SS: Interview with Jamie Quaid + Giveaway!

Today I am super happy to have author Jamie Quaid by my side. Her Saturn’s Daughter series rocked my world and I’m glad that she accepted to join us to celebrate the release of the second book, Damn Him to Hell! Make sure to stick around for a giveaway at the end!
----------------------

1- I really like the first novel in the series, Boyfriend From Hell, and I'm sure everyone would like to know if the second installment, Damn Him to Hell will be just as funny and action-packed?

Thank you, kindly! I’d like to believe it’s funny and action-packed-- I certainly notch the action up another level. But humor is in the eye of the beholder, so unless you know you like frog humor, you’ll have to answer that one for me after you read it.

2- How would you describe the main characters to someone who's unfortunate enough to not have read the first book?

Does bizarre, insane, lusty, and concerned cover it? <G> Tina—she of the weird Saturnian abilities— is obsessed with justice, and not precisely in the legal, rational manner of the lawyer she is. Then we have the invisible gay teenager, the snake-producing investigator, the handsome US Senator returned from hell, and Andre—the gorgeous but seriously freaky and paranoid Special Ops hunk. Just your usual chemically-polluted neighborhood.

3- You remained pretty hazy on the Gods mythology in BFH, will we finally learn more about it and Clancy's abilities?

Tina won’t come into her full abilities until her 28th year, so she’s still learning what she’s capable of and really starting to worry herself. She develops a few more serious quirks this time around (frogs are involved!), and reaches out to another Saturn’s daughter. The problem is that Saturn’s daughters are so busy staying alive that they really don’t have time to write down what they learn.  It takes time to research a mythology no one is telling them about—and granny still isn’t too helpful. But it’s looking like whole new dimensions are involved…literally.

Let me ask this of your readers…what would you like to see happen? Do you really want a god to step down out of heavens with a rule book? Or do you want the Daughters to be their own force?

4- Andre turned out to be one of my favorite characters, will we get to know him more in book 2?

Oh YEAH! Andre gets in way over his pretty head this time around, and we learn a little more about those dimensions I mentioned…  He’s just a bit more than an all-around, average guy.

5- The folks in The Zone are pretty weird, do you think they'd be the kind to celebrate the summer solstice?

They’re mostly a pretty cynical lot, and the solstice is about celebrating life, not hell—which kind of haunts our polluted neighborhood—but if you can show them a good reason to celebrate, they’re all over it. Can the gargoyles come, too?

6- Have you ever attended this kind of celebration yourself?

Let’s just say I’ve created my own bonfires a few times and not go into details, okay?

-----------------

Thank you so much Jamie for stopping by <3 It’s always such a pleasure to have you on board!

More about Damn Him to Hell:

Justice is blind. Justine isn’t. Book two in the Saturn's Daughter series, in which Tina Clancy is gifted with the power to dispense justice...for good or evil.

Tina Clancy is adapting to her new life as one of Saturn’s Daughters while living in the toxic part of Baltimore known as The Zone, and occasionally acting as a champion of the downtrodden, the weird, the innocent...and the sometimes not-so-innocent.

Just when she finally lands a real law job, the Zone is blasted by poisonous gas and her sometimes-boyfriend starts receiving visitors from Hell. He’s none too pleased about that, or in Tina having sent his granny to Hell in his place. For that matter, neither is granny…

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Previous books in the series:

Jamie is generously offering  2 copies of Damn Him to Hell to 2 lucky winners!

Open internationally

Fill the form to enter, ends July 5th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-------------------

“As a fan of urban fantasy and kick-ass heroines, I’ve often wondered why we’re drawn to fangs and fur when there are so many grim realities our heroines can conquer.  While pondering the possibilities of fighting evil in a real world, I created Justine Clancy, a woman who has fought the bullies of the world all her life, without realizing she was pre-destined to be an arbiter of justice—until she accidentally sends her lying boyfriend to hell. And the devil handsomely rewards her.

