Raven Raye

Write it Like a Song

By Raven Raye

 

Listening to music has helped my writing. And not just by carrying me away to that part of my mind where I can get lost in the forest of tall thoughts. When you listen to a song, you’re being dragged through the story of one night, a few days or someone’s whole life. Here are some examples: Hotel California by The Eagles (one of my favorites), Ocean Gypsy by Blackmore’s Night, (and some older ones) Send in the Clowns by Judy Collins, Honey by Bobby Goldsboro, and let’s not forget all the songs by Gordon Lightfoot. All of these have a common thread; economic wording. With an average of three verses and a couple of choruses, taking all of three to four minutes, the singer can wrap us into the life of their subject. They evoke images and deep emotion when we listen to them. We sing along. They can even make us cry (Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle). Would that I could pull that kind of response from all my readers! What I’ve (tried) to learn from them is to make every word count. Delete extraneous and filler words. When you line-edit, rearrange your sentences for maximum impact.

It helps me to read what I’ve written out loud. Now that I’m single again, I read to my cats (pathetic, I know), but they don’t seem to mind. What kind of tricks do you use to make sure you don’t have extra words or maybe left something out? Yeah, they have programs for this, but then I have to slip and slide on the learning curve. Think I’ll save that one for between my next two novels. ~ Raven

 

Broken Prophecy

Only Killian’s bloodline was created with the planet. No other can accept the Seal and no human can carry the seed to bear the Heirs of Aeden.

Killian, King of the Fey, is in love with Marcella Rowan, human and forbidden to his kind. An errant Angel, seeking revenge, awakens creatures thought long dead or mythological. Marcella’s life in danger and against the Divine Council’s orders, Killian saves her from death—by claiming her as his soulmate. As earthly and other-earthly creatures polarize toward good or evil, Marcella and Killian must survive the forces driving them apart. Only their love can unite the worlds of magick and mundane. Only their love can force their peoples to put aside bigotry, jealousy, and fear to overcome the evil tearing the earth apart. Only the magick they make together can repopulate Earth’s garden in Aeden.

***

 Thank you for "winging" it on my guest blog, Raven!

Enjoy the Fey,

Josephine

Kala Ambrose

KALA AMBROSE

 

 

Charm Gate at the Court of Two Sisters in New Orleans Photo by Kala Ambrose

The Court of Two Sisters is a restaurant in the French Quarter offering the most delightful courtyard to enjoy a meal. In the courtyard, the wisteria trees have interlocked and connected creating a natural canopy over the courtyard, bringing the space alive with sunlight peeking through the leaves. This delightful display is further highlighted by the presence of a bubbling fountain. I find wisteria to be such an interesting choice for this courtyard as by definition, wisteria means to “cling”. The wisteria canopy welcomes guests, expressing that the dining experience will offer long lasting memories of the event.

The jazz brunch at Court of Two Sisters is the perfect respite from an evening spent on Bourbon Street and the strolling jazz trio lifts the heart. While experiencing brunch in this manner, one begins to muse that every meal should be this grand. The thought of a quiet meal back home, sounds absolutely appalling.  The overall effect of the restaurant creates the feeling that one has just stepped into a painting. The scene is filled with old world charm, caught in a moment of boundless spring, highlighted by the tinkle of laughter coming from guests sitting at crisp white tablecloths enjoying private moments.

Stepping into this courtyard, one walks back in time and the city outside these doors no longer exists. This is the enchantment of the courtyards designed in New Orleans, where homes were built with the courtyard in the middle so that residents could enjoy a protected and peaceful atmosphere. The name Court of Two Sisters originates from the previous owners, two Creole sisters named Emma and Bertha Camors. Their shop was here on Royal Street and they made their living providing women in New Orleans the best gowns, gloves, perfumes and other fashion accessories. The two sisters (born in 1858 and 1860) spent their entire lives together and according to the history and local lore, they died within months of each other and were buried side by side in 1944 at St. Louis Cemetery #3 in New Orleans. The ghosts of both sisters are often seen throughout the restaurant, both inside the building and strolling around the courtyard.

