Friday Fragment - A Dantonville Chronicle: Luc and Judy's Story

Recently, I've had requests from readers to provide the backstories of some of the other characters in my Dantonville Legacy series, and I couldn't think of anything more fun.
So, here's the first one: Luc and Judy's first meeting.

Enjoy!

‘Wait for me here, I won’t be long,’ my father said before he turned and went to the door, muttering , ‘I don’t want him to see you.’

‘Him? Who?’

He left me alone in the front reception room of the palatial residence in Vaucluse he’d asked me to drive him to - wondering who on earth he was referring to. It certainly wasn’t a house call - he’d left his medical bag on the back seat of the car.

I glanced around. It was a pleasant room: cream-jacquard wallpaper and beige carpet. Several leather-upholstered armchairs were arranged round a coffee table on which sat a small marble bust. Bookshelves lined the walls the spaces between each interspersed with potted ferns on metal stands. Large bay windows looked out onto a gravelled front drive and the tree-lined lane beyond. A few straggly bushes poked their branches above the windowsill, their dry branches scratching against the panes in the wind. Pity they weren’t roses. Roses would've looked lovely, I thought. It only heightened my sense of unease at my father’s parting words.

After running my finger along some of the books, and even perusing a few, I became curious about the rest of the house. My father didn’t say how long he’d be. I glanced at my watch - he’d been gone nearly fifteen minutes.

No one in the hallway as I peeked out the door. Quiet too. And the servant who'd let us in was nowhere to be seen.

Should I call out?

Sunlight streamed in through the coloured-glass panels in the front door, illuminating the dust mites that flitted through the air and landed on the painted images of dragons, griffins and other mythological creatures that ran like a dado along the length of the walls. It was unlike any decoration I’d ever seen. Whoever lived here must have a sense of the gothic, I thought, and wondered if I’d encounter a suit of armour somewhere in a secluded corner.

To my left a grand staircase led to the upper levels of the house, and past that were other rooms, their open doors giving a glimpse of what lay beyond.

My curiosity was piqued. Would it do any harm to have a quick look around while I waited?

The clack of my footsteps on the tiled floor was magnified in the overwhelming silence, and my heart pounded at the fear I might be taken for an intruder. I stopped and considered going back. Father could appear at any moment and I doubt he’d be happy if I wandered off. Yet he didn’t say how long he’d be.

Only a quick look. 

Eight steps and I was admiring a spacious dining room. The long glass-topped table could have seated twelve. Organza curtains flapped in the breeze whispering through the open French doors. I glimpsed pink camellia bushes and a paved path ….

‘Would you like to see the garden?’

My heart flew into my throat and I spun around. Everything around me faded as I focused on the tall, stunning fair-haired man who approached me.

His eyes were the exact shade as mine: lavender.

*Start the series here - BloodGifted, Book 1 in the Dantonville Legacy Series eBook 

                                                                                                                       Paperback

Enjoy a Deleted Scene From BloodGifted.

For all my Dantonville Legacy fans here's a deleted chapter from the first book in the series, BloodGifted. It didn't make the final cut, as the book was already well over the word limit I'd set for myself.
The scene takes place in Jenny's house right after Laura walked out on Alec and Matt in the cafe, the day after she and Alec had met.