But along with power must come knowledge—and for Tina, that includes learning not only the difference between good and evil, but all the shades of gray in between. Because sending the wrong people to the Underworld could have grave consequences, literally. But not doing her job can hurt the people who have taken her in and accepted her. For the first time in her life, she has a home, but it’s going to require a whole lot of housecleaning to drive out the demons hiding there.”(source)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Read More

by Tynga at Thursday, June 27, 2013

 giveaway, Interview, Jamie Quaid, Simon Schuster, Supernatural Solstice  16 People left their mark

✎

SS: Interview with Jamie Quaid + Giveaway!

Today I am super happy to have author Jamie Quaid by my side. Her Saturn’s Daughter series rocked my world and I’m glad that she accepted to join us to celebrate the release of the second book, Damn Him to Hell! Make sure to stick around for a giveaway at the end!
----------------------

1- I really like the first novel in the series, Boyfriend From Hell, and I'm sure everyone would like to know if the second installment, Damn Him to Hell will be just as funny and action-packed?

Thank you, kindly! I’d like to believe it’s funny and action-packed-- I certainly notch the action up another level. But humor is in the eye of the beholder, so unless you know you like frog humor, you’ll have to answer that one for me after you read it.

2- How would you describe the main characters to someone who's unfortunate enough to not have read the first book?

Does bizarre, insane, lusty, and concerned cover it? <G> Tina—she of the weird Saturnian abilities— is obsessed with justice, and not precisely in the legal, rational manner of the lawyer she is. Then we have the invisible gay teenager, the snake-producing investigator, the handsome US Senator returned from hell, and Andre—the gorgeous but seriously freaky and paranoid Special Ops hunk. Just your usual chemically-polluted neighborhood.

3- You remained pretty hazy on the Gods mythology in BFH, will we finally learn more about it and Clancy's abilities?

Tina won’t come into her full abilities until her 28th year, so she’s still learning what she’s capable of and really starting to worry herself. She develops a few more serious quirks this time around (frogs are involved!), and reaches out to another Saturn’s daughter. The problem is that Saturn’s daughters are so busy staying alive that they really don’t have time to write down what they learn.  It takes time to research a mythology no one is telling them about—and granny still isn’t too helpful. But it’s looking like whole new dimensions are involved…literally.

Let me ask this of your readers…what would you like to see happen? Do you really want a god to step down out of heavens with a rule book? Or do you want the Daughters to be their own force?

4- Andre turned out to be one of my favorite characters, will we get to know him more in book 2?

Oh YEAH! Andre gets in way over his pretty head this time around, and we learn a little more about those dimensions I mentioned…  He’s just a bit more than an all-around, average guy.

5- The folks in The Zone are pretty weird, do you think they'd be the kind to celebrate the summer solstice?

They’re mostly a pretty cynical lot, and the solstice is about celebrating life, not hell—which kind of haunts our polluted neighborhood—but if you can show them a good reason to celebrate, they’re all over it. Can the gargoyles come, too?

6- Have you ever attended this kind of celebration yourself?

Let’s just say I’ve created my own bonfires a few times and not go into details, okay?

-----------------

Thank you so much Jamie for stopping by <3 It’s always such a pleasure to have you on board!

More about Damn Him to Hell:

Justice is blind. Justine isn’t. Book two in the Saturn's Daughter series, in which Tina Clancy is gifted with the power to dispense justice...for good or evil.

Tina Clancy is adapting to her new life as one of Saturn’s Daughters while living in the toxic part of Baltimore known as The Zone, and occasionally acting as a champion of the downtrodden, the weird, the innocent...and the sometimes not-so-innocent.

Just when she finally lands a real law job, the Zone is blasted by poisonous gas and her sometimes-boyfriend starts receiving visitors from Hell. He’s none too pleased about that, or in Tina having sent his granny to Hell in his place. For that matter, neither is granny…

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Previous books in the series:

Jamie is generously offering  2 copies of Damn Him to Hell to 2 lucky winners!

Open internationally

Fill the form to enter, ends July 5th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-------------------

“As a fan of urban fantasy and kick-ass heroines, I’ve often wondered why we’re drawn to fangs and fur when there are so many grim realities our heroines can conquer.  While pondering the possibilities of fighting evil in a real world, I created Justine Clancy, a woman who has fought the bullies of the world all her life, without realizing she was pre-destined to be an arbiter of justice—until she accidentally sends her lying boyfriend to hell. And the devil handsomely rewards her.

