Monday, October 29, 2012

Blog Tour: Pure and Sinful by Killian McRae

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
Click HERE to see the tour schedule.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature Killian McRae and her book
Pure and Sinful

About the Author:
Killian McRae would tell you that she is a rather boring lass, an authoress whose characters’ lives are so much more exciting than her own. She would be right. Sadly, this sarcastic lexophile leads a rather mundane existence in the San Francisco Bay Area. She once dreamed of being the female Indiana Jones, and to that end she earned a degree in Middle Eastern History from the University of Michigan. However, when she learned that real archaeologist spend more time lovingly removing dust with toothbrushes from shards of pottery than outrunning intriguing villains with exotic accents, she decided to become a writer instead. She writes across many genres, including science fiction, fantasy, romance, and historical fiction.


Killian has joined us for an interview:
? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I remember trying to write stories as early as third and fourth grade. I guess you could say that as soon as I had a grasp on basic sentence structure, I was hacking away at it.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
Define “job.” J  I still have a nine-to-five, as well as second part-time job. Living in the Bay Area is pricey.

? How long does it take you to write a book?
Anywhere from several months to several years. I don’t work on one book exclusively from start to finish. I have several works-in-progress at any time that I’ll braid in and out of my schedule depending on my mood and what’s catching me.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
As a tribute to the events and period in my life that resparked my ability to write, I include the tag “hopeful wager” in all of my novels. It’s usually stuck in inconspicuously, but those who know its significance always mention finding it.

? What books have most influenced your life?
In terms of how I cope with existence, “Pedagogy of the Oppressed.” In terms of my writing, “Les Miserables.”

? What are you reading right now?
This question? (I know, I know. I’m a smart ass.) I usually try to have one non-fiction and one fiction going at a time. At the moment, my non-fiction selection is “Ghost Wave: The Discovery of the Cortes Bank and the Biggest Wave on Earth” by Chris Dixon, and my fiction selection is “Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2)” by Gail Carriger.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Sleep, yet it is so infrequent when I’m able to partake of that.

? What is your favorite comfort food?
Biscuits and gravy. This simple dish is harder to come by now that I live in a halal household, but the white gravy isn’t sooo terrible.

? What do you think makes a good story?
PLOT. I detest self-important character studies or books in which very little happens. I want adventure, high-stakes decisions, passionate love, or explosions.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote like he was making love to the dictionary while having as scandalous affair with a Picasso painting. He evokes despair and romance with equal finesse of bitter and sweet.

Fun random questions: 
  • dogs or cats?  dogs
  • Coffee or tea? coffee
  • Dark or milk chocolate? dark
  • Rocks or flowers? I’m confused. Both are … No, I’m confused. What does one with rocks?
  • Night or day? day
  • Favorite color? Dark green
  • Crayons or markers? crayons
  • Pens or pencils? Pens. In bright-colored ink.


Book Description:
Statistician Riona Dade knows all about probabilities. Still, even she'd tell you the chances of discovering you’re a witch, being appointed to the demon-slaying trio known as the Pure Souls, and finding yourself sinfully attracted to a catholic priest who uses amen and other four-lettered words with equal enthusiasm are pretty slim. Also learning your ex was once Hell’s first-round draft pick, and realizing you're a prize catch for Satan’s soul-damning quota leaves a girl feeling like she just won the lottery while being struck by lightning while riding a unicorn across Atlantis. 

Trying to keep her mind off role playing the Thornbirds with Father Angeletti, Riona leads the Pure Souls against a maniacal menagerie of Mephistopheles’s minions plaguing greater Boston. Giving in to lust is a direct flight to damnation for both her and the priest, leading Riona to distract herself by striking up a romance with her new, foxy neighbor, Lucy. But she can't shake her attraction to Marcello, and as the tension between them grows thicker than a lumberjack’s beard, temptation may become too difficult to resist. 

How long can they deny the pull growing between them, knowing there will be Hell to pay? 


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Author Interview and Book Review: Night Sighs by Emma Meade

Welcome to The Wormhole.  Today it is my pleasure to feature:  Emma Meade and Night Sighs.


? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I was writing since primary school, so probably since the age of nine or ten. I was hooked on the Point Horror series, and as a result, most of my school essays for English class were about monsters and the paranormal, raising a few eyebrows from my teachers.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
Lots. I’d love to work full-time as a writer, but for the moment I’m in magazine publishing, and write in the evenings and at weekends.  I’ve worked in a pub, art gallery, doctor’s office, and even a butcher’s when I was a teenager.

