Valentine's Day Guest Author: Taige Crenshaw

Happy Valentine's Day! Today I am pleased to welcome Guest Author Taige Crenshaw, here to discuss her latest release, Power of Attraction.


1. What inspired you to begin writing?




Writing has been in my blood and soul forever. For as long as I can remember I’ve always been an avid reader and a writer. When I was a child I used to make up my own stories and share them with my family and friends. As I got older I continued to write. When I went to college I started getting more information on actually writing professionally. I joined some writing organization and started to learn my craft.

2. What was the inspiration behind the characters in your most recent release?



Power of Attraction features Peyton and Wesley who are two complex characters who have so much to face. Their story was inspired by legacies and what happens when you have to face such things.


3. Which character did you have the most fun writing in this story?



They both were.



Peyton Blackstone is a natural born witch who has to face her family legacy, destiny, and a prophecy that could mean her end. When she meets this man she is taken with him but he has some hidden shadows. He has some things he must face. When they find out what it complicates an already tenuous situation.



Wesley McCarty is a man on edge. He thinks he is losing his mind. With unexplained blackouts and mysterious absences he doesn’t know what is ging on. Meeting Peyton he thinks she is an illusion but when he realizes she is very much real he won’t let anything stand in his way to make her his. No matter what he must face he will. But what happens when his own problems come front and center. He is shaken. His beliefs shattered. Can he look past all he learns before it is too late.



There is so much riding on the outcome of what they do.



4. What originally drew you to the paranormal/ dark fantasy genre?



I’ve always been drawn to the what if. What if’s that can happen in the world. I love taking the normal world and making it more. It is fun bring creating worlds.



5. Do you have any favorite paranormal-themed films or TV shows?



I have too many films and TV shows to list.


6. What literary projects can we expect from you in the future?



Indigo Rain, book 1 in my Phoenix Intelligence Agency will be released on March 14, 2011.



I’ve submitted Power of Instinct book 2 in the Blackstone Haven series. Started working on 3rd book in the Blackstone Haven series. And 2nd book in the Phoenix Intelligence Agency. I’m working on some joint projects. There are a few surprises I have in store for the series. I’m also self editing some books in my series that I have at various publishers. It is going to be a sizzling and busy year. LOL.



Here are some places you can find me on the web.



My Website: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/



My Blog - http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog



Chat Group ~ Crenshaw Café - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crenshawcafe



To sign up for my Newsletter ~ http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/newsletterandgroups.shtml



To email me: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/contact.shtml

Satin Notes (Free Reads): http://www.satinnotes.com



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Taige Crenshaw is a multi-published author with books available at Ellora's Cave Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, Loose Id, and Total-E-Bound. Taige has been enthralled with the written word from time she picked up her first book. It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance. With novels set in today, in alternate dimensions, or in the future she writes with adventure, fun sassy heroines, and sexy heroes. Always hard at work creating new and exciting places Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun, frolic, interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels. You can find out more about Taige at her website: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com or blog: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog.

About the Book:

Power of Attraction

(http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/books/eseries/powerofattraction.htm) - A woman whose destiny has been ordained from birth meets the man who has been prophesied for her--but there is more to him than meets the eye. With prophecies and legacies to fulfill, which way will she go: to a man who may be possibly her mate, or to a dark legacy that could take her life.

Buy Here - (http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1061) at Total-E-Bound.

Guest Author Christa Paige

I am pleased to welcome guest author Christa Paige, here to discuss her latest book, Bound By Rebellion.


1. What inspired you to begin writing?


Originally, I spent most of my time as a critique partner for a few authors who were in the publishing process. I loved finding plot holes and word repeats; it felt like I was making a difference. At a point when I'd finished with a specific proof-reading, the author had found an agent. In her enthusiasm, she suggested I try my hand at fiction, as well. The first Blood-Vine novel came about after a lot of nudging and support from my writing community. I'm so glad they prodded me to write my own books.



