buy K.S. Augustin's book here***
Amazon - US | Amazon - UK | iTunes | Barnes & Noble | OmniLit | Sandal Press

***Find K.S. Augustin here***
Website | Blog | Twitter | Chief Editor of the free online quarterly magazine, Sci-Fi Romance Quarterly

Thank you for joining us here today, K.S. Augustin! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your work.

ATTENTION! K.S. Augustin will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment, visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-virtual-book-tour) for a greater chance of winning!