? How long does it take you to write a book? 
In the past, it’s taken years to produce one novel I’m happy with, but in the last twelve months or so, I’ve gotten serious about my writing career.  Now it can take roughly six to eight months to create a first draft, edit and have it ready for publishing.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Music can inspire me to write a whole new story and cast of characters.  For instance, Night Sighs developed from a single short story called “The Dead Beats”.  I’d found a powerful, haunting performance by Bruce Springsteen on youtube one day, “Because the Night” live in Paris 1985, and I was mesmerized by the piano sound and his raw magnetism. I created Tristan and Alex as soon as the song ended.

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?
I don’t have a routine really. It’s mostly about deciding to knuckle down for a few hours or a whole day with the laptop and keep typing until I run out of steam.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters? 
Music, books, TV shows and films that have inspired me over the years.  I met a lot of interesting people during my years at college while I worked in a pub.  I like to incorporate mannerisms, dialogue and personality traits from some of the characters I’ve met in real life.

? How do you decide what you want to write about? 
It’s usually the paranormal genre. I start with a character most of the time, and the story develops from there.

? What books have most influenced your life?
The Forbidden Game trilogy by L.J. Smith, Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, The Stand by Stephen King and the books from the Point Horror and Nightmares series are what have mostly inspired my writing life. 

? What is the first book you remember reading by yourself? 
Probably a book of fairytales my grandparents first read to me at bedtime and then later Enid Blyton’s work.

? What are you reading right now?
I’m re-reading Interview with the Vampire.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Go to the cinema, listen to music, head out dancing with friends, hang out with my family, blog and interact online.

? What is your favorite comfort food? 
Biscuits and cake with tea.

? What do you think makes a good story?
The characters.  Make your characters as real as your best friends, and I think a good story follows.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
I can’t choose just one. Marian Keyes, Maeve Binchy, Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris to name a few. They’ve all written wonderful characters and their stories have captured my heart for one reason or another.

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?
The Twilight saga books.  I fell in love with Edward Cullen and the rainy town of Forks and read these books once a year.

Fun random questions: 
·        dogs or cats?
I prefer dogs, but I have two stray cats: Puss and Fox! They wandered into my back garden one day and never left.
·        Coffee or tea? Barry’s tea all the way. I drink three or four cups a day.
·        Dark or milk chocolate?  Milk chocolate or white chocolate, especially milky bars.
·        Rocks or flowers? Um, flowers.
·        Night or day? I’m a night owl. That’s when I do most of my writing. I still have trouble getting up for work most mornings.
·        Favorite color? Purple. It’s vibrant.
·        Crayons or markers? Right now, I guess crayons. I use them when I’m drawing with my little niece.
·        Pens or pencils? Pens, though it’s now a rarity when I use them. The computer keyboard has replaced the pen for the most part. 

More About the Author:
Author of Night Sighs and coming soon, Under the Desert Moon.
Emma Meade lives in rainy Ireland and loves all things supernatural: vampires, slayers, witches, ghosts, aliens & shadow men (or at least the youngest of the shadow men), and regular people who live extraordinary lives (think Slayerettes and you're on the right track). One of her favourite authors is L.J. Smith and she's read Stephen King's The Stand more times than she can remember. Books, dvds and tv show boxsets take up lots of space in her home and she collects all the Point Horror books she can get her hands on.
She is not ashamed to admit that Dirty Dancing and Twilight make her top ten movie list but wishes to point out that The Last of the Mohicans, Reality Bites, Dead Poets Society, Stand by Me and The Goonies are in there too.
Writing supernatural short stories, watching marathon re-runs of Buffy and attempting to complete novels are some of her favourite ways of escaping reality. .
Music for Night Sighs Book Trailer provided by http://www.danosongs.com/



      Night Sighs by Emma Meade

It's good to be alive...when you're dead!

Meet Alex and Tristan, modern star-crossed lovers of the supernatural variety.
Alex is running-on-empty, one year on from the death of her fiancé, and the only thing that keeps her going is her romance with the young vampire, Tristan. Tristan, meanwhile has a serious obsession with Bruce Springsteen, and is battling a 'can't live without you' sort of love for Alex. He's trying to persuade her to come over to the dark side, but so far she's resisting his efforts.

So come and sing along to Tristan's band, The Dead Beats, the hottest group in London right now, and walk with Alex as she teeters between this life and the next. Because when you're around Tristan, you'll see, how much fun it is to be alive when you're dead....

Night Sighs is an adult paranormal romance, following the relationship and adventures of Tristan and Alex through five short stories: The Dead Beats, The Ancients, Until My Body Is Dust, Bourbon and Jazz and West of Forever.


Saturday, October 27, 2012

Free Book!!!! Hellfire and Damnation is free!


