Blog Tour: Immortals of New Orleans series by Kym Grosso

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.

Click HERE for more tour information.

Logan’s Acadian Wolves

Immortals of New Orleans

Book 4

Kym Grosso

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

ISBN-13: 978-1492267799

ISBN-10: 1492267791

ASIN: B00F7X2XTG

Number of pages: Approximately 430

Word Count: 120,090 words

Cover Artist:  Patricia Schmitt, PickyMe

Book Description:

An erotic paranormal romance...

Deep in the heart of New Orleans, Acadian Wolves’ Alpha, Logan Reynaud, rescues a beautiful woman in the dead of night. Intrigued by the mysterious human, the commanding Alpha is determined to elicit all of her secrets, including her deepest fantasies. After tragedy strikes, Logan discovers dangerous adversaries are planning an attack in his city. Driven by responsibility and honor, Logan must protect both his pack and the woman who’s captivated his attention.

Dr. Wynter Ryan, a leading virologist, is fascinated with her charismatic protector. As the chemistry ignites between her and the dominant Alpha, she relinquishes her ties to the past, embracing ecstasy and submission within his arms and intrepidly acquiescing to her own adventurous instincts. Succumbing to desire, she learns to trust her Alpha, discovering what it means to be wolf.

Passion and mystery on the bayou stirs Logan’s wolf, demanding he claim his mate. Yet Wynter’s a distraction he can’t afford when his priority is to lead his new pack. Will Logan surrender to the uncontrollable need to claim Wynter as his mate? And will he be able to keep her alive, finding the killer who threatens the Acadian Wolves?

Warning: This book contains several erotic love scenes, including m/f/m menage, and is intended for adult readers only.

Amazon US  Amazon UK   Amazon CA Smashwords

Tristan's Lyceum Wolves

Immortals of New Orleans, Book 3

Kym Grosso

An erotic paranormal romance…

Charismatic and powerful Lyceum Wolves’ Alpha, Tristan Livingston, is out for revenge after a devastating attack on his pack. Not only did he survive a building collapse, he orchestrated the rebuild of his chic, state-of-the-art nightclub within a week. Determined to mete out justice, he rescues a beautiful witness who may be the key to helping him find the perpetrators.

Dr. Kalli Williams, dedicated veterinarian, is hiding a secret that endangers not only her own life but the lives of wolves across the country. After being tortured by a savage vampire, she’s reluctantly agrees to help the sexy Alpha in his quest to identify suspects; ones who’d kill her on the spot if they knew she existed. As Kalli places herself in the hands of the dominant wolf, she soon finds she wants nothing more than to submit.

Tristan, committed to ruling his pack as a lone wolf, is inexplicably drawn to the mysterious and enticing woman, who seems more than human, but not quite supernatural. As he discovers her secret, he teaches her the meaning of trust, helping her learn how to be true to her nature. After living a lifetime alone, will he succumb to the visceral need to claim her, acknowledging the soul binding connection between an Alpha and his mate? And will he prevail against the menacing enemy who threatens to destroy Lyceum Wolves?

Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon CA  Smashwords  BN

Luca’s Magic Embrace
Immortals of New Orleans, Book 2
Kym Grosso        

Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Erotic Paranormal Romance

ISBN-13: 978-1480199262
ISBN-10: 1480199265

ASIN:  B009SFWOM0

Approximately 255 pages in pdf.  Varies in e-copy.
Word Count:  80,799 words

Cover Artist:  Carrie Spencer, CheekyCovers

Book Description:

An erotic paranormal romance...

Sexy vampire, Luca Macquarie doesn't do love; especially not with humans. Yet, ever since he rescued Samantha Irving, he can't deny the enigmatic attraction he's developed for the alluring mortal woman. Concerned for her safety, he's determined to bring Samantha back to her coven. His mission is to go find the novice witch and bring her home, nothing more, nothing less; falling for her is not supposed to be part of the plan.

Samantha doesn't want to be a witch, yet that's exactly what she is. After failing to elicit her magic, she escapes to the mountains in an attempt to resume a semblance of her previous human life. When an arsonist torches her cabin, Samantha's worst fears are realized. Aware that her life is on the line, she reluctantly agrees to return to New Orleans with Luca.

In the Big Easy, Samantha and Luca embark on a spellbinding journey, searching for a mystical amulet that promises to release her obligation from an ancient, lethal vampire who's been threatening her life. With cryptic clues and clandestine allies, will Luca and Samantha destroy the dangerous amulet before others acquire it, setting forth a chain of catastrophic consequences? And will Luca give into his erotic desire for the witch who magically captures heart?

Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon CA  Smashwords  BN

Book Trailer:  http://youtu.be/ngBxFCMQGO0

Kade's Dark Embrace

Immortals of New Orleans, Book 1

By Kym Grosso

Genre: Paranormal Spicy Romance

74,000 Words Novel Length

Book Description:

After a series of girls are ritualistically murdered on the cold streets of Philadelphia, seasoned detective, Sydney Willows, is forced to work with sexy, alpha vampire, Kade Issacson. While working the case, Sydney finds herself inexplicably drawn to Kade, fighting the passion she feels towards him. Kade, determined to solve the case and mete out justice, is captivated by the independent, fiery detective. As he attempts to protect her from a very real murderer, Kade grows concerned that the beautiful, but very human detective, could easily end up dead should she tangle with supernatural forces that are beyond her control.

The investigation leads them into a dark and dangerous world, deep in the heart of New Orleans, where together, they search for the perpetrators of the Voodoo killings. Sydney soon becomes the target of the killer and ends up fighting for her life and love in the Big Easy. If she makes it out alive, will she give into the intoxicating desire she feels for Kade?

book trailer for Kade's Dark Embrace  http://youtu.be/_GsJRUi1fww

Amazon US   Amazon UK   Amazon CA  Smashwords BN

About the Author:

Kym Grosso is the author of the erotic paranormal romance series, The Immortals of New Orleans. The series currently includes Kade’s Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 1), Luca’s Magic Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 2), Tristan’s Lyceum Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 3) and Logan’s Acadian Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 4).

In addition to romance, Kym has written and published several articles about autism, and is passionate about autism advocacy. She writes about autism at PsychologyToday.com and AutismInRealLife.com. She also is a contributing essay author in the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum.

Kym lives with her husband, two children, dog and cat. Her hobbies include autism advocacy, reading, tennis, zumba, traveling and spending time with her husband and children. New Orleans, with its rich culture, history and unique cuisine, is one of her favorite places to visit. Also, she loves traveling just about anywhere that has a beach or snow-covered mountains. On any given night, when not writing her own books, Kym can be found reading her Kindle, which is filled with hundreds of romances.

Website: www.KymGrosso.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KymGrossoBooks

Twitter: @KymGrosso

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5785692.Kym_Grosso

Click HERE for my thoughts on Kade's Dark Embrace.

Click HERE for my thoughts on Luca's Magic Embrace.

Click HERE for my thoughts on Tristan's Lyceum Wolves.

My thoughts about Logan's Acadian Wolves:

Once again, I am in love with the fantastic characters created by the clever Kym Grosso.  The entire story draws the reader; starting with those characters - holding with the storyline and capturing you with the desire for the story to not end.  In keeping with the other books in this series, the scenes are steamy and the reading not for the prudish or the young.  I would suggest starting at the beginning and read the entire series in order. 

25 Days of Christmas Giveaways!

Celebrate the Season with Imajin Books' 25 Days of Christmas Giveaways

Great things come in threes: Giveaways + eBook Sale + Twitter Party!

This Christmas season, Canadian publishing house Imajin Books decided to do things a bit differently. Instead of only 25 days of contests and discounts as in past years, they're holding various events from December 1st to January 3rd. Okay, so they can't count, but they believe readers deserve to be rewarded. And we agree!

From December 1-25, Imajin Books will be awarding random prizes to those who leave comments on their Facebook page. So drop by, check out their posts and leave a comment or question.

Want to win even more? Check out their Share the Imajin Books Buzz contest. You could win a Kindle Fire HD or Kobo equivalent, or one of two $50 Amazon gift cards. This contest also runs December 1-25. To enter, visit the Rafflecopter contest at http://www.imajinbooks.com/contests-events. You can enter multiple times a day.

Imajin Books Celebrates the Season with a Massive eBook Sale

Here's the perfect opportunity to load up your ereaders (Kindle, Kobo, Nook etc.) over the holidays with fantastic fiction from a wide assortment of authors and genres.

From December 20^th to January 3^rd, check out the eBook Sale from Imajin Books, part of their 25 Days of Christmas Giveaways event. Most titles will be priced at $0.99 or $1.99, so stock up and/or gift great ebooks to your friends and family this Christmas season.

And don't forget, Imajin Books is giving away prizes, including a Kindle Fire HD or Kobo Vox 7 HD, and two $50 Amazon gift cards. This contest ends December 25, 2013. To enter, visit http://www.imajinbooks.com/contests-events. You can enter multiple times a day.

