Happy New Year

Interview with E.S. Moore Author of To Walk the Night

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?


Hi! I write books! And I’m a pretty avid gamer, mostly fantasy based stuff, especially MMOs, but I do like my football. I’ve been a reader since I was little and Stephen King pretty much defined my early life.
These days I read a lot of urban fantasy and decided it was something I wanted to try my hand at. The first book didn’t sell. When I wrote To Walk the Night, I didn’t think anything would come of it. I almost completely abandoned it to work in an entirely different genre.

But I do love my urban fantasy and after a little urging from my wife, I revisited the book, polished it up, and to my surprise, it actually sold!

What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires that fascinates you so much?

It’s funny, but I’m not a huge fan of vampire books. I’ve obviously read some and the monster tends to pop up pretty regularly in urban fantasy, but I’ve never really gotten overly excited about them. I’ve always leaned towards the darker vampire, the Brian Lumley sort that will tear you to shreds without a thought.

But I do enjoy the paranormal quite a bit overall. I think it’s because most of these books are set in a place and time we know today. You can relate to the characters more because of it. And then when you throw in the vampires, werewolves, ghosts, witches, or whatever supernatural element you want, it just adds something to the story that catapults the plot to new heights. It’s exciting and familiar and different all at the same time.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?

It depends on the story, really. For To Walk the Night, I just let whatever name that popped into my head stand. As long as it felt right, there was no reason to change it. I’ve written other stories where character names are as important of descriptors as the actual narrative. It isn’t required for the reader to know what the word/name means, but if they do, it gives a little more insight into who that character is.


Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?

Challenging? Not really. But I did have one character who evolved quite a bit from where he started. Ethan lives with Kat, the vampire heroine of To Walk the Night. He’s nerdy, insecure, and has a few quirks that causes him to never leave the house. Originally, he was a blind old man who was a bit gruff, but was supposed to be still likeable. The first feedback I ever received on an early draft of the book was that the Ethan character was terrible. After I reread it, I agreed and changed him to fit with what felt right for the character without trying to force him into a box.

I think it was a good change.


Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?

I typically sit down and just let things go. The characters evolve on their own as I write. I let their quirks come out without me forcing them to behave a certain way. I’m afraid that if I were to try to sketch the characters out ahead of time, I’d end up getting stuck because the character would want to do one thing and I’d be trying to make them do another. It’s so much better for me to let it happen naturally.


Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?

The biggest difference is the obvious difference: vampires and werewolves have taken over the night. They hunt and kill Purebloods, have formed their own power hierarchy, and take complete control when the sun goes down. The book is set in Columbus, Ohio, but anyone who lives there will notice a lot of differences to the city. The timeline we know never happened because of the coming out party, so the city developed differently in the book than it did in the real world. Actually, the entire world did.



Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?

I think all my characters have a little something of me in them. Ethan in To Walk the Night is probably the closest to who I really am. He’s reserved, doesn’t really curse, wants people to like him but is too timid to really make the effort. So while everyone has a tiny bit of me somewhere in their personality or past, Ethan is definitely the one that fits me best.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?

I’m not sure writer’s block is real. I think it more of a mental state that can be easily overcome if you just sit down and write. Now, I’ve had stories completely die off and others that really had no direction, but I wouldn’t call that writer’s block as much as I’d call it just not having much enthusiasm for a story.

For those struggling to get words on paper, I’d suggest just sitting down and typing. Don’t worry about what you’re writing. Even if it is just typing words on the page, sometimes that’s all you’ll need to get over the hump. And don’t try too hard. You are your own worst enemy. Let things happen naturally...whatever is natural to you.


Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?

Nothing big. I typically get up, get ready, have breakfast, and then start writing. Anytime the pattern is interrupted, I usually can’t write. I like having structure. And while I don’t plot, I tend to map out my chapters per day as much as a month ahead of time so I know when a book will be done before I even write it. I like being ahead of schedule, but this arbitrary deadline tends to make me upset if I start falling behind.



Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?

I prefer to write in multiple genres, actually. While I don’t have anything else coming out, I’ve written stories of all sorts. Mainly, I stick to genre stories, focusing mostly on urban fantasy and horror, but my short stories have often been sci-fi, which is funny because I don’t think I could ever actually write a sci-fi novel and I don’t typically read in the genre.

