Interview with R.A. Evans, Author of Asylum Lake

Hey everyone. Welcome back to another ParaYourNormal interview. We are excited to talk with R.A. Evans, author of the paranormal thriller, Asylum Lake. They say some memories are better fogotten, but what happens when the unremembered grow restless?

R.A. Evans is excited to share his novel with some of you. He has graciously agreed to giveaway 5 eBook copies of Asylum Lake! Be sure to leave a comment after the interview with you email address, and you will be entered into the contest. Now, for the interview.

Why did you start writing? 
A: Because the little voices in my head were driving me crazy! Honestly, writing has always been an escape for me. B: I do it for the advertising industry, but at night I get to write for pleasure. Besides, writing about all the dark and terrible things that go bump in the night keeps me sane.


Oh, we feel you. So,what inspired your storyline for Asylum Lake? 
I spent 10 years working for the public mental health system in Michigan doing PR and Marketing. During that time, I was able to visit some of the state psychiatric institutions and found it all quite unsettling. While visiting the Kalamazo State Hospital, which is actually located on the Asylum Lake Nature Preserve, I found myself wondering what sort of memories were trapped within its walls and within the nearby lake. That's when the idea took root.


Is there any character in Asylum Lake you can relate with? 
Several, actually. The protagonist in Asylum Lake is a young reporter dealing with the recent loss of his wife. he moves back to the home where he spent the summers of his youth only to find himself drawn into the mysteries of the abandoned asylum and its connection to his own painful memories. Like that character, I started my career as a newspaper reporter and even experienced my own painful memories when returning to my small hometown after years away. From the character's choice in music (Pearl Jam) to his twisted sense of humor, I was able to fill his personality with my own. Of course, he is far younger than I am, so I had to live vicariously through some of the other older characters, too. Especially the dark and twisted ones.


Can you tell us a little about your protagonist? 
Brady Tanner is a rising star at the Chicago Tribune when tragedy takes his young, pregnant wife. Couple his grief with unresolved issues from his childhood and it's the perfect recipe for disaster. He's smart, funny, and in way over his head. Readers really connect with him, and as an author, I do too.


Which genre would you be uncomfortable writing in? 
Ironic that you should ask this question. I just finished drafting a guest post for The Creative Penn where I touch on the difference between genres and how the vampire I write about in horror is vastly different those in Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance. At the end of the day, a good story is a good story no matter the genre. That being said, any genre that has Fabio on the cover is probably not a genre I would feel too comfortable in.



LoL, you have a great sense of humor. Do you ever get writers block? 
All the time. Mine is usually the kind of block that comes with trying to perfect a single line of copy. I've been brought to a screeching halt by a single word choice. Fortunately, it never seems to last too long.


Aside from Asylum Lake, how many books have you written? 
I've completed two novels. Asylum Lake was published in July 2010. Its sequel, Grave Undertakings, will hit the shelves in just a few short weeks.


You must be so excited. Do you have any projects you're currently working on? 
I just completed the first draft of FLIGHT. I'm really excited about it, too. Here's the tease: U.S. Air Marshal Liz Downie thought she had lucked out with her assignment – a half-empty red eye from London to the states. The passengers – an odd assortment of State Department staffers freshly plucked from the embattled U.S. Embassy in Iraq. These arent your usual friendly skies, however. Tucked into the passenger jet’s shadowy cargo hold hides a secret the U.S. Military will do anything to protect – and Liz Downie everything to stop.

Where do you run when you are 33,000 feet up?

That is very intriguing. Will you tell us a random fact about yourself?
I'm afraid of worms - like really afraid! I especially hate the smell of them after a heavy rain...when they are stretched out on the sidewalks...Yuck!

Do you have a favorite author? 
I grew up on Stephen King and am constantly amazed by his work. HIs son, Joe Hill, is also really high on my list.


Where can readers purchase your book? 
Asylum Lake is available on www.amazon.com for Kindle, www.barnesandnoble.com for Nook, at www.smashwords for other ebook formats, and autographed print copies can be purchased from http://www.schulerbooks.com/product/asylum-lake


Where can readers connect with you on the web?(website, twitter, Facebook, FB fanpage?) 
You can follow all of my dark musings, participate in promotions, and stay up to speed on my projects at www.raevanswrites.wordpress.com. On face book at www.facebook.com/asylumlake and even on twitter by following @raevanswrites


How about an excerpt?

