Guest Blogger – Sheila Stewart

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Sheila Stewart to my blog…

Price: $6.99
Genre: Paranormal Dark Fantasy
Length: 56,694 words

Embracing The Darkness
Sheila Stewart

One upon a time Jonah Moore had it all. Then his wife and unborn child were taken from him, leaving his life darker than when Chaos and his evil vamps stole the sun. Now, Jonahs lost the will to face another day, which could be a problem, considering he’s just been turned into a vampire and is now destined to live for eternity.

As a nurse, Raven Moony was used to tending to the needs of others. Until an accident changes everything… When she is abducted and forced to tend to Chaos’ needs, she is more than ready to give in and willingly accepts her role as his slave.

Then Jonah enters the picture and she finds herself fighting for his safety and freedom as well as her own. Can she convince Jonah he should go on despite her own doubts? Can they open their hearts to love and learn that there is indeed life after death?

Shiela Stewart’s third novel in The Darkness series continues the heart stopping, action packed battle of light against dark. Enter a world where light shines from within and love always triumphs…even in the face of pure evil.

Tell us a little about your story.
Embracing the Darkness is the third book in my Darkness series and takes place after the sun has been blotted out over Jacob’s Cove. In this third installment, Trinity, Basil, Dante and Gypsy are not only in search of their nemesis, Chaos, but trying to find out where he’s taken one of their friends, Jonah Moore. Each book in the series is a continuation of the first book, Seducing the Darkness. You really do need to read them in the order they’ve been written to get the whole story. But for now, I’ll give you the summary of what Embracing the Darkness is about.

One upon a time Jonah Moore had it all. Then his wife and unborn child were taken from him, leaving his life darker than when Chaos and his evil vamps stole the sun. Now, Jonahs lost the will to face another day, which could be a problem, considering he’s just been turned into a vampire and is now destined to live for eternity.

As a nurse, Raven Moony was used to tending to the needs of others. Until an accident changes everything… When she is abducted and forced to tend to Chaos’ needs, she is more than ready to give in and willingly accepts her role as his slave.

Then Jonah enters the picture and she finds herself fighting for his safety and freedom as well as her own. Can she convince Jonah he should go on despite her own doubts? Can they open their hearts to love and learn that there is indeed life after death?

Shiela Stewart’s third novel in The Darkness series continues the heart stopping, action packed battle of light against dark. Enter a world where light shines from within and love always triumphs…even in the face of pure evil.

What is it you relate to most with your heroine or hero? What do you like about them most?
Hmmm….good question. I guess the one thing I relate to the most with my hero would be his disability. While on a drive into the city, Jonah, his wife, Ariel, Dante and Gypsy are attacked and run off the road which leaves Jonah paralyzed from waist down.

When I was thirteen I was involved in an accident that damaged my neck. Lucky for me I wasn’t paralyzed, but because I wasn’t given the proper treatment after sustaining the neck injury I’ve spent the rest of my life in pain. I am unable to lift or move heavy objects and as time goes on, the injury gets worse and I find even simple tasks like vacuuming to be painful. On top of that I suffer from migraines which anyone who suffers from this debilitating disease knows is a big challenge. The constant pain from my shoulder and the weekly migraines are a challenge, but being a stubborn woman, I persevere.

What do I like most about my heroine, Gypsy Dawn? Her attitude towards life and her joy of it. She’s had some hardships in her life, but she hasn’t let them get her down. She is a carefree woman and she doesn’t care what others think about her. I think more of us need to have that sort of attitude, including myself. It’s all too easy to let things get us down but it’s our choice to let it win, or to fight back.

How did you get started in writing?
I was born a writer. So many authors say that, I know, but it’s the truth for me. As far back as I can remember I loved to tell tales. I would regale my friends and cousins at as early an age as five with stories I would make up inside my head. As I grew older, the stories became more elaborate and I would sit for hours in my bedroom jotting them down. Poetry was also one of my loves as a youth and teenager. In them I could pour my heart out and express what I was feeling. My nickname in elementary school was The Dreamer because I would be immersed in the stories inside my head more often than I would pay attention in school. Plus, I would confide in my friends, dreams I would have that often involved them.