Some of the most entertaining stories I have heard about the Court of Two Sisters is about the courtyard, where locals told me they have seen fairies dancing about in the trees and around the beautiful fountain that is in the center of the courtyard.  They say you can see them day and night and that there are many elementals, fairies and sprites that have lived in this courtyard for hundreds of years.

I certainly agree that there is a beautiful energy here that takes you out of the mundane world and makes you feel truly transported into somewhere ethereal.  This restaurant was my mother’s favorite restaurant in the world and each time she visited she would return back home and tell me about her evening from beginning to end.

She said that every time she visited, she had a feeling that she had been there before in a past life and she would remember the man she had been with whom she believed to be her husband. Each time she would dine at the restaurant, she would dream about the Court of Two Sisters later that evening. In her dream she said that she looked very similar to how she looked this lifetime with dark brown hair, green eyes and wearing a light dove gray dress and a cameo ring on her hand.

Cameo ring Photo by Kala Ambrose

Many years later when she visited the Court of Two Sisters again, a gentlemen friend presented her with a gift that he had purchased for her in a nearby antique shop on Royal Street earlier that day.  It was an antique cameo ring and it fit her perfectly.  She was in shock, as it looked identical to the ring she had seen in her dreams and now here it was on her hand at the very restaurant where she had dreamed that she wore this ring before.
Her friend had never heard her speak about the dream to him, nor had she ever mentioned a ring of this type to anyone. Years later she showed me the ring and explained how special it was to her in this lifetime. She felt that it was her ring from another lifetime that had found its way back to her again.  She said that it had been charmed and it carried an old spell in it that the owner of the ring would always find their way back to New Orleans.

My mother asked her friend where he had bought the ring and he took her to the shop the next day. While there she asked the owner where he had purchased the ring. He told her that a man from New York had entered his shop wanting to sell the ring. He had said that it was from his mother’s estate and that she had specified in her will that the ring must be returned to New Orleans upon her death. The man from New York was unsure of what that meant exactly, so he traveled to New Orleans. He first offered the ring to a museum, which declined the offer and so he sold it to the antique store here on Royal Street.  The ring had been here at the store for a couple of years and the owner said that many people had commented on it, but none had been interested in purchasing it until my mother’s friend had dropped in the day before.

My mother later passed this ring on to me, telling me that she knew that no matter where else I traveled or lived, that Louisiana was always in my heart and the land I call home.  It is a special treasure to me and every time I pull it out, I swear I can hear a siren song from the muses of New Orleans calling me back home to Louisiana.

The ring sits here with me now as I write and she appears to be shining brighter than usual as if aware that I am telling her story now here on paper.  Curious about its origin, I recently had it appraised and was told that it dates back to the Victorian times. It is the most interesting piece, as I have seen many cameo brooches, but a ring the size of a brooch is quite distinctive.

Rings like other objects can be charmed and have spells put upon them and the energy in this ring feels as strong today as the day decades ago when my mother first showed the ring to me.  I know that if I place it on my hand, that I’ll soon be called back to New Orleans, as the energy is so strong.
Like the ring, the charm of the two sisters and their courtyard are delightful on their own. There’s true magic to be found at this location, in the courtyard with the fairies and elementals and at the entrance of the restaurant on Royal Street.
Waiting for you at the entrance of the Court of Two Sisters are ‘charm gates’, given to the two sisters by Queen Isabella of Spain in 1832. These gates were blessed with magic and are reported to be lucky. It is said that if you touch them, you will be the recipient of their charms.  Of course you know the first thing I had to do when I first saw these gates was to place both hands firmly upon them to tap into the energy as well as to tune in to what energy had been collected by the gates over the years. As a psychic with the added ability of psychometry, I can touch an object and see an experience that stayed with the object. I was very interested in seeing what stories the gates had to tell.