2. What was the inspiration behind the characters in your most recent release Bound By Rebellion?


In the second book of my paranormal romance series, Bound By Rebellion, Katiya and Lucas were my way of getting around the mating rules I had written in the first book. During the debut novel, it is explained that most females will be innocent on their mating nights. I wanted to write a character who had already been active with her lover. At the closing chapter of Bound By Deception, I realized that a reconciliation plot would be enjoyable to try out. From there, I became Luke's champion, writing the story about how he wins his estranged mate back. As their story unfolded though, I realized that Kat and Luke had much more going on than a simple argument. I wanted Luke to learn what it meant to love his mate unconditionally. In the end, Kat had to learn the same thing about Luke. True love weathers the storms of life and makes it through to the other side.




3. Which character did you have the most fun writing in this story?



There is only a little glimpse of Mikhail in Luke and Katiya's story. But, he is so irreverent and full of charisma that he practically jumps off the page. On top of that, writing Luke was a total blast. He is hot-headed, possessive, and completely unabashed. He will stop at nothing to win his female back into his arms. The lengths he is willing to go through to do that shows, well, that he is just one bold, strong-willed male.



4. What originally drew you to the paranormal/dark fantasy genre?



I have an affinity for bonded mates and stories that have an emphasis on possessive, alpha-male heroes. Nothing strikes me as more primal than a paranormal male who is in pursuit of his female. That trope is something I am drawn to and can't say ‘no’ to whenever a new release or series comes out. I wanted to write my version of the bonding between supernatural people, and adding fangs to them just felt, right.





5. Do you have any favorite paranormal-themed films or TV shows?



I'm a complete J.R.Ward, Black -Dagger-Brotherhood fan, as well as Lara Adrian's Midnight Breeds. I don't watch very much television, but a few of the True Blood episodes that focused on Sookie and Eric were quite fun to watch. I did enjoy Moonlight when it was on CBS, but it is quite ironic that I'm more of Sci-fi television watcher, when I do sit down to catch a series, because I haven’t read that genre at all.





6. What literary projects can we expect from you in the future?



Right now, I am completing the third in the Blood-Vine series. The working title is called Bound By Obsession. For anyone who has already read my first two books, this is Traian's novel. It is also my first full-length paranormal romance. Another one is almost done as well, so I am hoping for two Blood-Vine releases in 2011. I'm also working on a Regency Paranormal based in Greece and featuring the Roman Pantheon. My Kissin' Cops series, which is a contemporary erotic romance based on Los Angeles County detectives, will have another release coming up as well. There are a few side-projects I have been writing that I can't wait to share with everyone. All I can say is, they are quite sensual and naughty.





Thanks for having me on your blog, Danielle.

Find Christa Online:

www.christapaige.com

Twitter@christapaige

Buy BOUND BY REBELLION

Gues Author Sandra Sookoo

I am pleased to welcome guest author Sandra Sookoo to The Angel's Gate, discussing her latest release, Changing Tides.

1. What inspired you to begin writing?




The love of it, first of all. I love putting strings of words together, weaving paragraphs into a story that makes a reader feel along with the characters. Nothing says escape better than a good book.





2. What was the inspiration behind the characters in your most recent release Changing Tides?



Changing Tides (a Strange Hollow tale) will release from Liquid Silver Books on October 25th. I wanted to do something different with this piece and I knew I wanted it to center around water. So, what better pairing than to have a latent water dragon and a water sprite who’s afraid of water?





3. Which character did you have the most fun writing in this story?



That’s a hard one! I loved writing both Neadra and Caelan. They both have very strong reasons for being so I guess I can’t pick one over the other.





4. What originally drew you to the paranormal/ dark fantasy genre?



The mysterious, unknown element. I love writing about the relationships between men and women but once the added note of a paranormal “issue” comes into play, it’s a whole new game and an additional element that the characters will either need to overcome or accept.





5. Do you have any favorite paranormal-themed films or TV shows?



Right now, I adore Warehouse 13 (I don’t know that it’s considered paranormal though) I never got into the whole Twilight franchise or Trueblood. I’ve never been much of a follower LOL So, I guess I don’t really watch paranormal-themed shows LOL





6. What literary projects can we expect from you in the future?



I’m always working on something! In the coming months I plan to work on a funny contemporary/paranormal novella and to do a hot historical. Then it’s back to “serious” business of finishing a full length historical to shop around to agents. There’s always something to do!



Blurb and excerpt:



Blurb:



Born of water.



