BLACK FRIDAY BLOG HOP

It's great to be part of the Black Friday Blog Hop! Thanks so much to Carrie Ann Ryan for organizing this wonderful event! I hope that all of your shopping ventures were successful today. Be sure to enter my Rafflecopter giveaway for an Avon Foot Works Pomegranate Chocolate Collection Gift Set so that you can pamper your tired tootsies this holiday season and leave a comment below so that you'll have a chance to win one of the three Black Friday Blog Hop Grand Prizes!

I've been thinking about Pilar Alvarez, the heroine of my Chick Lit novel In Need of Therapy, and wondering how she'd handle the craziest shopping day of the year. Pilar's a psychologist, so she's got a lot of patience and is used to dealing with people in a heightened state of emotion, so I don't think she'd be daunted by the Black Friday crowds at Dolphin Mall, the largest shopping mecca in Miami. In fact, she'd probably end up mediating fights between overzealous bargain hunters at the sales display tables in Bloomie's! Pilar's the type of person who'd put a lot of thought into getting the perfect gift for everyone on her list, but what would her nearest and dearest buy her for Christmas?

Ana Alvarez Castaneira - Ana is Pilar's older sister. She's a frazzled mom of three who's married to a lawyer, so she's a bit conservative and will only buy the priciest name-brand items as befits a woman of her status. She'd purchase a chic, yet practical, gift for Pilar, something her sister could use every day, like the Embossed Croc Skinny Wallet by Coach (in a sensible, neutral color, of course.)

Luisa Alvarez aka Mamá - Like all good Cuban mothers, Luisa's one goal in life is to see her daughters married off to attractive, prosperous men. Ana's already taken care of, so now Luisa is focused on getting her middle child down the aisle. To that end, she would call her travel agent and have him book Pilar a ticket on the Carnival New Year's Bash Singles Cruise. If Pilar was trapped on a boat with hundreds of eligible men for a week, surely she could find one who'd be willing to marry her, right?

Sara Reade - Sara has been Pilar's BFF since college, and no one knows her better. A bathing suit designer by trade, Ms. Reade likes to get creative with her gifts, plus use all of her contacts in the fashion world to snag designer goodies at cost. Since Sara is always encouraging Pilar to have some fun, she'd put together a Girls' Night Out gift basket for her bestie, which would include a sexy pair of shoes for dancing at the clubs (Louboutin's No Privé 120 slingback pumps in playful pink), a bottle of Oh, Lola - the flirty fragrance by Marc Jacobs, a limo service voucher (No drinking and driving!), a bottle of good red wine, some wine goblets that have "Sexy and Single" emblazoned on them, lipsticks by MAC in sassy shades like Lady Danger and Love Goddess, and last but most certainly not least, a hottie alert whistle (Every girl should have one!)

   

  

Jonathan Fordham aka Ford - Pilar's colleague, sounding board, and sometime lunch sharer. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to give her anything too personal as they haven't known each other that long, but he'd want to acknowledge their friendship. So, he'd give Pilar something humorous and work-related, like a Tickle Me Freud that she could sit on her desk and squeeze whenever she needed a laugh (Shrinks get stressed out, too!)

Victor Liscano - Pilar's obnoxiously persistent ex-boyfriend, who keeps trying to win her back with over-the-top displays of his affection, would consider the holidays to be the perfect opportunity to impress Pilar with his generosity and thoughtfulness. She'd wake on Christmas morning to find a brand new convertible BMW in her driveway (in red, of course, the color of passion.) Just for kicks, she might take it for a joy ride around the block, but then she'd return it to Victor and tell him that she can't be bought. A sentiment that Pilar's freeloading younger sister, Izzy, would not agree with. Finders, keepers, right?

If you're looking for a fun, romantic read this holiday season or a gift for someone who enjoys Chick Lit, I invite you to pick up a copy of In Need of Therapy. It's now available in e-book and paperback.

Thanks so much for stopping by Books by Banister for the Black Friday Blog Hop! Don't forget to visit all of the other wonderful sites participating in the hop. There are over 200, and you can enter to win prizes at each stop on the hop! Go here for the full list of participating blogs.

To celebrate the Black Friday Blog Hop, I'm giving away an Avon Foot Works Pomegranate Chocolate Collection Gift Set in holiday packaging, which includes:  Soothing Foot Soak, Smoothing Foot Scrub, Moisturizing Foot Cream, and Candy-Striped Slipper Socks. Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

·  Giveaway will run one day only - until 11:59PM on Friday, November 23rd.