But along with power must come knowledge—and for Tina, that includes learning not only the difference between good and evil, but all the shades of gray in between. Because sending the wrong people to the Underworld could have grave consequences, literally. But not doing her job can hurt the people who have taken her in and accepted her. For the first time in her life, she has a home, but it’s going to require a whole lot of housecleaning to drive out the demons hiding there.”(source)

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Read More

by Tynga at Thursday, June 27, 2013

 giveaway, Interview, Jamie Quaid, Simon Schuster, Supernatural Solstice  16 People left their mark

✎

SS: Guest post by Jillian Stone + giveaway!

Today's post is by Jillian Stone, author the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series published by Kensington Brava. It's super sexy steampunk and the third book in the series, THE MISS EDUCATION OF DR. EXETER, has just been released. Jillian is on tour to celebrate this release and is offering a tour-wide giveaway of a steampunk necklace. She's written an extremely steamy scene for us so make sure you're ready for mature content before proceeding! And enjoy the post!

----------------------

“What exactly is a superior moon?” Mia asked, untying her cloak and letting it drop to the ground.

Jason Exeter stood on a rise overlooking the Thames. The river sparkled from the light of the moon at perigee. “A superior moon or supermoon occurs but once a year, when the moon is closest to the earth––much larger and brighter than an average full moon, he explained. The fact that this moon happens on the summer solstice is a cosmic coincidence of great importance.”

“The brightest moon on the longest day.” Mia spread her cloak on the cool grass, and leaned back on her elbows to star gaze. “Mr. Ping says that a magic moment will occur at 3:32 a.m. but he did not specify exactly what will happen, in fact he was rather mysterious about this rare confluence of moon and earth.”

She scanned the skies, as he explained. “Many cultures associate the solstice with increased fertility, while others believe the superior moon has certain effects on people’s behavior, even though there is no scientific evidence to prove it. I have never personally felt the effects but I know someone who seems more agitated, more feline every time there is a full moon.” Exeter’s gaze moved from the river to her. “How are you feeling, Mia?”

“She is near.” Mia clawed at her gown. The tingling sensation and urges were back, and the sense that her body was not entirely her own. These unexpected shifts to a feline creature had come upon her rather suddenly last year. And her brave and handsome husband had preformed duties far above and beyond the natural world to bring her through this frightening period of transformation. “I get the feeling you and Ping are plotting something.” Mia’s eyes glowed, and her pupils narrowed into suspicious slits.

She now had Exeter’s full attention.

“Do you need me to undress you?” He lowered to his haunches. “Turn around, love.” She moved her back to him. “Please assure me you will not run off––for as lovely as you are without a stitch on––I would not want the neighbors to view my beautiful wife in the nude . . . again.”

“I often have no control over her . . . she’s—” Mia shifted away and he pulled her back. Gentle fingers loosened the strings of her corset.

His exhale wafted over skin moist with perspiration. “Ping believes the cat will speak to me tonight––I may hear her voice for the first time.” His knuckles brushed against the flesh of her back, causing a shiver she failed to conceal. They had been married less than a year––and his touch still sent a tremble through her, as though it were the first time he caressed her bare skin.
She disrobed and left nothing on. Any clothes on her body would end up in tatters. The evening chill was soothing, even sensuous. She lay back as a gentle wind hardened her nipples and prickled her skin.

Exeter would not touch her now, she was too close to shift. It was too dangerous. He had been scratched and bitten more than once. “Touch yourself, Mia” And she imagined his fingers . . . there.

The shift was instantaneous. Painless.

The sleek black panther stretched, and languidly moved off toward the river. The water rippled with a deep green luminescence––no doubt due the brightness of the evening sky. The cat hesitated––one front paw off the ground as the magnificent, full moon rose above the tree line.

She looked back at Exeter. Slowly she returned to him. Women are like the moon––beautiful––something to be adored, praised––and loved.

This was a new voice he heard in his head. Mia often spoke to him telepathically in cat form, but he had never actually heard the panther’s voice. Exeter sat up straight. What was he to make of the cat’s speech? I love Mia, body and soul, with all my heart.

Aaaaah, but does she feel adored? The cat licked a paw and rubbed her face.