Enjoy ☺️💕🌸

Jenny

     ‘Stupid men!’ After walking out on Matt and Alec, I made my way to Jen’s place.
     It wasn’t far, only two blocks from the cafe in a quiet, tree-lined street halfway down a steep hill. It was part of a group of lovely century-old sandstone cottages that had escaped the bulldozer in the late nineteen-sixties, when almost all suburban councils were in a frenzy to demolish the old in their haste to construct modern apartment complexes - like mine.
     They got more rates that way.
     I knocked on the familiar glossy blue front door.
     ‘I was about to call you.’ She stood back to allow me to enter, her head cocked to one side as I strode past. ‘Uh oh. I know that look. Man trouble?’
     ‘You have no idea.’
     ‘Kitchen,’ she ordered.
     We strode down the long, book-lined hallway, past the poky bedrooms and into the open living area that was Jenny’s favourite part of the house - her sunny kitchen. I knew it almost as well as my own - welcoming, comforting and far away from the strange, new and dark world Alec represented.
I went straight to the kettle and switched it on.
     ‘That bad, huh?’ She leant against the sink and watched silently as I fetched a tin of tea bags from the cupboard and slammed it on the bench. She rescued the mugs I was reaching for before they met the same fate.
     ‘Laura, hon, tell me.’
     ‘Bloody men!’
     ‘What else is new?’
     Good point. Settling me in a chair, she finished making the tea and placed a steaming cup of Earl Grey into my hands.
     ‘Matt’s angry.’ Misery coated my voice, and as much as I was able, I told Jenny about the new man who’d entered my life - Alec Munro-‘He’s … a family friend … on Aunt judy’s side’ -the meeting in the cafe and my parting words. ‘He nearly started a punch-up in the cafe.’
     Jenny whistled and gave me an incredulous stare.
     My stomach churned at having to avoid the words “vampire”, “blood”, “magic rings” or that Alec was a murder suspect. Yet how could I reveal all that? The biggest secret of my life and I couldn’t share it with my best friend.
     Life had taken a turn for the worse but I promised myself that one day she would know all.
     ‘That’s the action of a man guarding his property,’ she said shaking her head.
     ‘I’m nobody’s property!’
     ‘Men don’t think that way, hon.’
     ‘Tell me about it.’ I gulped down my tea wishing it were something stronger.
     ‘From what you told me, your aunt’s asked you to take her place at this event, this Alec guy as your escort, right?’
     ‘Uh huh.’
     ‘It has to be a Dantonville and you’re the only one available?’
     ‘Y-e-e-e-s.’ Technically true.
     ‘And Matt’s not happy.’ She leaned forward and braced her arms on the table. ‘Describe this Alexander Munro.’
     ‘About one-eighty-centimetres - taller than Matt - lean but muscular, broad shoulders, dark hair.’
     ‘Eyes?’
     I really didn’t want to answer that, but I did. ‘Violety-mauve.’
     ‘You mean lavender? Like yours? That’s incredible.’
     ‘Mmmm.’
     ‘Okay … age?’
     ‘Um … twenty-nine.’ I nearly blurted out Alec’s chronological age.
     Jenny’s eyes never left my face. ‘Laura, on a scale of one to ten, level one being, let’s say bad teeth, no lips, scrawny body, to ten being a regular hottie male-model-make-women-salivate type of guy. Where would you place this Alec Munro?’
     Because I didn’t answer straight away, Jen gave me her suspicious look: lowered head, raised eyebrows and pursed lips.
     ‘Eleven.’
     At that, she threw her hands in the air and rolled her eyes. ‘Oh hon, wake up and smell the testosterone! Of course Matt’s reacting, what did you expect? First you tell him you have to meet this guy alone, then accompany him to some plush event where he’s not invited and this morning you’re meeting him for coffee - again - alone. No wonder he bolted down there as soon as he woke up and read your note!’ She looked at me as if I was an idiot. ‘Especially if this Alec looks like, you know, a hottie from heaven.’
     ‘Oh Jen! I was hoping I was wrong, but hearing you say it….’ I buried my face in my hands.
     ‘Tell me, hon, did this guy try to come on to you, you know, hold your hand, lock eyes …? And did Matt see any of that?’
     What the??? ‘I know what coming onto me means. I’m not stupid!’
     ‘No you’re not, Laura, but you can be so naive sometimes it worries me.’
     Blame my emotional stuntedness on my weird genes. I sighed. ‘Alec did take my hand to apologise for - the inconvenience, but that was before Matt showed up.’
     ‘How soon before?’
     I chewed on my lower lip and shook my head. ‘I’m sure he didn’t see anything, and I took my hand away as soon as I could.’
     ‘Honey, Matt’s a detective. He has the eyes of a hawk.’
     I groaned. Lowered my head and banged it lightly on the table. It seemed the most sensible thing to do.
     Jenny’s hand patted the top of my head. ‘Want my advice?'
     I nodded into the table.
     ‘Reassure him. That’s what he needs to hear from you. This Alec Munro’s an unknown and Matt’s worried. Tell him you love him and that you’re only accompanying this guy to do your aunt a favour. After this, you’ll never see him again. Right? End of problem.’
     If only it was that simple. How could I tell her that I’d be seeing Alec for the next fifty years - twice a week?
     Jenny gazed at me, expectant. ‘Laura, this shouldn’t be a problem, you know, unless…?’
     ‘Unless what?’ My head shot up.
     ‘You feel something for this other guy,’ she said softly.
     In that sunny kitchen, a cold chill crept its way up my spine. I was fond of Matt, no, I loved him … I was sure of it. The fact that Alec was beyond good looking had nothing to do with it.
     Then why did my stomach flip when Jen mentioned his name?
     You’re being ridiculous, Laura. I gripped the tea cup and brought it up to my lips. Blast, it was empty. ‘No, I’m not doing that to Matt - ever.’ I rose from the table and rinsed the empty cup in the sink. Jenny’s silence sent an arrow through my heart. ‘Sorry Jen. I didn’t mean that the way it came out.’
      'S’okay, and I don’t blame you. Just don’t make the same mistake I did.’
     Jenny knew the heartache of falling for another man - two weeks before her wedding. The fact she’d broken off the engagement, married the other guy who'd then promptly left her when she found out she couldn’t have kids, was testament to her following her own heart.
     ‘Did you?’
     ‘Still can’t answer that.’ Her usually lively eyes turned sad and I couldn’t bear to see that.
     ‘Ball gown,’ I blurted out.
     ‘What?’
     ‘I need to buy a ball gown.’
     ‘You’re going then?’
     ‘I have to.’
     ‘Okay, but if I can have the last word here? Matt is crazy about you. Rang last week sussing out whether he had a chance. He was worried that you’d hold back because of the age gap between you. I told him to go for it; that he’ll always look older because of your funny DNA. That’s all he needed to know.’
     I was speechless.
     ‘And - did he?’ she asked.
     I nodded. ‘Last night - in the car - coming home.’
     ‘Well then.’ And that was it, her final word. ‘You’d better go and buy that dress. Wish I could join you. Unfortunately,’ she pointed to the pile of marking stacked high in the laundry basket next to the table, ‘got to get them done by Monday.’
     ‘No worries, Jen. I came at short notice anyway.’
     She saw me to the door, and after a peck on the cheek, ‘Make sure you tell me everything afterwards,’ I left to scour the shops to find something suitable to wear to a vampire ceremony.
     Perhaps I should ask the shop assistants? 