But do I find it difficult to jump from one to the next? Not really. I think I’d go crazy if I was forever stuck in one genre because I like to explore in my writing so much. I don’t want to be pinned down as only an urban fantasy author. I want to try my hand at many more things.


When did you consider yourself a writer?

Am I a writer yet?!

Actually, it wasn’t until I received the review copies of the book, and even then, I still don’t feel quite like an author. Maybe once the book hits the shelves, it will sink in and I’ll be able to call myself a real writer. Until then, I’ll just keep pretending!




What can readers expect next from you?

Kat Redding book 2, tentatively titled Tainted Night, Tainted Blood is due out July 2011. I have a few more books on submission and am working on others as well. At this time, nothing else is definitive.



Where can readers find you on the web?

I can be found on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ES_Moore and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/esmoore.fan I’m also starting up on Google+ and Goodreads as E.S. Moore as well. My website is http://www.esmoore.net/ Feel free to drop by and visit anytime!

Even a vampire has to face her inner demons…




Kat Redding is the very thing she hunts: a vampire, thirsting for blood, capable of killing any creature unlucky enough to get in her path. The difference is, Kat kills her own kind in order to protect human Purebloods. She’s good at what she does. Good enough to earn the nickname Lady Death—and the enmity of every bloodthirsty being around. But now a vampire Count is intent on merging his House with a werewolf cult to create a force of terrifying power.


Kat can’t allow that to happen. Even if it means taking on a den of weres and a vampire more ruthless than any she’s encountered before. She has the weapons, the skill, and a few allies. But that may not be enough to eliminate the Count before her own dark nature rises to the surface—and costs her whatever is left of her humanity…


Coming January 2012 from Kensington


Available for pre-order from: Amazon.com and Barnes and  Noble

Fresh Fiction Giveaway win $10 Amazon Gift Card and Paranormal Pleasures Ebook

Be Sure to Enter My 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway at Fresh Fiction

Don't Miss Roxanne Rhoads "Fangs for the Holidays" Win PARANORMAL PLEASURES TEN TALES OF SUPERNATURAL SEDUCTION and a $10 Amazon Gift Card

Roxanne Rhoads Sink your teeth into this giveaway from Roxanne Rhoads. One winner will receive an ebook copy ofPARANORMAL PLEASURES TEN TALES OF SUPERNATURAL SEDUCTION (winner's choice of format) and a $10 Gift Card to Amazon.com (to buy that book you didn't get as a gift:-) PARANORMAL PLEASURES TEN TALES OF SUPERNATURAL SEDUCTION Order from Amazon Today in Kindle Buy at BN.com Ten tantalizing, erotic tales of vampires, witches and demons grace the pages of this short story collection by Roxanne Rhoads. Step into the darkness and let these tales tempt and tease to satisfy your paranormal cravings. Eight of Roxanne Rhoads' previous eBook publications appear in print for the first time, along with two brand new, never before published tales of supernatural love and lust. See A Larger Image of Prize Contest ends: January 6, 2012 You will be added to the Roxanne Rhoads mailing list to receive occasional notices of interest. You'll also be added to the Fresh Fiction News. Unsubscribe options are available with each issue. Privacy Notice

Many of you are having problems- here is the direct link to the contest sop you can enter
http://freshfiction.com/contest.php?id=3895

Who Has A Kindle Fire?

I'm debating on whether I should get the Kindle Fire now or wait until the next version comes out.

With tech gadgets the first always seems to have a few things that need to be fixed.

The biggest thing I'm hearing is that the on/off switch is in the wrong spot and it gets accidentally shut off easily.

Another thing is battery life. Only about six hours compared to the really long life battery regular Kindle users are used to.

Another thing I wonder about is page quality and glare. Kindle readers love the gray no glare screen that makes reading easy- even in sunlight.

How does the new screen compare?

I want to know these things before shelling out $200 for a Fire.

The one thing I know I will like on the Fire is seeing book covers in full color.

After looking at all my Kindle books in the cloud reader on my computer I realized that is what I miss most about books with my Kindle- seeing the gorgeous book covers!

That's one of the main reasons I want a Kindle Fire- full color book covers!

I can organize books by their covers on virtual book shelves.

I don't always remember a book by its title if it is one I haven't read yet, it's the cover that draws me in and makes me want to read it. I miss that on my regular Kindle. Seeing titles in a list isn't the same for me. I don't remember what attracted me without the cover to remind me.

If this full color option could be combined with the non-glare paperback style pages of a regular Kindle it would be awesome.

