I have a new guest author this week – the wonderful Debra Holland! She’s here to talk about the first book in her series and share an excerpt!

But first, here’s a little more about historical and fantasy romance author Debra Holland…

Author Bio

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Debra Holland is a three-time Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist and one time winner. She is the author of The Montana Sky Series, sweet, historical Western romances and The Gods’ Dream Trilogy, fantasy romance. In February, 2013, Amazon selected Starry Montana Sky as a top 50 Greaters Love Story pick.

Debra has written a nonfiction book, The Essential Guide to Grief and Grieving from Alpha Books (a subsidiary of Penguin). Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free ebooklet on her website, http://drdebraholland.com: 58 Tips for Getting What You Want From a Difficult Conversation

Links

My Website : http://drdebraholland.com/
Blogging At : http://drdebraholland.blogspot.ca/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/drdebraholland
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Debra-Holland/100000627753221
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/916172.Debra_Holland
Author Info: http://www.amazon.com/Debra-Holland/e/B004XXKZH8

The book is Sower of Dreams, Book One in The Gods Dream Trilogy

Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B005FA30V6

Sower of Dreams
Debra Holland

A Fantasy Romance Endorsed by Andre Norton, The Grand Dame of Science Fiction and Fantasy. “Desert and sea both provide vivid backgrounds for action and real emotion in Sower of Dreams–outstanding and well-presented fantasy, which will keep the book in one’s hands, eyes on the page–a GOOD READ.”

“Debra Holland brings together a warrior princess in a desperate fight for her life and a modern-day hero who’s fleeing his murderous half-brother. Under two moons, they meet with passion, inner strength and a sixth sense that adds yet another dimension to their world.” Jacqueline Diamond

“Very well written and great fantasy romance book that kept me reading the entire book in one sitting…. I give this book 5 out of 5.” Geeky Girl Reviews

“I really, REALLY enjoyed this novel… This story is one for science fiction and fantasy lovers as well as romance lovers. The world is rich and the characters are deep and lovable. It’s a very refreshing read.” Paperbacks and Frosting Reviews

Overview of Sower of Dreams:

A kingdom invaded.
A warrior princess on the run for her life.
A hero from another world.
An evil god who wants their souls.

Can they join forces to defeat the evil one and win freedom for their people?

“Sower of Dreams is a richly colored tapestry of fantasy that bridges from our ordinary world into an amazing other world where love and duty collide. Her characters have warmth and depth that echoes the underlying philosophy of all Debra Holland’s books, whether fantasy or historical. Now I must have the sequel. Now!” Nadele Jacobs

“The author’s writing is so descriptive you feel like you can see the places in your mind…. I want to thank the author for turning a non fantasy reader into a fan. The book had mild violence, romance and some suspense. It was exciting from beginning to end. I can’t wait to read the others.” Linda Tonis, Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer

“I just finished this book in one day and I enjoyed it immensely. It wasn’t complicated to follow as some sci-fi books tend to be, and I was fully immersed in this new world. The characters are compelling as well as their trials. I’m starting book 2 now and all I can say is I hope Debra has book three ready by tomorrow.” Donna Renteria

Excerpt

Dream threads wrapped around Daria, tugging her away from Seagem to an unfamiliar place.

She stood on a hilly desert, gritty beige sand under her bare feet. Overhead, a yellow sun blazed in an arching azure sky.

The starkness of the color dried the air from her lungs, making her lightheaded.

Daria fought the dizziness. Where is this place? What am I doing here?

She’d curbed herself of dream walking without the presence of Yadarius, ever since Indaran’s death. Somehow, her blocks must have slipped.

Trepidation, like cold fingers, clutched her stomach, chilling her in spite of the blistering heat.
Continue reading →

I have a new guest author this week – the wonderful Will Belegon! He’s here to talk about his latest book, Real Vampires Don’t Surf, and share some the challenges of writing in the paranormal romance genre. I’ll hand things over to him now…

In the crowded world of paranormal romance, it seems the Everest of arrogance to claim that any writers work is unique.

