An Entangled Guest Blog and Giveaway with Jess Macallan

I’m thrilled to be back at Fang-tastic today! I love this blog, and it’s the perfect place to be for my favorite time of year—Halloween! I love every creepy, crawly, spooky, scary part of it. Costumes are a big deal around here—my family is obsessed with the perfect getup. And pumpkins? We grow a huge pumpkin patch and top it off with an annual pumpkin carving party. When Halloween night rolls around we go trick-or-treating with a group of over 50 people, which is amazing for our small town. We could have a pretty awesome flash mob if we planned it right.

As much as I love the scary aspects of this holiday, there are a few things I could do without forever. Horrible, terrifying things that give me nightmares on a regular basis. I can handle zombies, sparkly vamps, politics and the cast of Jersey Shore. *Cough* That last one is a stretch, but I can deal. No, I have a list of my secret fears. The things that scare me into rocking on the floor in the fetal position are:

1. Dolls. No, not Barbie (which is a topic for another day). I’m talking about rooms full of dolls. Floor to ceiling, row upon row of lifeless plastic or ceramic bodies with small glass eyes staring sightlessly at you. Did you know dolls were originally created to house the souls of the dead? My neighbor has a doll collection. *shudder* She invited me over one day to drink tea and admire them. Er…no thanks. I’d rather meet Freddy Krueger on a bad day.

2. Clowns. This one’s a no-brainer. After IT, I will never look at clowns the same way. We recently did a carnival at my children’s school. One of the high school boys dressed up as a clown. I can’t tell who cried harder, some of the parents or the kids. Clowns are creepy. The more they smile, the worse it gets.

3. Spiders. I have a deep-rooted fear of arachnids. I was scarred for life the day I pulled on a pair of jeans only to find a spider in one of the pant legs. Actually, it had moved to my leg and was quickly crawling up. If you listen carefully, you can still hear the echoes of my blood curdling shrieks and my family howling with laughter. Shortly thereafter, I found out the average person ingests approximately eight spiders in their lifetime (ground up into food, beauty products, etc.) If that doesn’t freak you out, I don’t know what will.

So there you have it. My secret fears revealed. What are you secretly afraid of?

Thank you so much for having me back at Fang-tastic! I hope you’ll all come find me at:

| Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | JessMacallan |

Title: Stone Cold Seduction
Author: Jess Macallan
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: September 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-24-4
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-25-1

SET IN STONE - Book One - by Jess Macallan

“Elle. It’s just Elle.”

When a regular night of Robin Hood-ery results in the manifestation of some, um, unusual paranormal abilities, perfume-maker Elleodora Fredricks realizes the normal world she lives in isn’t quite… normal. And neither is she, thanks to her father, king of the shadow elves. Not only is he evil incarnate and the reason Elle moonlights as a burglar—someone has to take care of all his victims—he’s stolen her memories.

And only reading her fate can fix that.

Good thing she’s got a trio of hotties willing to help her find said fate. Saving her oracle BFF’s fiancée, falling in love with the gargoyle, and making up for breaking the phoenix’s heart ought to be a piece of cake for the princess of the shadow elves.
If only the king didn’t want his daughter dead…

About the Author:

Jess lives in the Inland Northwest with her husband and three children. She thrives on creative chaos. Curiosity drives her to try new things as often as
possible.

When not writing or chasing trouble, she teaches yoga, reads, runs a mini farm, watches MMA and gardens. The only things she takes seriously are
chocolate, tea and world domination. But mostly chocolate.

Giveaway Time

Jess is offering an ebook copy of Stone Cold Seduction

to one lucky reader today

Want to Win?

Then leave a comment on this

post with your email addy

Answer the question:

What are you secretly afraid of?

Get a bonus entry (each)

for following Jess

on Twitter and Facebook

Interview and Giveaway with Jess Macallan

Today I'd like to welcome Jess Macallan, author of Stone Cold Seduction to Fang-tastic Books for an interview and giveaway.

Thanks so much for having me today! I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce myself and my new series.

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

I’ve always loved everything paranormal, but have a soft spot for gargoyles. The gothic architectural style fascinates me. If my country neighbors wouldn’t pitch a fit, I’d have a pair sitting at the end of my driveway. *grins* Most historians believe gargoyles were created as rain spouts, or to ward or scare off evil and prevent it from entering a particular dwelling. I went with the latter description. I figure we all deserve protection in the form of a sexy stone man.

Please tell us about your latest release.

Stone Cold Seduction, the first book in the Set in Stone series, is about a woman who is thrown into a paranormal world she wants nothing to do with. Except for the sexy gargoyle and hot phoenix, who both claim to be her mate. She’s on a quest to find her fate, while her father does everything in his power to prevent that from happening.