Full color covers and bookshelves then switch to paperback non-glare pages when you want actually read the book.

Then you could switch back to full color for magazines, non-fiction books, children's books, graphic novels, etc. But you would still have the option to read the paperback style.

Hell, I don't know. Maybe this is possible on the new Fire. (OK maybe not after the newest reviews I just read- the glare is an issue and regular Kindle owners go back to their original Kindles for long time reading)

Most of the reviews I've read are all about the apps and tech aspects of it- I haven't read many reviews by book lovers that want to use it for an ebook reader.

So book lovers who got the Fire, please tell me about it. I want to hear from you before I buy the Fire.

Supernaturally Kissed by Stacey Kennedy Now Available

Supernaturally Kissed

Frostbite Book One

Urban Fantasy Romance

Length: Novel

Heat Level: Sensual

Price: $6.20 ($4.95 at Ellora’s Cave)

Ellora’s Cave

Publisher’s Note: This story was previously published elsewhere under the titleStolen Dreams and has been revised for Ellora’s Cave.

Ghosts harass and annoy Tess Jennings to save their souls. Sometimes she helps them. Other times she ignores them. But one ghost will give her no choice.

Kipp McGowen, a cop with the Memphis Police Department, will stop at nothing to gain her help, including using his ghostly charms to seduce her.

Tess must help solve the five year old cold case of Hannah Reid, because solving the case will save Kipp. But a bigger problem presents itself. Tess is falling in love with a ghost. Now she must decide. Keep Kipp forever or find the killer…

5 – An Alpha Howl – Bitten by Paranormal Romance – Top Bite Award

“Stacey knows how to write a delightful and witty romance. In this novella Stacey takes this hero and heroine into a world wind romance that leaves you wanting more at the end and I loved reading every bit of it. I read this one before under a previous title and really enjoyed reading it, all but the ending because it was a cliffhanger ugh. *pouting* I hate cliffhangers lol. This time around I enjoyed it even more because Stacey re-wrote the ending and made it fantastic, but more to the point no cliffhanger;) I can’t wait to see where she’s going to take this ghost storyline next.”

Read full review

5 SKULLS – Literal Addiction

“While the story starts out quickly, I never once felt like I was missing anything or wondering about how we got there, and it honestly never slowed down, which made me skip meals, ignore phone calls, and devour the book in one sitting.

There is a whole lot of mystery, intrigue, and romance in Supernaturally Kissed, which will leave you with feelings of surprise, frustration, shock, tenderness, trepidation, longing, and a whole smattering of other emotions along with plenty of laughter, which makes this murder mystery unlike most others.”

Read full review

5 STARS – Romancing the Darkside

“The romance was a perfect package of sweet, sensual and erotic. Tess and Kipp will touch your hearts and have you fanning yourself with their passion. A little suspense, humor and steamy romance make Supernaturally Kissed a read you’ll want to pick up and not put down until you reach the last page!”

Read full review

Copyright © STACEY KENNEDY, 2011

All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

An icy wisp of air swept in behind me, causing my heel to twist as I stumbled. To the other pedestrians striding along the downtown Memphis street, the sensation would be brushed off as a cold breeze.

They were wrong. A spirit lingered here.

“Can you hear me?”

From the intrigue rolling in his voice, he hadn’t expected me to acknowledge him. Shit! I’d already given myself away. A mistake I’d rectify.

Without hesitation, I righted my stance and strode forward with purpose, forcing myself to remain deaf to the voice. If I ignored ghosts long enough, they moved on and searched out someone else who held the same irritating ability, whom I had yet to meet.

Much to my annoyance, the ghost stayed right on my heels and his presence remained strong behind me. The cold air at my back remained a contrast to the warm morning air in front of me. Every hair on my neck stood up and goose bumps pimpled a trail along my skin. If only I could rub them away, but I didn’t dare. Ignoring him would make him go away.

“You can hear me, can’t you?” the ghost asked again.

Spirits were typically harmless, but annoying. I’m dead, what’s going on, why am I a ghost—yada, yada, yada. I quickened my steps and made my way down Peabody Place in hopes he’d leave me alone.

“Wait.”

He sounded desperate, which meant a big headache for me. If I hadn’t worn my damn slingbacks, I would’ve tried to run and hide. But the three-inch Manolos and the tight, tailored gray skirt restrained my movements.