Want to read the entire book? Get it here - Amazon eBook Paperback
 

***Giveaway Time!***

As many of you know, my Dantonville Legacy series has recently had a cover-makeover, which means that I still have a whole lot of swag left over featuring the old covers, such as this T-shirt and paperbacks.

So, I'm running a flash giveaway!

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:

The rules are simple, and based on some lovely feedback I've had from my readers recently.
Just tell me:
WHICH MEMBER OF CLAN DANTONVILLE YOU'D LOVE TO SEE FEATURED NEXT IN HIS/HER OWN BOOK?

You can answer this question both here (on my blog) and on my facebook page.

The T-shirt is a size 14-16(AU) so whether you like a snug fit or loose, it should fit most bodies. Get it for yourself, a relative or friend and come join the Clan Dantonville family.
Since I have several old-cover paperbacks to off-load, I'll throw in a second prize winner, as well. They'll be able to choose which of the old-cover Dantonville Legacy paperbacks they'd like to add to their collection, or perhaps even start a new one.

RULES:

The Giveaway starts TODAY and ends Monday March 27th (AEST).
All comments are to be left either on my blog or on my facebook page. Bonus points for anyone who leaves comments on both sites, and I'll enter your name TWICE for a double chance to win.

I'll announce the winners as soon as the contest closes and it'll be up to them to contact me to claim their prizes.

Good luck!

Meet Paranormal Romance Writing Duo, Jane Ederlyn

Jane Ederlyn is the alter ego of a writing duo from South Florida. Jane, a registered nurse by day, by night lives to create havoc and conflict in their stories, relentlessly strategizing ways to kill off one more character. 
Ederlyn, a cruise-line professional by day, by night loves to plot meticulous happily-ever-afters for the hero and heroine, often battling Jane to save her favorites. They can usually be found at their favorite Barnes & Noble sipping lattes and pondering “what ifs?” or at the mall shoe shopping.

Reborn is book #1 and we're working on Return book #2 which is slotted for fall of 2017.

 
Marie Josette d’Orgemont, cousin to Louis XVI, watched in horror as a rogue creature took her husband’s life before turning on her. A powerful vampire swept in and spared her life, but she never suspected surviving meant immortality or the price she’d have to pay to protect her surviving son.

Centuries later, in Miami, with her family on the verge of extinction, Marie is preoccupied with the continuation of her human bloodline. When she meets sexy and persistent Odin Ulfsson, his icy-blue gaze and burning touch are hard to resist. Will a forbidden romance with the Nordic werewolf be the key to her happiness, or will it set in motion a wrath that endangers not only her last human heir but her entire existence?

 Buy it here: Amazon (US)
                    Amazon (UK)
                    Amazon (CA)
                    Amazon (AU)
                    Universal link
                    Goodreads

Meet The Queen of Scream, Suzie Albracht

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Suzi Albracht. Some people call me The Queen of Scream. I can hardly wait to show you why.

