Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Felicity Heaton

Firstly, I want to say thanks to Roxanne for having me here at Fang-tastic Books as part of my Paranormal Pandemonium 2011 Blog Tour, and in particular the Her Angel series leg of it.

Secondly, I’ll introduce myself. My name is Felicity Heaton and I write paranormal romances under that name and also as F E Heaton. I’ve been writing since 2005 and have been an indie author since 2006. During that time, I have written all of the main species covered in paranormal romance books. I have explored vampires, werewolves and shape-shifters, even witches and demons. Sometimes a writer needs a new challenge. Angels were that challenge for me and since writing the first book in the Her Angel series last year, I have added another three to the series, the most recent being my new release, Her Guardian Angel, which is also the first novel-length book in the series.

What makes an author decide to venture into the world of angels? For me, it was more than just the challenge of writing a new species. It was the chance to take on a whole new world and see what I could do with it. I had heard that people were writing angels but that they were focusing mostly on fallen angels. I wanted to explore more than just the angels that had been cast out of Heaven. I wanted to explore this new genre to the full and that meant dealing with angels who were still in the employment of a higher power.

Here was my chance to see if feathers could be just as sexy as fangs, and I decided to take it and run with it, and now I have four books released in the series and another in the ideas stage.

Most of the angels involved in my Her Angel series so far aren’t fallen. They’re still working for the man, or at least they were at the start of their stories. While I love the idea of the lost-soul angel who has fallen and then falls in a different way for a mortal, it isn’t complicated enough for me. I like my love to be really forbidden, and there’s nothing more forbidden than a fully-fledged angel falling for a mortal... unless you count an angel falling in love with a demon... and I even wrote that angle in Her Warrior Angel.

I had a great time exploring angels and the world that I was creating. I researched and dreamt up different divisions of angels, giving them different responsibilities and a different look to distinguish them. I thought about what my angels would be like and loved the idea of some of them being fun and frivolous, but having to deal with all mortals believing they were saintly and asexual, which they’re very definitely not. Then I thought about how the heroines would react to them. All of the heroines are very different. Two already know that angels exist. The others are mortal and get the shock of their lives when their hero reveals that he’s an angel. All of them share common doubts though. Surely the hero can’t fall for them? Surely it’s a sin to be with an angel? I wanted the hero to have to work to prove that a relationship with them isn’t forbidden or a sin, except in the case of Her Warrior Angel where it really is very forbidden! In that book, the hero has to work to prove that he doesn’t care what the rules say, because he’s mad about the heroine.

I also thought about other elements like what things would be forbidden for angels to do, say or experience. I enjoyed playing on an almost childlike level of curiosity when it came to things that had been previously off limits to the angels—like alcohol for example. Humans would probably leap at the chance to try something that someone had told them they couldn’t do, so why would an angel be any different? All of the angels in my series are very curious about human life, human things, and anything that is prohibited. I think readers will relate to that. We’ve all been curious about things, especially when someone has told us no!

The last thing I considered was their loyalty to their world and their duties. In all of the stories, I have explored how that loyalty can cause conflict within them, leaving them torn between it and the heroine. There is only one true way for them to be with the heroine, without asking her to go to Hell and back, which is by surrendering their wings and immortality. That’s a tough decision for an angel to make, especially when they love flying so much. The series focuses on the sacrifice that the hero might have to make in order to win the heroine’s heart and love, as well as the great trials that the heroine might face to save her hero the pain of having to give up his immortality.

It’s one of the ultimate forbidden loves in my eyes. Angels and mortals (or demons!). Two very separate worlds with very different rules. Love has a way of overlooking such things though and teaching us to look beyond what people tell us to see, to what we feel in our hearts, and that’s what the Her Angel series is all about.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief introduction to my Her Angel series and that it has intrigued you enough that you want to find out more about the series and the books, and that you’ll follow me on my Paranormal Pandemonium 2011 Blog Tour so you can learn more about the characters, the series and the books. You can find out my tour dates at my website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/paranormal-pandemonium-blog-tour.php

Here’s a little more about the latest book in the series. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the others. This story can be read out of order with them without any problem at all.

Her Guardian Angel is currently available in e-book direct from my website, Amazon Kindle Stores, and Smashwords. It will soon be available from Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, Apple iBookstore, and also as a paperback from Amazon sites.

Other stories in the Her Angel series are: Her Dark Angel, Her Fallen Angel and Her Warrior Angel. Details of them and where they are available in e-book and paperback can be found at my website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebookseries.php?series=Her%20Angel


Her Guardian Angel

A simple mission becomes a fight for survival in this fantastic instalment in the Her Angel series.

A guardian angel dedicated to his duty, Marcus will do whatever Heaven asks of him, but even his loyalty has its limits. When his superior orders him to gain Amelia’s trust through seduction, Marcus starts to question his mission and his feelings for the beautiful woman he has watched over since her birth.

Amelia has gone from one bad relationship to another, so when a gorgeous guy moves in next door looking like Mr Right, she hopes he doesn’t turn out to be another black knight in disguise. But there’s more to Marcus than meets the eye, and when he rescues her from three demonic men, Amelia is thrust into his nightmarish world—a world where God and the Devil exist, and only one angel can save her from death—Marcus, the angel she’s falling in love with.