November 10, 1971

Bedlam Falls, Michgan

Sheriff Buck Tanner arrived at the station shortly before sunrise and

parked his familiar truck around the block behind the library to mask his presence.

He wasn’t quite ready to be the official face of the investigation; let Frank

have a little more fun, he thought as he entered the darkened station and put on

a fresh pot of coffee.

As requested, Maddie had spent some time in the file room. A neatly organized

mess greeted him on his desk. To the left was a very thick and somewhat

intimidating appearing binder atop a stack of newspapers. Buck guessed at what

was contained therein and quickly turned his attention to the small stack of files

on the right side of his desk. Between the two piles rested a handwritten note.

Sheriff – Cupboard was left pretty bare. I’ll keep digging.

Buck recognized Maddie’s penmanship and set the note aside. He had

expected as much. His predecessor’s handling of the asylum affair had been less

than thorough. Sheriff Rylan Walters had his deputies snap some photos, ask

a few questions, and then basically wrote the whole thing off as though it was

livestock merely thinning its own herd. Rumors had run wild but soon they, too,

had died off from lack of interest.

Buck caught the scent of the cigar before he noticed Jim Bowling’s shadow

pass over his desk. “Morning, Jim.”

State Police Lieutenant Jim Bowling stood in the open doorway and

smiled down at the Sheriff.

“My, my, what do we have here? The long arm of the law finally come to

save us simple folk?” Bowling snickered around the cigar clamped between his

yellowed teeth. The Cheshire Cat should have envied the man’s smile.

Buck looked up from his cluttered desk and locked eyes with the trooper.

“You might call it that, Jim.” The Sheriff’s eyes glittered hungrily. He was in

no mood for Bowling’s bullshit. Buck had already heard enough from Deputy

Griggs about how uncooperative the little prick had been; best to put him in his

place right away. “Black, Jim, no sugar. How ‘bout you go fetch me a cup?”

Bowling blew out a long slow plume of gray smoke and stepped into Buck’s

office, the trooper’s beady little eyes full of instantaneous rage. “Excuse me?”

Subtlety wasn’t one of Buck’s strongest qualities – especially after recent

events.

With his son bandaged and broken, a young family butchered, and a

killer still roaming the streets, Sheriff Tanner didn’t have time to mince words.

Plus, having one’s skull cracked open with a golf club tends to set a person in

a foul mood.

“How long have your worn that badge, son? Five years? Certainly not

much longer.” Buck kept his voice calm and his eyes on the young trooper.

“Now, you may be a big deal down in Lansing -- hell, maybe even outside the

capital. But here, in Bedlam, you’re a guest - my guest. And I don’t take kindly

to my guests pissing in my cheerios.”

Buck paused, letting his words settle over his “guest.” “You ever work a

homicide, son? Not just string the yellow tape, but actually roll up your sleeves

and work one?”

Buck could see the anger leaving the man as he continued. “Now I ain’t

saying you don’t know shit, but dammit Jim, if you think running to channel

forty-one with every last detail is gonna actually help in any way, then it’s obvious

–       you don’t know shit.”

Bowling’s face flushed with embarrassment. Buck held up a hand before

the man could comment.

“I get it – you’re pissed. You wanted this. Hell, maybe you even deserved

it.” Buck paused, and for the first time his calm demeanor and cool tone began

to fray at the edges. “But this isn’t about what you want…or what I think. This

is about justice – for the Reed’s, for my boy, and for Lord knows who else this

sick son of a bitch has hurt.”

Bowling stared across the desk at the Sheriff. The gray smoke hung heavy

between them, but the tension had finally broken. “What can I do?”

“I need your help, Lieutenant. You have access to records, files…information

that I could never lay my hands on. “

Bowling nodded, not fully understanding the request but suspecting he

might be bending a few rules in obliging the man. “Done,” he nodded, noting

the seriousness in Tanner’s eye. His hatred for Griggs’ aside, the trooper had a

modicum of respect for the aging sheriff.

Buck paused, reconsidering the man standing before him. He, too, had

been young and brash once. Perhaps not the asshole that Jim Bowling had shown

himself to be, but nonetheless there was no denying the kid had fire. That fire

may just be the catalyst to nailing the murderer.