The iron on the gate was cool to the touch and the restaurant has attached small blue lights, which drape around the gates.  Standing there in front of the gates I gripped the iron and felt a cool breeze rush past me, giving me a slight chill. As I held on to the gate, I closed my eyes and could hear past conversations from the mists of time. At first there was the energetic download of hundreds of conversations that have been collected and then I began to see the young girls. Over the years, hundreds, maybe thousands of young women have touched these gates, with their wish being to find true love. More than any of the other hands that have touched these gates hoping for thousands of favors and wishes to be granted, it is the wishes of the young girls that have left the strongest impression upon these charmed gates.  It appears that the purpose of the gates is to help people find true love.

If you are looking for a place to get engaged, have a wedding reception or celebrate an anniversary, I believe that the Court of Two Sisters is one of the most magical and enchanted sites in which to conduct such a ceremony or celebration.
Begin by touching the charmed gate and then enter the enchanting courtyard where the elementals and the elements await your presence, ready to delight all of your senses and provide you with a romantic atmosphere to remember for a lifetime.

Charm Gate sign at the Court of Two Sisters. Photo by Kala Ambrose

If you can’t wait until your next visit to New Orleans and the Court of Two Sisters to tap into this ancient energy, simply place your hand on the charm gate photo shown here and allow the charm to pass through to you. The magic has just begun and if the enchanted ring I’m wearing while writing this story has any say, you’ll soon be on your way to visit New Orleans to visit the Court of Two Sisters and their charmed gates.
Kala’s Travel Tips:
- The courtyard is best enjoyed in spring, fall or winter. Summer is a bit too warm for some to enjoy sitting outdoors, though on early mornings, I find it delightful in summer too.
- Try drinking a Sazerac here from the bar, one of the oldest cocktails in New Orleans.
- Most of the meals are served as a buffet, and unless you’re from Louisiana, you may not recognize some of the dishes prepared. It’s ok, be adventurous, you might like something new and if you don’t, that’s ok too, there’s plenty to sample and enjoy.
- Save room for bananas foster, a must have for dessert.
- The Jazz Trio Brunch is served daily and is a wonderful way to recover from a long evening spent on Bourbon Street.
- The restaurant is located on Royal Street, which is home to many wonderful antique shops as well. While you’re there, try your luck and explore some of these shops, perhaps you’ll find a charmed ring of your own.

About Kala Ambrose: 

Award winning author, national columnist, inspirational speaker, and host of the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Radio and TV Show, Kala Ambrose's teachings are described as discerning, empowering and inspiring. Whether she’s speaking with world-renowned experts on the Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show, writing about empowering lifestyle choices or teaching to groups around the country, fans around the world tune in daily for her inspirational musings and lively thought-provoking conversations.

A highly interactive teacher on a mission to educate, entertain and inspire, Kala teaches and writes about ancient wisdom teachings and how their techniques can be used in modern day living. Her books, The Awakened Aura: Experiencing the Evolution of Your Energy Body and 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled both cover these topics. In addition, Kala shares her love of history, travel and the spirit world in her books Spirits of New Orleans and Ghosthunting North Carolina. Her books are designed to explore the history of cities in an entertaining manner while sharing haunted stories and offering travel tips on how to best see the cities to shop, dine, stay, and visit the haunted sites.
Kala writes for the Huffington Post, the Examiner, AOL, Yahoo and Fate Magazine and presents workshops nationally on the Mind/Body/Spirit connection including Auras and Energy Fields, Developing Entrepreneur Intuition, Haunted History, and Wisdom Teachings at the Omega Institute, John Edward Presents Infinite Quest, Edgar Cayce's ARE, the Learning Annex, LilyDale Assembly, Daily Om and her school, the Academy of Mystical Arts & Spiritual Sciences. More about Kala at http://www.ExploreYourSpirit.com

Kala Ambrose Spirits of New Orleans Book Signing at the New Orleans Witches Ball October 26, 2013

 

 

All the best,
*~Kala~*

 

Note from Josephine: Kala had no idea while writing this that there is a scene in Convicted of Love that takes place at the Court of Two Sisters!  Coincidence or not?  You decide ...