I passed Miss Polly’s Soul Food Café, and the delicious aroma of bacon and eggs drifted along the air. My empty stomach complained. My only thought after I woke had been caffeine. Now I wished I’d grabbed a muffin with my latté at Starbucks. With ten minutes to get to my desk, I couldn’t worry about such things.

My boss, Event Manager Dylan Cobb, would hand me my ass if I stepped into the office a minute late. Sadly, there’d never been a day I didn’t cater to his every need.

I approached Beale Street and sighed in relief, relishing the warmth surrounding me. Not only from the sun above—the spirit’s cold presence at my back had vanished. Pleased my dodge of him had worked, I took a sip of my energy in a cup and smiled. Coffee’s fantastic, the ghost is gone—life is good.

Another block passed under my heels before I reached the historical red-brick building. Randall Marketing, written in black block letters, decorated the striped green-and-white awning.

I opened the door to the office and strode in, greeted by a bubbly voice. “Good morning, Tess.”

“Mornin’.”

“Give me a moment here.” Doris shuffled paperwork around her desk, her auburn curls bouncing on her shoulders. The receptionist had always been messy, yet somehow organized. “There were a few messages on the voicemail for you.” She raised her head and held out the pink slips of paper. “A lovely day today, is it not?”

“Sure is.” So I lied. The ghost hadn’t kicked off my day on a high note. Not as if I’d tell her about my interaction with spirits. My ability to converse with spirits remained on a need-to-know basis, and as far as it concerned me, no one needed to know. I grabbed the messages from her hand. “Did your weekend treat you good?”

“I spent the entire weekend knee-deep in my garden.” Her cocoa-colored eyes lit up. “My best year ever, I’m hoping. You’ll have to come out and have a look-see.”

“I’d love to.” Doris treasured her gardens, so I tried to appear interested, even though my green thumb looked black.

Her smile brightened, but when the phone rang, she waved a goodbye and answered the call. “It’s another beautiful day here at Randall Marketing, how may I direct your call?”

Leaving her behind, I strode down the hall toward my office and sipped my coffee. The warmth slid down my throat and provided an immediate rush to my energy levels. At the third door on the right, I entered my bleak workspace with its pale-blue walls, closed the door behind me and approached the desk. I dropped down into the black leather chair and flipped through the messages. None were urgent enough to worry about now.

I powered up my computer, but a knock at the door had me glancing up. Before I got a word out, the door swished open and I cringed, fully aware of the looming trouble.

Caley, the officer manager and my best friend since the age of four, looked like a typical Barbie. Perfect skin, long flowing blonde hair and a body men drooled over. I might have been jealous of her perfection since I couldn’t pull off her looks even with a makeover—so maybe a little envious—but her appearance had always been a front. She was the devil in disguise.

She scowled, shutting the door behind her with a slam. “Do you mind explaining where you were all weekend?”

“At home.” I batted my lashes. “Why? Did you try to call me?”

She pointed her finger, narrowing her eyes at me. “Don’t you try that shit on me. I called you all weekend and your phone went straight to voicemail.”

“Hmm…” I pretended to ponder. “The battery must have died.” She had enough gall to just come over, but the little hint had been a subtle way of telling Caley to leave me alone.

“Liar.” She plopped down in the seat across from my desk. “Where were you? I wanted to go out.”

“Nowhere. Honestly, I vegged on the couch.”

Caley snorted. “You lead such an exciting life.”

My mouth parted to offer a snappy retort, but a cold wisp of air brushed across my skin, causing my lips to snap shut. Damn! I thought I’d got rid of him.

“Hello.” Caley snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Leave the aliens behind and return to Mother Earth.”

I blinked, trying to force my attention back to her, yet failing. The ghost knelt right beside Caley—not kneeling, of course; more like floating, since ghosts were never able to obtain physical contact with the world around them—and my focus held strong on him, unable to stop myself from ogling. He stared intently, with one crystal-blue eye, while the other was a chocolate color. His strong jaw, the muscles clenching along his cheeks, all spoke of power. But as he ran his hand through his untidy sandy-colored hair, his expression showed playfulness. His black tank top left his arms exposed and muscles upon muscles layered those arms.

“Anyways,” she said, dragging my gaze back to her. “I had to go out with Susanne because you left me high and dry.”

I laughed. Caley’s horny, twenty-year-old stepsister had the body that men chased after. “You did have the option to stay home, you know.”

Her eyes widened. “On a Saturday night?”

