Interview and Giveaway with Keri Arthur

We are so extremely excited to have with us today the talented Keri Arthur.  Her RILEY JENSON series has been one of my favorite series, one that I loved and devoured and she's been writing some kick ass books ever since!  Her new series DARK ANGELS, which is loosely a spin-off of the Riley series, is one not to be missed.  Here to celebrate the recent release of the fourth book in the series, DARKNESS HUNTS...please welcome Keri to UTC!

Can you please introduce yourself for those readers who are just discovering your books?

Well, I’m Keri Arthur, the author of both the Riley Jenson, Guardian series, and the Dark Angels series. I’m an Aussie, live in Melbourne (the place where both stories are set), and I’m a former function and dessert chef. I’m also addicted to green tea and dark chocolate  <g>

Your Dark Angels series is one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series out there right now. How did you come up the idea for this series?

It grew out of the Riley Jenson series. Risa first appeared in Tempting Evil (the 3^rd in the series), but she was supposed to be little more than a baby Riley had to rescue in order to get the information on the bad guy she was hunting. I hadn’t planned for her to be in any other book, but in them she was--sometimes you just can’t keep a good character down! By the time she’d become a toddler who could see death and who had her ‘aunt’ Riley wrapped around her little finger, I knew she just had to have her own series. And while Quinn’s Aedh background was mentioned in the Riley Jenson series, I really hadn’t explored who the Aedh were, and what their role as priests were. The Dark Angel series gave me that chance.

I've loved Risa from the beginning. She's sexy, smart and tough. How would you say Risa has grown throughout the series?

In many ways, I think she started out somewhat naive and entirely too trusting. She’d been trained to fight by her aunt and uncle, but wasn’t really mentally tough. I think she’s becoming that now. She’s certainly learning trust is something that should be earned, not instantly given.

Azriel is one of the many reasons why I love this series. Risa and Azriel have incredible chemistry, but cannot really act on their desires. What do you think Risa sees in Azriel that makes him so desirable and similarly, what do you think Azriel sees in Risa that makes her desirable?

Tough question! For Azriel, it’s her humanity--her warmth, her passion for--and belief in--her friends, and her desire to do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it means putting her own life on the line (something that also frustrates the hell out of him given he was sent to protect her).  For Risa--I think it’s the strength she finds when she’s with him--and the fact he is as sexy as hell. ;)

DARKNESS HUNTS steps away from the search to find the keys and focuses on a more immediate concern where a faceless killer is toying with Risa. What can readers expect from this book?

Lots of twists and turns, and hopefully, one hell of a read!

Lucian and Jak make regular appearances in DARKNESS HUNTS. So the question stands....Will Risa ever find love? ;)

Now, you know I can’t answer that without stepping into spoiler territory. But those who have read the Riley Jenson series can probably guess the answer given the same question hung over that series. And I am a believer in happy endings--or at least semi happy ones  ;)

The series is set in Australia. How important was having the series take place in the country you're from?

It’s important in that I live in and love Melbourne, and it’s so much easier to write a series set in a place I’m familiar with rather than one I’m not. Plus, I don’t think there were any urban fantasy novels set here before I wrote the Riley Jenson series, and it’s always nice to have a somewhat different setting to other novels. Besides, Melbourne is such a great city--lots of gothic architecture, little laneways, and fabulous cafes.  :)

What does a typical work day look like for you? How many hours do you write a day?

A typical day for me is walking the dogs after breakfast, then heading off to the gym for a couple of hours exercise. After lunch, I sit down and write. I generally don’t have a set amount of hours to write, but rather a required page amount. I aim for 5 pages every day. Sometimes I get more, sometimes less, but I can generally have the first draft of a book done in three months.

Do you keep or toss any rejection letters you may have?

Before I was published, I used to screw them up, jump up and down on them a few times, then toss them in the bin. Made me feel a whole lot better. Then, after a few days, I’d retrieve them, re-read them, and make a mental note of all the things I’d been doing wrong  :)  These days, rejections go through my agent, so they’re easier to cope with.

What's next for Keri Arthur?

After Darkness Hunts, my next release is the paperback re-release of Beneath a Darkening Moon. Darkness Unmasked, the next Dark Angels novel, comes out in June 2013. I’m currently working on Darkness Splintered, the 6^th book.

Well, there you have it!  You are now seeing why you HAVE to read everything Keri Arthur has ever written right?  Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions!

About the Author - The Unofficial Bio: 

I’m a born and bred Melbourne (Australia) gal, and grew up sharing my life with dragons, elves, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters and the occasional talking horse. Which worried my family to no end. Of course, now that I’m actually make a living sharing my life with the above mentioned creatures, they no longer contemplate calling the men with the little white coat. When not at my keyboard, I can be found at the gym, sitting front of the TV, or taking my two dogs for a walk.

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Risa Jones, half-Aedh/half-werewolf, can enter the realm between life and death. She can speak to the dying and the dead, and she can see the Reapers, collectors of souls. What she can not yet see is the identity of a stranger murdering women and draining their blood. Now Risa must summon her gifts to find him, even if it means putting her own life in danger. But Risa needn’t look far. The killer knows who she is.

He tells her his victims are infected by darkness and he’s fated to destroy them. Fascinated by Risa, he engages her in a sinister game: the chance to save the life of his next victim by deciphering his series of clues. In a race against time, she enlists the help of the Reaper Azriel.

But as an attraction between them grows, so does the fear that the stranger’s motives are only part of a larger, more dangerous scheme—one that has lured Risa and Azriel into the dark.

Penguin Group has FIVE (5) copies of DARKNESS HUNTS up for grabs. US ONLY!

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Interview and Giveaway with J.T. Geissinger

J.T. Geissinger

Hello maidens!  Today we would like to hopefully introduce you to a great paranormal author, J.T. Geissinger.  Her NIGHT PROWLER series is not to be missed if you have a thing for shifters.  Please help us welcome her to UTC!