To check out the ebooks on sale, visit http://www.imajinbooks.com/sale

Join the Imajin Books Twitter Party

Ever wonder what life must be like for a writer? Ever want to ask an author how they come up with their plots? Want to ask a publisher what they're looking for? Now you can!

On December 14 & 15, from 5-10 PM ET, join the Imajin Books Twitter Party, part of their annual 25 Days of Christmas Giveaways event. You will have the opportunity to chat with various Imajin Books authors and the publisher herself, international bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif. Cheryl will be giving away random prizes to participants during the Twitter Party, so get your questions ready.

To join the Party, simple use #ImajinAuthors in all your tweets and follow the #ImajinAuthors thread on Twitter, which can be found by searching for the hashtag or going here.

And don't forget, Imajin Books is holding a massive eBook Sale and giving away lots of prizes, including a Kindle Fire HD or Kobo Vox 7 HD, and two $50 Amazon gift cards.

To learn more about all these events, please visit http://www.imajinbooks.com/contests-events.

Release Day Party: The Druid's Doorway by S.G. Daniels (Giveaway)

Release Day Party The Druid’s Doorway

We’re celebrating the release for YA urban fantasy novel “The Druid’s Doorway” today!

About The Druid’s Doorway

Title: The Druid’s Doorway
Author: S.G. Daniels
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Jake Reese thinks he’s just a screwed-up high school kid living in a small town isolated in the Arizona desert. Traumatized at an early age by his mother’s sudden death—and believing he might have had something to do with it—he’s allowed his guilt and lack of self-confidence to rule his life.

Hailey is the fiery little redhead that sees Jake as more than a just a good friend. When she invites him as her date to a school function, it brings down the walls he's built to protect his heart, and sets off a series of events that threaten not only Jake’s life, but that of everyone around him.

The discovery of a portal on the outskirts of town brings Jake face-to-face with death and reveals a closely guarded secret about his mother. No longer is his memory of her the only thing that haunts him. Something evil from her past has escaped through the portal, and nothing will prevent it from trying to steal Jake’s future.

Can Jake overcome his fears to keep Hailey safe? Will the decisions he's forced to make destroy everyone he knows and loves? And ultimately...is he strong enough to live with those choices?

Author Bio

S.G. Daniels lives in rural Central Illinois with her husband of thirty-one years, and two spoiled cats, Payne and Jenks. She works full-time in a local medical facility as a patient accounting refund specialist. Most of her evenings she can be found in front of her computer, working on story ideas, or learning the ins and outs of the writing world. On the weekends, if she’s not spending time outside, she’s usually found nose-deep in a book. When S.G. unleashes her inner daredevil, she usually takes off through winding timber trails or country roads on the ATV. Her weaknesses are iced tea and pretzels, especially when she’s working on a story.

Links

Website: www.sgdaniels.com

Twitter: @SGDanielsAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/s.g.daniels.author
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sgdanielsbooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7515006.S_G_Daniels

Giveaway

There’s also a giveaway where you can win Kindle copies of the book. Giveaway is international. To participate, simply fill in the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day ~ Third Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn (rafflecopter giveaway)

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Susan Kaye Quinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and passed them to her friends during class. Her teachers pretended not to notice and only confiscated her stories a couple times.

Susan left writing behind to pursue a bunch of engineering degrees, but she was drawn back to writing by an irresistible urge to share her stories with her niece, her kids, and all the wonderful friends she’s met along the way.

She doesn’t have to sneak her notes anymore, which is too bad.

Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs with her three boys, two cats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly as a much as she can handle.

Author Links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

Third Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn
(The Dharian Affairs Trilogy #1)
Publication date: December 13th 2013
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Steampunk

 

Synopsis:

The Third Daughter of the Queen wants her birthday to arrive so she’ll be free to marry for love, but rumors of a new flying weapon may force her to accept a barbarian prince’s proposal for a peace-brokering marriage. Desperate to marry the charming courtesan she loves, Aniri agrees to the prince’s proposal as a subterfuge in order to spy on him, find the weapon, and hopefully avoid both war and an arranged marriage to a man she does not love.

Third Daughter is the first book in The Dharian Affairs Trilogy (Third Daughter, Second Daughter, First Daughter). This steampunk-goes-to-Bollywood (Bollypunk!) romance takes place in an east-indian-flavored alternate world filled with skyships, saber duels, and lots of royal intrigue. And, of course, kissing.

