Evensong by Krista Walsh

Back in January, one of my good writer friends, Krista Walsh, released Evensong, the first book in her fantasy trilogy.  I had the pleasure of beta reading this beauty sometime last year, and thoroughly enjoyed the story!  Reading about an author was a very cool experience and I felt like I had a lot in common with the MC.  Haha!  Although ... you don't have to be a writer to enjoy this one. Now, as some of you know, I'm a huge fan of music.  I NEEEEEEED music to write.  In fact, if I don't have the right playlist prepared prior to starting a new book, I often find that I cannot connect to the characters.  So music is very important to me.  And I happen to know Krista is a fan of music as well (we often recommend songs back and forth ... in fact, one of her songs listed below is a favorite of mine) so I asked her to offer up her playlist for Evensong.

Before we get to that though, here's some info about Evensong!  Grab this one while it's only 99 cents!

Blurb:

Author Jeff Powell wakes up to find the impossible has happened. He is within his own novel—summoned into the fictional world of Feldall’s Keep by a spell he didn't write. One the House enchantress hasn't figured out how to reverse.

When the villain he's been struggling to write reveals himself, unleashing waves of terror and chaos, Jeff must use more than his imagination to save the characters he created—and the woman he loves.

Trapped within a world of his own creation, he must step outside the bounds of his narrative to help his characters defeat an evil no one anticipated, even if he must sacrifice his greatest gift. In the end, he has to ask: are novels really fiction, or windows into other worlds?

Grab a copy!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Now on to the playlist!!

Evensong Musical Inspiration

When Keri asked me to offer my top 10 musical inspiration for Evensong I thought it would be easy! I always create a list of songs to listen to while I write. Trouble is, I wrote the first draft of Evensong for NaNoWriMo 2012, so I had to wrack my brain trying to go back in time.

Like my lovely host, a soundtrack is necessary for my writing process. All day I get distracted by the real world: my morning routine, remembering to take out the garbage, remembering to go to work, work, figuring out what to make for dinner … after all of that, it’s difficult to get grounded in the fictional world again. Music helps drown out everything except the words, the characters, the setting.

There’s pretty much no genre of music I don’t enjoy or derive some kind of inspiration, but with the Meratis series, I found myself leaning heavily on Of Monsters and Men. The tone, the lyrics, the whole feel of their album My Head is an Animal fit so well with Jeff’s situation that the two are permanently associated in my mind.

Each book has an OM&M song attached for it. Because I had to pick only one for Evensong, I opted for “From Finner”

Other songs that come to mind:

Artificial Nocturne – Metric

Stadium Love – Metric (went on a bit of a kick last year)

Angel – Massive Attack

Lux Aeterna – Clint Mansell (because I don’t believe anything I can write can ever NOT be inspired by this song)

If There’s a Rocket Tie Me To It – Snow Patrol

Little Lion Man – Mumford & Sons

Pompeii – ES Posthumus (really, this whole album is fantastic to work to. Can’t praise it enough)

Teardrop – Jose Gonzalez

Stubborn Love – The Lumineers

 

About the Author

Known for witty, vivid characters, Krista Walsh never has more fun than getting them into trouble and taking her time getting them out. After publishing a few short stories and novellas in various anthologies, she has now released her own anthology, the serial collection Greylands.

When not writing, or working at her day job, she can be found reading, gaming, or watching a film – anything to get lost in a good story.

She currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

For first grab at Evensong sale price, other promotions, news & announcements, you can sign up for her Newsletter

You can also connect via:

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At the local Second Cup coffee shop … but only if you come bearing a White Mocha

 

What's New? Soul Resurrected Update

First, I want to thank the many readers who picked up a copy of Soul Avenged while it was 99 cents!  Hope you enjoy the read! Recently I was tagged by the lovely Krista Walsh to participate in this little Q&A about current projects that’s been circulating the blogosphere.  I’m actually pretty excited because I get to chat about my upcoming release, Soul Resurrected, due out sometime in October.

And so on to the questions …

What are you working on right now?

Well, on a non-writing topic, I’m running a cover model contest for book 2 and asking my readers to choose the face of my character, Logan.  That begins June 14th and I’m REALLY excited about it.  I’m also opening the Sons of Wrath store in a couple of weeks too.  As far as WiP’s, I’m working on edits to Soul Resurrected, the second book in my Sons of Wrath series.  And if I keep to Krista’s format with this, then I get to share a snippet from the book!  Yay!

Here’s a short scene from book 2 with Calla and Logan:

“Draven killed my brother.  I intend to kill Draven.”

“You referring to the little prick that stabbed me? He’s my kill.”