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?

I’m the worst at naming characters. I have a couple baby name books I keep on hand. I have to be careful, because if I forget to put them away before relatives visit, they assume I’m pregnant. I usually go with unusual spellings, specific meanings, or mythological names. For last names, I usually open the phone book to a random page, close my eyes, and use whatever name my finger lands on. It’s a fine science.

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 try to keep a list of general physical traits, but I let their personalities develop as the story flows. I’m always a little surprised by how they turn out, but it’s a lot more fun to write that way. If I tried to plot them out, I’d be bored to tears, and I think my characters would be, too. They always manage to surprise me, which is part of the fun.

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

Absolutely. Although I don’t consider it writer’s block so much as me getting in my own way. When the words aren’t flowing, I know it’s time to take a break. I can analyze a scene to death. It’s draining and unproductive. I’ll take a day off to read books in my TBR pile, which manages to double overnight. I’ll also do yoga, garden, walk—anything to get away from my computer and move my body. It’s amazing how movement helps the creative juices flow.

Do you write in different genres?

Yes. I write in multiple genres, to go with each of my personalities. *grins* Seriously though, I write urban fantasy, paranormal romance, paranormal thriller, contemporary romance, erotica, non-fiction, and middle grade. I have eclectic tastes in books, and that spills over into my writing habits and interests. I get bored easily, and need to keep my writing interesting or my muse goes on an extended vacation.

Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?

Not really. In fact, it’s one of the ways I stay productive as a writer. If I get stuck on one book, I can shift gears and work on another. I love the change of pace. Each genre gives me the opportunity to take my writing to a new level. I view it as a fun challenge. It doesn’t work for every writer, but it keeps writing entertaining for me. My greatest desire is to have fun with my career. Writing in multiple genres allows me to do that.

What are your guilty pleasures in life?

Imported chocolate is a big one. I also love to write in bed at least one day a week. I’ll spend most of the day writing while lounging under the covers. Bliss! When I’m not writing, I’ll watch endless reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Will Ferrell movies. Just not at the same time. And I love watching MMA.

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?

I teach yoga, which keeps me sane and flexible. I love making yoga accessible for anyone—it spills over into my writing. I also live on a mini farm where we raise the sweetest chickens, and grow a huge garden full of fruits and veggies. I’m passionate about nutrition, so growing my own food is a biggie. Two of my kids have serious food allergies, so I have to get creative in the kitchen.

What was the last amazing book you read?

I have so many favorite authors, it’s hard to choose. I have to go with two books that are still stuck in my head months after I read them: River Marked by Patricia Briggs and Pale Demon by Kim Harrison. I’m impatiently awaiting the next books in both of those series.

Where can readers find you on the web?

You can find me at

Goodreads | JessMacallan.com | Facebook | Twitter@JessMacallan


Title: Stone Cold Seduction
Author: Jess Macallan
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: September 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-24-4
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-25-1

SET IN STONE - Book One - by Jess Macallan

“Elle. It’s just Elle.”

When a regular night of Robin Hood-ery results in the manifestation of some, um, unusual paranormal abilities, perfume-maker Elleodora Fredricks realizes the normal world she lives in isn’t quite… normal. And neither is she, thanks to her father, king of the shadow elves. Not only is he evil incarnate and the reason Elle moonlights as a burglar—someone has to take care of all his victims—he’s stolen her memories.

And only reading her fate can fix that.

Good thing she’s got a trio of hotties willing to help her find said fate. Saving her oracle BFF’s fiancée, falling in love with the gargoyle, and making up for breaking the phoenix’s heart ought to be a piece of cake for the princess of the shadow elves.
If only the king didn’t want his daughter dead…

About the Author:

Jess lives in the Inland Northwest with her husband and three children. She thrives on creative chaos. Curiosity drives her to try new things as often as
possible.

When not writing or chasing trouble, she teaches yoga, reads, runs a mini farm, watches MMA and gardens. The only things she takes seriously are
chocolate, tea and world domination. But mostly chocolate.

Giveaway Time

Jess is offering an ebook copy of Stone Cold Seduction

to one lucky reader today

Want to Win?

Then leave a comment on this

post with your email addy

Get a bonus entry (each)

for following Jess

on Twitter and Facebook

Review of Stone Cold Seduction by Jess Macallan

Title: Stone Cold Seduction
Author: Jess Macallan
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: September 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-24-4
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-25-1


Five Fangs for Stone Cold Seduction

SET IN STONE - Book One - by Jess Macallan

“Elle. It’s just Elle.”