Excerpt:

The cloudless night whispered sweet promises to Aniri.

Below her stone rooftop, the shadows of the forested grounds danced in the summer’s breeze, their small rustlings calling to her like a lover. The sound was the perfect cover for escape into the darkness and the warm arms she hoped to find there. No one should notice her absence. Of all the guards, handmaidens, and many silent keepers of the royal household, none would venture up to her private observatory this late in the eve. But she still had to be careful. Even this close to her birthday, the Queen would not be forgiving if she was caught.

Aniri scanned the palace grounds to make sure it was clear of any witnesses. The manicured lawns were empty: the only sign of life came from the distant embassy windows where gas lamps flickered and soft music trilled from late-reveling partygoers. Aniri pressed the leather eyecup of her aetherscope to her face, slowly turning the brass knobs to bring the party into focus. The instrument was meant for watching the rise of the twin full moons, but it worked well enough for spying on the Samirian ambassador and her assemblage of guests.

Their shiny new automaton was thick-legged and awkward, but the Samirian tinker’s design was still clever: the steam-driven mechanical wonder actually danced, albeit just one clumsy pirouette after another. When it came to a graceless stop, the guests snapped their fingers in appreciation. The faint sound of their applause drifted over the lawn, but the party continued on. With the grounds still empty, Aniri swung her aetherscope to the forest. The broken edges of the river snaked through the darkened trees, slipped under a stone bridge, and then flowed past the red sandstone walls of the Queen’s estate. A black shape darted out from under the bridge, then disappeared into the shadows between the trees.

Time to go.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19167136-third-daughter?ac=1

Purchase:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/SKQonAmazon
Barnes&noble: http://bit.ly/SusanonBnN
iTunes: http://bit.ly/SKQoniBookstore
kobo: http://bit.ly/SusanonKobo

----

 

Giveaway:

Blitz-wide giveaway

Prizes (pictures on Rafflecopter):

--20x “Third Daughter” mini M&M packs  (US only)

--A steampunk key necklace (INTL)

--"Third Daughter" East-Indian style bridal jewelry (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Victoria Danann Black Swan Series - ONLY $.99 this week! (Tourwide rafflecopter Giveaway too)

 Welcome to The Wormhole and my stop on the tour.

It is my pleasure to once again feature:

Victoria Danann's Black Swan Collection!



The Order of the Black Swan is a serial saga including My Familiar Stranger, The Witch’s Dream, A Summoner’s Tale, Moonlight, Gathering Storm, and A Tale of Two Kingdoms.

Once upon a time a girl lost everything familiar. She escaped death by being forced into an experiment that left her in another world where modern day knights, elves, vampires, werewolves, witches, demons and fae became her allies, friends and family. She discovered a place where adventure intersects fairytales, where honor is more than an ideal, and she learned that love can find you in the strangest places, when you're least expecting it, even when you're far, far from home. This is the story of Elora Laiken's strange and wonderful journey. It is also the story of those whose lives she touches along the way.

If you love romance, paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, contemporary, this series is right for you. 17+

Click on book title to go to information and my thoughts post for each book.

My Familiar Stranger

The Witch's Dream

The Summoner's Tale

Moonlight

Gathering Storm

Click HERE to go to an interview.



Tourwide Giveaway: 
We must insist on one purchase per entry, but unlimited entries are allowed so please consider giving everyone you know the entire Black Swan saga for less than a dollar!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Promo/Author Interview/Giveaway: Tori L. Ridgewood (Wind and Shadow: Book One of the Talbot Trilogy)

Tori L. Ridgewood’s new book Wind and Shadow: Book One of the Talbot Trilogy, published by Melange Books, was released on June 20, 2013.

After a series of misadventures including being accused of attempted murder in high school, Rayvin Woods, a photographer and natural witch, left her hometown of Talbot in Northeastern Ontario, hoping to start her life over and never return. Ten years later, circumstances force her back to face her past and her former crush Grant Michaels.

Malcolm de Sade, a cunning vampire, escapes from an underground prison looking for vengeance. His accidental release unleashes his hunger and ambition on a small, sleepy town. Rayvin’s power is all that stands between de Sade and his domination of Talbot, and beyond.

Grant Michaels, a police officer, thought Rayvin was a murderer. He will do whatever it takes to protect the community he loves from danger... but will he learn to trust his heart, and the word of a witch, before it's too late?