“My kill.  My kill,” she mocked.  “You sound like some kind of prehistoric hit man.”

Logan’s cheek dimpled as if he tried to subdue a smile.  “Let’s just say that I let you have a go at him—”

“Let me?”  She leaned back against the window and crossed her arms.  “What makes you think I’m asking your permission first?  I get a kill shot, I’m taking it.”

His once-over, tits to legs, followed by a lick of his lips had her squirming on the inside.

“You’re fucking cute as hell when you’re feisty.”  His gaze swung toward the road then back on her.

Warmth tingled in her cheeks at the same time her stomach fluttered like she’d ingested a brawling swarm of butterflies.  She snapped her head to the side, diverting her attention toward the window, hoping he didn’t catch the sudden flush.

“What would you do?  If he was yours to kill.  How would you do it?”

She glanced back and frowned.  “Why are you asking me this?”

“I’m a demon.  A sick fuck.  This shit turns me on.”

“He’s the reason my brother is dead.”  Calla twisted to face him again, her jaw tight as she spoke, “Jake suffered a slow and painful death.  So will Draven.”

How does it differ from other works in its genre?

I think a unique element of this series is the violence and gore.  It’s a dark world with a variety of supernaturals, and humans often unwittingly find themselves caught in the middle.  Yet, as it’s a paranormal romance, I like to tie everything up with HEA at the end.  This book is steamier than Soul Avenged too.

What experiences have influenced you?

Just about every little detail in my life has some level of influence over my writing.  A bad day can translate into a really violent scene.  Hahaha!  People I meet can give rise to heroic or villainous characters.  It depends.  Other writers have played a huge role in my writing as well.  Their encouragement and feedback really pushed me to publish Soul Avenged (I originally hadn’t planned to do anything with this series).

Why do you write what you do?

If I didn’t write, I think I’d go nuts.  A lot of what I do in my day is analytical, number crunching.  I crave creativity.  Paranormal romance and urban fantasy is the perfect genre to let my imagination run wild.  I can create worlds, supernaturals in those worlds, and rules that they must follow.  It’s fun and allows me to break from the madness of my day to day.

How does your writing process work?

My writing process is not ideal.  In fact, I’m sure most writers would roll their eyes at the way I approach my stories.  I can’t outline and plot or do anything organized like that.  I put the earplugs in and as soon as my fingers hit the keys I’m typing what my characters tell me to write. As fast as I can, I’ll get the bare bones of the story onto paper, er, computer screen.  Then its layer upon layer.  I like to flesh out the main storyline first, which happens to be the blossoming romance between the H/h.   After that, I fill in holes and add subplots.  Then I probably take about 1-2 months of intense editing before I feel okay enough to pass it along to betas.

What is the hardest part about writing?

Cutting it off!  My current WiP is 140K words because I just couldn’t stop.  Now I’m tasked with having to cut 20K or more from the manuscript, while making sure all the meaty parts of the story are still in tact.  I’m also very critical of my own work.

What would you like to try as a writer that you haven’t yet?

I actually have an idea for an erotica written down.  Not sure if I'll do anything with it.  I’m very closely bordering romantica in this current WiP.  I’d also like to try horror sometime.

Who are the authors you most admire?

My favorites are Anne Rice, Poe and Kresley Cole.  I also have a lot of respect for paranormal romance and urban fantasy author J.A. Belfield.  That woman is incredibly strong with all she’s been through and writes brilliant stories.  She also happens to be my editor and I think she’s just a whole helluva lot of awesome.

I also have enormous respect for the indies.

Who are new authors to watch out for?

Some authors that I think readers should check out are:  J.A. Belfield (mentioned above), Colin F. Barnes, Narcisse Navarre, KL Schwengel, Krista Walsh, Candice Bundy and Terri Rochenski.

What scares you?

Spiders and failure.

As this is a blog chain, I'll leave it open for anyone who'd like to participate and discuss a current WiP!

Add Soul Resurrected to your Goodreads shelf:

Soul Resurrected (Sons of Wrath, #2)

Grab a copy of Soul Avenged here:

Amazon (Kindle) |  Amazon (Print)  |  Barnes & Noble (Nook)

 

Witch Hunt: Of the Blood - Excerpt

The Blog Tour for Witch Hunt: Of the Blood is going on now and I'm excited to share an excerpt from my story, The Banishing. Before I do that, I'd like to thank the bloggers who've graciously hosted us and helped spread the word!  I'll include all of the previous blog tour stops at the end of the excerpt if you'd like to check them out.