Who is J.T. Geissinger? Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm a native Angeleno, which is surprisingly rare, and I've lived near the Pacific my entire life. I'm addicted to reading and usually plow through 3-4 books a week, I love movies and junk food and wine, not necessarily in that order. I've been married for a dozen years to my best friend and the love of my life, who I regularly annoy with my tendency to leave all my clothes in whatever spot I happen to have removed them. I'm also an accomplished slob.

Can you please tell us about SHADOW'S EDGE?

Shadow's Edge introduces readers to the Ikati, a tribe of beautiful, savage shape-shifters that live hidden from the everyday world in small colonies across the globe. The first installment is Jenna and Leander's story. Jenna has been raised on the run her entire life. She has some powers she doesn't understand and was always warned by her mother that "If they find you, run." Naturally when Leander appears, offering to answer all her questions about her past, she is curious. But what she finds out shocks her and she is unwittingly drawn into a centuries-old battle between two enemies who will stop at nothing to destroy one another.

Where did the idea of the Ikati come from?

It all started with a stray cat. I own a flower shop located very close to a large feral cat colony, and have adopted three strays (so far) that have wandered in, looking for food. (As anyone who’s ever fed a stray cat before knows, once you feed them, they never leave.) So one day an incredibly sleek, beautiful female cat appears out of the blue, demanding a meal. She looks like a miniature panther, all black with bright yellow/green eyes. I fell in love. I named her Angelina (after the equally slinky/beautiful Ms. Jolie) and adopted her.

This cat has an uncanny ability to disappear. One minute she’s there, looking at you as if she’s just about to say something, the next she’s gone—poof!—as if she was never there at all. It must be a feral cat trick, but it got me to thinking.

I’d written a book (never published) about angels and demons and other supernatural creatures, so I thought shape-shifters might be an interesting thing to try next. And what better shape-shifter than one that can disappear into mist? Like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland, or Dracula, the original shape-shifter who could turn into mist (and a bat). And because I’m one of those crazy cat ladies who will die alone in a one bedroom apartment with dozens and dozens of cats and has never lived without at least one cat since I was five years old, I put the idea of shape-shifting cats into motion.

Two things occurred to me immediately: one, there are a lot of people who hate cats. Two: the Egyptians revered them. Put those two things together and mix in a big bowl, and you’ve got a race of cat shifters worshipped as gods by the ancient Egyptians who’ve had to hide because they’ve since been hunted by humanity. I spiced it up with some historical nuggets about Egypt, the Inquisition, witch hunts, religion, Rome…it goes on, but you get the idea.

Can you tell us a little bit about Morgan and her journey in EDGE OF OBLIVION?

I love Morgan. She is a character very near and dear to my heart because of her struggle for freedom, to live outside the burden of secrecy her tribe requires. She's a rebel and a fighter, and Edge of Oblivion takes her on a journey of redemption that leads her into the heart of ancient Rome with a hot assassin at her side. If she fails in the task she has set before her, Xander will kill her. But in the meantime, love has a way of mucking up everyone's plans...

How would you describe your writing process?

Painful. The first draft, especially. It's like pulling teeth. After that, editing is simple. I like to write early in the morning because my brain is clearer, and currently I'm writing about 2,000 words per day (about manuscript 8 pages) because I'm on a December 1st deadline for the next book in the Night Prowler saga, Rapture's Edge. It typically takes 4-6 months to finish a book, and that includes several re-writes and edits.

If we were to step into your personal library, which books would we find on your keeper shelf?

Best book I've ever read is called Everything Matters by Ron Currie, Jr. I tend to gravitate toward very bleak literary fiction (such as The Dog Stars, The Road, etc.) or very emotionally draining romance with devastating endings (such as The Notebook.) It has to be dark and it has to be dramatic. I'm not one for light, fluffy fiction. Someone usually has to die for me to enjoy it.

Which paranormal creature is your favorite and why?

I love vampires but they've been beaten to death so I leave them alone. The tropes are all overwritten. Shape-shifters are fantastic because of the possibilities for creativity. If I could be any paranormal creature I'd probably be one of my shape-shifting panthers who can also turn to mist. Many of them have additional powers such as mind control, invisibility, etc. so that's helpful, too!

What was your favorite scene to write from your latest book and can you share it with our readers?

It's an emotional scene and one that gets me every time I read it because the situation is so hopeless for Morgan and Xander. They know there are no happily-ever-afters for people like them.

She kissed him and rocked beneath him and with her hips coaxed his body to where it wanted to go. He began to thrust, a primal motion disconnected from his will, which wanted him to slow, to be gentle—

Morgan moaned her approval beneath him. His hips took over and he thrust harder.

He heard thunder, he heard rain, he heard the metal headboard smacking against the wall, sending repetitive, hollow clanging through the room. He braced a hand against it, gripped Morgan’s hip in his other hand and lifted her up so only her shoulders were on the bed. So deep, so deep, he didn’t think he could go any deeper—

“I’m going to come again,” she breathed. She gripped his arms, meeting every thrust of his hips with one of her own, staring up at him with those searching eyes that carved a hole into his heart. “Come with me. Come with me, Xander.”

Breathing hard, sweat blooming over his entire body, he let go of the headboard and clasped her hips hard in both hands. He plunged into her again and again, wilder and harder, with every thrust losing himself to her and the storm and the magic they made together, here in the succoring dark.

“Amada mio,” he hissed through clenched teeth, teetering on the edge as a wave of heat surged up his spine. Every muscle in his body flexed. “Eu me comprometo a você.”

