Special excerpt for fantasy romance The Green Rose by Stephanie Burkhart

I’m kicking off a new week with a special excerpt from the fantasy romance novel, The Green Rose, by Stephanie Burkhart.

During her virtual book tour, Stephanie will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

A little bit about The Green Rose:

On the continent of Gaia, evil is brewing. Turncoat wizard, Balthyser, kidnaps the kings of Dahaka and Tapin. He wants the green rose, a source of powerful magic.

Princess Sonia of Tapin is forced to hunt down the rose in exchange for her father's life. It's the ultimate betrayal of Gaia's peace, but she has no choice if she wants to save her father.

Prince Ivánstan of Dahaka accompanies her on the journey. Both face challenges and obstacles that test their strength of character during the hunt for the rose. Dare Sonia put her trust and faith in a man she hardly knows to secure Gaia's peace or will the continent's harmony be shattered forever?

Excerpt from The Green Rose:

Draco stood next to the bank of the brook on hind legs which were thick and stocky. The dragon was no taller than Ivánstan. His wings rested at his side. The green scales that covered his body glistened in the twilight. Upon seeing her, Draco's eyes widened and he moved his head, looking her over from head to toe. Sonia cradled the now sleeping Hiro in her arm against her breast. Heat radiated from the dragon's body.

Ivánstan glanced at Draco and chuckled. "He says you're pretty." "Thank you." She'd never been called pretty by a dragon before. Draco raised his right wing, exposing his claws upward.

"He wants you to put your hand in his. It's his way of greeting you." "I won't burn?"

"Nay. His scales usually negate the heat's effect for us."

Sonia steeled her courage. Seeing Draco so close, she understood why Ivánstan's bonding had been so challenging. She had to trust him when he said Draco wouldn't burn her.

There was that dirty word again -- trust. But how dirty was it? Why did Ivánstan consistently demand it of her? And why did she give it piece by piece?

Slowly, she offered her hand to the dragon. His scales possessed the consistency of slate, but she detected an inner hardness, reminding her of Taveran steel. His claws wrapped around her hand.

A little bit about the author:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD.  She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire.  She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee.  She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | YouTube | Pinterest  

Buy links for The Green Rose:

Publisher | Kindle | Nook | AllRomance

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Interview with paranormal romance author Stephanie Burkhart

Today’s special guest is paranormal romance author Stephanie Burkhart. She’s sharing a bit about her newest novel, Sunrise Over Brasov.

During her virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions, Stephanie will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter. To be entered for a chance to win, leave a comment below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit other tour stops and leave comments there, too!

Bio:

Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She writes romance and children's stories. She's currently published with Desert Breeze, 4RV, and Victory Tales Press. She adores chocolates, loves coffee, and enjoys going for walks. In September 2014, she'll be participating in the 5K Walk to End Alzheimer's in Santa Clarita, CA.

Welcome, Stephanie. Please tell us about your current release.

Sunrise Over Brasov is Book 3 in the Moldavian Moon paranormal series. It's set near Brasov, Romania in the 1880's. Romania has such delicious folklore with the Vlad Tepes/Dracula legend that one just might believe the paranormal is real in Romania.

In the story, Rosa, who is a virgin witch, is kidnapped by Clement, an evil werewolf intent on using the purity of her witchcraft for his own personal gain. Michael, Rosa's beloved, chases after her in the hopes of freeing her from Clement, but will the separation doom their relationship or bring them closer together.

What inspired you to write this book?

Michael's story had to be told. The series is a trilogy and starts with Michael's parents, Mihai and Theresa. While finding love, Mihai and Theresa make a series of choices that doom their family to be haunted by werewolves. Can Michael finally end the curse? Love can led to redemption and forgiveness, but does Michael have the inner strength and courage to travel down that path considering the hurts he's suffered?

Excerpt:

He raised his hand and lowered his hood. An inherent strength filled his profile. Confidence. Concern. Relief.

Rosa's breath jammed in her throat. He looked familiar. He smelled familiar.

"Rosa, it's Michael. Let's go."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

A frown set against his rugged features. "I don't have time to argue -- now put on a warm dress and cloak."

"No." She was not going anywhere with him despite the relief in his voice.

