Author Spotlight with V.S. Nelson



K.S.  Hello and welcome to the blog. I am very excited to have you here. Why don’t we start off with a small introduction? Tell us a little about yourself.

After spending sixteen years living on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico and another twelve battling the heat, while teaching in the Middle East, I, moved to Mesa, Arizona where I reside with the love of her life and my four pound Miniature Pincher, Anubis, three birds and four fish.
I joined three chapters of RWA sometime after I completed the first draft of Eternal Lovers, convinced by others I should seek publication for a story which was originally written to make the voices in my head shut up. Guess what, it didn’t work.
What I thought in the beginning, was a story about a young Native American woman mixed up with the Mafia turned out to be a story of Aliens, as old as the pyramids, living around the world, just like you and me. Of course, that little detail wasn’t revealed to me until after the first draft of the manuscript was almost finished and my hero from book one, of what is now a saga, smiled up at me in a dream. Following the directions I received from Gabriel in my dreams, a totally new version of Eternal Lovers was born. The heroine, Jennifer, and the dynamics of their love story remain the same even though the story changed from a commercial fiction to a paranormal romance.

K.S.  Any interesting writing quirks or stories you would like to share with my readers?

I consider myself “a write from the seat of my pants” type of writer. I also love sprinting so I tend to write in thirty minute sprints, taking a ten to fifteen minute break between sprints. I never edit or do re-writes until I have a completed first rough draft. Then the hard work begins.

K.S.  When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? What sparked the desire to pen your first novel?

I wrote non-fiction for over twenty years while teaching school. I never even considered writing fiction, much less paranormal romances until Gabriel appeared in my dreams.


K.S.  What genre do you write?

Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasies. I have also started a commercial fiction which I hope to have finished in 2013.


K.S.  What would you say has inspired you most in your writing career? Or, who is your favorite author and why?

Boy, that’s a tough one. I read across all genre lines and love everything from the classics to horror.


K.S.  What does your family think of your writing?

As far as I know they like what I am doing… at least that is what I have been told.

K.S.  What was one of the most surprising things you learned while creating your book/s?

Never ever take your characters for granted. They always have something more to share with you.

K.S.  What inspires you?

The voices in my head that will not leave me alone until I write what they show me.


K.S.  Can you tell us a little about any of your novels?

I’d be happy to. Eternal Lovers is the first book in an eleven book cross-genre paranormal romance series entitled Sekhmet’s Guardians. Although each book is dedicated to a romantic couple they are also filled with additional stories and romances. Eternal Lovers is dedicated to Jennifer, a young Native American woman and Gabriel, the leader of Sekhmet’s Guardians and director of Guardians Incorporated.

A snippet of Chapter One follows.
“What did you do now, little one?”
She knew her grandmother already knew what transpired. Sitting by the fire, she had to have seen the visions of what she had done in the flames.
“I just asked the trout to get in the net. That’s all, I promise.”
Chenoa motioned for her to sit down beside her.
After a few moments her grandmother began with the all too familiar lecture.
“Jennifer, how many times have I told you using your gifts to accomplish a chore is wrong?”
If her head dropped any lower it would be in her lap. She hated disappointing her grandmother. “A bunch,” she mumbled as she let out another sigh. “Grams, I know it was wrong but I would still be there in the dark trying to catch enough fish for dinner. I didn’t think there was any harm in it.”
“Jennifer, did you ask them or tell them to get in the net?”
“Told them,” she finally admitted, knowing her grandmother wouldn’t approve, but she wouldn’t lie to her grandmother to save her own hide.
“You must not control the will of others. I know it is hard for you to understand why, but there is a difference in asking someone to assist you and demanding it. Jennifer it, was wrong.”
“I know Grams. I just thought...”
“No, you didn’t think, that is half your problem. You act without thinking. You must learn to think before using your gifts and you must remember not to impose your own will on others, no matter what the circumstances. There will be times when you will need to use those gifts but that time is not now. Until then, you have to be very careful when and where you use them.
Her grandmother paused and took a sip of the drink that sat beside her.
“You know most of the people of this world do not understand the things you are able to do. Jennifer, you are not like other children. You are special and I do not want you to be labeled as an outcast when you take your place in the real world. To survive, you must learn to be like them. Your grandfather quit his job in the city so we could remain here, safe from outsiders, where you could learn all that I must teach you.”
“I know Grams, I’m sorry... I’m really trying.”
She finally looked up at her grandmother. She could feel her eyes start to change. Any time she got emotionally upset or mad her emerald green eyes turned bright red. No one ever explained why they did that, she was just told to keep them hidden from the outside world. She reached into her pocket and started to pull out her shades. Grams grabbed her hand to stop her.
“Jennifer, what it is? There is something else going on with you. Talk to me. Tell me what else is bothering you.”
Using her long flannel shirt sleeve, she wiped the tears away from her face. Between sniffs, she remorsefully admitted she was lonely.