I have been a writer since I was a little girl. However, it wasn’t until I became one of the walking divorced dead that I started to actually do something with it. For me, there was something healing about writing horror. I got to kill my demons in all sorts of unusual ways. I promise you, only on paper.

My style is to take characters who are very much like your friends, family, and acquaintances and put them into normal, everyday scenarios that turn horribly wrong. My goal is to get my readers to become emotionally involved with the characters and to even be loyal to some of them. I also want the bad guys to be hated with everything you got. If you read me, I think you will find I have met my goal and then some.

My books are - The Devil’s Due Collection – The Devil’s Lieutenant, Death Most Wicked, and Scorn Kills. I also wrote a non-fiction book to help Newbie Twitter users - The Super Easy Guide for Twitter Newbies: Cracking the Secret of Getting & Keeping Followers. Currently, I am writing a political thriller and book four for The Devil’s Due Collection.

My Twitter profile sums me up, short and sweet - Write, scare myself, turn on all lights, write more. Play pool, kick butt/get butt kicked, write more horror, double lock door.

The Devil’s Lieutenant is Book 1 of The Devil’s Due Collection.

This is a novel that invites you on a whirlwind ride where you get glimpses into the dark side of humanity – those men and women who are greedy, lust driven, criminal, self-serving, corrupted by hopelessness, and desperate to save themselves no matter the cost. You will meet Mr. Ivanovitch who ruthlessly manipulates people who are dangling at the end of their ropes into contracts that will send them to hell if they fail to live up to their end of the bargain. And you will be introduced to his right-hand man, Carl Royce, the Devil’s Enforcer, a man with a dark soul and even darker heart. Carl has a bloody collection of souvenirs that will show you just how cruel he can be.

Because The Devil’s Lieutenant is a story of good versus evil, you also meet the white knight of the story, Jake Holyfield. A man who is a father, a husband, and a cop. Not a perfect man but one who works at being a good person every day of his life. He would be the first to admonish you for calling him a white knight. Within a few pages, he plunges into the depths of Ivanovitch’s world and doesn’t even know it.

So buckle in… your ride begins with the fateful story of Caleb Hunter, a high-profile defense attorney with a costly gambling addiction. To cover his debts and avoid having his wife and business partners discover his thefts to cover his losses, Caleb makes a pact with the wrong individual. The deal provides him with the means to become solvent again without the embarrassment of being found out. He swears he will never gamble again, but Caleb has not learned his lesson and has made the deadliest gamble of all. He is betting on his lawyer skills to get him out of trouble when he ignores his end of the pact. His debts are paid and the thievery covered up, but Caleb ends up a greasy wet spot on a side street of Annapolis.

Caleb’s death becomes Jake Holyfield’s first homicide case on the job. That case ends up being the first in a series of barbaric murders that frustrates the entire homicide division. There are no clues, no DNA, and no witnesses. As the body count rises, Jake begins to look into alternate methods of identifying and catching the killer. He naively ends up making a decision that will change his life and that of everyone in his life. Now the battle is on.

Are you ready for what happens next?

View the Book Trailer 

Check out Suzie Albracht's books here

 

The Dantonville Legacy Series Has All New Covers

It happened so fast that I hadn't had time to boast about my new book covers. I simply updated all my social media headers without a word about it. There were too many other things going on at the same time.
Why change?
Sales had slowed right down and so something needed to be done. Also, although I loved my previous covers, the symbolic images were more reflective of urban fantasy rather than paranormal romance, the genre in which my series of books comfortably sit.
Thanks go to JC Clarke who designed and and created my new book covers.
I love them.

Since I was on a roll, I also updated the book description for BloodGifted, the first book in the series.

What’s a girl to do when she learns she’s the key to breaking a centuries-old family curse? Become dangerously intimate with a jaw-dropping vision of male hotness hiding a secret agenda of his own.

Nothing could be simpler.

Or is it?

When primary school teacher Laura Dantonville learns of her family's dark ancestral legacy, she’s propelled into a secret underworld ruled by magic, mystery and murder, and stalked by vampire clans who would do anything to possess her. For her protection, she’s assigned a guardian not knowing that part of her role in ending the ancient curse that has plagued her family for centuries, involves having a child with him.

And she has one day to make a decision.

With only five years left of servitude to his sire, Alec Munro reluctantly accepts to act as Laura’s guardian or risk remaining in slavery forever. But can he maintain a platonic relationship between them when something far more intimate is required to end his sire’s family curse?