“Yeah, you know, get some popcorn, watch a movie and relax.”

She frowned. “If you don’t stop your grandma behavior, your va-jay-jay is going to shrivel up and die.”

The ghost chuckled.

His smooth laugh hit me like a cup of warm cocoa, causing my insides to melt. Nothing amused me. First off, Caley had been so wrong—maybe a little right—but I’d never admit to her accuracy aloud. Second, reacting in such a heated way to a ghost definitely didn’t hit my to-do list today.

“Excuse me.” I spoke not only to Caley, but also to the irritating ghost. “My va-jay-jay is just fine.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear you’ve still got some spunk.” She stood and placed her hands on her hips. “Because we’ve got a double date tonight.”

“A what?” Dear God!

She grinned from ear to ear. “Yes, my dearest Grammy, we’re going out.”

“With who?”

“Two guys I met on Saturday night. You’re coming with me, either willingly or unwillingly, so suck up your hesitations, babe, because saying no isn’t an option.”

“But it’s a Monday night.” Not saying a date didn’t sound like fun. A month had passed since my last attempt at dating—which failed miserably—but a man Caley chose while drunk? No thanks. My sex life might have been as dead as the sexy ghost in front of me, but I’d still search for a way out. “I have to work tomorrow.”

She wagged her finger in classic Caley fashion. “You’re a grandma.”

Most times, I respected her persistent personality. She never backed down, always dreamed big and went for the gold, but her grit hadn’t been all rays of sunshine. Her determination made her annoyingly tenacious. I had to agree or she’d never give up, and getting her out of my office sounded all too good. “Fine. I’ll go with you.”

“Oh, stop looking so pissy. We’ll have fun. Promise. I’ll come to your place at eight.” She opened the door, glanced over her shoulder and winked. “Leave the granny panties at home.”

* * * * *

The day came and went. My head pounded, not because my boss had been as demanding as any two-year-old, which he did often, but because the ghost hadn’t shut up. The past hours, even after I returned home to get ready for tonight,he’d tried his best to gain my attention. Good thing I’m great at tuning people—ghosts—out, or I would’ve caved after hour two.

“I’m not leaving until you admit you can hear me,” the ghost said.

With a flick of my shag-cut brown hair—that actually didn’t give me any trouble tonight—to dismiss him, I strode next to Caley, heading back toward the downtown core. Dressed in my low-riding, dark wash jeans and blue plaid three-quarter-length-sleeve top, tied to leave my midriff exposed, at least I looked half decent while I suffered through the embarrassing blind date.

The ghost’s tone came a little louder and more abrupt. “Dammit, woman! Will you stop ignoring me? It’s annoying.”

I’m annoying him? I nearly laughed at the ridiculous notion, but did not intend to give myself away. I’d held strong for nine hours. Soon, he’d catch the drift and piss off.

Caley knocked my arm. “Will you stop looking so tight assed?”

I glanced away from the sidewalk and smiled at her. “My ass is tight.” Okay, not eighteen-year-old tight, but only twenty-five now, I worked hard to keep things tight.

She chuckled. “You’re…”

“Damn right, you do, sweet cheeks,” the ghost said.

Caley stopped dead in her tracks, which caused me to stumble. “What’s got you blushing?”

I righted my stance, raised my hand to my face and, to my horror, my cheeks were warm. “I’m not blushing. I‑I‑I’m hot.”

“Unless you somehow turned into a lesbian and have fallen for your best friend,you’re acting weird.”

“I do love you.” At her widened eyes, I laughed. “But I don’t want you in the sack. Seriously, I’m just hot.”

The ghost’s voice deepened. “Ah, a way to grab your attention, I see.”

The little purr hanging off his tone made my stomach flip-flop. Clearly, I craved some attention and needed to get some in a bad way if I reacted in such a heated way to a non-living person.

I shoved the ridiculous reaction away and focused back on Caley, falling into stride with her. “Who’s the guy I’m hooking up with tonight?”

“He’s just your type.” She wiggled her brows. “You’re going to thank me later.”

“What do you mean my type?” I liked men, all types of them, and I’d never confine my options into a little box. Caley had apparently taped the box shut and shipped the package.

“He’s a pro baseball player and is home visiting his family for a couple days.”

“A pro, huh?” Maybe I had fooled myself into believing I didn’t have a type, because hearing baseball player made my interest rise. Images of skintight white pants and a scrumptious ass filled my mind.