Cynthia Eden

Welcome to Wing Beat, Cynthia!

Please introduce yourself and give us a short bio:   Hi, everyone!! I’m excited to be here. ;) My name is Cynthia Eden, and I write both paranormal romances and romantic suspense novels. I’m a southern girl. I love chocolate and horror movies.

If you had superhero powers, what would it be, and how would you use it to save souls? I’d chose to have the power to read minds.  I’ve always wanted to know what other people were thinking. And, since I could peer into any mind, I’d be able to stop bad guys—pronto!

As a kid, what was your favorite cartoon or tv show? Scooby Doo! I loved solving mysteries with him and Shaggy.

As an adult, what is/are your favorite shows? I’m a huge Castle fan, and I just can’t get enough of those Supernatural boys. 

What is your favorite hobby and why and how often do you indulge? I love spelunking. Give me a cold, dark cave to explore, and I’m a happy woman. I usually try to explore new caves about 3-4 times a year. Or whenever I can drag my husband and son along with me!

Blurb of your latest release:

She was one man’s obsession…
Nine years ago, Claire Kramer’s lover brutally killed her family, and he tried to kill her. She escaped, but she’s been haunted ever since that attack. Too afraid to trust another man and too worried that her past will catch up with her, Claire never gets too close to anyone. But then she meets Noah York.

He must have her.
Noah York is a man with secrets. The world sees him as a billionaire hotel tycoon, but Noah has a dark and dangerous side. For years, he worked covert military operations before he built his fortune. When it comes to death, Noah is a master. He knows that he should steer clear of Claire, but the white-hot attraction Noah feels for the delicate beauty is instant—and consuming.

He will never let her go.
Someone else is just as consumed by Claire—someone who will kill to possess her. And if Noah can’t stop the hunter in the darkness, he may just lose the one woman that he can’t live without.

Short excerpt of your latest release:

UNEDITED EXCERPT FROM MINE TO HOLD BY CYNTHIA EDEN:

His fingers slipped under her chin. Claire flinched at the contact and tried to back away from him.

     Her elbow rammed into the wall of the elevator.

     “I don’t…I don’t like to be touched.”  The words were sharp. They were also true.

     Normally.

     But she hadn’t jerked away from Noah because the press of his fingers brought the usual cold fear.

     She’d backed away because his touch had scorched her. 

     “It’s a pity,” he told her as his hand dropped back to his side. “Because I think that I could enjoy touching you.”

     The elevator had stopped. She just realized that. How long had it been still? “Ah, why aren’t the doors opening?”

     He glanced at the control panel. “Because I haven’t opened them.” 

     So he wanted the two of them to be trapped together in that elevator?

     “Are you afraid of small spaces?” Noah asked her suddenly.

     Claire shook her head.  

     “Good to know.” He inclined his head. “I’m making a list, you see.”

     She was totally lost. “A list?”

     He pressed a code into the control panel. The doors opened seconds later. “I’m finding out what scares you. What you like. What you don’t like.”

     She hurried from the elevator, but then hesitated on the lush carpet in the hallway. “Why does any of that matter to you?”

     He shrugged. “Because it does.” 

***

MINE TO HOLD will release on 10/21/13, and when it releases, it will be available at all digital retailers (Barnes & Noble, Kobo, All Romance eBooks, Smashwords, iBooks, and Amazon). Right now, a pre-order option for the book is available at Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00FN3FA9K/wwwcynthiaedc-20

Thank you so much for interviewing me! Have a great day!  ~ Cynthia Eden

www.cynthiaeden.com

Dawn Chartier

  

Welcome to Wing Beat!

