***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!

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 .😊

Tasty Teaser from BloodWish

It's been a while since I've posted a snippet from my current Word in Progress because, let's face it, life interferes. Although I originally planned to release BloodWish by the end of this year, it's more likely to be making its appearance by April/May 2017.
So until then, enjoy.

As I searched through various drawers, my foot kicked against something solid. A black metal-rimmed trunk sat wedged between several pieces of luggage. It was heavy, and as I eased it out layers of dust made me sneeze. That was good, as it meant the previous housekeeper, whose name I couldn’t bring myself to say, hadn’t been snooping into it. She’d taken my mother’s clothes before so I wouldn’t have put it past her to have pried into all of my mother’s things.

The trunk was locked.

What was in there? What was my mother hiding that needed to be kept in a locked trunk?

I glanced around in case the key was lying somewhere close, or maybe hanging from a hook.

Nothing.

Dumb idea anyway, Laura. If you want something hidden you don’t leave the key where everyone can find it! I’d carry it with me, with my set of house and car keys where they’d blend in with the rest.

The house keys I was in possession of now, didn’t contain any extra keys – Kari and I had tested each one. That left only her handbag.

Judy had always kept it in the middle drawer of her bedside table. It was still there when I pulled it open. I hugged the black leather bag to me and inhaled its sweet leather scent as image after image paraded through my memory.

No more tears, Laura.

I began my search, shunting aside the thought that I was intruding.

For a relatively small bag, it contained so many compartments and pockets, but finally, in a side pocket, my fingers grazed a small key-shaped object.

That had to be it.

Attached was a black velvet ribbon, frayed at the edges. Traces of my mother’s perfume clung to it. Again I inhaled and let the memories assail me – if only for a little while.

Back in the closet, I knelt next to the trunk and inserted the key.

It fit.

           With a click, the lid flew open.

"Bloodgifted" is on a Blog Tour.

I'm excited to announce the first ever, official Bloodgifted Blog Tour. It's run by Chic Lit Plus, and today Samantha posted a fabulous review of my book on Amazon. You can check it out on the link above. I was thrilled, for naturally every writer wants their readers to fall in love with their book, and to be as crazy about it as they themselves are.

The Blog Tour runs from March 3rd-24th, and each day a different blogger is featuring me on their website.

Here's the list:

March 3rd - Chick Lit Plus—Review
March 4th - Sweetsbooks—Review, Q&A and an Excerpt from Bloodgifted
March 5th - Christy's Written Word Love - Excerpt
March 7th - Chick Lit Club Connect - Guest Post
March 10th - Wonderland Avenue - Review
March 11th - Storm Goddess Book Reviews - Review
March 13th - Bookworm Bridgette's World - Excerpt
March 14th - Step into Fiction - Review
March 17th - A Novel Thought Review and Q&A
March 19th - Book Reviews By Dee - Review and Excerpt
March 21st - PJ Byer Writer Blog
March 24th - Samantha March—Q&A and Excerpt

Each one of those Q&As asked something completely different, and a few really made me think. One asked me for a playlist, which is something I would never have thought of. Yet most of BLOODGIFTED was written while listening to my favourite pieces of music that set my mind in the right mood for a particular scene. To find which one asked for that, you'll have to check them all out!
So, if you're planning on following the Tour—and I would LOVE everyone to—you'll discover something different about me each day.

I'll be updating this page daily, so you can simply click on the links and it'll take you straight to the site.

Happy Blog Tour!

Where Do Vampires Reside in Sydney? Let Me Show You!

In celebration of the release of BLOODGIFTED, on Amazon next week (end of September), I decided that my next few posts will concentrate on the beautiful Sydney locations highlighted in my book - the old Gothic buildings which dot the centre of the city, our stunning harbour setting, the river walks alongside the giant fig trees (and their resident fruit bats), and of course, the magnificent neo-gothic mansion which served as my inspiration for the home of Lucien Lebrettan, Prime Elder of the Vampiric Brethren. 

Sydneysiders will immediately recognise these places, and for those who have not visited yet, consider this a foretaste.

As a tasty accompaniment, I'll include excerpts from my book which describe these places, and which will hopefully, create an appetite to find out more. 

I'm calling these, Tasty Teasers. And since this is my blog, it's the best place to both promote my new book as well as showcase my city to the world.

So, without more ado, here's -

Tasty Teaser #1 is where our heroine, Laura, is sent to St Andrews Cathedral to meet Alec Munro - Princeps or Chief Elder - of the Brethren. 

Extract

I pushed open the heavy glass doors and stepped into the cool, dark recess. The scent of old polished wood rose from the rows of pews stretching the length of the nave. To my left, a well-worn stone-paved path led past them and through the length of the interior, while a shallow ramp on my right disappeared into a semi-concealed alcove ringed with high-backed wooden chairs.

Which way? If in doubt, follow the yellow-brick road, I thought. Turning left I followed the stone-path down the aisle. What on earth am I doing here? I asked myself. Meeting a vampire, came the daft answer.

‘He will find you,’ my aunt had said. Right now, I didn’t know if I wanted to be found! The truth is, I was nervous and even a little afraid searching for an unnatural creature in a gothic building.

How appropriate. All I need is for the cathedral organ to start playing creepy music!

At least I wasn’t totally alone. Here and there a few people milled around, even though most were outside grabbing that last minute Christmas bargain as shopping hours had been extended. It was only about nine p.m. In the balcony at the end of the nave a choir was rehearsing The Messiah. I’m sure they’d hear me scream if this Alec Munro proved less benign than the impression my aunt gave. Why didn’t I bring Matt? I should have simply ignored her warning and dragged him along anyway.

I followed the stone-path to the back entrance, around the massive sandstone baptismal font and up the other side. Every now and then the Choir Master stopped the singers mid-note for a correction before continuing their rehearsal. Three Christmas trees, bedecked with massive gold bows, had been positioned on either side of the communion table, while an impressive green wreath hung from the edge of the elevated pulpit.

I realized that the stone path I’d followed led to the small chair-lined alcove I’d originally noticed on entering. It was separated from the aisle by an ornately carved wooden partition, and there, leaning nonchalantly against the narrow opening, arms crossed over his chest stood a tall, broad-shouldered, impossibly good-looking man with hair the colour of a raven’s wing.

My feet stopped mid-stride as my eyes drank in this strikingly imposing figure who so dominated the space around him, that I wondered how I could not have seen him earlier? Nor the way his piercing lavender eyes gazed back at me, demanding my attention.

I sucked in a breath, not just for the affect he had on me, but that he was the visual confirmation of my aunt’s words even if he didn’t fit my image of a vampire. But then I really didn’t know what to expect – black cape, nasty protruding fangs, glowing red eyes and as pale as death perhaps? The man before me belied those preconceptions, and no vampire I saw in the movies ever looked that good in cream silk business shirt and slate grey trousers, which hung seductively low on his lean hips. His sleeves were rolled up at the elbows and the top button of his shirt left undone allowing his tie to hang loose.

I swallowed. Was this the blood-sucking creature whose bite left those marks on my aunt’s wrist? No wonder she’d said I wouldn’t mind!

He smiled and softly called my name. ‘Laura.’

If you'd like to see a pic of Alec and Laura, click onto "Home."

Did this whet your appetite?
Next week - Lucien Lebrettan's mansion (Location of the Ritual Laura must undergo).