With time running out, Laura must decide to either accept Alec or allow her vampire-hating detective boyfriend to end the legacy his way – by eliminating the undead side of her family.

After all, they’re not human are they?

Being unable to age is just the beginning.

I hope that's a great start for 2017 .😊

Jewelled Bookmark Giveaway

I've always loved doing crafty things, such as quilting, cross-stitch and rug making. But, jewellery making has always been a favourite, and since I can't possibly wear all the things I make (unless I want to look like an overdressed Christmas tree) I'm giving them away.
Lately, I've been hooked on bookmarks (excuse the pun), which I'm calling my Gothic Collection - colour combinations of silver, black and red.
Anyone who purchases ANY of my books (and the first two books - Laura's Locket and BloodGifted - are ONLY 99c each), will receive one. I've made them in such a way that the jewels can be unhooked and worn separately as pendants. Just attach them to a chain or ribbon. How's that for versatility?
Paste a copy of your receipt either here or on my facebook page.

Flash Necklace Giveaway - For Paranormal Romance Lovers.

Over the next few months, I'll be running a series of flash giveaways in anticipation of the release of BloodWish, Bk 4 in my paranormal/gothic romance series. So, if that's your type of book then keep reading as this giveaway is for you.
Each giveaway - whether it be a piece of jewellery, such as a charm bracelet, earrings, necklace, pendant or anklet; a jewelled hooked bookmark or fridge-magnet keyring - will feature a Dantonville Legacy gothic romance theme.
And each one will be a one-off, meaning the winner will receive a unique piece.

Giveaway #1 - a Bloodvial necklace (those who've read my books will know its significance in the story) - starts today and will be open for the next 48 hours.

To be eligible, all you need to do is:

a) Subscribe to my Newsletter and be the first to know of any subscriber-only giveaways, sneak peeks of up-coming releases and sales.

b) Follow me on my Amazon author page.

c) Then go to my Facebook page, tag three friends and share the giveaway.

That's it.

48 hours from now, I'll choose a random winner.

Good luck 🙂🙂

Sunday Showcase: Paranormal Romance Author Maggie Anderson

1. What inspired you to write in your genre?

When I was fourteen, our English teacher asked us to read Dracula for a review. As we’d read a couple of Shakespearean books prior, I thought it would be just another unenjoyable book that I couldn’t get my head around. I was WRONG! I was seduced by Bram Stoker’s unorthodox, charismatic character and have loved all things Vampire ever since.

2. If you write a series, how many books can your readers expect?

I do write a series. The Dark Legacy urban fantasy series. At this stage, I’m writing book four and my continue to write more because I love the characters, but I’m taking a break after this book to focus on others I’ve had simmering in my head for a while now.

3. If you had the chance to spend the day with one of your characters, who would it be and why?

If I had a chance to spend a day with one of my characters it would have to be Reece Daniels. He stepped up and took over Dark Legacy, when Andre was meant to be the lead character, and has continued to stand out in all of the books so far. He has morals and believes in treating people right. He also has a lot of courage. Some of which he doesn’t even realize he has.

4. Are there any books or authors you admire?

I love the Alex Cross series of books by James Patterson. They tell a thrilling tale and pull you into the story. I also love the Addison Holmes series by Liliana Hart. They’re quirky and Addison is a likeable, amusing character with a certain amount of bravado when she needs it.

5. What is one of the biggest misconceptions that you think people have about authors in general?

I think people tend to think authors have it easy and make a lot of money from their writing. Some do, yes. The lucky ones. But most of us are doing our best to get our books into the hands of readers and not able to make a living from what we love the most. Being an indie author is hard-going. People think writing is a hobby. I’ve had friends say that to me. It’s not! It’s long hours of researching, writing, promoting, marketing, social networking and more!

6. If money was no object and you could travel to any place in the world for your dream vacation where would you go and what would you do?

I’ve always wanted to visit Machu Picchu. To be able to stand on the landscape of a village thousands of years old would be incredible! I think it would be a spiritual journey, a place to connect with your inner self.

Maggie is the author of several books:

Dark Legacy
Once Bitten
Soul Chaser
Driving Me Crazy
Love's Twist of Fate
A Night of Passion
A Night of Passion: Clean Romance Edition

Her newest release is Soul Chaser, Bk 3 in the Dark Legacy series.

 

In the city that never sleeps, a gypsy has seen Reece’s future. Someone he loves will die!