When a regular night of Robin Hood-ery results in the manifestation of some, um, unusual paranormal abilities, perfume-maker Elleodora Fredricks realizes the normal world she lives in isn’t quite… normal. And neither is she, thanks to her father, king of the shadow elves. Not only is he evil incarnate and the reason Elle moonlights as a burglar—someone has to take care of all his victims—he’s stolen her memories.

And only reading her fate can fix that.

Good thing she’s got a trio of hotties willing to help her find said fate. Saving her oracle BFF’s fiancée, falling in love with the gargoyle, and making up for breaking the phoenix’s heart ought to be a piece of cake for the princess of the shadow elves.

If only the king didn’t want his daughter dead…

My Review:

This book sucked me right in. It was different and intriguing and before I knew it I was hooked and couldn't put it down.

I was drawn to the premise of a sexy gargoyle, I have not read any books where the lead guy is a gargoyle- but I have a confession to make. Back in the 90s when my oldest son was little I used to watch the cartoon Gargoyles with him every morning while he was getting ready for school and I was hooked on that hunky gargoyle Goliath and the budding romance he had going on with the human woman (can't remember her name). I was bummed when the show was no longer aired, don;t know what happened with it.

Anyway I ramble, but the point is I was hooked on the concept of the leading man being hard as a rock and I'm not just talking about his naughty bits. ;-)

The only problem I had with Stone Cold is at first I thought the timing was off- everyone seemed to know what was going on except the heroine, Elle, which didn't make sense if she's been around these people her entire life, especially her best friend, she should know at the minimum something was odd, a little different, but she was completely clueless about the entire supernatural community.

Then ding, ding, ding we find out why and suddenly everything starts making sense- to the reader and to Elle.

The characters are rich and mysterious, everyone has secrets and things are never quite what they seem. There's even a tad bit of a love triangle. I'm personally rooting for the stone man but how can one resist a flaming hot phoenix? Hmmmm.....

Twists and turns abound and then the book ends on a cliffhanger making you groan in frustration and simultaneously crave more.

It was fabulous.

Excerpt from Stone Cold Seduction

Title: Stone Cold Seduction
Author: Jess Macallan
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: September 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-24-4
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-25-1

SET IN STONE - Book One - by Jess Macallan

“Elle. It’s just Elle.”

When a regular night of Robin Hood-ery results in the manifestation of some, um, unusual paranormal abilities, perfume-maker Elleodora Fredricks realizes the normal world she lives in isn’t quite… normal. And neither is she, thanks to her father, king of the shadow elves. Not only is he evil incarnate and the reason Elle moonlights as a burglar—someone has to take care of all his victims—he’s stolen her memories.

And only reading her fate can fix that.

Good thing she’s got a trio of hotties willing to help her find said fate. Saving her oracle BFF’s fiancée, falling in love with the gargoyle, and making up for breaking the phoenix’s heart ought to be a piece of cake for the princess of the shadow elves.
If only the king didn’t want his daughter dead…

Excerpt from STONE COLD SEDUCTION by Jess Macallan

“You are my true mate.”

My lips were still tingling, and my brain was fuzzy. “Jax, I’m not sure what that means.”

He didn’t answer, but instead pressed a kiss to my temple. And another to my cheek. Slowly, he nuzzled his way to my neck. I let my head drop to one side, giving him better access.

He whispered his approval, and lightly nipped at my neck. “It is a connection between souls. A bond determined by fate. I will show you what it means.”

His lips and tongue were doing a slow, erotic dance along the oh-so-sensitive skin down my neck, and coherent thought was impossible. He could show me whatever he wanted, as long as he didn’t stop.

I sighed, and Jax took that as acceptance. Before I knew what he was going to do, he’d scooped me up and was halfway up the stairs.

“Jax!” I yelped.

He stopped, but his muscles were vibrating with energy. He waited until he had my full attention before repeating, “I will show you. We are mates, connected in ways you and the phoenix will never be.”

His silver eyes were bright and intense. I could admit to having had many, many fantasies where he’d carried me upstairs, and all sorts of amazing things had happened. But this was real. And he was dead serious. It scared me, thrilled me, and seriously confused me.

When I didn’t respond, he lowered my feet to the floor and pressed me up against the wall in the narrow stairwell. His eyes held mine as he leaned close. “I will show you, so there are no doubts.”

Then he kissed me again, and this time, he held nothing back. Possession, need, and barely leashed control. Jax’s mouth told me more than words ever could. He leaned against me so our bodies were in full contact. Need burned through me. His taste, his touch, drowned out my worries. His scent surrounded me. He smelled crisp and clean. Like a sunny, winter day. But the heat he created inside me was intense. Just like the man himself.