On the run from demonic angels and the Devil himself, aided by Marcus’s angel friends and their amazing women, fighting for survival against the odds, Marcus and Amelia discover a love that will last forever.

A love so strong it will shake Heaven and Hell.

Read an excerpt: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Her%20Guardian%20Angel

Find out more about the Her Angel series at my website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebookseries.php?series=Her%20Angel

Available in e-book for $3.99 from:
Author's website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Her%20Guardian%20Angel
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EUJIG8/
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005EUJIG8/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005EUJIG8/
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/77776



Biography:

Felicity Heaton is a romance author writing as both Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. She is passionate about penning paranormal tales full of vampires, witches, werewolves, angels and shape-shifters, and has been interested in all things preternatural and fantastical since she was just a child. Her other passion is science-fiction and she likes nothing more than to immerse herself in a whole new universe and the amazing species therein. She used to while away days at school and college dreaming of vampires, werewolves and witches, or being lost in space, and used to while away evenings watching movies about them or reading gothic horror stories, science-fiction and romances.

Having tried her hand at various romance genres, it was only natural for her to turn her focus back to the paranormal, fantasy and science-fiction worlds she enjoys so much. She loves to write seductive, sexy and strong vampires, werewolves, witches, angels and alien species. The worlds she often dreams up for them are vicious, dark and dangerous, reflecting aspects of the heroines and heroes, but her characters also love deeply, laugh, cry and feel every emotion as keenly as anyone does. She makes no excuses for the darkness surrounding them, especially the paranormal creatures, and says that this is their world. She’s just honoured to write down their adventures.


If you want to know more about me, or want to get in touch, you can find me at the following places:
My website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk
My blog: http://www.indieparanormalromancebooks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/feheaton
Twitter: http://twitter.com/felicityheaton
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/felicityheaton

Giveaway Time

Felicity is offering a giveaway of one prize pack of Her Fallen Angel e-book plus signed book swag that includes book cover postcards, bookmarks, magnet, key ring and coaster.

The Giveaway is open to international shipping

To enter leave a comment on this post

Be sure to include your email address





20 comments:

Escape by Fiction said...

Her Guardian Angel sounds amazing. i can't wait to read it! Thanks for the wicked awesome giveaway.

Good reading ~ Escape by Fiction :)

_yay_ said...

Love angel-themed books and it's even better when the hero stands between what his heart tells him and his loyalty. The Nalini Singh Guild Hunter series drew me in and now I can'tget enough of angels, archangels, fallen angels...
Thanks for the giveaway!
sk_86(at)gmx(dot)de

jfort357 said...

I haven't read any of Felicity's work. I enjoyed this introduction to her Angel series!!! I'm intrigued to read it!!! I just got a Nook & this would be the perfect way to break it in!!!! :-) Thanks for the chance to win!!!!

jfort357(at)bellsouth(dot)net

loves to dive said...

I like to think I have a guardian angel, hopefully he's hunky.
Please enter me in the contest.
lvs2dv at gmail dot com

Margay Leah Justice said...

I love reading about angels! This looks good!

Margay1122ATaolDOTcom

Anonymous said...

The angel books sounds amazing. I LOVE hot angels. I can't wait to read it! Thanks for the giveaway :)


alycia(at)thejeepdiva(dot)com

jfort357 said...

Forgot to mention.......bet the swag looks awesome!!!! Luv me some swag!!!! :-D

Anne said...

I think feathers can be just as sexy (and scary) as fangs. Sounds like some of the angels in your book could have a bit of the bad in them too.

Sherry said...

I love books that have angels in them and this sounds like a great one to read.
sstrode at scrtc dot com

Alicia0385 said...

I'm so excited about this book!! I have been reading quite a few angel books here lately and I really enjoy it!! Cant wait to read Her Guardian Angel!!

aliciahall0605(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
GFC follower

Jen B. said...

I have popped over the Amazon and picked up a copy of Her Dark Angel. I have been searching for an Angel series. You have piqued my interest. Thanks for the giveaway. I am slightly addicted to book trading cards!
jepebATverizonDOTnet

Debby said...

My friend loves angels and reads all she can. After reading about yours, I am finding the same interest. Thanks. debby236 at gmail dot com

latishajean said...

This sounds great thank you so much would love to read it! Great giveaway thank you!
tishajean@ charter.net

Beverly said...

This is a new series for me. I just purchased my first one today. I won't be able to read it until September, but I still love the one-click buy option at amazon. Thanks for hosting. I am an old follower. bsharp88@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Felicity is one of my fave authors. I am loving this series. Great post.

Yvonne
Txgrll82@gmail.com

Kanya said...

I've never read a book about a hot angel so please count me in for the giveaway!
Thanks!
Kanya :)
kanyachhetATyahooDOTca

Book Sp(l)ot said...

Love the sound of this series. And I've loved Felicity's work for a long time so I would, of course, love to win this :)

book.splot [at] gmail [dot] com

Texas Book Lover said...

This series sounds wonderful!

Thank you!
mmafsmith at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Please enter me in contest. This book sounds really good. I would love to read it. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com

In Julie's Opinion said...

Judging by the cover angel, I'm going to love this book!! Thanks for an awesome giveaway :)

jwitt33 at live dot com

 
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