Thanks for having me, JoJo! And congrats on your latest release, Scorned!!! I can’t wait to read it.

Please introduce yourself and give us a short bio:

Dawn Chartier never knew she wanted to be a writer while growing up. Sure her parents owned a book shop, and she was surrounded by bookworms, but she wasn't one of "those" writers who started early. No, Dawn was inspired by strange events in her life, one was a bitch named, Katrina. Yes, that hur-ricane. But a few months before the storm, Dawn read an article on Marie Laveau in the New Orleans local newspaper and it sparked an idea.

 

She began researching the voodoo priestess, and then Katrina hit. Out of destruction, ideas formed, characters spoke and plots twisted. One thing lead to another and an author was born. (Must have been something in the air, because a few authors were born out of Katrina's wrath.)

Dawn sold her first paranormal (vampire) romance book, (Not An Angel) and her second book, a contemporary erotic romance (Diamonds) to small e-pubs. Her latest novella, (Masquerading with the CEO), will be released through Entangled Publishing (title name may change) in late 2013 or early 2014. Currently she's New Adult novella set in Crown Point, Louisiana and a paranormal (witch series) romance set in New Orleans.

She's a member of RWA, Sola-Writers, FF&P and Savvy Authors. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook when she's not buried inside of a book or writing her next one. She writes from the heart, and accepts her books aren't for everyone. :-)

Dawn lives near New Orleans with her husband, two daughters, two golden retrievers, and plenty of wildlife.

If you had superhero powers, what would it be, and how would you use it to save souls?

If I had superhero powers I’d make myself invisible so I could sneak into Channing Tatum’s and Anson Mount’s House! Yum :) and well, you know…

http://www.amctv.com/shows/hell-on-wheels/cast/cullen-bohannon

Isn’t he hot!!! Anson plays on Hell on Wheels if you haven’t discovered him yet. He’s so damaged in this show. I love him!

Okay, joking aside, I would love to have a power to help heal wronged souls. Not sure what kind of power could do that, but it’s what I would do.  J

As a kid, what was your favorite cartoon or TV show?

Loved Scooby!

As an adult, what is/are your favorite shows?

Hell on Wheels, of course… I also enjoy Cedar Cove, True Blood, and Blue Bloods. I try not to watch too much TV if I can help it.

What is your favorite hobby and why and how often do you indulge?

I wouldn’t call it a hobby, but I love writing. I write almost every day, and if I’m not writing I get very cranky. Reading is also up there on the favorite hobby list. I read all kinds of novels, especially those with romance.

Blurb of your latest release:

DIAMONDS, (A Stiletto Millionaire Club Book 1):

Self-made millionaire Holly Charleston has come a long way since her homeless days. Sometimes, she believes life would have been simpler before fortune and fame. With every man she meets imagining dollar signs, she yearns for the one man who sees the real Holly. A mysterious wealthy stranger may be the one, but she must control her sexsomnia and trust issues if she hopes for a real chance at love.

Professional thief Drake Davenport is ready to begin an honest life. However, his last assignment leads him to steal the heart diamond necklace from a woman known as Ms. Frost. But Holly guards her heart close and her assets closer. Once Holly thaws to Drake's seduction attempts, he finds himself in a position of protecting her from a hired mercenary or living the life he believes he earned. Drake realizes the challenge of stealing the diamond is nothing compared to the challenge of stealing Holly's heart.

Short excerpt of your latest release

Chapter 1

Holly froze.

The piercing stare from the mysterious man sitting at the next table burned through her. She couldn’t drag her gaze back to the menu, and when he spoke, his deep, smooth voice swept across her skin, captivating her.

Embarrassed that he’d caught her checking him out, she bit her lip hard and focused back on the Florida Ritz Club menu. Unable to stop herself, she sneaked another peek. Fiery, blue eyes met hers, and her breath stalled in her lungs.