Exeter stared. Of course he had told Mia he loved her––hadn’t he? Well, perhaps not in so many words. Truth be told, he had been rather busy of late, moving back and forth between London and Boston. Mia had college, and she was doing brilliantly. She had all the makings of a fine, compassionate physician. Deep in thought, Exeter rubbed the stubble on his chin. Perhaps they had drifted apart, some.

He gaze returned to the green-eyed panther. What would you have me do?

Bring her back with your words, alone.

He stretched out on the grass, beside Mia the cat, and spoke softly. “...I awoke before you this morning. As most mornings, I often watch you in your sleep––the rise and fall of your breasts as you breathe––the pale sunshine on peach colored cheeks. When I can stand it no longer I pull you close and nuzzle, hoping to wake you gently, for a hint of smile, to feel your lips on mine.”
The cat nuzzled back.

“In those quiet, moments, I yearn for you to wake. And when your eyes flutter open, I am enthralled, for I know I will spend another day with my dear wife––who is both my friend and my lover.” The cat rose and collapsed into his arms. “Mia, I love and adore you with all my heart.”

She slowly shifted back––claws to fingernails, whiskers to nose, sleek black fur to pale ivory skin. Her arms moved around his neck and she pulled him down. As his lips met hers, she whispered. “Make love to me, Exeter––I’ve heard quite enough!”

-----------------

Thank you so much for stopping by on your blog tour, Jillian! For more of Jillian's tour, check out the other stops by clicking on the banner below.

-----------------

More about THE MISS EDUCTATION OF DR. EXETER:

Plunge deeper into the curious world of the deadly Nightshades.

The Moonstone is having a destabilizing effect on the time/space membrane leaving Phaeton trapped in a parallel mirror world where everything is opposite or upside down, yet oddly the same. He is held captive by Domina Valour and tested sorely in this darkly sensual third episode of the Phaeton Black series.

Gaspar Sinclair can't go after Phaeton. His physical body is unraveling before everyone's eyes. America Jones is large with child, but only she has the preternatural ability to locate Phaeton and bring him back. And Doctor Exeter's beautiful charge, Mia, has her claws in him. Quite literally.

To accomplish Phaeton's rescue, the doctor must let loose forces he hasn't the foggiest clue how to control, including his attraction to Mia.

While in the dimension of magnetic opposites, the doctor and Miss Jones attempt to reverse polarity to retrieve Phaeton and stop Gaspar from unraveling. Can America and Phaeton find a way to return together, or will this final test rip them apart forever?

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Here's the rest of the series:

Jillian is offering a tour-wide giveaway of a steampunk necklace!

To enter, obey the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-------------------

In 2010, Jillian won the RWA Golden Heart for An Affair with Mr. Kennedy and went from no agent or publisher to signing with Richard Curtis and being offered a three book contract by Pocket Books. That summer, she also won the erotica category of the 2010 Romance Through the Ages contest for The Seduction of Phaeton Black and was offered a three book contract by Kensington Brava. Needless to say, she has been busy writing books this past year and a half! Jillian lives in Southern California.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Read More

by jenn at Wednesday, June 26, 2013

 giveaway, Guest Post, Jillian Stone, Kensington, Supernatural Solstice  30 People left their mark

✎

SS: Guest post by Jillian Stone + giveaway!

Today's post is by Jillian Stone, author the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series published by Kensington Brava. It's super sexy steampunk and the third book in the series, THE MISS EDUCATION OF DR. EXETER, has just been released. Jillian is on tour to celebrate this release and is offering a tour-wide giveaway of a steampunk necklace. She's written an extremely steamy scene for us so make sure you're ready for mature content before proceeding! And enjoy the post!

----------------------

“What exactly is a superior moon?” Mia asked, untying her cloak and letting it drop to the ground.

Jason Exeter stood on a rise overlooking the Thames. The river sparkled from the light of the moon at perigee. “A superior moon or supermoon occurs but once a year, when the moon is closest to the earth––much larger and brighter than an average full moon, he explained. The fact that this moon happens on the summer solstice is a cosmic coincidence of great importance.”