Rayvin didn't count on rekindling a lost love or battling a malevolent vampire and his coven for her life when she came home to Talbot. Facing the past can be a nightmare… It’s worse when a vampire is stalking you.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Shadow-Talbot-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00DYCH64Y

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToriLRidgewood

Website: http://torilridgewood.wordpress.com/

Tori has joined us for an interview:
Welcome Tori:

 When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

It’s always just been there. I have journals from my childhood in which I was writing stories, and I remember being determined, at age twelve, to get my first book published. It just took longer than I realized . . . Twenty-four years longer!

 How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

I’ve been a teacher for twelve years, and it’s still my primary occupation. Prior to getting my teaching certification, while I was in university, I worked at a variety of part-time jobs: I was a server with a catering company, demonstrated perfume at a department store, dressed in full-body animal costumes and delivered singing telegrams, stocked shelves at another department store, attempted a brief stint as a barista, and (my favourites), divided my time between coordinating volunteers and a summer day camp at a community museum, and logging their artifacts on their new computer system. The last job I had before becoming a teacher was coordinating children’s summer programming at a series of satellite libraries in rural southeastern Ontario.

 How long does it take you to write a book?

I have discovered that I can write a novel in eight weeks, but up to the present, that time has been divided up over a series of months, or even years. Wind and Shadow took me seven years to develop, from the time that my daughter was an infant until she was well into school, but its sequel, Blood and Fire, only took two months: November 2011 and November 2012. I have to give partial credit to National Novel Writing Month for giving me the impetus to finish the second book quickly, as well as my writer friends for their encouragement. My goal this winter is to write the third book in the trilogy, Crystal and Wand, within six to eight weeks.

 What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I am a night owl! It’s a curse, really. I do my best writing in the dark of night, when the house is still and the family is abed, when there is nothing to distract me on TV, the phone doesn’t ring, and not even cars passing to attract my attention. Unfortunately, writing until two or three in the morning does not leave me rested for the classroom the next day, let alone getting my children out the door, so I have to work in short bursts and then catch up on my sleep when the weeks of writing are done.

 Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

I start with someone I admire, either in real life or from fiction (film or written text), and I think about different ways to look at them. What if I changed her background? How would he act if he were in a different job? Or, I look at decisions an individual has made, and consider whether they’d made a different choice, and why. I love playing “what-if”, and writing responses on characters others have created.

 How do you decide what you want to write about?

I usually start by looking at the purpose of the piece, and the target audience. I also look at settings with which I’m familiar, so I can write about them knowledgeably. For example, when a call went out for a Hallowe’en-themed anthology of short romances, I was able to come up with a plot fairly easily by drawing on local legends about our town’s museum, and my own love for the romance genre and its elements. The end result, “Telltale Signs”, was a satisfyingly chilling ghost story with a very romantic theme.

I also like to pay homage to my favourite fiction, and write alternative stories to those I’ve enjoyed and/or critiqued. Some of the Talbot Trilogy is a response to The Twilight Saga, and parts are love letters to vampire creators like Stephen King, Anne Rice, and John Carpenter.

 What books have most influenced your life?

It’s a long list. The first chapter novel I read by myself was The Blue Sword, the fantasy by Robin McKinley. I still love the strong female lead, Harry, and I recently had to retire my paperback as it was so worn out the cover fell off and I lost several pages. Both Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables series were favourites when I was growing up, as well -- I learned a lot from the way that Wilder and Montgomery write descriptions, dialogue, and plot. After discovering Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, I devoured Firestarter, Christine, the Tommyknockers, and The Shining. I loved how he broke the rules, it absolutely captivated me.

So many books have made an impression on me in some way, whether by presenting questions about human nature, demonstrating literary technique, alternative philosophies about life . . . That Scatterbrained Booky, Ramona, Calico Captive, Gone with the Wind, the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, Outlander, Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, Cloud Atlas, Harry Potter, The Road, the works of Robert Heinlein, Tolkien, The Dark is Rising, The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, and my collections of fairy / wonder tales. And I have found that re-reading books from my childhood, like Green Gables, opens me to whole new worlds of meaning.

 What are you reading right now?

I’m currently enjoying a graphic novel, I am GooGol, by Bobby Nash and Rodrigo de Castro. My list of TBR has more than fifty books on it! Up next is going to be Hearts in Exile, by Mysti Parker, and then The Sovereign Order of Monte Cristo: And the Newly Discovered Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Holy Ghost Writer.