She stiffened and cried out, her head tipped back into the pillows. His eyes slid closed and he heard a roar, only dimly aware it had come from him. Pleasure, searing white, rocketed through him and he jerked, emptying himself inside her, surging again and again as his orgasm tore his breath and every coherent thought away. For a blinding moment there was nothing but the two of them, joined as one. It spun on and on, dreamlike, and then—

He collapsed on top of her. Shaking. Panting. Wordless. He buried his face into her neck.

Her arms came around his shoulders. She cradled him, murmured soft things into his hair that he could not comprehend, so great was his agony and his bliss. He drifted on a current of gratitude so pure it was almost sweet.

She had let a monster into the most precious part of her, had reminded him of what it was to feel passion and pleasure and tenderness, had given him a glimpse of things he didn’t deserve.

Happiness.

Hope.

He wanted to tell her that, wanted to say you have shown me the way back from hell. But there was a terrible pressure in his chest and a stinging in his eyes and a tightness in his throat that threatened to choke him if he opened his mouth.

“It’s all right,” she murmured, knowing him already too well. “We’re safe from the world now, for a little while. We can have this, it doesn’t have to change anything. We can have our night and go back to who we were tomorrow. Just for tonight, we can have that different life we always wanted.”

He stayed silent, while inside he wept.

In a dark underground cell, Morgan Montgomery waits to die. A member of the Ikati, an ancient tribe of shape-shifters, Morgan stands convicted of treason. And Ikati law clearly spells out her fate: death to all who dare betray.

But there is a glimmer of hope. Thanks to her friendship with Jenna, the new queen of the Ikati, Morgan has one last chance to prove her loyalty. She must discover and infiltrate the headquarters of the Expurgari, the Ikati’s ancient enemy, so they can be destroyed once and for all. The catch? She has only a fortnight to complete her mission and will be accompanied by Xander Luna, the tribe's most feared enforcer. If Morgan fails, her life is forfeit. Because Xander is as lethal as he is loyal, and no one—not even this beautiful, passionate renegade—will distract him from his mission. But as the pair races across Europe into the heart of Italy, the attraction blooming between them becomes undeniable. Suddenly more than justice is at stake: so is love.

Sensual, thrilling, and action-packed, Edge of Oblivion will enthrall readers with nail-biting suspense and heart-pounding passion.

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We have a SIGNED copy of EDGE OF OBLIVION up for grabs for a US maiden!

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Interview and Giveaway with Stephanie Tyler

Guess what today is?  RELEASE DAY!  And we have with us the talented Stephanie Tyler who is celebrating the release of DIRE WANTS, the second book in the Eternal Wolf Clan series.  Did you miss out on the prequel and book one?  You have some catching up to do!

Hi Stephanie, welcome back to UTC. We are very excited to share with our readers about DIRE WANTS!

YAY! Thanks for having me back! I can’t believe it’s release day already – time is flying :)

Hot shifters...hot bikers. *sigh* How did you come up with the concept of the ETERNAL WOLF CLAN series?

Alphas with Harleys – what could be better? Seriously, I’m a huge Sons of Anarchy fan and I’ve always written some outlaw kinds of characters in my suspenses. And I thought, what better way for wolves who don’t want people getting too close to them – this would certainly keep the questions at bay. Except…who doesn’t love a bad boy? That’s the flaw in their plan.

In the series, there are shifters and there are dire wolves. What is the big difference between these two?

The shifters – for me – aren’t immortal. Also, the Dires and their Brother Wolves are both in control, and for shifters (Weres included) that’s not the case.

For someone who hasn't read the series yet (and that is crazy!) how would you describe it?

The Dire series is about biker Dire wolves who are immortal and have lived for centuries helping humans and repenting for their ancestor’s mistakes – and all without mates…until now.

You are bringing in a witch to the mix in DIRE WANTS. What is your favorite thing about Kate, the heroine?

She’s very strong – she’s scared and lonely but she’s going to put up a hell of a fight. She’s such a perfect match for Stray.

Do you have a favorite scene in DIRE WANTS that you can share with us?

This is one of my favorites, between Stray and Kate, right after she discovers he’s a wolf:

The brand was responding to Stray’s voice voice. Making her squirm. After what she’d just been through, what she’d learned about her rescue from the accident, that would be the last reaction she thought she’d have.

“I won’t hurt you. Let me protect you, Kate.”

It was what she’d wanted to hear from him—and yet she couldn’t let herself believe his intentions.

Instead, she inched closer to the door, surprised he was letting her.

When he spoke, his voice sent chills down her spine.

“If you run, I’ll chase you. That’s my instinct. I’ll chase you, and I will catch you.”

“And then what?” She managed to keep the tremble from her voice when she asked.

“You really want to find out, then run.”

God, she didn’t know if that would be stupid—or the best thing she could possibly do. But she ran anyway, down the closest stairway and then down another, into a series of mazelike hallways.

She felt, rather than heard, Stray behind her. His heat, the soft growl of a predator on the chase reverberating through her. But still, she ran in the dark until her side cramped and her legs ached, lungs burned. She slowed, waiting for his hand on her, but it never came. She stopped, turned again, and there he was in front of her, his eyes those of the wolf but the rest of him still pure human male.

She backed up and he didn’t follow, not until she turned to run again.

Finally, she pushed through an unlocked door into some sort of gym/training room. And there was no way out but the way she’d come in.

She’d really backed herself into a corner this time; Stray was already pissed at her, although the danger wasn’t at her throat the way it had been with Shimmin and his men.

This time Stray didn’t stop coming for her. He strode forward until only a few feet separated them. She swallowed hard, tried to ignore the way her body called out for him to touch her, and took a few steps to make her way back toward the door.

Stray gave a soft laugh. “Really, little witch? You want to bring out my prey instincts? Because you know what they say about wild animals: They can fool you because they might seem domesticated, but they can never be tamed.”