He sighed and shut the door. Moving with fluid grace, he crossed the room, jerked the door to her closet open and threw the items he wanted her to wear on her bed. "Get. Dressed."

"No." She was determined not to budge, despite the danger outside.

"Rosa, we're leaving."

"I'm staying."

"Why would you want to stay? Clement kidnapped you."

Disconcerted, she pointedly glanced away from his hard stare. What did he mean by kidnapped? Clement didn't keep her behind bars and feed her only bread and water. Rosa could even go into Brasov to shop as long as Lucien or one of the bodyguards went with her.

"I'm going to take you back to your mother."

Her head snapped toward his direction. Mother? Of course she had a mother -- a family, even -- only she had no recollection of them. So why did her body fill with warmth at the mention of her mother by a man she hadn't seen before, but was hauntingly familiar? She pursed her lips, torn by conflicting emotions.

"Caroline and Darius can't keep this up. Now get dressed or I'll dress you myself."

"You'll find me an unwilling subject."

He drew in a deep breath and raked a hand through his thick ebony hair. "You are exasperating."

"So I've been told."

What exciting story are you working on next?

I'm between stories right now. I want to work on a paranormal for Halloween and I need to start the prep work for Book 4 in my steampunk series, "The Windsor Diaries." In June, I'll have a short story coming out called "Arrow Through the Heart," in the Victory Tales Press Summer Anthology and Book 3 of The Windsor Diaries is coming out called "A Lady Never Lies."

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I remember there was a show in the 1970's called The Electric Company (Interesting note: Morgan Freeman was a cast member). After watching the show I'd go to the kitchen table with my crayons and pencils and create little Spiderman comics based on the skits from the show. Since then I kept writing, focusing on poems and short stories, but it wasn't until I was a teenager did I realize I was a writer and this was something I was going to do for the rest of my life.

What do you do other than write and how do you find the time to write?

I have a full time job as a 911 operator for the city of LA. Since we don't have access to personal computers, I usually do my writing on my down time with a pen and paper. When I get home, I type up what I've written at work. I'm a fast typer so it comes together quickly.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I used to tell people I wanted to be a bus driver because I wanted a job where I didn't have to go to college. I chuckle because I got a lot of reaction with that so sometimes I would say it just to get a reaction. I eventually went to collage (graduated Magna cum laude from California Baptist University in 1995) and went to work in law enforcement after serving in the US Army from 86-97.

Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | YouTube | Pinterest

Thanks, Stephanie! Readers, don’t forget to leave a comment if you’d like a chance to win the gift card!

Interview with self-help author Katie Salidas

Today's guest is talking about a hot topic - self publishing. Please welcome Katie Salidas as she tours her book Go Publish Yourself! with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe.

Bio:

Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, she can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, she still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.

And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…

Actually, Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.

Katie, please tell us about your current release.

Go Publish Yourself! will help you avoid the common stumbling blocks and get you on the road to successful self-publishing. This handy dandy guide is filled with insider’s tips and tricks, and it will unscramble the world of self-publishing into simple, easy-to-follow steps.

What inspired you to write this book?

It started as a collection of blog posts. I spent about 6 months writing on topics about self-editing, self-publishing, and marketing. The post were very popular and the feedback I received was wonderful. It was then that my editor suggested I put everything together in a nice easy-to-read format. That’s when Go Publish Yourself! took shape. It’s a handy dandy quick reference guide for all levels of self-publishers.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve been writing since I was a little girl. At the age of 14 I had written my first full-length novel, a novel that was subsequently lost during my move from Texas to Nevada. But that didn’t stop me for long.