If you'd like the opportunity to ask questions or discuss the book with the authors--Devin O'Branagan, KL Schwengel, Krista Walsh, Suzanne Hayes Campbell, or myself--feel free to stop by Devin's writing forum to Chat With the Authors.

My story, The Banishing, focuses on Miranda Hunter, daughter of Brady and Belinda Hunter.  After completing her medical training, she begins her career in Philadelphia, facing the difficulties that come with being a young female physician in 1918.

***

Alice English. Fifty-five years old. No significant medical history. Miliary tuberculosis. Transferred from East Coast Sanatorium. Transferred from Crispin Sanatorium. Transferred from Hillcrest Sanatorium.

“My goodness,” Miranda muttered. “Four facilities in the last ten years? What is going on with you?”

She knocked on the door and peeked inside the room. “Hello?”

Most patients in the sanatorium shared rooms. Doctor English, however, had requested a private room for his mother and had taken steps to make it homey, setting up pictures beside the bed, flowers and replacing bland cotton drapes with lace curtains that brightened the room.

Tucking the chart beneath her arm, Miranda donned a mask from a table set against the wall and took cautious steps toward the bedside. The woman lying in the bed stared past her, eyes fixed, as if she’d been frozen in time.

“Mrs. English?”

No answer.

Miranda glanced toward the door then sat down on the bed next to the patient. Bones peeked through a layer of skin, thinned and wrinkled like parchment, as she glided her fingers down the woman’s temple, pushing the silvery gray hair behind her ears. She rested a hand on the woman’s slightly damp forehead.

Alice’s impervious gaze shifted in her direction and came to life. The irregularity of her pupils shrunk into normal rounded black beads, allowing her blue irises to sparkle through. Her mouth formed an ‘O’ as she struggled for words.

Miranda smiled at her. “It’s all right. Take your time.”

“Where?” A cough ripped through Alice’s chest, jerking the woman’s small frame into a spasm.

Keeping her hand to Alice’s forehead, Miranda leaned in and pulled away her mask. “You’re in the hospital. I’m your Doctor. My name is Miranda.”

“Conrad?”

Which one? “He’s…just fine.” Miranda patted her hand.

“My son is in good health?”

“Yes, of course. From what I hear”—Miranda shrugged her shoulders—“I’m afraid I’ve not yet met Doctor Conrad Jr.”

Alice’s expression softened into a smile. “Conrad is such a good boy. He visits me.” A deep rasp overpowered the delicate voice fighting beneath.

Miranda nodded. “Here at the hospital from time to time.”

Dullness clouded the bright blue in Alice’s eyes. “I’m dying.” Her dark and grim expression stared back, a contrast to the stark white linens that surrounded her. There was a fearlessness about her words, unshaken, as if she’d done nothing but contemplate her fate in those moments of staring off out the window.

Miranda dropped her head. “Yes.” She met Alice’s eyes again. “It’s spread.”

Alice looked away toward the window. “You’re not concerned about your mask. Are you a witch?”

Miranda’s heart caught in her throat.

How did ... Adrenaline moved through her body in waves. “I’m sorry,”—she swallowed the lump in her throat—“I don’t know what you mean.”

Alice smirked and cast a glance out of the corner of her eye.  “Call it a sixth sense.” Another cough sounded as if her lungs would burst through her ribs.

“If you’d prefer that I—” Miranda started to say.

“I feel cold sometimes. This … loneliness consumes me.” She turned to face Miranda. “Let’s suppose my sixth sense is correct.  I’m ready if you have the power to send me off.”

Though her heart knew what the woman was asking of her, Miranda’s mind refused to entertain such a thing. “Send you?”

“My only son will never gain anything more than pain from me.” Another cough shook Alice’s body and Miranda set a hand against her shoulder to still it. “I have nothing more to offer this world. I wish to go on to the next.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. English,” Miranda whispered. “I cannot do what you’re asking of me. I’m a healer. Not a murderer.”

Alice nodded and turned back toward the window. “I understand.” As if turned to stone, she lay motionless once more.