·  Must be at least 18 years of age to enter.      

·  Contest is open to residents of the U.S. only. Winner must have shipping address in the U.S.

·  The winner will be announced here and notified by e-mail. 

·  Winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Everyone who leaves a comment on this blog hop post, answering the question "What's Your Favorite Thing About the Holidays?" will be automatically entered in the Black Friday Grand Prize giveaway (Leaving a comment is one of the ways you can enter to win my Footworks Collection giveaway, as well. So, you might win TWO prizes, just for leaving one comment!) Please do NOT forget to leave your e-mail address along with your comment so that Carrie Ann can contact you if you win.  Here are the three Grand Prizes:

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $75 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Book blurb (In Need of Therapy):  Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be:  warm, compassionate, supportive.  She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart?

While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can't stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.”  Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim.  Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her.  A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes.  And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger.

When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she's left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt.  With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart. 

Purchase In Need of Therapy:

Amazon E-book

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GUEST POST - MONIQUE MCDONELL

How Much of You is in Your Book?

by Monique McDonell

When you write a novel, people often ask how much of the character is you and writers usually say, “It’s creative writing, it’s not about me.”

That’s true but I can’t help but think that elements of ourselves do end up in our characters. I know for me anyway, that’s certainly true. When you start writing you’re advised to write what you know – what can you know more about than your own hopes, dreams and aspirations? You know what makes you laugh, what holds your interest and what you like to read. Those things must surely come through in your writing.

My second novel, Hearts Afire, has just been released. I think there is less of ‘me’ in this book than my first. The main characters do find themselves on a tropical island and I did meet my own husband on a tropical island. The circumstances were entirely different but the setting is very familiar.

Still the rest of the book is pure imagination – I’ve never dated a fireman, I’m not a caterer and I’m happy to report no one ever stood me up on my wedding day (Sure I was stood up on a date but that’s hardly the same thing.) Jack and Cassie’s world is their world, just their world seen through my eyes.

Mr Right and Other Mongrels definitely has a bit more of ‘me’ in it. Allegra, the lovely main character, does talk a little bit like me and unluckily for her she does also have a rampant dog phobia, just like me. (For the record we don’t dislike dogs, we’re just very, very scared of them and we do work very hard to overcome that.) Again there are so many things different about us it’s crazy – my folks were never hippies, I don’t run a second-hand bookshop (sadly), I never lived with my grandmother, and I’m fifteen years older than Allegra (sadly again.)

I think authors draw on their own experience because it gives their writing a layer of authenticity. Writing about places you don’t know and people who you have nothing in common with removes you from the story whereas writing about places you know well allows you to use the details in your characters' descriptions and day to day life which draws readers into your story. That’s the writer’s hope, anyway.

Many thanks to Aussie author, Monique McDonell, for stopping by Books by Banister and sharing this post with us. Be sure to check out her fun, romantic Chick Lit novels, Hearts Afire and Mr Right and Other Mongrels - they're a steal on Amazon at $2.99 each!

Book blurb:  A jilted bride, a sexy fireman, a tropical island, a fear of the ocean, a fear of commitment, a new neighbour, an old flame, a secret identity – this is the story of Hearts Afire.

Cassie Callahan is not having a great day. First her fiancé jilts her hours before the wedding and then her sister sets off the alarm and sprinklers at her catering business, flooding the premises, soaking the wedding banquet and bringing the fire department.

When Jack Urquhart the cute fireman offers her a shoulder to cry on they both feel an instant attraction but they each know the other is not what they are looking for. She isn’t looking for a player and he is definitely not looking for the marrying kind.

Hearts Afire takes them on a journey from Sydney’s inner-west to Tropical North Queensland, and back, in search of and avoidance of love.

Will either of them realise that there is no risk at all in trusting your heart to the right person?

Buy Hearts Afire:  Amazon

Book blurb:  Blissfully happy in her own universe Allegra (Ally) Johnson is the sweet best friend everyone wants to have. Quietly and independently wealthy she runs a charming second-hand bookshop in beachside Manly. Heck, sometimes she even goes downstairs from her flat to run the shop in her Chinese silk pyjamas. It sounds like bliss. But is it enough? 

When dog-phobic Allegra is rescued from an exuberant canine by the chivalrous Teddy Green, Australia’s hottest TV celebrity and garden make-over guru, her life begins to change. Dramatically! 