God, she believed it. Right now, she didn’t want him tamed at all. Walked toward him instead of away, reached her hands up to twine in his thick hair and pull her face to his. And she kissed him, reversing the roles. Because for once, she wanted to be the goddamned predator. The one who shook Stray to the core, because she was sure he’d managed to do that to every woman in his life.

But she would be different. Wanted to be, needed to be, although she wasn’t sure why that desire burned so brightly hot inside of her.

She just knew it was there, and there was no stopping it.

His lips were soft, but his kiss was hard—demanding. She gave as good as she got even as she braced herself for the pain—hers and Stray’s.

None came for either.

She’d tried to have sex just once and had nearly ended up killing the guy. It had been horrifying . . . as though something in her body had at once rejected and repelled the man.

That didn’t happen, and instead her body flared for Stray. He kissed her deeper and she was helpless against him. His hands went under her shirt, touched her lower back, and the brand tingled with pleasure instead of burning.

She should be pushing him away. Pushing and slapping, not feeling her entire body ache for him. Her nipples hardened; her body came alive. He tasted like a blend of the richest, most delicious spices. And she never wanted him to stop.

He knew it, too, the bastard, took full advantage of her sudden, inexplicable wantonness to press his body into hers, to grind his hardness to her belly. When he finally pulled back, he took in her quick breaths with a too-obvious satisfaction.

She pressed the back of his hand to her lips. They tingled—everything tingled—and if he didn’t back away, she might not be able to resist reaching out and grabbing him and kissing him.

Ridiculous. Had she hit her head and not realized it?

“Is this . . . only because of your prey instincts?” she whispered, not wanting him to say yes. Because then anyone could trigger this inside of him . . . None of it would be special.

He stared at her, his eyes so mesmerizing she couldn’t look away. “Yes.”

DIRE DESIRES is coming out in July of next year *sobs*. Any clues you can give us as to what this book will bring? Who the hero/heroine are?

I’ve been holding off on telling, but for you, I will :) Dire Desires hero is Jinx! And hey, don’t worry, I’ll keep you busy – I have a romantic suspense novella in March 2013 and book 1 in a new RS series in April :)

Surrender

by Stephanie Tyler

(A Section 8 Novel # 1)

DESPERATE, FEARLESS, AND HUNTED  
For former Navy SEAL Dare O’Rourke, Section 8 was legendary. The son of one of its missing members, he grew up in the shadow of its secrets. All he knew was that it was a cabal of operatives discharged from branches of the military and reassigned to extremely dangerous, off- the-books international missions. And that their handler was as shrouded in mystery as the missions themselves.

NOTHING CAN STOP THEM. NOTHING CAN BREAK THEM.
Now the handler of Section 8 has given orders to kill any remaining members, along with their families. Dare must save his long-lost half sister, Avery, whom he was never meant to meet. Determined to fight for their lives and find their missing father, Dare and Avery bring together for one last mission those who are in danger because of their relationship to Section 8—to avenge their families and to survive.

Available April  2, 2013

When writing a series how do you choose which couple to write next?

They choose. Seriously. I had no idea Stray would be book 2 or Jinx book 3. I had plans and the characters had other ideas.

Lets do some quickfire favorites:

Fave season Fall, hands down.
Fave color Blue
Fave music Classic rock
Fave book Gone with the Wind
Fave place to visit Tanzania

Which paranormal creature is your favorite and why? 

Wolves!!!! Because they’re warm and strong and just…primal. In Twilight, I think the wolf got gypped. Although I don’t love Bella so maybe not…

Thanks so much for taking the time and sharing with us today!

PLEASE NOTE that there are some technical difficulties with the ebook release of DIRE WANTS and it's currently not available but the issue is being worked on and all links should be working soon.

The supernatural world is rising up against the human one. The weretrappers want control, and only the immortal Dire wolves stand in the way of total destruction. Stray, a Dire, and his long-lost brother, Killian, emerge as the leaders of their pack. To keep themselves and the humans safe, the Dires need a witch as powerful as Seb, who betrayed the Dires to work for the weretrappers.

They find what they are looking for in Kate, a human who survived a horrible car accident that left her back scarred with a handprint no one else can see. Stray senses Kate's abilities as a witch and recruits her to help the Dires—all the while knowing she is so powerful they will need to kill her once she helps defeat the weretrappers.

Stray doesn't expect the powerful connection that he feels with Kate, or his irresistible need to protect her. They cannot hide their feelings or each other, and what once was taboo now seems inevitable…

Ms. Tyler is graciously giving away 2 ebook copies of DIRE WANTS, winners choice of B&N or Kindle. 

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Interview and Giveaway with Lorelei King

As some of you are already aware of, we love audiobooks here at UTC.  With the recent release of FOURTH GRAVE BENEATH MY FEET by Darynda Jones we thought to go behind the scenes and talk a little bit more with the awesome narrator of the Charley Davidson series, Lorelei King.  But not only does she narrate this series, she's been a favorite of ours for a long while, narrating the Stephanie Plum novel and Mercy Thompson, amongst others.  Please help us welcome her to UTC.

Who is Lorelei King? Tell us five interesting things about yourself that listeners wouldn't know.

At the moment she’s a frazzled, overworked actress-narrator-voicedirector-publisher-scripteditor! J

I don’t know how interesting they are, but here are five things about me that people may not know: 1. I can read ancient Greek. 2. I love iguanas, lizards and snakes – most reptiles, actually. 3. I can roller skate (badly). 4. I am a bit addicted to reality TV shows (obviously I am hanging my head in shame as I type this). 5. Before becoming an actress, I really wanted to become a makeup artist. Good lord. Reading back over this list, I hadn’t quite realized what nerd I am!

Charlie is a very sexy and feisty heroine. What are some of your methods of conveying her personality through her voice as you narrate the audio books?