“Yeah, he’s got the looks too.” She nudged her shoulder into mine. “And the money.”

“Women,” the ghost muttered.

I ignored the ghost like the ghost he was, turned onto Beale Street and Coyote Ugly Saloon appeared. A line of people outside meant an hour of waiting. Not as if I thought we’d have to wait. I had Caley with me, after all.

She snatched up my hand, yanking me forward, and hurried her steps. “Brandon,” she called out.

Two men turned toward her, and evidently, Caley knew my type better than I did, since either of the men would have fallen into the fantasy category.

“I’m so glad y’all came,” Brandon said.

Caley gave one of her pageant smiles. “We’re glad you asked us to come.”

“You must be Tess.”

I glanced toward hunk number two. He held the typical all-American look—brown hair, blue-eyed, charming smile, and with his dimple, I suspected he could woo his way into anyone’s bed. Maybe even mine if he played his cards right tonight.

“I’m Trent.”

“Nice to meet you.” I ogled his trim body and handsome face and caught sight of the big white D on his navy-blue hat. “You play for Detroit?”

He nodded. “Both Brandon and I do. We were lucky enough to get a little time off to see the family.”

“Figures, Detroit sucks,” the ghost said.

I smiled, keeping my focus on Trent, ignoring the annoyingly sexy voice by my ear.

“Come on, let’s go get a drink.” Caley wrapped her arm in Brandon’s and approached the bouncer. If one good thing came from her charismatic pushy attitude, she’d always been quite the social butterfly. No one, including me, ever said no to her.

“Did you grow up here in Memphis?” I asked Trent.

“Born and raised.”

Seemed as if he wanted to say more, but Caley interrupted with her typical impatient yell. “Come on, y’all.”

I glanced over my shoulder to find her waving her hands. “We’ve been summoned.”

Trent chuckled.

I strode past the irritated crowd, who didn’t have a Caley in their group to push their way through. Entering the bar, loud country music, accompanied by hoots and hollers, rang out around me. The stench of sweat made my nose crinkle. Caley pointed to a table across the way and I maneuvered through the partygoers, following her.

At the table, Trent held out a stool and gestured for me to sit. He sure played his cards right to a royal flush. I slid onto the stool, and he asked, “What’s your drink?”

“A cold beer sounds great.”

He winked. “My kind of lady.”

The boys headed to the bar. I glanced over at Caley, who bounced up and down on her seat in excitement. “I did good, right?”

I nodded, not at all ashamed to give her props for her choice. “He’s not only sexy as sin, but a gentleman too. You did great.”

The ghost snorted.

I’d forgotten all about him and had hoped he wouldn’t follow me into the bar. Nothing would ruin my excitement now. A long time had passed since I’d met anyone worth meeting. The ghost wouldn’t put a damper on my fun.

Within minutes, Trent and Brandon returned to the table with four beers in hand. I claimed a bottle, took a long sip and sighed in happiness. After the day I had, the beer comforted me. The alcohol refreshed the senses, revived the mood and removed the tension sitting heavy on my shoulders.

Trent grinned. “Looks like you needed a drink.”

I licked the dribble of beer from my lips. “I’ve been craving a beer all day long.” I set the bottle onto the table. “So, tell me, what’s it like to play baseball as a pro?”

I’ve never regretted saying words more in my life. One question led to a twenty-minute conversation I wished I’d never instigated. Caley, the traitor, had vanished onto the dance floor with Brandon, which left me with the pompous stud.

“I’ve grown as a player…” Trent went on.

“This guy is a fucking joke,” the ghost said.

I almost turned my head to nod, but of course refrained. I continued to listen to Trent’s words without truly hearing what he had to say. I merely muttered “yeah” or “cool” when appropriate.

“If I were him, I would’ve skipped the conversation all together and had you back in my bed the moment I laid eyes on you.”

He did not just say that! My stomach leapt up into my throat and my body warmed in places that shouldn’t from a ghost. He’d only said words—not used soft touches to entice me—but the way his voice carried into my soul, the effect had been similar to sweet caresses. “The coach has been pleased…”

The ghost’s tone dropped an octave. “I wouldn’t have wasted the time with small talk. I would’ve used my mouth to learn my way around your luscious curves and used your responses to tell me about the woman you are.”

I squirmed on the stool in an attempt to ignore the soft purr of his voice sending shivers down my spine. I even leaned in further toward Trent and tried to concentrate on his boring conversation.