“The brightest moon on the longest day.” Mia spread her cloak on the cool grass, and leaned back on her elbows to star gaze. “Mr. Ping says that a magic moment will occur at 3:32 a.m. but he did not specify exactly what will happen, in fact he was rather mysterious about this rare confluence of moon and earth.”

She scanned the skies, as he explained. “Many cultures associate the solstice with increased fertility, while others believe the superior moon has certain effects on people’s behavior, even though there is no scientific evidence to prove it. I have never personally felt the effects but I know someone who seems more agitated, more feline every time there is a full moon.” Exeter’s gaze moved from the river to her. “How are you feeling, Mia?”

“She is near.” Mia clawed at her gown. The tingling sensation and urges were back, and the sense that her body was not entirely her own. These unexpected shifts to a feline creature had come upon her rather suddenly last year. And her brave and handsome husband had preformed duties far above and beyond the natural world to bring her through this frightening period of transformation. “I get the feeling you and Ping are plotting something.” Mia’s eyes glowed, and her pupils narrowed into suspicious slits.

She now had Exeter’s full attention.

“Do you need me to undress you?” He lowered to his haunches. “Turn around, love.” She moved her back to him. “Please assure me you will not run off––for as lovely as you are without a stitch on––I would not want the neighbors to view my beautiful wife in the nude . . . again.”

“I often have no control over her . . . she’s—” Mia shifted away and he pulled her back. Gentle fingers loosened the strings of her corset.

His exhale wafted over skin moist with perspiration. “Ping believes the cat will speak to me tonight––I may hear her voice for the first time.” His knuckles brushed against the flesh of her back, causing a shiver she failed to conceal. They had been married less than a year––and his touch still sent a tremble through her, as though it were the first time he caressed her bare skin.
She disrobed and left nothing on. Any clothes on her body would end up in tatters. The evening chill was soothing, even sensuous. She lay back as a gentle wind hardened her nipples and prickled her skin.

Exeter would not touch her now, she was too close to shift. It was too dangerous. He had been scratched and bitten more than once. “Touch yourself, Mia” And she imagined his fingers . . . there.

The shift was instantaneous. Painless.

The sleek black panther stretched, and languidly moved off toward the river. The water rippled with a deep green luminescence––no doubt due the brightness of the evening sky. The cat hesitated––one front paw off the ground as the magnificent, full moon rose above the tree line.

She looked back at Exeter. Slowly she returned to him. Women are like the moon––beautiful––something to be adored, praised––and loved.

This was a new voice he heard in his head. Mia often spoke to him telepathically in cat form, but he had never actually heard the panther’s voice. Exeter sat up straight. What was he to make of the cat’s speech? I love Mia, body and soul, with all my heart.

Aaaaah, but does she feel adored? The cat licked a paw and rubbed her face.

Exeter stared. Of course he had told Mia he loved her––hadn’t he? Well, perhaps not in so many words. Truth be told, he had been rather busy of late, moving back and forth between London and Boston. Mia had college, and she was doing brilliantly. She had all the makings of a fine, compassionate physician. Deep in thought, Exeter rubbed the stubble on his chin. Perhaps they had drifted apart, some.

He gaze returned to the green-eyed panther. What would you have me do?

Bring her back with your words, alone.

He stretched out on the grass, beside Mia the cat, and spoke softly. “...I awoke before you this morning. As most mornings, I often watch you in your sleep––the rise and fall of your breasts as you breathe––the pale sunshine on peach colored cheeks. When I can stand it no longer I pull you close and nuzzle, hoping to wake you gently, for a hint of smile, to feel your lips on mine.”
The cat nuzzled back.

“In those quiet, moments, I yearn for you to wake. And when your eyes flutter open, I am enthralled, for I know I will spend another day with my dear wife––who is both my friend and my lover.” The cat rose and collapsed into his arms. “Mia, I love and adore you with all my heart.”

She slowly shifted back––claws to fingernails, whiskers to nose, sleek black fur to pale ivory skin. Her arms moved around his neck and she pulled him down. As his lips met hers, she whispered. “Make love to me, Exeter––I’ve heard quite enough!”

-----------------

Thank you so much for stopping by on your blog tour, Jillian! For more of Jillian's tour, check out the other stops by clicking on the banner below.