I primarily work in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, but it was my experience in learning how to self-publish that really helped me to understand the behind the scenes business.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like?  If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I’m a Write at Home mom. I recently gave birth to a wonderful little boy, and I have a soon-to-be 8 year old diva who keep me pretty busy. In the few free moments I have during the day, (between making breakfasts, lunches, dinners, making the school runs, doing homework, and herding the kids toward the bath and bed) I try to work on my craft. I love to write. When I can’t find the time during the day, I use the peaceful time when my family is sleeping to get some writing done. I can often be found up very late into the evening/early morning working on stories.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Don’t really know how interesting it is, but I have to have background music on when I write. Nothing really “official” like a specific playlist, but I need music to help me set the tone of what I’m working on. For example, if I am writing an action scene, I need to have really fast paced and hard beating music on, however, when I am writing a love scene, I need softer, more melodic pieces playing.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Oddly enough, a veterinarian. I love animals. What stopped me from actually becoming one was knowing I would have to do good and bad being a vet. No one wants to put an animal to sleep. I knew I would never be able to do it, even if it was for the best. So I couldn’t be a vet.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Just my sincerest thanks and appreciation for taking the time to read this interview today. I hope you’ll take a look at my work and perhaps Go Publish Yourself! will help you on the road to seeing your own works in print someday. 

Readers, feel free to learn more about Katie by visiting her other tour stops, connecting with her on Facebook, following her on Twitter, or you can read more about her book. 

Interview with author Sharolyn Wells

Please welcome novelist Sharolyn Wells to Reviews and Interviews. She's here to talk about her sci-fi novel Plymouth Colony II available through Desert Breeze Publishing.

Bio:
Sharolyn Wells was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She is the eldest daughter of Bill and Zelda Atchison. Sharolyn is married to her best friend Phillip. Together they have five children and five grandchildren – two of whom live with them along with their parents.

Please tell us about your current release, Plymouth Colony II.
There is no Plymouth Colony I. The first Plymouth Colony is the one in Massachusetts in 1620. :)

In 2048, a flotilla of twelve alien ships arrives on Earth. Two years later, astronomers discover a gigantic meteor shower headed for Earth. Over a dozen of them are as large as the one that ended the Age of the Dinosaurs. The aliens, who call themselves the Kelkani, propose a world-wide lottery that will remove 100,000 young people from Earth. Teris Keyes, a Canadian doctor-in-training, is among the Selected, along with her younger brother Eric. They arrive on Kelkan and told the other reason they were brought there. The Kelkani are a dying race and the humans from Earth will help restore the empire to its former glory. But there is a group on Kelkan called the Elite. Their leader, Raetin Dare, doesn’t want the Human Contagion to integrate with the Kelkani. He will do anything within his power to make sure they aren’t integrated, even if it means killing the emperor.

What inspired you to write this book?
I’m not sure. I’ve always loved a good science fiction novel. Sometimes, my ideas just spring fully-formed into my mind. I think that’s what I wanted with Plymouth Colony II. Just a good science fiction story. With the requisite bad guys and good guys.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I have always loved the old Gothic romances of Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart. I always hated the fact that the “ghost” usually ended up being someone to scare the heroine away. I wanted to write a paranormal (what used to be called Gothic) romance where the ghost was real. The title of the novel is Ghost of Killough Castle.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When someone other than my sister read one of my stories and liked it.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
My husband and I are retired (he’s 63 and physically handicapped. I’ll be 60 soon). We’re stay at home people. Give us a good book or an exciting television series and we’re parked in the living room watching it.

Our “love” right now is the new TNT series “Falling Skies”. I write full time, but I do other things as well. My mother and a dear friend of mine taught me to crochet when I was younger. I finished a baby blanket for my youngest granddaughter, a Queen-sized blanker for my daughter and son in law’s bed, and now I’m working on a large blanket for my oldest granddaughter. :-D She won’t keep her hands off her sister’s blanket so I thought I might as well make her one as well.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have to have music when I write. If it’s too quiet, I can think about a hundred things I need to be doing other than writing. Like housework, or changing diapers on the granddaughters.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
My two biggest wishes to be: A stewardess (before they became flight attendants). Just thinking about all that travel was exciting to me. And I wanted to be a lawyer. I know, weird right?

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Enjoy the story!

Thank you for being here, Sharolyn. Keep on writing!

Virtual tour stop and interview with historical novelist Sue Perkins

Sue Perkins, welcome to Reviews and Interviews! I'm happy to be hosting you as you travel through cyberspace on a Goddess Fish book tour this week for your newest book, Blitz, which just released yesterday through Desert Breeze Publishing.

Let's have a little fun and get to know you.