A romantic Vegas getaway turns into another paranormal nightmare for Reece when Charlotte is kidnapped from the airport. Who has taken her and why?

The PI and his team work around the clock. Time is ticking. Sent on a wild goose chase across Sin City by the unknown assailant, can they find her? Is the unidentified body of a Jane Doe lying in the County Coroner’s Office Charlotte? Are they already too late?

A series of unorthodox deaths forces Sheriff Lozano to enlist Reece’s help. He’s heard rumors about the private investigator and wants to find out if they’re true. Can they work together to solve the mystery of the murders? Will Reece let the sheriff in on what has happened to his fiancée?

As the two cases collide, Reece takes matters into his own hands and enters the subterranean world beneath Las Vegas alone. What has he discovered? And what ancient evil is he hunting?

 

EXTRACT

 

The dark tunnel seemed endless as Reece raced along it, peering over his shoulder wondering if the creatures were still in hot pursuit. He had to find a place to hide until the sun came up. The stark white beam of his flashlight app bobbed against the graffitied walls as he ran, but within seconds the glow faded, flickered and died, leaving him in total pitch black. Reece lurched to a stop and smacked his phone against his hand hoping it would jolt a few more seconds of life into the battery. It didn’t. “Shit!”

His heart rose in his throat and he sucked in a strangled breath, unable to inhale a full ribcage of air. The claustrophobic atmosphere was thick around him and he felt like he was suffocating. How did they find me so fast? He thought he’d have more time.

Manic laughter resonated out of the deep shadows in the underground drains and Reece’s eyes darted around the gloom. They were almost on top of him.

He broke into a panicked run, stumbling over broken concrete, cans, bottles and other rubbish strewn along the fetid, damp passage. He tripped on something soft and landed on top of it, the small amount of oxygen he’d managed to inhale whooshing out of him with the heavy thud. Feeling around, unable to see, and his brain making the connection, Reece felt buttons, material, a hand, a face… a sticky wet crater where the nose had been. Another face… holes where the eyes should have been. Bodies!

Bile gushed up his throat and he staggered to his feet, his heart beating so fast it felt like butterfly wings against his ribs. He spat the bitter liquid onto the ground and rushed into the shadows. He had to find a way out or somewhere to hide before they reached him or he’d be another rotting corpse amongst the body count. 

Want to read more?  Here's where you can find it:

Amazon (US)  Amazon (UK)  Amazon (AU)  Amazon (CA)  iBooks  Smashwords 

Would You Attend a Vampire Masquerade Ball?

Courtesy of Gothic and Enchanted Music by Derek and Brandon Fiechter

The other day, while browsing online for some gothic music I could listen to while writing, I came across this beautiful and haunting melody titled, Gothic Waltz Music on youtube - Enchanted Ballroom. It reminded me of a little girl's jewellery music box, one I always wanted as a child but never received. 
(Yes, I've always had a gothic streak, and in my childish imagination the music box dancer wasn't a ballerina, but an enchanted princess waiting to be released from a curse. I guess that's where BloodGifted had some of its genesis.)
The music was so audibly mesmerising - as was the image with it  - that I stopped everything to listen. It's underlying dark tone sent visions of immaculately dressed vampires gliding across a dazzling ballroom, their faces covered in bejewelled masks hiding not only their faces, but their dark secret.
Humans enter at your own peril. 
I knew that one day I would have to include such an otherwordly setting in one of my books. And the opportunity came while writing, BloodVault, Bk 3 in my Dantonville Legacy Series. 
How could I resist? 
I simpy had to include a gothic ballroom scene - the annual New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball.

Click the youtube link above and listen while reading. I dare you :-) 