Unaware of Teddy’s fame Allegra finds herself falling for him, despite her best attempts to resist his charm. Supported by her eccentric family and her fabulous gay friend Justin, Allegra embarks on an on-again off-again romance with Teddy, complicated by his jealous ex-girlfriend, fashionista Louisa and her own narcissistic hippy mother Moonbeam.

Will Ally be able to overcome her insecurities and find happiness with this possible Mr Right or will Teddy’s celebrity lifestyle prove to be too much? Mr Right and Other Mongrels is a light-hearted story about how one chance encounter can change your life.

Buy Mr Right and Other Mongrels:  Amazon

Where you can find Monique McDonell:

Website

Facebook

Twitter 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - FRANCINE LASALA

My guest today on Books by Banister is Women's Fiction author Francine LaSala. As she is also a professional editor and has written many non-fiction pieces, Francine wears many hats! Her first novel, the humorous and quirky Rita Hayworth's Shoes, was such a hit that it caught the eye of publisher Diversion Books (more on that below.) And now she's back with the very clever and engaging The Girl, the Gold Tooth, and Everything. Read on to find out more about this interesting, multi-talented lady and be sure to add The Girl, the Gold Tooth, and Everything to your TBR pile!   

1) Can you give us a brief overview of The Girl, the Gold Tooth, and Everything?

You bet! Mina Clark feels out of place and somewhat frustrated in her upscale community, but there’s more going on than typical suburban angst. Mina’s struggling with a terrible case of amnesia sparked by an event most everyone believes is best she forget. Plagued by confusion, Mina does not quite have her feet on the ground, and gets steamrolled by life--mountains of debt, nasty creditors, her daughter in the throes of the “terrible threes,” her busy-body homeowner’s association, the “judgey” other mothers in her development and the pre-school. On top of that, her husband travels for work constantly and she’s worried he’s having an affair. Then a trip to an unusual dental practice leaves her (unwittingly) with a gold dental crown and everything changes. She makes an empowering new friend and starts taking back the reins in her life. She also re-connects with a significant figure from her past, and things start to look up as her memories slowly begin to return. Except she’s also kind of crazy so everything may not be as it seems...

2) What's your favorite quality about your heroine?

Hard to say without giving things away about the story as my favorite quality in her doesn’t surface right away. So I’ll just say between you and me that my favorite quality of Mina’s is that she is blond! ;-)

3) What made you want to write The Girl, the Gold Tooth, and Everything?

I like to write books about objects that become catalysts for change in people’s lives. In Rita Hayworth’s Shoes, a woman feeling down on herself and down on life decides she’s worth the purchase of a fabulous--and fabulously expensive--pair of shoes, and her whole life turns around. She makes the decision to feel good about herself, and good things follow. The Girl, the Gold Tooth, and Everything first sparked in my head when I, too, (unwittingly) was implanted with a gold dental crown. I didn’t want it, I insisted it be removed, but the fit is so exact, it’s never coming out (it isn’t even cemented in). Anyway, I thought what if a woman being steamrolled by life got a sassy new attitude and empowered outlook on life after getting a gold crown implanted. That could make for fun story! The rest of the crazy mess pretty much just spilled out of that.

4) How long did it take you to write The Girl, the Gold Tooth, and Everything? What is your writing process like?

From inception to publication, I’m going to say about a year. My writing process is nothing like it was when I was younger. It used to be that in order to write anything, I needed absolute quiet. A full bottle of wine and a pack of smokes. The right music playing at just the right volume. If everything wasn’t “just so,” no words could come out of me. Once I had kids, I kind of had to “relax” my standards. I gave up smoking a long time ago, and while I still love my wine, I don’t ever drink and write. The most significant change to my routine, however, is the “absolute quiet” part of it. You can find me scribbling away in a notebook while waiting for the school bus, tapping on my keyboard while making dinner...generally writing for me now is all about sitting in the middle of a typhoon with a laptop, umbrella optional. Interestingly enough, I never finished writing anything within my old parameters, but since the “crazy” came into my life, I’ve published two novels, completed drafts for two others, and written three screenplays, all while juggling a pretty insane load of freelance work. I guess I’m one of those people that craves crazy, which is probably why I like Mina so much!

5) If Hollywood comes calling and asks you to sign over the movie rights for The Girl, the Gold Tooth, and Everything, who would you like to see play Mina on the big screen?