Darynda Jones has already done the heavy lifting by writing a fantastic character! I don’t really do anything special with my voice; the dialogue does all the work – those lines know how they want to be said! :)

Here at UTC, we love Charley but we want to know what is your favorite quality about Charley?

I admire her for her (mostly) uncomplaining and humorous acceptance of her unique situation and responsibility – but the thing that’s most fun to play is her sarcasm!

This series has a unique take on the Grim Reaper. What paranormal element or creature would you say is your favorite and why?

The supernatural element I love best in this series is the departed souls ‘passing through’ Charley on their way to the beyond. The ability to know someone fully and see his or her life condensed into a moment would be a great gift.

In terms of ‘creatures’, I love love love Rocket. He is hands down my favourite supporting character. I adore his gentle giant quality and admire his extraordinary savant gift of knowing the name of every single person who has ever died.

Why do you think there is such an allure concerning paranormal creatures in fiction right now?

Hasn’t it always been the case? Haven’t we always been intrigued by the unknown? I think what sets the current obsession apart is perhaps its emphasis on the erotic aspect of the paranormal - and I have no facts to back this up, but I’ll bet it’s women driving it.... zombies and vampires – maybe we all just want to be consumed. We love a predatory male who desires us so much he wants to make us part of him.(Although given the choice, I’d rather go by vampire than zombie as I have this thing about personal hygiene...)

Pronouncing names and figuring out accents can be difficult sometimes. Would you agree? And if so, how do you get through these obstacles?

Figuring out accents isn’t so difficult – the author usually gives you clues in the writing, or you can infer accents from wherever the story is set. But I agree that pronunciations can be challenging! A good producer will normally do the research for you, but I always do my own research too - I think it’s a good habit to cultivate. Sometimes I have to be a bit creative: If I can’t find the word in a dictionary, I go on YouTube to see if I can find a clip of someone saying it. If it’s a company name, I call them up to see how they answer the phone. And I’ve been known to email complete strangers asking how to pronounce their names. People are fantastically helpful.

What books do you enjoy reading?

My work schedule means that I get very little time for ‘leisure’ reading, but when I get the chance I like to re-read old favourites, like my collection of Gerald Kersh novels, and I also like downloading books to my Kindle – usually crime fiction (Maureen Carter is a recent favourite) and sometimes books by writer friends on Twitter – Jojo Moyes, Maria Duffy and Keren David are some who come to mind (by the way, if you want to say hi via social media, my Twitter handle is @LoreleiKing and my Facebook pro page is www.facebook.com/LoreleiKing).

Which book has been your favorite to narrate so far? Why was it your favorite?

Oh, there are SO many that I’ve loved narrating! This is hard.The first time I recorded a Janet Evanovich, my socks were well and truly knocked off. She’s so funny and writes such great characters. I had a similar experience with Darynda Jones’ first book – another really fresh voice. And I have to admit to having a very soft spot for The Guy Next Door by Meg Cabot, which I recorded years ago with my husband, Vincent Marzello. Cute, funny, epistolary. :D

Thank you so much for sharing with us today! 

Maidens, if you haven't listened to an audiobook by Lorelei King then you are missing out.  Big time!  She's one of UTC's all time favorite narrators and we are now giving you the chance to win your audiobook of choice from her work.  To find out what she's narrated, click here.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview and Giveaway with Jacqueline Carey

Jacqueline Carey

After the huge success of her KUSHIEL series, Jacqueline Carey is testing the urban fantasy waters with her new series AGENT OF HEL.  Dark Currents, the first book, came out last month and has had already massive success.  Definitely one you won't want to miss.  We had the pleasure of getting to ask Jacqueline some questions and we are excited to share them with all of you today.

Welcome to UTC, Jacqueline.  After the success of the KUSHIEL series, how did you feel about stepping away from the genre and into urban fantasy?

It’s always a little scary to make a big change, but I’m excited about it, too. I think artists in any field need to take on fresh challenges to maintain their creative vitality, and urban fantasy is such a fun genre. It’s a treat to be able to view the familiar through the lens of the fantastic, to play freely with pop culture references.

If you had to introduce the Agent of Hel series to a new reader what would say? And if you were introducing it to your KUSHIEL fans, how would you tell them it’s different?   

To a new reader, I’d say it’s an engaging urban fantasy featuring Daisy Johanssen, reluctant hell-spawn, and it blends whimsy, wonder, and creepiness. To KUSHIEL fans, I’d say that while this is more light-hearted and humorous in tone, it has the same attention to detail in terms of worldbuilding and characterization that you’ve grown to love in those books. 

What did you have the most fun with while writing DARK CURRENTS?

Juxtaposing the mundane with the fantastic to create vivid, memorable images was a ton of fun. I’m especially fond of the introduction of Lurine the lamia, half-woman, half-serpent, lolling in a swimming pool in her backyard; but then I also adore that character. In terms of imagery, the frost giant driving a dune buggy is a close second.

What was your favorite quote or scene from DARK CURRENTS?

For some reason, this line just tickles me to no end: “Oh, great. A Canadian werewolf on the down-low was playing the morality card with me. “

Daisy to me was a great heroine, in part because she felt very real. What do you think is the best thing about Daisy (other than her cute tail)?

Despite the fact that her father happens to be a demon, I think Daisy is eminently relatable. She was raised by a single mom. She struggles with the same things many of us do; trying to keep her temper under control, a falling out with her best friend, a childhood crush that just won’t quit. It’s just that for the rest of us, unlike Daisy, giving in to our worst natures doesn’t run the risk of unleashing Armageddon.

From the beginning, there is one guy that is the obvious crush or love interest. As the story progresses you introduce not one, but two other possible options. What can you tell us about this upcoming and brewing love entanglement?

