Hi,
everyone!
I have BIG
news!
My first book, THE FIRE WALKERS
is coming to you July 1st, 2014!
To celebrate I’m hosting the Summer Love Blog Tour! Throughout May I’ll be
spotlighting authors from different sub genres with a series of fun questions
and clips from their books.
I get to
channel my inner Barbara Walters. *Host
Chair Happy Dance*
And the
excitement doesn't end there.
On June 1st
I’ll reveal the long awaited FIRE WALKERS cover!
(I’m super excited to share that
with you – it’s gorgeous!)
And every
Sunday in June you’ll receive the inside scoop on my debut novel as I introduce
you to the amazing characters that walked fire with me.
Please
stop by each week to see what’s new!
J
Now, on to
the main event!
In romance
there are many wonderful categories from which you can choose. There are stories set in modern day, and in the
past. Some stories are based in magic, others in the hi-tech realm of Science
Fiction. There are steamy stories, religious stories, and tales set in the dystopian
future. Paranormal
is a fairly new branch in the mighty oak of romantic fiction.
As a writer,
conflict is your friend. You ask the question, “What would keep these two
lovers apart?” Paranormal tackles that question with fervor.
What bigger void is there to cross than two different species falling in love?
With the
rise and revival of vampire mania, the concept of love with a
non-human hero/ine came into its own, later including werewolves, mummies and
even zombies. With a readership who love their hero tall, dark and mummified,
paranormal romance delivers love on the edge.
And to
start our Summer Love Tour off with bandages and a growl, I’m proud to
present fellow Maryland Romance writer and acclaimed paranormal romance author,
Jean Murray!
CN Q&A:
What do you love most about paranormal romance?
Where
do I start? There are so many great things. I guess if I had to
pick one it would be the fact that it’s limitless. The scope is only
limited by the author’s imagination. It’s my escape from the real world J
What is the weirdest research you’ve ever had to do?
Learning
how mummies were made.
My Key to the Cursed series is based on Egyptian
Mythology. I wanted to make it authentic as possible, so I started
visiting the Egyptian exhibits. The Chicago Museum has some of the best
mummies. It helped in writing certain scenes. Also, I took the time
learn how the priests prepared the bodies and what charms they may have used to
protect the dead on their journey to the Afterlife. Truly fascinating!
What
is your favorite scene in Soul Awakened and why?
Oh, there is one that comes to mind. Bakari has been sent to
the warrior village to pay out his penance. He wants to stay as far away from
Kendra as possible, knowing the temptation to touch her will be too much to
bear. I’ll let the scene speak for itself... You can only imagine what
happens next J
Excerpt
from Soul Awakened, Jean Murray:
The scrape of the door closing drew his
attention over his shoulder. The flames from the sconces danced across the
faces of the immortalized gods. Only one face stared back with mouth agape. The
soft lighting played against the beautiful features of the goddess. He squeezed
his eyes shut and opened them again. She remained in her white flowing robe.
Her wide eyes followed him as he stumbled to get up.
Bakari shifted his body to hide his
atonement. He resisted the urge to inhale her scent fearful his thirst would
return tenfold. The sight of her alone threatened his thread of control. What
was she doing here?
“Bomani is not here.”
“I know.” Kendra’s eyes measured him
briefly and then darted away. The hint of redness colored her cheeks. She
traced one of the glyphs that adorned the statue next to her.
He narrowed his eyes at her. If she was
not here to see Bomani, then who? Certainly not him.
“You look well,” Kendra said, staring
at the statue.
He tracked her graceful movements. Her
hair shined even in the dim glow of the candle light. Each lock of her hair
curled in long full coils over her shoulders. The sight of her stirred a fire
inside his belly. He narrowed his vision on her arms fully expecting to see
glyphs on her forearms, but found only soft cream skin. His bitterness gave way
to relief. She had not yet transitioned. Still, her health and vitality
reverberated across the slab of stone that separated them.
She drifted among the statues, not once
stepping closer. For all the time he had wanted to keep her distance, he now
found her reluctance exasperating. He glanced at his feet, surprised that he
had taken several steps forward. Her warm energy seeped into his tissues and
amassed in his chest, feeding a hunger in the most basic form. Life. There was
only one other hunger he wished quenched. He swiped a hand across his face.
He pulled his hand away to find his
palm wet with perspiration. Cursing, he slid his hand across his abdomen. It
was calm at the moment, but he did not trust it to behave. He bowed deeply, as
any warrior would in a goddess’ presence. “Madame, I will leave you to your privacy.”
***
Kendra whipped her head around. Madame? However respectful he meant it to be,
it stung like a dirty word. She’d been reduced from something as intimate as his
Parvana to something cold and distant, as Madame. She shouldn’t
care, she really shouldn’t. She had spent hours festering her anger toward him
in the hope her feelings would change. Apparently they hadn’t.
He reached for the door, revealing again the amazing scroll work carved into
his skin. From shoulder to shoulder and along his spine the scarification
tattoo looked like a scorpion’s back. Her breath caught in her throat. He had
gained leadership and respect among the warriors, not to mention he added about
forty pounds of lean muscle.
“I didn’t come to see Bomani,” she blurted. He stopped with his hand on the
iron handle. “I came,” Kendra placed her hand over her racing heart, “to see
you.”
Tell us one unique fact about you (something that few people know).
I
had the honor of spending 20 years in the military. Even deployed when our
first child was only 7 months old. I only had intended on staying 4 years, but
time had a way of getting away from me. I was having too much fun and
before I knew it, 20 years had come and gone. I retired in 2011 and started my
new life as a civilian. To say the least, it has been an interesting
transition. J
Author
Links:
Latest Book:
SOUL AWAKENED, Book 2 in the Key to the Cursed series
LOVE
FOR BLOOD OR HONOR
Kendra,
an Egyptologist and demi-god in waiting, is the key to unlocking Bakari, the
Egyptian God of Death, from his cursed slumber. Desperate to free him, she
inadvertently binds herself to the god with a spell that only death will undo.
To save Bakari from himself, she may have to sacrifice her innocence, and
possibly her soul, before he becomes his family’s worst enemy.
HAUNTED
BY SINS OF THE PAST
Bakari
awakens to a world at war and a beautiful woman who has tethered his soul to
hers. In the wake of his self-destruction Kendra is his only hope of salvation,
but another has vowed to keep Bakari from the one thing he craves most-- his
Parvana. His butterfly.
“I know other readers are going to love this
series as much as I do. Get settled in for a thrilling paranormal tale.”
Bitten by Paranormal Romance, Ollie
(Feb2013):
5/5 Alpha Howls, Hot
“I
don't know where to begin to describe the absolutely marvelous job that the
author does in not only creating a wonderful world with so much depth and
detail, but a story line the has the mystery and intrigue that will keep you
glued to the pages.”
Quote:
“He
leaned into her neck and inhaled along the line of her pulsing artery. “Kendra,
you are going to tell me everything I want to know.”
Book Trailer:
Purchase Links:
Huge thanks to Jean for visiting today!
Next week: The Summer Love continues with
Sci-Fi/Erotica author, Sarah Allan!
Please join me then for more of the Narrative! J