Christina Applegate is my top choice for sure. I didn’t write Mina with Christina in mind, but I just saw her the other night on Up All Night and I was floored. It was like somewhere in my mind, she was always lurking. Now is it because her character had amnesia on Samantha Who? Who knows. All I know is that when I see her, I’m like yep. That’s Mina.

6) What are you working on now?

Marketing! Also finishing some other books. Oh, and looking for a new job, if anyone knows anyone who could use a snappy copywriter, or a seasoned book editor. (Call me. Maybe?)

7) How do you think of titles?

I actually can’t write a book properly unless I know what it’s called because I can’t connect to what I’m trying to accomplish in a story without a title, but I can’t say I ever “think” of my titles. It’s more that they reveal themselves to me. Rita Hayworth’s Shoes came from a pair of shoes I fell in love with in an Ann Taylor store. They were called “Hayworth” and they were not in my budget, but they were so lovely I couldn’t resist! The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything is kind of an unintentional homage to an early ‘80s movie I loved growing up called The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything. It starred Pam Dawber and Robert Hayes and was about a guy who gained possession of a watch that could stop time. It has nothing to do with my book, but I love the musicality of that title, like Douglas Adams’ Life, the Universe & Everything, and I felt the elements of my story just fit so nicely into the framework.

8) Tell us about your cover art design. How did you come up with the concept or did you leave that to your publisher's art department?

I am absolutely blessed to have a close friend who is a phenomenal designer. She also did Rita Hayworth’s Shoes. The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything is such a complicated story, with a mouthful of a title, no one had any idea what the cover should look like. The publisher was also really worried about the title and how it would show on the cover. So I gave Trish my vision!

She graciously considered it without laughing, and gently fought me every step of the way to get to the cover we have now. She’s brilliant and highly recommended. And on Facebook! Go on over and “like” her here: Tricia McGoey

9) Your first novel, Rita Hayworth's Shoes, was originally self-published, then it was picked up and re-released by Diversion Books. Can you tell us more about your journey with this book and do you have any advice for indie authors who'd like to hook up with a publisher?

As Dory says in Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming!” It really isn’t easy--the past two to three years especially, with agents and publishers not taking chances on new novelists. The real eye-opener for me is that I have been in the business for almost twenty years and there was still so much “swimming upstream” for me! The old rules no longer apply. So definitely try and build a following for yourself and your work, but also keep track of what publishers are putting out there--and not just the big houses. There are many exciting start-ups cropping up who understand the new landscape of book publishing in some ways better than the big guys, like my publisher, Diversion Books. Do your homework and only approach publishers whose lists reflect what you have to offer! And if you have your heart set on a big publisher, go get yourself an agent because you won’t get in any other way.

10) The fiction market is so competitive now. How did you find an audience for your work? What do you think are the most effective ways an author can promote herself?

Finding a market is tough but an important thing to remember is “Strength in numbers.” My advice is to get involved with other authors who do similar work and do a bunch of blogging, blog hops, interviews. Follow on Twitter and get followed. Retweet! Just REACH OUT! My other advice would be to try and promote in non-book areas. How can you cross promote your book? For example, when I first published Rita Hayworth’s Shoes, I approached shoe websites to offer some giveaways. And in June, for Book Expo, a friend of mine made 200 “red shoe” cookies for me, with tags that featured the book jacket and contact and ordering information, which I handed out to people on lines. See cookie picture here.  It doesn’t always work, but thinking outside the box can get you noticed. 

11) What are your thoughts on love scenes in books? Do you prefer to read/write sweet/romantic encounters between your hero and heroine or spicy ones?

Well I think this really depends on my mood!

12) Who are the authors who inspire you?

I love New York Times bestselling authors because they are wealthy! Just kidding! (Sort of.) I mean, I am inspired by J.K. Rowling, but more important to me is that an author delivers without selling out. When an author is true to her or his story, and doesn’t just write for the sake of “pandering to the masses,” even if their work never tops the bestseller lists, that’s the kind of author who inspires me. Mary Doria Russell flips genres with every book. I totally dig that! And getting back to Rowling, she could have done a spin-off Harry Potter series, but she had another story in her that had nothing to do with wizards and such, and she went ahead and told it. To me, that’s inspiring. 

13) What genres do you like to read? Do you stick to one or are you eclectic in your reading tastes?