Hellfire and Damnation II by Connie Corcoran Wilson
Hellfire & Damnation II by Connie (Corcoran) Wilson is another tour of the 9 Circles of Hell described in Dante's Inferno. It picks up where the first collection of short stories (2011, www.HellfireandDamnationTheBook.com) left off, using the framing device of the sins punished at each of the 9 Circles of Hell in Dante's "Inferno."

Winner of the (IWPA) Silver Feather award, sequel to the E-Lit Gold Medal award winner Hellfire & Damnation, Hellfire & Damnation II as a tour of Dante's Inferno doesn't require that you have read the first collection of short stories, which also illustrated the sins punished at each of the 9 Circles of Hell. There are no recurring characters, but there are 11 short stories, accompanying illustrations and a "From the Author" section explaining the inspiration or each story.

Free Kindle Download - October 27 - 31, 2012

Click HERE to go to Amazon to get the free kindle download!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Blog Tour: Moonlight and Mechanicals by Cindy Spencer Pape

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
Click HERE to see the tour schedule.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is with great pleasure that I feature:
Cindy Spencer Pape and Moonlight and Mechanicals.
Cindy has stopped by for an interview!
? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? It was a slow realization for me, but had always been dancing around somewhere in the back of my mind. I decided to give it a serious effort somewhere in my late 30s.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer? Let’s see: restaurant hostess, camp counselor, carpenter’s assistant, bank teller, receptionist, teaching assistant, college instructor, zoo educator, museum curator, elected politician, substitute teacher, math tutor, naturalist. There are probably more, but those are the ones that come to mind.

? How long does it take you to write a book? It can vary from years, if I pick it up and put it down repeatedly, to a couple months if the words are flowing.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? I type faster to faster music.

? Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write? Other than caffeine? No.

? Where do you write and how do you write ~ on paper, typewriter or computer? I have a desk in our family room with a docking station for my laptop, but I can take it anywhere and still get work done. In a pinch, I’ll write longhand in a spiral notebook, and transcribe it later. All in all, I’m pretty flexible.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters? Everywhere. Like most writers I know, I go through life storing up tidbits of things and then rearrange them into characters and plots.

? How do you decide what you want to write about? Sometimes I’ve already set it up, if it’s a series book, then I have to work with that. Other times, it’s a matter of taking one idea, adding another and another, taking out the ones that don’t work and weaving in more until you’ve got a story that works.

? Where does a book start for you ~ characters, plot, ending? Almost always characters.

? What books have most influenced your life? Sherlock Holmes taught me to be analytical. Roberta Gellis’s Roselynde Chronicles taught me to love history. I devoured the old Harlequins as a kid, which gave me an eternal fondness for love stories. Gordon R. Dickson’s The Dragon and the George introduced me to fantasy while Roger Zelazny introduced me to science fiction.

? What is the first book you remember reading by yourself? Thumbelina

? What are you reading right now? I’m in between. It’s really rare for me not to finish a book the same night I start it.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing? Read. Play board and role-playing games. I love costuming events, like renaissance fairs and steampunk socials.

? What is your favorite comfort food? popcorn

? What do you think makes a good story? Characters you identify with and a world you can lose yourself in, plus a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way to the end. And of course, a happy ending.

? Are you a “plotter” or a “pantser”? Some of each.

Fun random questions: 
  • dogs or cats? Dogs, the bigger the better.
  • Coffee or tea? Diet Coke
  • Dark or milk chocolate? Milk
  • Rocks or flowers? yes
  • Night or day? night
  • Favorite color? pink
  • Crayons or markers? crayons
  • Pens or pencils? pens

More About the Author:
Award-winning author of over forty popular books and novellas in paranormal, historical, and erotic romance, Cindy Spencer Pape is an avid reader. According to The Romance Studio, her plots are “full of twist and turns that keep the reader poised at the edge of their seat.” Joyfully Reviewed said, her “colorful characters and plot building surprises kept me spellbound,” and Romantic Times Magazine says her “characters are appealing, and passionate sex leads to a satisfying romance.”

Cindy firmly believes in happily-ever-after. Married for more than twenty-five years to her own, sometimes-kilted hero, she lives in southern Michigan with him and two college-age sons, along with an ever-changing menagerie of pets.  Cindy has been, among other things, a banker, a teacher, and an elected politician, but mostly an environmental educator, though now she is lucky enough to write full-time. Her degrees in zoology and animal behavior almost help her comprehend the three male humans who share her household.

Find Her: author site - BlogNewsletter group: TwitterFacebook:


Moonlight & Mechanicals: Book 4 in the Gaslight Chronicles by Cindy Spencer Pape

Genre: Steampunk Romance

Book Description:

London, 1859

Engineer Winifred "Wink" Hadrian has been in love with Inspector Liam McCullough for years, but is beginning to lose hope when he swears to be a lifelong bachelor. Faced with a proposal from a Knight of the Round Table and one of her closest friends, Wink reluctantly agrees to consider him instead.