The file was marked Lake View Asylum – 1958. Inside were half a dozen

sheets of handwritten notes and a few black and white photographs. Buck held

it out to the state trooper.

Bowling opened the file and glanced briefly at its contents. The trooper’s

brow furrowed with puzzlement.

Buck removed a photo from the binder on his desk and held it up for

Bowling. “Notice anything?”

The trooper’s eyes moved from the file’s contents to the photo Buck

held. Bowling had seen the Reed’s bathroom and quickly recognized the bloodscrawled

word -- Repent. Bowling’s eyes widened as he made the connection.

His reaction was immediate.

“No fucking way!”

Buck smiled in spite of himself, “Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I’m not sure

how or why -- but it’s your job to find a ‘fucking way.’

Bowling nodded, his mind spinning at the possibilities.

Buck rose to his feet, standing a full six inches taller than the young trooper,

and extended his hand. “I’ll talk to Griggs – let him know to give you a wide

berth and all.”

Lieutenant Jim Bowling accepted the offer and responded with a firm

shake of the Sheriff’s hand. Depositing the thin file on the Sheriff’s desk, he

left Buck’s office with something to finally dig his teeth into. Walking to his car

a few minutes later he had more than a passing suspicion that the elder lawman

was grasping at straws. Yet the photos were eerily similar.

Maybe I should just take a look around, he thought, Pointing his cruiser

east down Main Street. Placing his trademark mirrored sunglasses atop his nose,

Lieutenant Jim Bowling drove towards the rising sun over the Lake Hospital.

On that final drive, he never suspected how right Buck Tanner’s hunch would

turn out to be, or that, much like the countless souls before him who had ventured

through the asylum’s doors, he would never see the light of day again.

***

We would like to thank R.A. Evans for stopping by to talk with his book. Don't forget, we will be talking with him live on Wednesday, April 27th on Blog Talk Radio. Our channel is here. If you follow the link, you can set up a reminder for the day of the show. Feel free to call in at 619-639-4626 to ask questions, or for those of you who are little shy #nothingwrongwiththat ;-) leave a comment on the website and we'll do our best to ask the author your question during the interview! 


That's it for us for now. Be sure to leave a comment with your email address and you could be one of five lucky winners for the eBook copy of Asylum Lake! Thanks everyone~

Winner Anouncement for Demon Girl Contest

Happy Easter, all. Hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend. We are ready to announce the 3 winners for the Demon Girl contest. First, we want to thank everyone who stopped by and left a comment. If you haven't already followed us, we hope you will, as we have many great interviews and contest coming up.

Secondily, we would like to thank Penelope for taking time out for the interview and for doing the eBook giveaway. It was a pleasure talking with you here and on Blog Talk Radio. We hope you will come back for another interview.

Now, for the moment everyone is waiting for. We are happy to announce that the following people are our three lucky winners

Elena Gray
Jolene and Family
Keisha Martin

Congratualtions on winning a copy of Demon Girl. You will also be getting a copy of Demon Day upon its release. We are sending Penelope you information and she will be getting in contact with you reagarding your prize.

Thanks again to everyone who commented. We hope you be back to read our next interview with R.A. Evan, author of Asylum Lake, a fascinating supernatural thriller. Until then, sink your fangs into a good book, ParaYourNormal style ;-)

Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Ann Charles, A ParaYourNormal Review

Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Ann Charles follows the adventures of Violet Parker, a single mom turned real-estate agent in Deadwood, South Dakota. Life should be great working as Realtor, but it’s not. In fact, if Violet doesn’t sell a house in three weeks, she will lose her job to the nephew of chauvinistic coworker, Ray.

Mr. Fake Tan is dead set on making Vi’s life a living hell, constantly trading barbs with her about how much she sucks at being a real estate agent.

Just as things begin looking grim for Vi, enter Wolfgang Hessler, heir of the local Hessler Jewelry store. He requires her services in helping him sell his dearly departed mother’s large Victorian house.

The news is just what Vi has been hoping for, until she shows up and finds the house needs more than a little cleaning. Desperate to make a sell and keep her job, she takes on the challenge of selling this dilapidating house. If only she knew the eerie little secrets contained within the walls of this once grand home, would she have been so willing to take it on? They say every person has skeletons hiding in their closet. Does the same go for houses?