In the driveway, fairy lights blinked on the trunks and leafless branches of the trees, while a million tiny bulbs twinkled in the windows and the front doors of the chateau. The candelabras in the entrance hall had been polished to a mirror sheen, the candles' flames dancing and swaying on the ebony surface. Illuminated garlands twisted their way up the staircase that led to the ballroom.
We took our seats on the dais next to Luc and Judy. Swathes of entwined green and lavender silk - the D'Antonville colours - hung from the canopy and pooled on the floor. Five gold sashes lay draped across the arms of my chair. I knew their purpose, as Alec had briefed me earlier.
My mother, resplendent in a rich jade-green dress, acknowledged each guest as they were announced. Her silver-streaked auburn hair was caught back in a chignon and crowned with a white-gold tiara of intertwining leaves and flowers adorned with a single emerald. Her eyes shone behind her butterfly shaped mask.
She leant across and whispered in my ear. "You looking stunning, dear."
"As do you. Nice bling." I grinned at her tiara.
"Your father's gift at your birth." She beamed and placed her hand over his. Luc drew them to his lips and kissed her fingertips.
... The ballroom was a sea of colour. Elegant women in dazzling gowns of electric blue, silver-grey, apricot, sunny yellow and turquoise swept the room, greeting friends and chinking glasses. Lavender eyes glinted behind feathered, lace and rhinestone masks shaped like butterflies, cats and flowers, some covering only the eyes, others half the face. The men, likewise, many in tuxedos with long-nose masks or in traditional costume, added to the magnificence of the occasion.
... Alec led me from the dais, and we swayed to the romantic strains of a Strauss waltz, weaving in and out with the other couples. I floated on an idyllic cloud beneath the blue and gold rococo ceiling that gleamed in the light of crystal chandeliers. The troubles of the last few days forgotten as I lost myself in his arms and was drawn into the lavender depths of his eyes.

If you'd like to read more just click here.

There are some family secrets that should stay hidden.

***BLOODVAULT***

Bk 3 in The Dantonville Legacy Series

  “Battle scenes, action, adventure, mystery and a fiery romance.”

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Nook 

 

Until next time ...

Do All Fictional Heroines Have to be Kick-Arse?

When I started my Dantonville Legacy Series, almost from the beginning, I knew Laura would not be one of the trendy kick-arse heroines so prevalent in urban fantasy today. She was to be an everyday woman - a primary school teacher -  caught up in an extraordinary situation, for which she was  ill-prepared. The greatest danger she had ever faced was being trampled to death by maniacal bargain hunters at the post Christmas sales.
How would many of us, with basic defensive skills, survive in a world peopled by beings faster and stronger, and who hungered for our blood - literally? Face it, your average Jane or John Doe wouldn't. Nor would it be a realistic expectation. I know I'd be cactus!
How many modern women know how to wield a sword? Or a bow and arrow, or dagger? Well, some might, but it's not exactly part of the school curriculum, last time I looked. (Although it might not be a bad idea). Despite the popularity of the feminist ideal, not every woman is geared to kick-arse - not matter how much most of us dream of being able to do just that.
My character, Laura, is in no position to suddenly transform into a warrior princess. 

Picture courtesy of Tech Times http://www.techtimes.com/articles/70426/20150720/nbc-reboot-xena-warrior-princess.htm

Whether she likes it or not, having to depend on others isn't an option, until she learns those skills necessary to give her an even chance. From there, she grows and develops into the person who can lead a nation, not by the strength of her sword arm, but from the respect she has earned from those more physically powerful than her. 

BloodGifted Extract
     Black-clad bodies scattered in all directions. So much for their bravado.
     I felt like screaming his name, but as a modern 21st century woman I didn't want to appear like the helpless heroine from a Regency novel - even though my current predicament seemed just that. And who was I kidding anyway? I was scared and seeing him was close to heaven.
     "You're late," Maris said.
     He gave her a dazzling smile that took my breath away. "Darling, I always show up at the right time."
     What? I hoped he was being facetious, yet my mouth went dry all the same. He didn't as much as glance at me; his eyes were glued to her.
     "Nice of you to join us. At last we can begin," Russell said, a frosty grin pasted to his face. From my place on the stage, I saw him nod to someone, and four vampires jumped on Alec, brought him to his knees and pinned his arms behind his back.
     "I'm sorry, Alec, but Russ insists," Maris said.
     "This really isn't necessary," Alec replied. "I've come here on my own, following the smelly trail your pet, Douglas, left behind."
     Douglas growled and bared his fangs.
     Maris laughed, made a gesture with her hand and Douglas sat back down. She strode to my side, crouched down next to me and grabbed my chin. Her fangs were barred; their tips touched my skin and made my nerve endings tingle.
     Russel joined her and sniffed at my throat. "Mmmm, delicious."

Ever dreamt about not being able to age?

*****BLOODGIFTED*****

Only $3.99 or FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Amazon

“Romance, danger, violence, sex, jealousy and it's all weaved into a believable & fascinating story.”

Primary school teacher Laura Dantonville's ordinary life comes to an end when she learns her family's frightening ancestral legacy.

Propelled into a violent underworld ruled by magic, murder and mystery, and stalked by vampire clans who would do anything to possess her, Laura has to consent to the protection of a guardian – Alec Munro, powerful leader of the Dantonville clan – whose coveted position relies on her willingness to accept him.

And she has one day to make a decision.