Because of his dark werewolf past, Liam tries to keep his distance, but can't say no when Wink asks him to help find her friend's missing son. They soon discover that London's poorest are disappearing at an alarming rate, after encounters with mysterious "mechanical" men. Even more alarming is the connection the missing people may have with a conspiracy against the Queen.

Fighting against time—and their escalating feelings for each other—Wink and Liam must work together to find the missing people and save the monarchy before it's too late...

Excerpt:

Chapter One

London, June 1859

“Any questions?” Winifred Carter Hadrian looked around the room full of the august gentlemen—and very few ladies—of the Royal Society, and straightened her spine. She’d just finished presenting her paper on the beneficial properties of wind and electric power over coal. The members of the Royal Society remained unimpressed. Whether mustachioed, mutton-chopped or rice-powdered, nearly every face regarded her with a unified disapproving frown.
“What does a young lady like you know about steam engines?” She couldn’t identify the voice—it came from a shadowy corner of the room. Snickers and rude noises erupted in its wake from throughout the so-called genteel membership. The acoustics in the room were impressive. Not only could the audience hear her, but she could hear them more clearly than she’d have liked. The front row, made up of Wink’s family and friends, swiveled and glared at the crowd. Most of the hecklers shut up.
Wink remained polite. “Are there any further questions?” Not a single hand was raised.
“The problem, missy, is that our economy is built on coal. Reducing its use costs jobs.” She couldn’t see the owner of that particularly patronizing tone either, but it obviously met the approval of the audience, because another round of boos and jeers broke out. At least they weren’t throwing anything. Yet. That wasn’t unheard of.
“I’m aware of the monetary value of coal to the empire,” she said. “If you’d read my paper, you’d see I propose to train displaced miners—”
“Go back to your needlework, girl. It’s where you belong.”
Wink’s adoptive father, Sir Merrick Hadrian, Baron Northland, rose and whirled on that voice, fists raised. So did his wife, Caroline, though she lifted her parasol. Merrick’s aunt, Dorothy, simply gave the man a death glare.
“Better yet, on her back. She wouldn’t be too hideous in the dark.” The speaker didn’t shout that remark, but a coincidental lull in the other noise made it stand out like the smell of dead fish. In the back row, Lord Eustace Irons, son of a marquess and a coal heiress, laughed at his own so-called joke. Wink wasn’t surprised. He also had a tendency to grope during waltzes. When he saw that he’d been heard, his pasty skin paled even further and he mumbled an apology as he looked wide-eyed at an angry Lord Northland.
Meanwhile Sir Thomas Devere, Wink’s foster brother, and his closest friend, Sir Connor MacKay, began to bolt from their seats toward Lord Eustace. Another man, one whose presence had caused Wink’s heart to flutter, caught the two younger men by their coat collars and hauled them back into their seats. “Remember, I’d have to arrest you both for assault. Let’s just get the hell out of here.” Inspector Liam McCullough shot Wink an imperious glance as if commanding her to leave the stage.
She seethed at being told what to do, but he was right. Retreat was in order. She gave him a nearly imperceptible nod and then smiled at the audience with exquisite politeness. “Thank you, my lords, ladies and gentlemen, for your time. My thesis is, of course, on file at Lovelace College, Oxford, if you care to refer to it at a future date.” With that, she gave a hint of a curtsey and stepped away from the podium, her spine straight and her starched crinoline petticoat rustling.
As she left the stage, she looked back at Lord Eustace and felt his oily grin skimming over her curves—or lack thereof. Next to him stood another man, one Wink had never seen before. His leer wasn’t as overtly slimy, but somehow, his intense and calculating stare made the back of her neck itch. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tom mutter a quick spell under his breath. Eustace seemed to hit a slick patch on the floor and went flying, landing on his arse on the marble. His friend tripped over him and fell as well.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!

This giveaway hop is presented by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer 
You can get to the entire linky by clicking HERE.
There are over 400 blogs participating in the hop this time!
This is stop # 218.
The stop before me is: Patricia @ Lady with Books.
The stop after me is: Romance Meets Life (Int)

Welcome to The Wormhole and Happy Halloween!
Halloween is my favorite holiday and I am always thrilled to participate in the festivities!
I am sharing my favorite children's Halloween story as my prize!
The giveaway is International - as long as shipping to your location is free.
The book?
The Rules?
Be a follower of The Wormhole (13+) and fill out the form below.
Good luck to all, Happy reading and Happy Halloween.

Giveaway Winner!


Congrats Brenda C!