“After I tasted your sweet skin and saw your desperation for more, I would kiss your mouth until your lips were rosy and swollen. I’d deepen the kiss by tangling my fingers through your hair and holding you close to feel all of me.”

I gulped, crossed my legs and squeezed them tight. He’s a ghost! Nothing that involved him should arouse me. But the pulse between my thighs declared he held the power to make me undone.

“I’d kiss my way along your jaw while I lowered my hand to trail along your stomach. Then I would seek to discover all those little places that make you squirm.”

He ran his finger from below my ear all the way to my nape. His touch forced my eyes closed. A cold shiver danced along my skin to leave goose bumps in its wake. Wild sensations stole my logical mind. My will to ignore him plummeted.

“Tess,” Caley shouted.

I opened my eyes, and after taking a moment to focus, I discovered not only Caley staring at me, but Trent and Brandon too.

She frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”

I shook my head and released the breath stuck in my throat, which came out in a slow wisp of air. “Nothing—I’m fine.”

“I’d lower myself between those luscious legs of yours, tempting you and teasing you. I’d stare into those pretty green eyes of yours until they widened in pleasure.”

“You’re not fine,” Caley retorted. “Your face is bright red.”

“I’d wait until your hips arched toward me and begged me to take you. Then, and only then, would I give you what you desire.”

I grabbed my beer, took a big swig and a couple more. All eyes stared at me with blatant confusion. Part of me wanted to move away, while the other needed to hear more.

“Ah, Tess,” Caley whispered. “Seriously, are you okay?”

I paid my obvious inappropriate behavior no attention. The fantasy the ghost built in my mind needed to have a conclusion. “Yes. Yes. I’m good.”

“I would thrust against you, demanding you react to my intentions. You’d scream out and I would echo the sound with a moan of my own, as I used all my strength to satisfy you.”

Caley chuckled nervously.

I gripped the edge of the table in front of me and held on tight.

“You’d come into your orgasm because I’d leave you with no other choice. But I wouldn’t stop there.” He ran his finger along my exposed lower back and the coldness against my hot skin made me shiver. “Without giving you the chance to recover, I’d flip you over on your knees,” his tone dipped lower, “and fuck you senseless.”

I shot up from my seat, which caused the stool to slam back into the person behind me, who swore in return. “I have to go.”

Caley nodded. “Ah yeah, I think you do.”

Without another word—or a goodbye to the living men or the dead one who had got me all hot and bothered—I bolted from the bar and ran so hard my calves burned, reminding me of the three-inch heels strapped to my feet.

The ghost didn’t follow me and nothing pleased me more. I needed some space, time to return to reality or to pleasure the need out of me—either would do.

Within only a few minutes, I arrived at my condominium, which appeared more like an old textile factory, but inside were renovated modern apartments. The arousal burning inside me hadn’t vanished. The wetness between my thighs was a constant reminder of the ghost’s words.

I ran up the stairs while I took my keys out from my back pocket. At the thick mahogany wooden door, I raised my key pass to the scanner, grabbed the chrome door handle and swung it open.

Just three doors down, I opened the door to my condo before slamming it closed behind me. I didn’t bother to lock the door and did the only thing I thought of now. I sprinted to the bedroom, stripped out of my clothes and finished the fantasy the ghost had built in my mind.

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Terry Spear

New Years for the Gray Pack of Silver Town, Colorado

New Years for a pack means new life, new family members, and in this case, Lelandi has just had her triplets, a girl and two boys (Destiny of the Wolf). Darien, the father, is standing proud over his new offspring, while Jake, his triplet brother, is happy to be the babies’ uncle. His own mate, bounty hunter, Alicia, is having their children a few months from now (Dreaming of the Wolf).

It’s taken all Jake’s willpower not to spend every dime they’ve saved to buy more furnishings and toys for the children before they’re born. His brothers are much amused.

Tom, the youngest of the triplets can only dream of having a mate like his brothers, and joining in the celebration of adding more members to their pack. (Silence of the Wolves, 2013)

So what does everyone want that will make the New Year special?

Lelandi wants peace in the pack so that Darien can help with the babies and the multitude of diapers she has to change. Although everyone in the pack loves to help with the babies. Which is a wolf way.

Darien wants to be able to sleep some in the New Year. And of course wants to spend more time ALONE with Lelandi!