While all three possible love interests remain in the picture, the second volume begins with Daisy dating the one guy she thinks doesn’t come with complicated supernatural baggage. It turns out she’s very, very wrong!

There are many supernatural creatures in this story. Any one in particular that you are most excited to have included in the story?

I’m partial to the ghouls, which are my own contribution to the pantheon of supernatural beings. I enjoyed the process of introducing them as creepy emotional predators, then gradually shifting the perception of them—well, some of them—to one of tragic figures, rejected by heaven and hell alike and condemned to subsist on the emotions of others for eternity.

DARK CURRENTS had an amazing blend of paranormal, small town charm, humor, mystery and relationships. What can we expect of the next book in the AGENT OF HEL series and when will it come out?

Thanks very much for the kind words! The next book is due to come out in October 2013. It will contain the same mixture of paranormal, small town charm and humor, although this time, the central conflict isn’t a mystery, but rather a challenge to Daisy’s authority from an outside source. There will definitely be more romantic entanglements. And sex! 

Do you have any other projects in the works?

There are a couple of side projects I’m excited about! One is UNFETTERED, an anthology featuring an amazing array of fantasy and SF authors. The proceeds will go to alleviate medical debt accrued by the editor, our friend, fellow author, and two-time cancer survivor, Shawn Speakman. The other is a Literary Pin-up Calendar, featuring twelve pin-up style depictions of iconic female characters created by another amazing array of authors, proceeds to benefit Patrick Rothfuss’s Worldbuilders charity, which raises money for Heifer International.

Good causes!

Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Kushiel’s Legacy novels, presents an all-new world featuring a woman caught between the normal and paranormal worlds, while enforcing order in both. Introducing Daisy Johanssen, reluctant hell-spawn…

The Midwestern resort town of Pemkowet boasts a diverse population: eccentric locals, wealthy summer people, and tourists by the busload; not to mention fairies, sprites, vampires, naiads, ogres and a whole host of eldritch folk, presided over by Hel, a reclusive Norse goddess.

To Daisy Johanssen, fathered by an incubus and raised by a single mother, it’s home. And as Hel’s enforcer and the designated liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, it’s up to her to ensure relations between the mundane and eldritch communities run smoothly.

But when a young man from a nearby college drowns—and signs point to eldritch involvement—the town’s booming paranormal tourism trade is at stake. Teamed up with her childhood crush, Officer Cody Fairfax, a sexy werewolf on the down-low, Daisy must solve the crime—and keep a tight rein on the darker side of her nature. For if she’s ever tempted to invoke her demonic birthright, it could accidentally unleash nothing less than Armageddon.

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Interview with Reyes Farrow + GIVEAWAY

He really needs no introduction.  He's tall, dark and handsome and a bit dangerous, just how we like him.  And we were beyond excited that we got to have a little chat with one of urban fantasy's biggest bad boys.  He's stolen our hearts and we can't help but be left panting and drooling because his heart belongs to only one woman (that damn lucky bitch!).  So without further delays, we give you....REYES FARROW!

 

Welcome to UTC Reyes.  Lets talk about Reyes fashion... what is your favorite and trademark article of clothing?

Since I ditched the prison uniform, I like jeans and a T-shirt.

What's the sexiest part of a woman?

On Charley, it’s that dimple at the base of her spine.

Being that you like things hot *snickers* what's your favorite way of turning up the heat between you and Charley?

The heat turns up all on its own when she’s around. I can’t seem to stop it. Though I do like to kiss the undersides of things. Behind her ear. The inside of her elbow. The back of her knee. That juncture between her legs.

Sweet love making or rough sweaty shagging?

As long as it’s with Charley, either one. Still, things tend to get rough for some reason.

How do you feel about Garrett and his relationship with Charley?

Garrett doesn’t have a relationship with Charley. He only wishes he did.

If you could have a do-over and be someone else entirely, who would you like to be and why?

I wouldn’t mind being Reyes Farrow again, just under different circumstances. Charley and I were supposed to grow up together, to have a happy life. I would live the life I’d planned.

I can't leave home without.....

Knowing where Charley is, if she is safe. She tends to attract trouble like surfers attract sharks.

Is there anyone that can still make you starstruck and nervous?

Charley.

How far did your relationship with Elaine really go?

It didn’t.

Lets get the dirty details on the author behind your book, Darynda Jones. What secrets can you tell us about her?

I know way more about her than would make her comfortable. I know what she did that time she supposedly spent the night with her best friend and ended up in Mexico instead. Or that time she went to a party when she was supposed to be watching her little sister and brother. I know her darkest secrets. Her deepest desires. But I couldn’t share them here. She has dirt on me too, and I’m hoping our mutual understanding will keep my darkest secrets out of her books.

How do you feel about the hero in her new YA seris, Azriel? You have similar pasts/secrets.

He is a force, I’ll give him that. And we both gave up everything for a girl. He was brothers with my father once a long, long time ago. As long as he stays on his side of the sandbox, we should be fine.

Is there an actor that you see playing yourself if this series ever becomes a movie or TV series?

Mrs. Jones has this idea that an actor named Jason Behr would be great. I wouldn’t know. I’ve been locked up for quite a while.

If you could get away with Charley, where would you take her?

I wouldn’t take her home to meet the family, you can bet your ass on that.

Have you noticed that Cookie is always drooling over you? How do you feel about that?   

Cookie is adorable and she has Charley’s back. She can drool. I don’t mind. I might even let her cop a feel someday.

FOURTH GRAVE EXCERPT

With renewed energy, I pulled back onto Academy— after hitting a

drive- through for a mocha latte— and had just started for home when

my phone rang.

“Yes?” I said, illegally talking on the phone while driving within the

city limits. Scoping for cops, I waited for Uncle Bob to stop talking to

whomever he was talking to and get back to me.