K.S.  Where can we buy your novel?
Eternal Lovers – Sekhmet’s Guardians – Book one is available in paperback, large print and Kindle formats through Amazon world wide.  US buy links are below.
Paperback -  http://tinyurl.com/b8ll29b
Large Print - http://tinyurl.com/ae3u6lv
Kindle - http://tinyurl.com/amvlphl


K.S.  Do you have a website, fan site, or Blog that we can visit?
http://www.authorvsnelson.com
http://www.authorvsnelson.com/blog


K.S.  Do you have any closing advice to aspiring writers?

Join a supportive writers group. The lessons, inspiration and support offered from groups like RWA (Romance Writers of America) are priceless.


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Book 5: Moonlight
Good girls don't wear fur, or fight over men, and they certainly don't run around naked, howling at the moon. But then, no-one ever called Fallon a good girl. As a human unofficially mated to an Alpha werewolf, Fallon is being pressured to "become"...or be gone. Her mate Aiden, the interim leader of the Olde Town Pack, is in a position that demands he either choose a wolf mate...or leave the pack forever. No matter how hot the sex with Fallon is, he can't ignore centuries of tradition. Become a wolf or not. If only the choice were that simple. Fallon's options are further clouded by the overt presence of other females desperate to be the Alpha's mate. And when these bitches get serious, it's not just claws that come out. If Fallon wants to keep her man and take the title she'll have to exert a little dominance of her own.




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A gathering storm of violence is on the horizon. Whispered threats of the Acta Sanctorum's return have the supernatural world abuzz. Only recently aware of the other world hidden behind our own, Kitara Vanders has barely scratched the surface of what being supernatural truly means. A special woman in her own right, she possesses unique telepathic abilities, gifts that have recently come under the scrutiny of the Acta Sanctorum, a fanatical organization whose mission is to cleanse the world of anything supernatural. Targeted, and marked for death, Kitara's only hope lies with the lethally seductive yet emotionally scarred warrior, Nicholas.
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NEW RELEASE - Ever Winter by Alexia Purdy




Title: Ever Winter
Author:  Alexia Purdy
Series: A Dark Faerie Tale (#3)
Genre:  Fantasy/Faeries/YA/Paranormal
Publisher:  Lyrical Lit. Publishing
Release Date:  February 28 2013




Synopsis: 
Shade is left all but shattered. She must travel to the Ice kingdom along with her 'body guard' Dylan, who continues to be bound with a blood oath to her, where the holder of her magic dwells. Her only chance to right the warring Faerie lands to harmony will be to resist the enchantments of the Ice King, one of the Ancient rulers of Faerie, to regain her power and make it to the Summer Kingdom with her family to claim back her throne.
Only the Ancients of Faerie don't want her to succeed and there are treacheries in every crevice of the land, even among the human mortals and trusted alibis.

Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13271540-ever-winter

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Ever-Winter-Dark-Faerie-ebook/dp/B00BUA5E78

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ever-Winter-Dark-Faerie-ebook/dp/B00BUA5E78

Barnes & Noble
www.barnesandnoble.com%2Fw%2Fever-winter-alexia-purdy%2F1114837383%3Fean%3D2940016327709&h=MAQH5dvci

Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/295705


Excerpt:
Shade’s ears rang from the darkling’s screech and she had the sudden urge to let go of Camulus and Brisa to cover them to make the shearing noise go away. She resisted, afraid she’d end up in some weird teleporting limbo if she dared disconnect from Camulus now. She endured the pain and felt Brisa trying to tug away from her too, probably also in torturous pain. The jaunt could not have ended sooner and she found the entire bunch writhing on the floor from the darkling’s searing call.