I’m pretty eclectic. While I don’t read a lot of westerns or sci-fi or war stories (or anything in those genres, if we’re being honest), I like to laugh and cry in equal measure. I really do need to make more time for reading though. Between writing fiction and trying to make a living (for me not one in the same yet) and raising small children, there isn’t a lot of brainspace left at the end of the day for reading. (Though your In Need of Therapy is high on the list of must reads right now.) <Thank you, Francine!>

14) What was the last book you read that really WOWed you?

Mary Doria Russell’s Dreamers Of The Day really charmed and overwhelmed me, in a good way. I read it over the course of a few days and loved every minute.

15) If you could be plopped down in the middle of any book, which one would it be?

Would I have to stay there? Could I magically escape before things took a bad turn? Because I’m pretty sure Alice In Wonderland is the book I’d most want to visit but I’ve had to deal with way too many evil “Queens of Hearts” in my life to stick around and endure that game of croquet and the panic of possibly losing my head!

16) If you could invite any five people (living or dead) over for a dinner party, who would they be and why?

Oooo, I like this game! Voltaire because Candide is my favorite book. Dorothy Parker because no one quips better. Woody Allen because despite his questionable personal choices, Midnight in Paris, The Purple Rose of Cairo, and Annie Hall are all on my list of top-ten favorite films. Steve from Blues Clues because I’ve always had a weird fixation on that guy (don’t ask). And Barack Obama, just because.

Fast and Flirty 

Favorite scent?  I’ve been partial to Burberry Brit for a while. Wait--you meant from a bottle, right?

Favorite color?  Fuchsia, obnoxious but true.

Favorite food?  Sushi (well, truthfully fried chicken, but I try to ignore that)

Favorite word?  My real favorite word starts with an F and ends with a K and it isn’t frock. I know it’s naughty, but it’s such a powerful, versatile word. So maybe we’ll just say “luscious.”

Favorite article of clothing?  My husband just got me a baseball cap that reads “Got Wine” in the “Got Milk” font on the front. Yep. That’s at the top of the list right now.

Dream vacation spot?  The Caribbean for sure. St. Anywhere.

Favorite time period in history?  Never thought about it but as I’m kind of a party girl at heart, let’s go with the 1920s!

Favorite girl's night out drink?  Vodka martini, extra dry, extra olives.

Favorite date night activity?  TALKING to my husband! I know, seems crazy, but our lives are nuts and we barely get any time to just sit and talk like adult human beings!

Favorite song?  I’m partial to show tunes so I don’t think I could answer this question without humiliating myself.

Celebrity hottie on your laminated list?  Hmmm... John Cusack... Jon Hamm... No! Jon Stewart, for sure!

Novel hero crush?  I know this is awful to admit, but I’ve never gotten over Rhett Butler from Gone With The Wind. I just can’t seem to shake him and I read that book about twenty-five years ago! <You'll have to fight me for Rhett, Francine! I fell in love with him when I was just 11 years old and remain a diehard fan to this day!>

Thanks, Tracie, for having me on Books By Banister! Here’s how to find me out in the world:

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About Francine's books:

THE GIRL, THE GOLD TOOTH & EVERYTHING

A fast-paced, richly layered, and darkly humorous satire filled with quirky characters and unforgettable moments of humanity! 

Mina Clark is losing her mind-or maybe it's already gone. She isn't quite sure. Feeling displaced in her over-priced McMansion-dotted suburban world, she is grappling not only with deep debt, a mostly absent husband, and her playground-terrorizer 3-year-old Emma, but also with a significant amnesia she can't shake-a "temporary" condition now going on several years, brought on by a traumatic event she cannot remember, and which everyone around her feels is best forgotten.

When a trip to the dentist leaves Mina with a new gold crown, her whole life changes. Slowly her memory and her mojo return. But when everything begins to crash down around her, she's not sure if what's happening is real, of if she's just now fully losing her mind... especially when she realizes the only person she can trust is the one she fears the most. What's it all going to cost her in the end?

Buy The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything:  Amazon

RITA HAYWORTH’S SHOES

Amy Miller gets dumped on her wedding day and everyone knows it's for the best her relationship with David had eaten away at her for years. Except for Amy... When her best friend, Jane Austen-Rabinowitz, and Jane's sagacious six-year-old daughter, Zoe, convince Amy to treat herself to an extravagantly priced, super-cute pair of shoes, which purportedly once belonged to a siren of the silver screen, she balks at first, but their allure soon wears her down.