Jake wants his bounty hunter wife to take on only the really safe cases, although he sticks to her side on every take down she is involved in. He hopes to have all girls. Not only are their fewer females in a werewolf pack, but Darien’s little girl will need not only playmates, but a pack of girls can stick together to help put the boys in their place.

Alicia wants Jake to quit worrying about her so much. Now that she’s a wolf, she really feels her ability to deal with criminals has been enhanced. And she hopes she can quickly learn how to be a werewolf mother, when she hasn’t a clue how that will affect her. Though she’s been taking notes after Lelandi had her babies. As to girls or boys? She doesn’t have any preference, having been an only child. She’s just happy being in a loving extended family.

Tom wants to prove he has what it takes to not only be a sub-leader in the pack, but that he can find the right mate. Dreaming for one isn’t working out like he had hoped.

Silva, the waitress at the Silver Town Saloon, is ready to look for a new wolf if Sam doesn’t make up his mind soon.

And Sam, the bartender, he’s taking the plunge, despite being an old bachelor type. So for New Years, unbeknownst to Silva, he’s asking her to be his mate. No ring, as wolves don’t believe in that, but during the New Year Eve’s party, he’s letting Silva and the pack know just how much he loves and admires her, and wants her for his mate.

As the wolves of Silver Town are facing the cold winter ahead, running their town, and planning for an ever increasing-sized pack, each has their own individual goals and hopes for the future.

For me, I want them all to live happily ever after. That’s my New Year’s goal. Oh, and that readers love the wolves’ stories!

Would you like to try out a hunky, passionate, maybe a little possessive and adventuresome werewolf for the upcoming year?

Not only that, but a jaguar shapeshifter breed is coming in the New Year and their bite is even stronger than a wolf’s! So wolf and big cat shifters. Yum.

Thanks for having me today at Fang-tastic Books!
Terry Spear


“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male where fantasy IS reality.”

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DREAMING OF THE WOLF by TERRY SPEAR—IN STORES DECEMBER 2011

A fierce hunter…


Alicia Greiston is a no-nonsense bounty hunter determined to bring a ring of mobsters to justice. Her dogged pursuit of the crime family has forced her to avoid relationships—any man would only become a target for retribution. Luckily, Jake Silver is more than a man, and his instincts are telling him to stop at nothing to protect her.


An animal passion…


However, the mob isn’t entirely human either, and soon Alicia must flee for her life. When Alicia and Jake’s passion begins to spill over into their dreams, Jake learns he will have to do more than defend her—he’ll have to show his mate the way of the wolf.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author Terry Spear has written a dozen paranormal romance novels, with over 60,000 copies sold. She received Publishers Weekly’s Best Book of the Year in 2008 for Heart of the Wolf. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry is a librarian by day. She lives in Crawford, Texas. For more information, please visit www.terryspear.com.

Giveaway Time

Sourcebooks if offering to giveaway 2 copies of 
Dreaming of the Wolf
to 2 lucky winners

So one book per winner

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A Discovery of Witches Giveaway

Today A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES by Deborah Harkness in paperback for the first time.

"This mesmerizing novel debuted at # 2 on the New York Times bestseller list and became an international phenomenon with major publications following in 34 countries. This summer, Warner Brothers acquired screen rights to A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES and its sequels. With over 300,000 copies sold, this was truly the “it” book of early 2011, and fans are now eagerly awaiting the second installment in the All Souls Trilogy, Shadow of Night, due out in summer 2012."

When historian Diana Bishop opens a bewitched alchemical manuscript in Oxford’s Bodleian Library it represents an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordinary life. Though descended from a long line of witches, she is determined to remain untouched by her family’s legacy. She banishes the manuscript to the stacks, but Diana finds it impossible to hold the world of magic at bay any longer.

For witches are not the only otherworldly creatures living alongside humans. There are also creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires who become interested in the witch’s discovery. They believe that the manuscript contains important clues about the past and the future, and want to know how Diana Bishop has been able to get her hands on the elusive volume.

Chief among the creatures who gather around Diana is vampire Matthew Clairmont, a geneticist with a passion for Darwin. Together, Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the manuscript’s secrets. But the relationship that develops between the ages-old vampire and the spellbound witch threatens to unravel the fragile peace that has long existed between creatures and humans—and will certainly transform Diana’s world as well.

Penguin is offering a copy of the new paperback edition to one lucky reader?

Would you like to win it?

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