She gripped the menu tightly and exhaled, forcing her gaze away from those eyes. Jet-black hair hung right above his wide shoulders, and a sharp navy suit clung elegantly across his broad chest. He looked expensive. A shiver raised goose bumps along her flesh.

“Hello. Earth to Holly,” Karen said.

Pulling her attention away from the gorgeous man, she brought her mind back to the lunch she was having with her three best friends.  All three sets of eyes were on her. She placed the menu on the table and smiled wide. “Sorry, guys.”

Karen angled her head. “You’re awfully quiet today. What’s going on?”

Holly raised her wineglass to her lips, needing to quench her thirst. “Nothing much.” She placed the long-stemmed glass on the bright-white tablecloth. “Just the usual.”

Staci, Karen, and Moe glanced at each other.

She shrugged. “You know how I get when I’m about to make a deal.” It wasn’t really her business deal bothering her, but she couldn’t tell them.

Moe nodded. “We know, but it’s not like your first, second, or twentieth property investment. What’s this one make anyway?”

Holly closed one eye and stared at the chandelier with the other.

“Thirty-one.” She didn’t like discussing her career, but these were her best friends and they enjoyed her success more than she did. They understood the past she’d left behind and knew how she had struggled to get to where she was today.

 
“Exactly,” Staci added. “So why do you still worry?” 

Holly gnawed on her bottom lip then released it. “Everything I’ve worked for could disappear in a split second.” It wouldn’t destroy her if she lost her fortune. But knowing what it was like to be homeless and hungry gave her motivation that no one would ever understand, except Karen. “I can’t go back to that life.”

Holly loved the power and respect money had brought her, but it also had a few downsides. Money drew the attention of all the wrong people. She couldn’t trust anyone, which kept her lonely and cold in her bed. Her close friends were great, but there was still the empty hollow only a man could fill. An ache that she hid deep within. If not for her three best friends, she’d have no one, unless she counted her drug-head mother and deadbeat father. Nope. Her best friends were it.

Dating had been a nightmare. Fortune hunters crawled out of the woodwork. Money could be a curse when it came to men and dating. 

“Are you kidding? Why do you do this every time you invest in a property?” Karen asked. “Woman, you could give half of your money away and still be one of the richest women in the world.”

Holly glanced around and noticed a few couples sharing an intimate moment. Loneliness wrapped around her, but she shrugged it off. She’d only have to think about her parents’ abusive relationship,

and the isolated feeling dissolved.  

She turned her attention back to Karen. She was nowhere near the richest woman in the world, and although her friends enjoyed teasing her, they had no clue how alone she’d been lately. “Shh. Don’t blare it to the world.”

Karen rolled her green eyes. “It’s not a secret, suga’. Having your face plastered across Forbes more times than Oprah surely has clued people in.” She laughed.

“Stop joking around. It was only on there once, Karen.” Her best friend since fifth grade, Karen was like the sister she never had, and Karen’s family had been the family she’d always wished to have.

She’d spent more time with Karen’s parents than her own. Even though Holly had grown up dirt poor, Karen’s family never treated her so. She loved them and could never thank them enough for being there for her when her own parents were not.

She sighed. “Can we discuss something else, please?” She scanned the menu even though she knew it by heart. Her friends could read her, but they didn’t truly understand how she felt.

The rich, velvety voice from the next table pulled her from her pity party, and she peered around the menu once more. The handsome man spoke on his cell phone and laughed. The sound hypnotized her. Their gazes locked, and the air in her lungs vaporized. He glanced back at his iPad and continued his conversation as though nothing had happened. A little stunned by him blowing her off, she sort of liked the change.

Holly forced her gaze to Karen and whispered, “Don’t look now, but do y’all know who that man is? The one in the dark-navy suit, talking on the phone.”

At the same exact moment, all three women turned completely around in their chairs.