***

Five novellas based on Devin O’Branagan’s bestselling novel, Witch Hunt!
You’ve closed the cover on Witch Hunt, but the story isn’t over … yet! Devin O’Branagan has handpicked writers to take up her characters’ stories and explore what happens next.
The anthology begins with O’Branagan’s own novella about Hawthorne matriarch, Vivian. Vivian and her fellow British witches work together to prevent a Nazi invasion during World War II. Then there is Colonial maiden, Bridget, who struggles with the guilt of failing her family in Salem, 1692. Her younger sister, Prissy, mysteriously disappears and finds another magical world. Julia, torn by family loyalties, love, and her spiritual quest, pays a huge price to continue the bloodline. And Miranda uses her powers against the great influenza outbreak of 1918—but finds the ultimate foe is prejudice against her kind.
Discover what was left out of Witch Hunt and revisit your favorite characters with these exciting novellas. The story isn’t done until the battle’s lost and won.
This anthology contains novellas by Devin O'Branagan, Suzanne Hayes Campbell, Keri Lake, K.L. Schwengel, and Krista Walsh.
Witch Hunt: Of the Blood is available in both print and eBook formats and may be found at Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords. (Smashwords provides copies compatible with almost all types of eReaders including Sony, Apple, Kobo, etc.) It is also available internationally via Amazon worldwide!
Two of the stories in this anthology are bridges to the upcoming sequel, Witch Hunt: Resistance, which will be released in 2013.
The original Witch Hunt is an international bestseller first published by Simon & Schuster's Pocket Books. It has been translated into German and Turkish and is consistently on the bestseller lists. It is the story of 300+ years in the history of a family of witches, from the time of the Salem trials to a modern-day witch hunt. It begs the question: could it happen again?
Witch Hunt is available as both a paperback and an eBook. It is available at Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords.

In case you missed it, here are the previous tour stops:

Llewellyn's Publishing

Sean Hayden

J.A. Campbell

Anne Michaud

Jen Wylie

Krista Walsh

Colin F. Barnes

Devin O'Branagan

K.L. Schwengel

Laura Diamond

Witch Hunt: Of the Blood

It's release day for Witch Hunt:  Of the Blood!! Five novellas based on Devin O’Branagan’s bestselling novel, Witch Hunt

You’ve closed the cover on Witch Hunt, but the story isn’t over … yet! Devin O’Branagan has handpicked writers to take up her characters’ stories and explore what happens next. 

The anthology begins with O’Branagan’s own novella about Hawthorne matriarch, Vivian. Vivian and her fellow British witches work together to prevent a Nazi invasion during World War II. Then there is Colonial maiden, Bridget, who struggles with the guilt of failing her family in Salem, 1692. Her younger sister, Prissy, mysteriously disappears and finds another magical world. Julia, torn by family loyalties, love, and her spiritual quest, pays a huge price to continue the bloodline. And Miranda uses her powers against the great influenza outbreak of 1918—but finds the ultimate foe is prejudice against her kind.

Discover what was left out of Witch Hunt and revisit your favorite characters with these exciting novellas. The story isn’t done until the battle’s lost and won.

Novellas by: DEVIN O’BRANAGAN • SUZANNE HAYES CAMPBELL • KERI LAKE • K.L. SCHWENGEL • KRISTA WALSH

Buy it here:

Amazon Kindle
Amazon Paperback
B&N Nook
Smashwords

Cover Reveal: Witch Hunt: Of the Blood

It’s Monday again.  And while I normally dread this day of the week, I’m actually pretty excited today.  I mentioned a while back that I've contributed a story to the Witch Hunt: Of the Blood anthology.  Well, today I get to show you the face of the book.  And man, it’s one pret-tay looking cover… Sue Campbell, one of the contributing authors, is also the talented designer behind this gorgeous cover.  It is the follow up to Devin O’Branagan’s best-selling novel, Witch Hunt.

So I’m going to shut up and step aside.  Because you came here to see a cover, not endure a ramble of incoherent, sleep-deprived, NaNo nutcase wordiness, right?

More details about the release date for Witch Hunt: Of the Blood to come!

Back:

Five novellas based on Devin O’Branagan’s bestselling novel, Witch Hunt

You’ve closed the cover on Witch Hunt, but the story isn’t over … yet! Devin O’Branagan has handpicked writers to take up her characters’ stories and explore what happens next. 

The anthology begins with O’Branagan’s own novella about Hawthorne matriarch, Vivian. Vivian and her fellow British witches work together to prevent a Nazi invasion during World War II. Then there is Colonial maiden, Bridget, who struggles with the guilt of failing her family in Salem, 1692. Her younger sister, Prissy, mysteriously disappears and finds another magical world. Julia, torn by family loyalties, love, and her spiritual quest, pays a huge price to continue the bloodline. And Miranda uses her powers against the great influenza outbreak of 1918—but finds the ultimate foe is prejudice against her kind.

Discover what was left out of Witch Hunt and revisit your favorite characters with these exciting novellas. The story isn’t done until the battle’s lost and won.

Novellas by: DEVIN O’BRANAGAN • SUZANNE HAYES CAMPBELL • KERI LAKE • K.L. SCHWENGEL • KRISTA WALSH

So what do you think?