It's Friday the 13th! There's nothing unlucky about today - I get to be one of the tour stops for J.A. Belfield's newest release, Eternal. Even better, I have Jem Stonehouse, the leading lady of the Hollway pack, in-house to answer some curious questions about those delicious Holloway boys. Before we begin our little inquisition, let's check out the cover for Eternal and blurb:
An unmarried woman living in a house of men breeds hearsay and lore. If only the villagers knew the truth.
It’s not Jem Stonehouse’s marital status that brings unwanted strangers to town. Rather, it’s that she is the only female werewolf in existence — a prize to any pack.
Sean Holloway, the love of Jem’s life, has gone to great lengths to protect her. As a new attack becomes imminent, Sean realizes he must take greater measures with Jem’s safety or risk losing her forever.
His first task must be to marry her, but a force greater than the largest werewolf stands in his way.
Her mother.
Beautiful cover! I loved Darkness & Light and Instinct. Can't wait to dig into this one!
NOTE TO READERS OF THIS INTERVIEW: CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS!
Jem, I have to tell you that I fell in love with your story in Instinct. The innocent romance between you and Sean was such a joy to read. Tell me, what thoughts went through your head when you first caught sight of handsome ‘Mr. Holloway’?
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I spotted ‘Mr Holloway’ long before he seemed to spot me. And whilst I dared allow myself to wonder over the rumours? Due to his reputation, I was somewhat relieved about when I continued to pass beneath his radar. Though that all seemed to go out the window the very first time he made eye contact. Boy, that man’s smile is enough to set even the strongest of pulses into a flurry.
I'll bet...*sets chin on palm, stares off and sighs*
*breaks from stare, notices Jem's 'let's move along' expression*
Sorry. Instinct - I found myself frustrated at your mother for her interference. But as I look at the situation through the eyes of a mother, I can’t say that I wouldn’t do the same. Can you blame your mother for wanting to protect you and your sister? Do you think she ultimately expected you to accept Sean for what he is?
I’d never blame my mother for her protective ways. After all, with the death of father, myself and Jessica were all she had left. So it was in her nature, I guess, to try to hold dear to us. I mean, even after she conceded I may have made the right choice in Sean, she still somehow managed to get her way in the old protection department.
There is this dreamy nature about Sean in each of the books: mischievous and chivalrous at the same time. Is the man always this way? Does he ever have a moody moment?
Yes, Sean is dreamy—but then I guess I can say that seeing as he starred in my dreams a lot. He’s also very mischievous, a side of him readers don’t get to see nearly enough of in the books. As well as chivalrous—he’s definitely that. But does he ever have a moody moment ….*Snort* he’s male—what do you think?
Hahaha! Right on...What's it like being the only female in a house full of rowdy wolves?
The good: they all adore and smother me and would go to the ends of the earth to protect me.
The bad: they all adore and smother me and would go to the ends of the earth to protect me.
What? What do you mean that’s a non-answer?
*sigh* Okay, the over-protection part is as good as it is bad. As is the adoration—because it means I get away with pretty much most of my antics with little repercussion from anyone in the pack, whilst it also means not one of them wants anything to happen to me which brings us full circle to the over-protection part. I get poked a good bit about the eye candy, but to be honest? I don’t actually see that far past Sean other than to be highly mortified by any naked parts belonging to his family.
What?! *bites lip while suddenly hit by visuals of Ethan...naked*
*shifts in seat* OK, between the past and the present, what is your favorite time period and why?
Oh, goodness. I think maybe the present. Because females of the world, in general, have a lot more say and rights. That hasn’t quite carried over into the pack with full effect yet, but I’m certainly working on it.
Do you harbor any resentment toward Sean for what he did?
Which time? The first time? The second—the third? The first time, I did for a while. Until I came to understand how desperate he must have felt to panic that way, for him to break every rule he’d been raised to obey because he believed it the only way possible for us to be together. If you look at it that way, it actually sounds romantic. I do wish he’d have spoken to me about it first though. As for the final time he bit me? There is no resentment for that. How can I blame him for an accident that had been prompted into occurrence by events out of our control?
No doubt, Sean would hurt himself before ever thinking of hurting you, this much I've gathered from your stories. What’s it like being the wolf with Sean?
Imagine being completely in tune with your surroundings, in a body that instinctively knows what to do, with senses that collect signs, scents, sounds like dropped breadcrumbs that guide you and rarely steer you wrong, in a mass of muscle built to protect its owner. Now tell me: how do you think it feels?
Uh...is that available over-the-counter yet? Wonder where those breadcrumbs lead. *winks* Hehehe
Can you give us a brief teaser of what we can expect in Eternal?
Um … apart from the ones already dropped throughout? Think love, think male screw ups in the way only a male can achieve, think hurt and forgiveness, family ties and loyalty, and danger blended with risk, as well as territorial contests (of more than one variety) and the ultimate ending that’s enough to leave a girl sighing … and you pretty much have Eternal all wrapped up in a bow.
Oooh! I like sighing...lots of sighing. And while we're on the topic of sighing, it's time for the most important question of the interview: what is it like living with Ethan Holloway? *biting lip again*
Seriously? You probably don’t want to know.
No, I really do. *scoots to the edge of the seat*
He’s like the big brother I never had—which pretty much marks him as the biggest pain in my behind I never had.
He’s loveable, though. I’d be lying if I didn’t toss that in.
Loveable. *imagines lots of loving* Ever, like *shrugs shoulders* I dunno, walk in on him say, in the shower? *grins*
What? No!
Mid-change?
Not if I can help it, thank you very much. His ego’s already big enough without him thinking I have nothing better to do with my time than spy on his nudity. What kind of questions are these?
Wait, there are more important things than spying on his nudity? *clears throat* Uh, moving on…
Thank goodness. Though, I should probably add that you guys will have to wait until December to see more of his highliness.
*scream rattles in brain* Shut. Up. More of Ethan??? Ho ho...sign me up.
You have a keen sense of smell, right? What uh…*dodges eye contact* does Ethan smell like, exactly? *cough*
Hahahaha. Well, I can tell you exactly what Sean smells like: woody, wolfy and natural all mixed up with his own blend of masculine musk. Now imagine those scents with the masculine musk slightly altered and the pretty much have Ethan—there are actually a lot of similarities between the way the two of them smell.
I will not ask her to send me one of Ethan's shirts. I will not ask her to send me one of Ethan's shirts. I will not ask her to send me one of Ethan's shirts. So *clears throat* that sounds...delightful.
BONUS QUESTION: Throughout the centuries, what was your most romantic moment with Sean?
Um … I think the first time we wed. Possibly because the wedding was followed by the binding, and seeing the unwavering resolution in Sean’s eyes as the ritual was performed, with not one hint of doubt present, pretty much imploded my heart with the realization of how deep his love actually went.
*sighs* That's one I too would hold on to eternally. So glad you could stop by Jem!
Want to know how to get your hands on a copy of Eternal? Of course you do!
Need to catch up on the Holloway Pack series?
Stop by J.A. Belfield's website to check out Darkness & Light, Instinct and Into the Unknown!