Neadra is an Undine, yet the thought of being in any body of water besides her bathtub terrifies her. In Strange Hollow, she lives on the side a the mountain, content and out of harm’s way, even as she yearns to be understood for her fears and loved in spite of them.



Drawn to water.



Caelan, a water dragon from the wilds of Ireland, has been shunned by his clan for his inability to shift and terrorize. Lonely for too long, he meets Neadra one moonlit night and becomes enchanted by her kindness and her unique beauty, but how could anyone love him if he has no heroic ability whatsoever?



Threatened by water.



When late spring rains, coupled with warm temperatures, melt much of the snow pack on Mt. Mitchell, a flood sweeps through the outskirts of Strange Hollow, putting Neadra’s life in danger. Caelan fights his way to get to her, pulling out the hero he never thought he could be while she, in turn, works through her fears to find him. Only through acceptance of the world around them and of each other will they find the life they’ve always wanted.



Excerpt:

Watching the moon’s reflection on the lake surface, two glowing blue objects caught her attention. Neadra narrowed her eyes, straining forward. It was too early in the season for amphibian life and the orbs were too large to belong to a snake or fish. In the space of a heartbeat, they vanished. Relief swept through her body. She didn’t want to encounter some of the more fierce wildlife rumored to live around the mountain.

As suddenly as they disappeared, the blue objects came back into view, almost staring at her with weird, electric light. She shivered and pulled her feet beneath her, out of the water. Were they eyes? How was it possible? If an Undine didn’t want to be seen, no one except another water sprite could see them--unless she failed at the camouflage aspect of her culture as well. She’d never had an opportunity to test the theory.

The eyes came closer, confirming the fact the objects belonged to something. Her pulse steadily increased until it drummed out a frantic rhythm. Too fascinated to move, she watched as it closed the distance, only ten feet from the shore and her.

Threads of nameless anticipation slid over her skin, invoking goose bumps, but she felt no fear. Five feet of dark water separated her from whatever lurked beneath the surface. Her throat went dry as she wondered what kind of being it was.

With the smooth movements of someone accustomed to spending time in and around water, the placid scene shimmered. The top of a male head appeared, bobbed for an instant, his gaze never breaking eye contact with her, and he swam forward. The closer he got, the more of his body was revealed until he stood, dripping, on the shore near her.

For a few seconds, Neadra forgot how to breathe as she stared at the naked form of the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. She gasped and realized beautiful was not nearly an appropriate way to describe this particular male. He was at least six feet tall, and she had to tip her head back in order to properly take him all in. Black, coarse hair sprinkled his winter-pale skin, and as he lifted his hands to slick his thick, black hair from his face, the muscles in his broad chest rippled.

Unable to breathe without sounding like a dog in heat, Neadra licked her lips as her gaze moved from his clean-shaven, square jaw, over wide shoulders, thick from daily gym visits or hard labor, and down along his torso, following the sensual black ribbon of hair past washboard abs to his partially erect penis.

“Wow.” She’d barely forced the word out when her sex contracted with a strong aching need and she had to squeeze her thighs together to stave off the sensations. Quickly snapping her gaze to his face, she sought to distract herself from his body--except his brilliant eyes caused havoc with her insides. She felt an insane desire to trace the strong lines of his face, run her fingers over his jaw, and feel his lips against hers. “Wow.”

The man smiled. The ordinary action lit his face into a softer version, twinkling his eyes and causing gentle creases to appear at the sides of his mouth and across his forehead, as if he indulged in grinning often. “It’s not often I get such a reaction from the ladies, especially not one as pretty as you. I’m Caelan Burke.”

Neadra melted a tiny bit further at the slight Irish accent in his baritone voice. “Hi.” At a disadvantage from her position on the ground, not to mention the tempting distraction of his naughty bits at eye level, she struggled to her feet. The small pebbles that made up the shore cut into the soles, but she barely noticed as she held out her hand. “My name is Neadra.”

When she moved forward to shake the hand he offered, her toes tangled into the hem of her long skirt and she stumbled, taking a few unsteady steps backward and teetering into the lake with a resounding splash.

Book video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D_rDgGd8xA


Publisher’s website: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com


Drop by my website http://www.sandrasookoo.com for information on all my books and connect with me on social networking sites.