Holly wanted to duck under the table. “Real subtle, ladies,” she whispered, wishing she could vanish from the restaurant like a ghost. Dammit. The hottie nodded once in their direction. His gaze turned on her for a brief second and then moved his attention back to his iPad. Her cheeks burned.

“Hot dog. He’s gorgeous,” Moe said. “Now I understand why you’re distracted. It wasn’t work you had on your mind, now was it?” She bounced her eyebrows.

Heat crawled up Holly’s neck and landed on her face. “Of course it was.”

“Sure,” Staci said. She and Moe grinned like fools.

Karen smiled. “You’re blushing. Wow. It’s been a long time since a man caught your attention.”

“He hasn’t, and I’m not. It’s hot in here. He looks familiar is all.” Moe licked her lips. “Why don’t you go over there and introduce yourself before he gets wind of the Ms. Frost rumor. You know how fast this town spreads lies.”

“I don’t care what people think of me, Moe. If I’m labeled Ms. Frost because of a few men in Destiny, then so be it.” Holly took a deep breath. She hated the cold nickname a few bachelors in the area had coined her because she wouldn’t keep dating them. She knew what they wanted, and it wasn’t fair that she ended up the bad guy and not them.

“You know I was kidding, right?” Moe asked.

Holly nodded. Yep. She knew. Maybe she needed to be a little friendlier in public. She would give a try. 

The waiter, Robert, approached their table, carrying a tray of bottled water. “Ms. Charleston, your usual today?” The tall, thin waiter tilted his head.

“Yes, but I’ll have the shrimp instead of grilled chicken.” She raised her chin a notch. “I feel like a change today.”

*** 

Link to your webpage

 

http://www.dawnchartier.com/

 

 

Link to where book is for sale

http://www.amazon.com/Diamonds-Stiletto-Millionaire-Publishing-ebook/dp/B0079LSJ88/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380643424&sr=8-2&keywords=DAWN+CHARTIER

Thanks for having me, Jojo!

My pleasure, Dawn!  Enjoy the journey!

Shirley McCoy

Welcome to Wing Beat!

Today’s Guest is Shirley McCoy ...

 

 

author of The Smoke and The Flame.

 

Shirley, please introduce yourself and give us a short bio:

I grew up in Baton Rouge, LA and started writing at an early age. Always talkative, when I was eleven I began to put my thoughts on paper, writing stories inspired by some of my favorite writers, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Madeline L'Engle. As I grew older, I developed a love of romance and in 2009 I decided to try my hand at writing paranormal romance. The result was The Smoke and the Flame and its sequel, The Wind and the Fire. The Smoke and the Flame is the first novel I have ever completed, although I have written several unpublished screenplays.

I graduated from Nicholls State University where I majored in History and minored in English. Since graduating (I don't like to think about how long ago that was) I have worked at some of the best libraries in the Baton Rouge area. I make my home there and enjoy spending time with family members. I also love seeing movies, reading, and going to the park with my niece in my free time.

Currently, I am hard at work on my newest venture, tentatively titled Awake. It is a departure from her first novel, as it is a contemporary romantic suspense.  

If you had superhero powers, what would it be, and how would you use it to save souls?

I’ve always wanted to have the power to read minds. Imagine all you could do with a power like that. You could fight crime because you would be certain of lies and truth when dealing with criminals or you could be a psychiatrist and be able to truly know, understand and perhaps help those who need it. You could also truly know those in your life, which would be a blessing and a curse. Still, it would be one I would want to have because I believe knowledge is the first step to love.

As a kid, what was your favorite cartoon or tv show?

As a child I really enjoyed Scooby Doo and all of the classic Disney princess films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Sleeping Beauty but Cinderella was my favorite.

As an adult, what is/are your favorite shows?

Where do I begin? I am a total couch potato and so I have lots of shows I love to watch these days. Just a few of my favorites are: Doctor Who, The Vampire Diaries, Elementary, Dexter, and Game of Thrones. In general I enjoy romances, paranormal adventures, period pieces, police procedurals, medical dramas in that order.