-----------------

More about THE MISS EDUCTATION OF DR. EXETER:

Plunge deeper into the curious world of the deadly Nightshades.

The Moonstone is having a destabilizing effect on the time/space membrane leaving Phaeton trapped in a parallel mirror world where everything is opposite or upside down, yet oddly the same. He is held captive by Domina Valour and tested sorely in this darkly sensual third episode of the Phaeton Black series.

Gaspar Sinclair can't go after Phaeton. His physical body is unraveling before everyone's eyes. America Jones is large with child, but only she has the preternatural ability to locate Phaeton and bring him back. And Doctor Exeter's beautiful charge, Mia, has her claws in him. Quite literally.

To accomplish Phaeton's rescue, the doctor must let loose forces he hasn't the foggiest clue how to control, including his attraction to Mia.

While in the dimension of magnetic opposites, the doctor and Miss Jones attempt to reverse polarity to retrieve Phaeton and stop Gaspar from unraveling. Can America and Phaeton find a way to return together, or will this final test rip them apart forever?

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Here's the rest of the series:

Jillian is offering a tour-wide giveaway of a steampunk necklace!

To enter, obey the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-------------------

In 2010, Jillian won the RWA Golden Heart for An Affair with Mr. Kennedy and went from no agent or publisher to signing with Richard Curtis and being offered a three book contract by Pocket Books. That summer, she also won the erotica category of the 2010 Romance Through the Ages contest for The Seduction of Phaeton Black and was offered a three book contract by Kensington Brava. Needless to say, she has been busy writing books this past year and a half! Jillian lives in Southern California.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Read More

by Tynga at Wednesday, June 26, 2013

 giveaway, Guest Post, Jillian Stone, Kensington, Supernatural Solstice  30 People left their mark

✎

SS: Interview with Jennifer Estep + giveaway!

I'm always excited when Jennifer Estep stops by because she's one of my favourite authors. She's the brilliant mind behind two great series: her young adult mythology-based Mythos Academy books from KTeen and her amazing Elemental Assassin series from Pocket. She has releases from both series in the pipeline for this summer and she's graciously agreed to an interview to chat about her summer plans. Please join me in welcoming the wonderful Ms. Estep to Supernatural Solstice!

----------------------

1. Welcome back to the blog, Jennifer! Thanks for taking the time to participate in Supernatural Solstice. You have a ton of stuff coming out this summer: SPARTAN FROST(out today), MIDNIGHT FROST (July 30), an Elemental Assassin story in CARNIEPUNK (July 23), KISS OF VENOM, another Elemental Assassin short from Owen's POV (July 25), and HEART OF VENOM (August 27). It leads to an obvious question: how do you write so much and so well? =)

Thanks for hosting me on the blog again. I appreciate it.

I’ve been busy. LOL. But writing is my full-time job, and I’m always working on some project or another. I work at least 40 hours a week, and usually, it’s more. But I love what I do, and I write fairly quickly, so that helps with all of the long hours on the computer.

But everything just sort of came together for this summer, which is why I have so many new releases coming out over the next few months. I hope that everyone enjoys all of the books and e-stories.

2. Do you approach writing young adult novels differently than your adult series?

Not really. I’m a panster, so I write all of my books pretty much the same way. I think about the characters, the magic, and the major turning points of the story, then sit down and start writing.

But I would say that my Mythos Academy books are a little different from my other books in that I’m trying to tell more of a coming-of-age story in those books, especially since my heroine, Gwen, is still learning about herself, her magic, and trying to figure out what she wants her place in the world to be. So far, it’s been a fun challenge writing a YA series and really trying to capture that YA voice and all of the emotions, problems, and triumphs that go along with being a young adult.

3. I'm really excited to read SPARTAN FROST because it's the first time we get a story from Logan's point of view. Did this switch present any challenges? Any extra freedom?

Thanks. I appreciate that.

For my Elemental Assassin series, I’ve written several free short stories from the points of view of different characters. Those stories are on the Excerpts page of my website. So I thought that it would be fun to do the same thing with my Mythos Academy series. Plus, readers really seem to like the shorter e-stories that many authors are now writing in between their books.