My uncle Bob, or Ubie as I most often referred to him, was a detective

for APD, and I helped him on cases from time to time. He knew I

could see the departed and used that to his advantage. Not that I could

blame him.

“Get that to her, then call the ME ay- sap.”

“Okay,” I said, “but I’m not sure what calling the medical examiner

ay- sap is going to accomplish. I’m pretty sure his name is George.”

“Oh, hey, Charley.”

“Hey, Uncle Bob. What’s up?”

“Are you driving?”

“No.”

“Have you heard anything?”

Our conversations often went like this. Uncle Bob with his random

questions. Me with my trying to come up with answers just as random.

Not that I had to try very hard. “I heard that Tiff any Gorham, a girl I

knew in grade school, still stuff s her bra. But that’s just a rumor.”

“About the case,” he said through clenched teeth. I could tell his teeth

were clenched because his words were suddenly forced. That meant he

was frustrated. Too bad I had no idea what he was talking about.

“I wasn’t aware that we had a case.”

“Oh, didn’t Cookie call you?”

“She called me a doody- head once.”

“About the case.” His teeth were totally clenched again.

“We have a case?”

But I’d lost him. He was talking to another officer. Or a detective. Or

a hooker, depending on his location and accessibility to cash. Though I

doubted he would tell a hooker to check the status of the DOA’s autopsy

report. Unless he was way kinkier than I’d ever given him credit for.

I found his calling me only to talk to other people very challenging.

“I’ll call you right back,” he said. No idea to whom.

The call disconnected as I sat at a light, wondering what guacamole

would look like if avocados were orange.

I finally shifted my attention to the dead kid in my backseat. He had

shoulder- length blond hair and bright blue eyes and looked somewhere

between fifteen and seventeen.

“You come here often?” I asked him, but my phone rang before he

could say anything. That was okay. He had a vacant stare, so I doubted

he would have answered me anyway.

“Sorry about that,” Uncle Bob said. “Do you want to discuss the

case?”

“We have a case?” I said again, perking up.

“How are you?”

He asked me that every time he called now. “Peachy. Am I the case? If

so, I can solve this puppy in about three seconds. I’m heading down San

Mateo toward Central in a cherry red Jeep Wrangler with a questionable

exhaust system.”

“Charley.”

“Hurry, before I get away!”

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a RITA®, and a Daphne du Maurier. As a born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

GIVEAWAY # 1

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GIVEAWAY # 2

 

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Interview and Giveaway with Phil Gigante

Phil Gigante

He really doesn't need much of an introduction but here goes anyway.  The narrator of the extremely successful FEVER series, Phil Gigante, is with us today.  Yes, that sexy voice that brings Barrons to life!

We got a little taste of what goes on in his world.

Thank you, Angela, Annie, Francesca and Suzanne for having me here. Very special thanks to all your readers---especially the ones supporting audiobooks. You’re the best!

We heard you're working on perfecting your voice for Ryodan's character. Do you find it difficult to master a character's voice? What do you hope listeners will feel when they hear your voice as Ryodan's?

Some voices come easier than others. A lot of times, as a narrator you will be given a book based on the strengths of your own voice, so you can use that, or a close variation for the lead character. As an “accent guy”, I do try to take what I know and stretch it each time, while keeping the characters believable. They must, however, still be understandable to the listener, so it can be a fine line! I’m not sure if I ever “master” a voice, even over several books, because both the character and the actor keep growing and learning. At least, I hope so!

Ryodan, Karen Moning’s creation in the Fever series, has changed a bit from Shadowfever to Iced. He had to; the writing dictated that. Karen and I always discuss the book ahead of time (THANK YOU, Karen!), so I get her take on the character; how she hears it in her head. This does lead to me knowing some necessary spoilers ahead of time that will color the character, even if those spoilers don’t come into play for two more books! In the Fever series, Ryodan was a cold, calculating businessman running a covert and powerful organization. Very no-nonsense. Now in Iced, he still has all those qualities, but Karen has given him a very strong sexual and sensuous side, and more “personal” ways of reacting with the other leads, now that he’s a firm male lead in his own right. Karen told me, “I want the listeners to either love him or hate him, never be sure if they can trust him, but still want to f*** him regardless.”

And if the listeners think Ryodan is complicated, wait until they get a taste of a certain Highlander who’s going to blow their minds!

You will be working with Natalie Ross on ICED, BURNED and FLAYED. Come on, spill. What's it like working with her?

Who? Oh, right! That tall, gorgeous woman who’s always talking back to me in the studio! Ha! (I told her you asked me this question, and she said “It’s ok; you can tell them I’m a real bitch.”) In all sincerity, Natalie is one of the most talented, generous, lovely actresses I’ve ever known, and all that goes for her as a human being as well. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with her on stage several times, long before any studio work. We were in two theatre companies together over the years, so we have a great understanding of each other’s craft, and how to deal with each other personally. That can’t always be easy with me, but she does a damn good job. She also never lets me get away with anything! She also makes fewer mistakes than I do, damn it! We know each other far too well to let any egos get in the way of our craft, and we get turned on or giggle at the same bits in love scenes. We direct each other in a lot of audiobooks. I think our interplay is much sharper for all that, and we can almost read each other’s minds. Which scares me a bit!

What do you think of Karen Marie Moning's decision to switch from Mac's POV to Dani's? This change will undoubtedly affect the way readers experience the books. Do you prefer one POV over the other?