Shade followed suit, collapsing to the ground and grabbing at her ears. Moments passed before the relentless ring faded away, leaving them all breathing hard and sweating buckets. Shade pulled her arm away from her ear to grasp her other arm, which now was throbbing with a searing pain. Slowly opening her eyes as she breathed deeply in and out, she saw why her arm was hurting so much. A black spot where the darkling had touched her right before they had teleported away stood stark against the pale skin of her forearm. It sent spikes of pain radiating up her through her elbow, up her shoulder and into her chest. She gasped, gritting her teeth from the agony.

The others were now finally getting to their feet, some still dazed from the deafening screech. Dylan held his hands on his knees, crouched down as he shook it off his senses. Noticing that Shade was still on the ground, he hurried toward her and knelt down. She was grabbing her left arm and shaking uncontrollable, tears leaked from both her eyes and her face was screwed up in pain.

“Shade?” He pulled her up to sit against him but she could barely open her eyes to register him.

“It’s burning!” She gasped, clutching her arm against her chest, cradling it softy.

“What happened?”

“The darkling, it touched me before…before we left.” Shade tried to breathe the pain away, but it was winning and she wasn’t sure how long she would stay conscious. “What is this?”

“A darkling’s kiss.” Soap slid down to check out the wound. It was hot around the edges and the black spot wasn’t growing. Still, Shade grunted through the torturous agony. “When a darkling marks you, it dies. In death, its touch poisons your blood slowly until all of your blood turns black and you either become a darkling or…” he cleared his throat, looking solemn. “Or, you die. But it takes just a few days.”





Alexia currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada–Sin City! She loves to spend every free moment writing or playing with her four rambunctious kids. Writing has always been her dream and she has been writing ever since she can remember. She loves writing paranormal fantasy and poetry and devours books daily. Alexia also enjoys watching movies, dancing, singing loudly in the car and Italian food.

Author Links
Blog
Alexia Purdy’s Promo Helpers
Alexia Purdy’s Facebook Fan Page
Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tales) Facebook Page
Goodreads Author Page
Reign of Blood Facebook Fan Page
Twitter




New Release - Don't Kill Dinner by Jennifer Martinez


There are three rules when it comes to being a vampire in New Orleans. 1) Don’t kill dinner. 2) Don’t feed from people you know. 3) Don’t tell anyone. Not too hard, right? Wrong. Kenna is a new vampire filled with a passion that has turned into an uncontrollable lust for blood.
 Will Arthur be able to stop her feeding spree before the coven comes after her or is Kenna beyond saving?

Arthur has been watching Kenna for years, wanting her to try her own hand in life before he gave her the ultimate proposal. Now that she has accepted, will his love be enough to save her?

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Author Bio:

One day while slaving away at her monotonous day job, Jennifer Martinez found her true calling. Like a firefly in the night, the pages called to her. Once she caught the bug there was no stopping it. Her fingers flew furiously across the keyboard winding tales of love, mystery and anger. She snapped out of her reverie to find herself still behind the desk but at least she knew who she was… Author Jennifer Martinez.
I like to think of myself as a beautiful conundrum. When I am not writing, I can be found surrounded by my amazing family and 4 dogs or volunteering at a local animal rescue. I love who I am and don’t mind at all when I get strange looks from people. I am a tattoo covered, child and animal lover who looks forward to destroying peoples preconceived notions of what “someone like me” would be interested in. You only live life once… you may as well make it interesting.
I love to get lost in a good book and hope that everyone will get lost in mine.

Links:

About The Author

Katie Salidas is a USA Today bestselling author and RONE award winner known for her unique genre-blending style.

Since 2010 she's penned five bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, Chronicles of the Uprising, and the all-new Agents of A.S.S.E.T. series. As her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.

In her spare time Katie also produces and hosts a YouTube talk show; Spilling Ink. She also has a regular column on First Comics News where she explores writing from a nerdy perspective.