Once my children came around I found my time very limited so my writing took a backseat. But I didn’t stop dreaming about stories, or telling them. When my children were young I would tell them bedtime stories that I would make up on the spur of the moment. When my oldest son found one story especially entertaining, and asked me to tell it to him night after night, I decided to write it down in a book form complete with illustrations for him to learn to read from. It’s unfortunate that that little booklet got destroyed and even more unfortunate that I didn’t have another copy.

After one particularly gruesome dream I had, my husband encouraged me to write it down. What should have been a simple few sentences turned into a 80,000 word story. The moment I sat down and put pen to paper, the story from my dream just began to flow. From that day on, I continued to write. I now have eight books published. So…I would have to say it pays to daydream. J

What’s your schedule like, and what do you enjoy doing in your time off?
Time off?? What’s that? Seriously. I don’t have time off, well, not much of it at least. I am in serious need of a vacation and I think the only way that is going to happen is if my husband knocks me out and drags me off somewhere. LOL

My schedule is crazy and I really need to figure out a way to compartmentalize it all. On top of my writing I maintain my own website and blogs, plus I run websites and blogs for other organizations and authors. I also critique other authors work which gives me an inside look into some really great stories which also inspires me to keep writing. While doing all these jobs I also have three children, ages 13, 16 and 20 who keep me hoping. But I’m fortunate enough to be able to write all day long, which not a lot of authors can do.

Right now I have two books on the go with deadlines quickly approaching.

What I do when I finally have some time off is spend it with my hubby and kids. I love walks in the evening with my husband or just sitting and watching a movie together. I also enjoy drawing, painting and knitting as well as playing with my black lab dog, Bella and my five cats.

Where can readers find out more about your stories?
Readers can learn all there is about Shiela Stewart (or at least most of who I am) and my books on my website at www.shielabooks.ca as well as on my blog at http://darkcravings.blogspot.com/ All my books are available in both eBook and in Print. To place and order for my books the readers can go to www.lindenbayromance.com
I also have a Newsletter that anyone is welcome to join and to do so simply email me at shielas@shaw.ca with Newsletter in the subject line.

Sneak peek:
There was blood, all around him, pools of it, teasing him, calling to him, and all he wanted was to drink it. Yet the closer he got to it, the further it was away. The scent of it, like strong copper, filled his nostrils and tantalized his tastebuds.

He wanted it more than life itself.

Bolting awake, Jonah stared wide eyed into the room. Every part of him hurt.

“Jonah? Are you okay?”

He could smell her as if she were beside him. Her scent, her blood, called to him. “Stay away from me!” He felt his teeth ache and the urge to take grew tenfold.

“What’s the matter? Do you have another cramp?”

“No! Please, stay away from me.” Then she stepped up beside him and all he could think was take. He could hear her blood rushing through her veins, her heart as it pounded in her chest. With each whoosh his body responded.

“Please, just stay away from me.”

She clicked the light on over his bed and it was all he could do not to lunge at her and bite that supple vein at the side of her neck. “For God’s sake, Raven. Get lost!”

She stopped, tilted her head, then laid her hand on his head. “You need to feed.”

“Just leave me alone. Please. I beg of you.” If he could run away from her right now, he would.

“This won’t get any better unless you give your body what it wants. Here, drink.” She thrust her wrist out to him.

He slapped it away. “No!”

“What you’re feeling right now will only become more intense the longer you wait. Just take my vein and drink. I’ll be fine. I’ve done this before.”

He pushed her aside, then rolled himself off the bed. He fell with a thud onto the cold tiled floor but the pain was nothing compared to what he felt inside. It was more intense than anything he’d ever felt before. It felt like fire ants were clawing through his veins, his mouth was so dry his lips stuck to his teeth and his head…all he heard in his head was the whooshing of her blood pumping through her veins.

It was going to drive him insane.

“Take it, Jonah,” she demanded, falling down beside him on the floor.

“I won’t drink from you.” He’d rather die.

“If you don’t drink now, Jonah, you’ll go insane and I refuse to let that happen.” She jumped up onto the bed and when she came back down, she had the knife in her hands.

“Now, drink.” She slid it across her arm by her elbow then thrust it out at him.

“Stop it! What have you done?” But the blood, so red, so thick, so…juicy, called to him.

“I can stitch myself up after. Just drink.”

“Please don’t make me do this,” he pleaded.

“I have to.” She grabbed his head and thrust her arm to his mouth.