Once they are hers, her life turns around. She gets refocused on her career and meets a true kindred spirit, the also-jilted English professor, Decklin Thomas. She's not attracted to Deck at first. But when circumstances lead to them spending more time together, they bond, and Amy starts to believe she may have found her soul mate. But when Deck's former wife goes missing, again, the perfect romance may not be what it seems... Sparkly and witty as a 1940s screwball comedy, and filled with quirky characters and lots of delightful surprises, Rita Hayworth's Shoes is a story of bouncing back, a heartwarming and potentially heartbreaking romance, and even a mystery rolled into one fun, hilarious page-turner.

Buy Rita Hayworth’s Shoes:  Amazon

COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY - ELIZABETH MARX

Lots of excitement on Books by Banister today as I'm participating in a big event for my prolific, multi-genre writer pal, Elizabeth Marx (All's Fair in Vanity's War, Cutters vs. Jocks, Binding Arbitration.) Elizabeth will soon be releasing the first two books in The Red Veil series, Descent of Blood and Ascent of Blood. Today, she's sharing with us the blurbs for both of these Paranormal Romance novels, as well as the cover art. I am a big fan of the cover art for this series as it's so moody and atmospheric and the colors are gorgeous!

Elizabeth has generously offered to gift an e-book ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) of both books to one lucky winner! If you are a fan of stories about sexy vampires and starcrossed lovers, be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. This giveaway will end at midnight on Monday, October 29th.

Descent of Blood, The Red Veil Series, The Prequel

When times are darkest, some vampires desire more than blood …

England, 1465. Mortal men clash in the War of the Roses for the English crown, while vampire warriors’ move undetected among their ranks, savoring the flow of blood that battlefields provide.

Vampire prince, Severian Pearce, fears the revelation of the immortal clans to humankind should King Henry fall from power. While in pursuit of Henry’s enemies, Severian comes to the aid of Meridian Neville, a human woman he craves—and not for the scent of her blood … Meridian is torn between honoring her father’s dying wish and her unexplainable yearning for Lord Severian. But as Severian and Meridian work together to protect a relic hunted by mortals and immortals alike, the red veil descends over them. This all-consuming attraction can drive immortals to the brink of madness. Will the existence of this powerful bond between a human and a vampire be enough to unite the immortal clans or is the red veil a scourge set on destroying any chance they might have of happiness?

When all hope is lost, one vampire will fight unto death for his forbidden love.

Ascent of Blood, The Red Veil Series, Book One

Sometimes, love is conceived in the mind of a man long before it is ever realized.

1990, Cardiff, Wales.  Vampire prince, Sebastian Pearce, has waited six-hundred years for the right human mate. His own beloved mother was a mortal capable of carrying immortal offspring. While vampires no longer require live donors for sustenance, Mother Nature has played a cruel trick on them … making breeders a rare commodity. As numbers in his Imperial House dwindle, Sebastian’s virgin bride eludes him, until he happens upon a young woman searching for information about a sacred vampire text, the Book of Descent. Sebastian’s desire for her is more potent than anything he’s felt for another woman, but Everleigh Marbut isn’t innocent. She’s an American with a mind of her own, and worst of all, she’s already carrying an immortal being. Sebastian and Everleigh are so intent on fighting their attraction to each other and the influence of the red veil that they don’t realize they’re being pulled into a battle pitting medieval myth against the power of modern science to recreate life.

Author Bio:  Windy City writer Elizabeth Marx brings cosmopolitan flair to her fiction, which is a blend of romance and fast-paced Chicago living with a sprinkle of magical realism. In her past incarnation she was an interior designer--not a decorator--which basically means she has a piece of paper to prove that she knows how to match and measure things and can miraculously make mundane pieces of furniture appear to be masterpieces. Elizabeth says being an interior designer is one part shrink, one part marriage counselor and one part artist, skills eerily similar to those employed in writing. 

Elizabeth grew up in Illinois and has also lived in Texas and Florida. If she’s not pounding her head against the wall trying to get the words just right, you can find her at a softball field out in the boonies or sitting in the bleachers by a basketball court. Elizabeth resides with her husband, girls, and two cats who’ve spelled everyone into believing they’re really dogs.

Elizabeth has traveled extensively, but still says there’s no town like Chi-Town.

Where to find Elizabeth Marx:

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

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