Please describe yourself in six words or less.
Persistent, enthusiastic, creative, loyal, honest and a big softie.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I went to creative writing classes in 1990. I had characters and a plot and intended to write a short story. My creative writing teacher had other ideas and convinced me to write a romance novel. At the end of the final draft I printed and posted the manuscript, then carried on with the next idea. This is when I considered myself a writer. The novel didn’t get published and in hindsight I can see why, I was a very immature writer at that stage. The fact I had finished the manuscript made me feel I had found my niche and could call myself a writer.

Please tell us about Blitz.
This is my first attempt at historical romance. The idea for the book came from my parents own romance and the horrors they went through during World War II. Blitz is fictional, but draws a lot on Mum and Dad’s experiences. They lived in Plymouth, Devon and the city was hit quite badly by German bombers during March and April 1941. My story tells of Velma and Jack and how their lives were changed by the war. Instead of a peaceful courtship followed by a white wedding, they were rushed along into an unknown future. Their white wedding had to be cancelled at the last moment. Velma then had to decide if she would let Jack go off to war a single man, or would she marry in a registry office without family or friends to support her?

It is the 70th Anniversary of the blitz this year. The people of Plymouth are holding exhibitions and remembrance services for those who died and those who survived this horrible time.

Which character was the most challenging to write and why?
Both Jack and Velma were challenging. Mainly because they reminded me of my parents. I think Velma was a slightly more complex character. Her story is mainly set in Plymouth which made it difficult to separate truth from fiction. I wanted to make Velma a carefree young woman who fell in love and then had to fight her family to be recognised as an adult. It’s a very thin line between angry young woman and a deterimined adult. I believe Velma’s character changed the most as the book progressed. She had so much to prove to both family and Jack.

Your two previous books Three Hearts and Broken Heart are contemporary romances. What inspired you to write historical romance? Do you prefer one genre over the other?

I like writing romance, but Blitz kept nudging to be told. I first suggested it to my sister who showed a great enthusiasm for telling our parents story. I had to caution that this would be a fictional account, but she still thought it a good idea. I hadn’t had to do so much research before when writing a novel, but somehow it came naturally. Probably because I researched my home town and things I’d learned as I grew up.

There are so many pitfalls in a historical. Not only the obvious of when something took place. There’s also the “did they have this in 1940” and “were those words in use then” questions. On the whole I think I prefer contemporary romance.

If you could trade places with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
Velma. Despite the chaos and upheaval she suffered, she remained a loving woman who would do anything to help anybody. She thought of others before herself and this made her an endearing character.

How do you deal with writer’s block?
I don’t think of it as writer’s block. A lapse of story is my description. If I don’t know what happens next, I usually know what happens in the following chapters. I hop ahead to this part of the story and write from there. Usually by the end of the book I know what fills in the gap so there isn’t really a block. As for new books I have far too many ideas in my head to suffer from lack of plot.

What was the last amazing book that you read?
In the Manor of the Ghost by Tina Pinson. I’ve only recently finished it. A truly stunning story. I love a book that holds my attention so I need to keep going back to it to find out what happens next. Also a book which doesn’t give all the answers until the last page.

Ms Pinson’s book meets all this criteria. The story concerns a young woman who enters a marriage of convenience to give a young child love and stability and to help him learn to talk again. Her love for the child grows to encompass love for the father, but the Manor they live in has many secrets. The story twists and turns but at no time do you lose sight of the main plot. A truly wonderful book.

Other than writing, what are some of your passions in life?
Most of my passions in life I have to struggle to find time for. Genealogy, or family history, is one passion. I got hooked on it years ago, but it’s taken a back step since my first book was published as I have so much to do re writing and promoting. I love computer graphics and also do Zumba to keep myself fit.

What can readers expect next from you?
The next two books to be released will be Middle Grade fantasy books. The first, Spirit Stealer, is due out in October. It concerns a young boy shut in a library after dark. He finds things he didn’t expect and to save himself he must escape before midnight.

The second one, Reva’s Quest. is due out in January 2012. Reva arrives in a strange, magical land. To return home she must help the people of the land to rid themselves of evil.

Thank you Lisa for this interview. I enjoyed finding out more about myself as I answered your questions.

Thanks for being here, Sue! And I know some people will visit your web site and your blog in the coming days. Best of luck with the tour!