After what happens in CRIMSON FROST, the fourth book, it only seemed natural to write a story from Logan’s point of view and fill in some of the things that happen to him after CRIMSON FROST. Plus, I’ve gotten a lot of reader requests for a Logan story, so this is was a way that I thought I could give folks a little something extra to enjoy in the series.

I write in first-person, and I think it’s always interesting to show a different character’s point of view on something or how he might react in a situation when the heroine isn’t around. In Logan’s case, I got to explore how he feels about Gwen, his dad, and being a Spartan, among other things.

4. With each instalment of the Mythos Academy series, Gwen faces bigger challenges and MIDNIGHT FROST seems to contain the most daunting task yet. How do you come up with these ideas and where will the series go from here?

Any time you write a series, especially if you are following the same heroine through multiple books, then you always want to make the stakes higher and higher in each subsequent book. I really enjoy coming up with new bad guys and new challenges for Gwen to face and then figuring out how she can use her magic and smarts to get out of all of these dire situations.

KILLER FROST, the sixth book in the series, is tentatively set to be released in March 2014.

5. What can you share about your story in CARNIEPUNK?

My story is called PARLOR TRICKS, and it’s part of my Elemental Assassin series. In the story, Gin and Bria go to a country carnival in search of a missing girl and end up in more trouble than they anticipated. It’s more of a stand-alone adventure, so I hope that it will appeal to both fans of the series and folks who haven’t tried my books yet.

Also, to help promote the CARNIEPUNK anthology, PARLOR TRICKS is available as a free e-download from all of the usual e-booksellers. I hope that everyone enjoys the story and the anthology. It’s been a cool project to be a part of.

6. HEART OF VENOM, your ninth Elemental Assassin novel, comes out at the end of the summer and gives us a look into Sophia's past. Can you share any exclusive tidbits about what we'll see in this novel?

Like you said, HEART OF VENOM delves into Sophia’s past and backstory, as well as Jo-Jo’s. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the Deveraux sisters, so this book will fill in some of their history together and with Fletcher, Gin’s mentor. It will also answer some questions about Gin and Owen’s relationship and where the two of them go after the events of the last few books in the series.

7. Which character has surprised you the most in these two series?

Hmm. That’s a tough one. They all surprise me to some extent. But right now, I will say Phillip Kincaid in my Elemental Assassin series. When I first wrote him back in the third book, VENOM, he was just a minor character, a bad guy who owned a riverboat casino. But then, when I had the idea for WIDOW’S WEB, book seven, I realized that he would make a great character to help me tell more of Owen’s backstory. So Phillip just sort of took on a life of his own, but readers really seem to like his character so far.

And now a couple event-related questions:

8. What's your favourite part of summer?

One of my favorite parts of summer is cooking out with my friends.

9. Which of your characters would be most likely to celebrate the summer solstice and why?

Definitely Finnegan Lane from my Elemental Assassin series. Finn loves any excuse to have a good time, so I could see him throwing a summer solstice party for Gin and the gang.

Happy reading, everyone!

-----------------

Thank you so much, Jennifer! It’s always such a pleasure to have you on board!

More about SPARTAN FROST:

I'm Logan Quinn, the deadliest Spartan warrior at Mythos Academy. At least I was--until the day I almost killed Gwen Frost.

Professor Metis and Nickamedes say that I'm fine, that Loki and the Reapers don't have a hold on me anymore, but I can't risk it. I can't risk hurting Gwen again. So I'm leaving Mythos and going somewhere far, far away.

I know Gwen wonders what's happening to me, whether I'm safe. I can't tell her, but this is my story…

Jenn's thoughts

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon

And here's MIDNIGHT FROST, out July 30:

Here we go again…

Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can't get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities—until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I'm still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead.

As Nike's Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I'm still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I've got to get my hands on the antidote fast—otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins—and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there…

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Click on the cover to see my thoughts on the rest of the series:

Jennifer is graciously offering one (1) copy of MIDNIGHT FROST to a lucky reader!

To enter, obey the Rafflecopter!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Jennifer Estep is a New York Times bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. She is the author of the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books and the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. She is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. For more information, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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by Tynga at Tuesday, June 25, 2013

 Event, giveaway, Interview, Jennifer Estep, Kensington, Simon Schuster, Supernatural Solstice  30 People left their mark

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