I think it was a great decision, though it must have been a hard one for her to make. To leave the mind of such a firmly established heroine and chart a new course could frighten readers who had grown so comfortable. But I know Karen, and she isn’t afraid to blaze a new trail. I’m sure her publishers must have been sweating a bit! The amazing thing is that Dani and several other established “supporting” characters get the chance to strut their stuff, while keeping the fantastic world that was built in the Fever series intact. Dani is an amazing character, with so very much ahead for her, that I think the level of energy and life in the tale has jumped right off the scale. She is very young, and yet jaded by hardship; she has such a smart ass attitude, but can’t help being a bit naïve sometimes, and she hasn’t experienced the ultimate highs of love and the devastating personal lows of pain and grief and evil. Everything that she experienced alongside Mac and Barrons affected her, and continues to affect her in this new story. Karen also deals with sex---always an important factor in her writing---and how a 14 year old heroine reacts to it in all it’s permutations; very tastefully and with a great deal of humor. Dude! Dani is damn funny to boot! I don’t have a preference---as far as I’m concerned, this is like the separate traveler’s tales in Lord of the Rings; the fellowship has different missions, but the objective is the same, and no journey is less enthralling than the others.

Pronouncing names and mastering accents can be quite difficult. Would you agree? And if so, how do you overcome these obstacles?

Yes. Scotch and swearing. I’m mostly joking, there. For pronunciations, especially fantasy-genre names, it is a gift to be able to ask the author. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with several authors who are kind and generous with their time, and will give you their pronunciations, which are canon law. Sometimes I have to make a detailed list, send it via the publisher, and pray. For actual foreign names, the internet is a tool that rivals duct tape in its usefulness. I don’t know how narrators got along without it!

I’ve always had an ear for accents. My dad is from Italy, mom from Scotland, and I was raised between the UK and Texas, developing the strangest accent in the process. I had to work to NOT speak with one. I think the biggest challenge is studying the right accent for a character, and then deciding how much authenticity is right for the medium in which you present it. Example for the Romance genre listeners: most American audiences are geared to hear what I call a “movie Scots” accent. If you time travelled to 1369 and met a strapping Highlander, odds are you would have no clue what he was saying. Even if you are a modern Scot. By contrast, many modern Scots accents can be so integrated culturally that, to a general non-UK audience, they might as well be British. I love to be as authentic as possible with every accent I do, but I’m always aware that it has to be understood, or it’s a fail.

You’re able to tweak your voice so that every male character has a distinguishable accent. How are you able to do this and do you find it difficult to make each voice unique and their own?

Thank you! The bane of a male narrator is what I call the “conference scene”---usually 10 military types sitting at a table in the Pentagon, all throwing lines of dialogue out there, and the author’s only character descriptions are about their height or weight. Ugh! There are a lot of standard “tools” to differentiate voices; age, speed, pitch, accent, etc. I always take those things into account, but even a story about identical twin brothers raised together in the same place have to be distinguishable. In all roles I’m reading, I want to use an internal motivation to affect the voices. Is the character a deep thinker, a lothario, a type “A” personality? The way we live and love and think internally always affect the way we appear externally, and that certainly colors the voice.

What are you currently working on right now and how is that going?

Well, after finishing Iced, I recorded A Bomb Built in Hell by Andrew Vachss. Andrew is a great friend to me, and I consider his work some of the best I’ve ever read, never mind that I get to record it. This was his first (fiction) book, written in the 70’s, and was considered “un-publishable” then because he wrote “impossible” scenarios--- terrorists (foreign and home grown) blowing up buildings in New York, madmen going on shooting sprees in schools, foreign cartels establishing bases in America---things the publishers were certain were too far fetched to ever happen. I wish they were right…

I also just finished The Cowboy and the Cossack, by Clair Huffaker, one of Uber-librarian Nancy Pearl’s “Book Lust” lost classics, and it is an amazing, genre expanding Western, set in Siberia in 1860! Beautiful, exciting, heartbreaking---I have no idea why this isn’t required reading. It is brilliant!

For the Romance fans, I’m continuing the new “Wyoming” series by Diana Palmer, about three modern cowboy brothers and their individual love stories. It’s got great action, wonderful dialogue, and mad, passionate romance between feisty, strong women and rugged, hard as nails cowboys. These are some steamy books that will melt your ipod!

Who is your favorite character to record and why?

I love every character created by Karen Moning (Lor in particular is making me smile these days!), as well as anyone Andrew Vachss writes, because they always make me reach into places I don’t necessarily want to go to bring them to life. Also, M.J Rose and Joe R. Lansdale each write lyrical epic characters, though on opposite ends of the spectrum. But…

…my all time favorite character to record is “Slippery” Jim diGriz, created by the late, great Harry Harrison in his Stainless Steel Rat series. He’s an intergalactic con man, criminal and saver of worlds, with the most perfect sense of sarcasm, comic timing, personal (criminal) ethics, a hot-and-deadly wife by his side….it doesn’t get any better than the Rat’s adventures! Those books inspired me to read as a kid, made me want to grow up and BE Slippery Jim, or at least play him in the movie. When I got the chance to perform the books AND become friends with Harry Harrison, a childhood idol, I became a 12 year old kid again, and the happiest narrator on the planet. I never, ever felt the drudge of “having” to go into the studio to work, and I recorded the series surrounded by laughter, excitement and unbridled happiness. Harry Harrison died very recently, and it is still painful to me, but I am so happy he got to see and hear his iconic character enter a new medium and garner new fans. The audiobooks got great reviews and accolades, and the first Stainless Steel Rat book won the APA Audie award for Best Science Fiction. Harry loved the audiobooks, and would write to me while he listened, pointing out bits and lines he loved, like a little kid himself, like he didn’t create them in the first place! That he was so happy was a dream come true.

If you could narrate any book, what title would you pick and why?

Ah---an easy question to end on, eh? Wow…there are so many great books out there, and I’m lucky to be doing many of them now! I’m just going to end this with a small spoiler…..I want to narrate the book that I’m currently writing…

We have a special treat for you maidens! We are going to be giving away your choice of one of Phil Gigante's audiobooks via Audible to one lucky follower. This giveaway is open internationally.  
Check out the books he's narrated here.

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