With time running out, Laura must decide to either accept her fate or allow her vampire-hating detective boyfriend to end the legacy his way – by eliminating the vampire side of her family.

After all, they’re not human are they?

 

Thirsty Thursday - BloodVault Extract

It's been a while since I've added an extract from any of my books, especially from my latest release, 'BloodVault', Bk 3 in my Dantonville Legacy Series. It's been eight months since its release and since then it has sat regularly in Amazon's Top 100 in Gothic Romance. 

Thank you to all my readers who made that happen. Because of you and your enthusiasm for Dantonville, my books are doing so well. 

At the moment I'm working on Bk 4, 'BloodWish,' and hope to release that in time for Christmas. So, in the meanwhile, curl up with a little something spooky and mysterious.

Enjoy.

* * * 

EXTRACT

     That's when I heard it -  a shrill keening, like a soul in torment. It made the hairs on my arms stand on end. It didn't seem to be coming from anywhere within the chateau. A night bird? I stuffed another mini-baguette into my mouth and padded to the window. Tree branches obscured most of my view, but there appeared to be a solitary figure, in white, standing on the boundary wall at the far end of the estate.

     Mesmerised, I watched. Was it a ghost, or some local nutter who liked to climb walls in the dead of night to wail at the half moon? I peered closer, but the wind whipped up the tree branches, and I lost sight of the figure. When the wind dropped, the figure was gone. Every nerve ending tingled. If vampires existed - I'd only learnt of their existence a couple of weeks ago - then why not ghosts? This chateau was hundreds of years old, maybe more. Who knows how many more people had died here in that time? Vampires weren't the only inhabitants.

     I continued to stare out the window. There it was again - arms upraised, the same high-pitched wailing. A chill shot through me, and I jumped back drawing the curtains together, tightly bunching the folds of fabric.

* * *

Want to read more? Here's where you can find it - Amazon (US) Amazon (AU) Amazon (CA) Amazon (UK)

Until next time, 

Happy Reading

4 Things I Learnt from Attending Supanova - A Pop Culture Expo

Let me start by saying that Supanova was amazing! Having never attended a pop culture expo before,  I had no idea what to expect, nor whether a dark urban fantasy author like me would fit in. After all, Supanova is for afficionados of comic book heroes, epic fantasy and sci-fi TV shows and movies, and gamers. Cosplayers strut around in the most incredible costumes, posing for fan photos, demonstrating their skills and taking part in re-enactments.
It's a theatrical parade and somewhere in-between are the illustrators and the authors.
So I'm happy to say, that I fit right in.

Apart from the spectacle, and the fun, what did I learn?

1. Readers attend these events to buy books, particularly paperbacks. 

As I've heard many times, most people enjoy the feel of a book and they're willing to spend their money on a series rather than on a stand-alone. I sold eleven box sets over the Supanova weekend. For a mid-list author like me, that's excellent.
Now, not having a physical box cover into which I could slot my books, I had to get creative. A pretty purple ribbon and Dantonville pen did the trick. Offering the box-set at a sizeable discount and throwing in a gift or two, proved even better.

2. Include giveaways.
Never underestimate the power of a gift. Everyone loves free merchandise, and for the occasion I'd ordered some personalised pens and a dozen mugs displaying the Dantonville logo. Then I made a range of different-coloured charm bracelets and blood-vial pendants. Excuse the pun, but they worked a charm!

3. Hand out as many business cards as you can.
Everyone who receives a card is a potential new reader and future fan. Yay! Can never have enough of them.
Keep the cards front and centre where people can easily pick them up. I included my website, Facebook author page and twitter handle on the front rather than on the back of the card, where people rarely look.
Over the next three days, I noticed an increase in the humber of visits and likes to my Facebook page, and sales of the ebook version of my books - on Amazon AU - rose as well.
Proves that people are interested. They wouldn't take a card if they weren't.

4. Not everyone is interested in signing up to a newsletter.
Many people either ignored the newsletter sheet, or were reluctant to sign up when asked. And I don't blame them. I'm an unknown quantity, and who wants to receive more spam in the email? That's why I prefer to hand out business cards. It gives people the chance to check out my website, peruse my books and decide whether they'd want to be on my mailing list, so when they do sign up, it's genuine.

Will I attend Supanova next year? Not sure. It's a lot of work setting up and dismantling, but I introduced my series to a whole bunch of new readers. That alone made it worth it. Did I make a profit? No, but I wasn't expecting to. It was nice to break even, though. Supanova was my opportunity to reach a new - and local - audience, and it worked.