When Anne Rice first drew me into the nocturnal world of the vampire, almost thirty years ago, the night dwelling population was blessed with far more elbow room.  Back in those sparsely populated evenings of the eighties, Dracula rubbed elbows with Lestat and Barnabas Collins and… well, that was about all I can remember.

Now, those streets are busy indeed.  Not just with vamps, either.  Fae, shapeshifters, witches and warlocks.  Ghosts and demons share forbidden love with angels and zombies.  It’s a veritable smorgasbord of cross-genre courting.

So why would I write a novel about a vampire and a surfer girl now, when it is all but guaranteed to fall between the cracks and languish in obscurity? I wish I could say.  Especially considering that I started it almost six years ago, at a time when the chances of it being noticed were much greater.  The competition out there now is pretty intense, including that presented by my gracious host.

Real Vampires Don’t Surf isn’t my first venture into the paranormal, but it is the first time I’ve written a story involving the most recognizable of sensual predators, the vampire.  A creature far more intimately linked to our fear and fascination with sex than the werewolf or the sidhe.

I’ll climb that aforementioned mountain and say I do feel that my take on the genre has its share of unique perspectives, although I am sure if I actively hunted them down I could find other magical beings with similar trappings.

I finished this novel now because my characters made me.  I couldn’t not write it, not and stay sane.  Jess and Leah and the men around them pushed me out of bed each morning and made me speed home from work each night, made me find moments when I could listen to them and get their words onto the electronic page.   They made me stay up late and drink entirely inappropriate amounts of caffeine at times when I should have been sleeping.  The result was a novel I’m proud to have written and a sequel that is already in the works and certainly is not going to take six years to finish.

It’s a story of love discovered and lives changed. A very human story with a cast that is not entirely so.  It also has danger and death, intrigue and mystery and more than a little good old fashioned libido.  I hope that tickles your curiosity.  And if it doesn’t. might I suggest something by the talented Felicity Heaton?  After all, it’s her blog your reading right now, not mine.

Why? What is it about the extremes of existence that so captivates us?  Perhaps it is the very fact that we are reaching extremes.  Science fiction writers of the fifties used themes of alien invasion to address race relations and the fear of species mortality brought on by nuclear arsenals primed to fly at the banging of a shoe on a desk.  Perhaps our obsession with love among the magically inclined is a similar diversion.  Perhaps by exploring love between werewolf and fairy, human and vampire, we can tell truths that are actually about ending the limits society places on love.

Real Vampires Don’t Surf
 by Will Belegon

Two men. One night. Jess Blue’s life will never be the same. The feisty California surfer girl finds herself in a dangerous world of magic, romance, and intrigue. A world in which former Navy SEALs, Russian businessmen, street racers, and ancient orders of chivalry all weave her new reality.

Buy Link: http://purpleprosaic.dreamhosters.com/books/RVDS.htm

Author Bio

Will Belegon is an author/editor of erotic and romantic novellas and short stories. His primary publisher is Phaze, but he also has work available from Charles River Press and eXessica. His poetry has appeared at Oysters & Chocolate and Clean Sheets. He has read his work to nightclub audiences in New York City or to an audience of four at one a.m. in San Diego. He is always working on something new. Unfortunately, it is not always after finishing something else, thus the constant growth of his Work In Process file. His most recent release with co-author Alessia Brio is At Last, a tale of a chance meeting on a historic day. In addition, he writes about the Chargers and Padres, coaches Little League and gets constantly manipulated by his two reasons for being, his children.

Links

Blog: http://willbelegon.blogspot.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/will.belegon

Twitter: http://twitter.com/will_belegon

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/willbelegon/

Google+: http://plus.google.com/u/0/s/will%20belegon

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1000977.Will_Belegon

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/belegon