What is your favorite hobby and why and how often do you indulge?

I love to read, watch television and go to the movies. I do all three as often as I can. I love the escape books, movies and TV can provide. I love to immerse myself in another world and I love connecting with different characters. I also really enjoy analyzing different characters and the psychology of what they do. When talking about a series like Dexter, what makes it so fascinating to me is it’s all about this complex man and why he does what he does. He is a serial killer, yet he is the hero of the story. He has a code which he rarely deviates from. I find it exciting to contemplate that we are each the hero of our own story and nothing is ever all black and white. I think it’s this idea that most informs my writing and what I feel makes for intriguing characters whether I’m reading, watching or writing something of my own.

Blurb of your latest release:

In The Smoke and the Flame, Colleen O’Banyon longs for love and adventure until she encounters Darius McLinnin, one of the fabled race called the Jinn. In each other's arms they find all the passion, all the love their hearts desire. But there is a ring, ancient and powerful, and only it can control the Jinn. As the ruler of the Jinn and their kingdom, Kaf, Darius is sworn to keep his people safe from it. Willing to protect the man she loves and guard his kingdom with her life, Colleen vows to aid him. Alaster, an  evil sorcerer, will stop at nothing to make the ring and Kaf his. The battle begins in The Smoke and the Flame.

Short excerpt of your latest release

As he rode, on the northern border of a small kingdom called Brenmere one day, a woman’s screams of pain filled the air. Screams which made his blood run cold and brought back the hellish night when wife and child passed from his life. Whipping his horse into a gallop, he headed toward the sound. Not sure what to expect, he found a small cottage set in a neat little clearing. It was from this structure the terrible sounds issued so he spurred his mount forward, determined to offer what assistance he could.

            “Hello,” he called, as he approached and slowed his horse to a brisk trot. “My name is Darius. Might I be of help?”

            For mere a heartbeat, he thought he was seeing an angel. He had a fleeting impression of ebony hair set against creamy skin and a slender, yet well endowed figure. She was petite, several inches below average height, so the top of her head just reached his shoulder but it was her eyes that captured him, eyes so green they rivaled the mountains of Kaf and so very full of life. This vision was of an exasperated angel, his distracted mind belatedly realized, bearing a distinct air of dishevelment. For several long seconds he could not find his tongue.

             This did not turn out to be a problem, however, since she found hers with little difficulty. “I have no idea who you are, sir, but birthing is woman’s work. So I’ll thank you for your kind offer and ask you to be on your wa…” Her voice trailed off as her eyes met his. She swallowed, the sound audible to her own ears, but did not continue, her voice gone now too.

            Never had she seen a man so beautiful. He was six feet tall and well muscled, with black hair that was straight and sleek, blue eyes, her giddy senses informed her. There was an air of calm, competent assurance, of strength about him mixed with a kindness too that made her feel if she told him her troubles all would be well.

            Darius cleared his throat and attempted to speak past the lump lodged there. “I have some skill at healing and I have attended at many births. Perhaps I might do something to assist.” While he spoke, the girl not only recovered her wits but also seemed right on the point of seeing him out. In a most obliging fashion, the patient chose this precise moment to scream.

            “I know I am a stranger but since your patient appears to be in considerable distress…” He let his own words trail off so she might make her make her own decision.

            She peered regally at him from her height of all of five feet, two inches, then stated, “Well, come in then if you think you can be useful.”

            She ushered him into a small but well-kept cottage and closed the door behind him.

Link to your webpage

http://www.shirlmccoy.com

Link to where book is for sale

The kindle version can be found at this link below

http://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Flame-Fire-Series-ebook/dp/B00BJUWC2Y

and the paperback version can be found at this link below.

http://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Flame-flame-Fire/dp/1482690950/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378652318&sr=1-1&keywords=Shirley+Ponthieu+McCoy

 

Thank you for participating, Shirley, and remember to Enjoy the Journey!