 What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I am a movie buff, and I like doing handicrafts like cross-stitch, small quilting projects, embroidery, and appliqué. In summer, I like trying to garden (sadly, the flowers and veggies are often better off without my well-intended interference), and mowing my lawn while listening to an eclectic mix of rock, alternative, and pop music. I don’t mind shoveling snow in the winter, at least until February, again with my tunes turned up. I enjoy walking my dog, making rolled beeswax candles, and talking to far-away friends and family online. I enjoy board games and puzzles (both real and virtual), and occasionally, picking out songs on the piano.

 What is your favorite comfort food?

Chocolate. With pastry, definitely. Pastry drizzled with chocolate, stuffed with whipped cream.

 What do you think makes a good story?

Characters that are well-rounded and identifiable -- when you can tell that there is a back story just itching to be told from the little clues dropped here and there. That’s a must. I also like a plot with at least one twist. While a predictable plot can be comforting, it’s attractive and impressive when the author presents something I didn’t see coming. Accuracy of detail in setting and other descriptions is also important. Unless the story is set in an alternate universe, anachronisms drive me nuts because I just want to correct them.

 Fun random questions: 

·      dogs or cats? 

I am allergic to cats, though I think they’re wonderful. I can’t seem to bring myself to get regular shots to allow me to have one, though. I also seem to be allergic to many dogs, but my body is happy around my mixed breed Skittles.

·      Coffee or tea?

Tea, preferably Tetley Tea’s orange pekoe or a tasty loose-leaf blend. Technically I’m not supposed to have coffee, as the caffeine content makes me anxious, but I occasionally enjoy a small French Vanilla from Tim Horton’s.

·      Dark or milk chocolate?

Milk chocolate, always. Unless the dark has almonds or mint in it.

·      Rocks or flowers?

I think I actually like rocks better. I like flowers, and admire lush gardens, but I’m not very good at planting, weeding, or caring for vegetation. But rocks look beautiful in sun or snow, glistening under rain or meltwater and outlined in lichens and moss. Of course, I live on the Canadian Shield, and spent three of my formative years hiking along rock faces, driving along highways cut through limestone, granite, and others that I can’t remember the names of right now, surrounded by their ancient, immovable grandeur. I guess that settles it -- I like rocks!

·      Night or day?

Night. Ah, the stars, the moon, the shadows . . . “Music of the Night” from Phantom is one of my favourite lullabies.

·      Favorite color?

Right now, it’s purple, but I also enjoy red. They’re the colours of energy, life, passion, and inspiration.

·      Crayons or markers?

I like crayons better, in spite of their tendency to break. Markers run dry, leak, lose their caps, cause stains, and are generally untrustworthy even though their shades are initially bright and solid. Crayons can be melted between sheets of wax for beautiful artwork, or fused with other broken bits to make new colouring sticks. You can rub them sideways to get impressions from raised surfaces, like grave markers or fashion plates. They smell good. And, in a pinch, you can eat them!

·      Pens or pencils?

Pens, definitely. No worries about sharpening, finding an eraser, or dealing with a broken lead. I’d love to get a really nice feather pen, with a real quill and an ink well. A few years ago, I taught my grade 9 Academic English classes how to carve quill nibs using small knives, so they could produce their original sonnets as calligraphy. Pens are wonderful things.

Thank you so much for having me on the Wormhole!

More about Tori:

After her first heartbreak, Tori found solace in two things: reading romance novels and listening to an after-dark radio program called Lovers and Other Strangers. Throughout the summer and fall of 1990, the new kid in town found reading fiction and writing her own short stories gave her a much needed creative outlet. Determined to become a published author, Tori amassed stacks of notebooks and boxes of filed-away stories, most only half-finished before another idea would overtake her and demand to be written down. Then, while on parental leave with her second baby, one story formed and refused to be packed away. Between teaching full-time, parenting, and life in general, it would take almost seven years before the first novel in her first trilogy would be completed. In the process, Tori finally found her stride as a writer.

At present, on her off-time, Tori not only enjoys reading, but also listening to an eclectic mix of music as she walks the family dog (Skittles), attempts to turn her thumb green, or makes needlework gifts for her friends and family members. She loves to travel, collect and make miniature furniture, and a good cup of tea during a thunderstorm or a blizzard. Under it all, she is always intrigued by history, the supernatural, vampire and shapeshifter mythology, romance, and other dangers.

Tori L. Ridgewood’s new book Wind and Shadow: Book One of the Talbot Trilogy, published by Melange Books, was released on June 20, 2013. For more information, visit http://torilridgewood.wordpress.com/.

Giveaway:  1 ebook - kindle version of Wind and Shadow Book 1 - - - randomly chosen commenter (please include email).