As if this isn't enough of a challenge, she meets Dane 'Doc" Nyce, the handsome neighbor to the realator office she works in. On their first encounter, Doc sends Vi falling to his feet. #literally. Doc hires Violet to find him a house, the second best news of the week.

It seems like life is finally through knocking Violet down. Not only does she have a house to sell, she has a potential buyer. Of course, nothing in life is ever that simple.

Among her troubles at work, there is a serial kidnapper going around snatching little girls that fit her daughters description to a tee. Now she not only has to worry about keeping her job, she has to worry about protecting her children.

Overall, I found Nearly Departed in Deadwood a pleasure to read. Ann’s characters have vivid personalities that are well drawn and at times, quite humorous. I found myself laughing loudly at Violet’s thoughts. Her sarcastic sense of humor is refreshing an unlike any of the books I’ve read within the last year. It’s no wonder Ann won an award for this story. Her storytelling capabilities are tremendous.

If you like your book with a supernatural twist, I think you will find a great read in Nearly Departed in Deadwood. PYN gives it five stars. If you would like to win a copy of Ann’s book, visit her blog today and leave a comment, as she is a participant in Blog Tour de Force and is giving away free eBooks. You will also get a chance to win a Kindle for participating in this blog tour. So what are you waiting for? Go to Ann’s blog here and get your copy of this Dauphne du Maurier Award winning novel.

Hungry For You by A. M. Harte, A ParaYourNormal Review

When I was asked to review Hungry For You by A.M. Harte, I must admit that I was leery. Zombies have never been my thing, aside from Resident Evil, and even that movie was somewhat graphic for me. #sorry #weakstomach #nogoreforme.

Having said that, I will admit that I am also the type of person who will try anything once, especially if it comes highly recommended. That is part of the reason I took reading Hungry For You to heart. I must say, I am glad that I did. This book is not like any zombie flick or literature that my eyes have crossed.

Hungry For You is a collection of short stories about zombies. Each story has a different spin on what zombies are like and how they became the walking dead in the first place. I must say, some of these ideas were original on A. M. Harte’s part. Who would have thought that a zombie would have emotions, especially feelings of affection or love? #notme

I think my favorite of this collection would be the story of Retta, the female police sergeant, who has a particular soft spot for zombies. The title of this short has the same title as the book, Hungry For You.  Retta patrols an area called Dead District. It put me in mind of what “the hood” would be like in bigger cities. As you may guess, Dead District is full of zombies.

In this short, Harte creates a world where these walking dead have civil liberties as other humans, though not quite as many. #comeon #theyrezombies. I must mention that the zombies in this story spoke to me because they do not satisfy their hunger by consuming flesh…at least, not in the way you would expect.

Retta and her partner come upon a male zombie, who has fallen victim to abuse. I know, sounds crazy, right? Zombies suffering abuse? #civilliberties #remember. Since Retta has a particular soft spot for these decaying beings, she and her partner bring the zombie to the police station to question him about his abuse. The story takes an interesting, yet brief turn here. I won’t say anymore about this story or the book for that matter. Some things are better left to the imagination, and this is a book you will want to pick up and enjoy yourself.

Overall, I was pleased with Hungry For You. I like where A. M. Harte went with the stories and her unusual spin on them. If you’re a zombie fan, this book is one you will want to add to your collection. It is definitely worth reading and I recommend you do so. You can go to Harte’s blog site, leave a comment, and score a free eBook copy of this book for Blog Tour de Force. You can reach Harte’s blog here.

Okay, that's it for today. Please come back tomorrow when I review  paranormal romance, Nearly Departed in Deadwood, by Ann Charles, another Blog Tour de Force participant.  

Interview with Penelope Fletcher, Author of Demon Girl

Hey eveyone. Though we are having a few reviews this week, we didn't want you to think we weren't bringing you any author interviews. Today we are talking with Penelope Fletcher, author of Demon Girl which is part of her Rae Wilder series.

Penelope is giving 3 eBook copies of her book, Demon Girl, as well as her upcoming release, Demon Day. So, for three lucky winners, you're not only getting a copy of the first book in the seires, you'll also get a copy of the sequel once it's released. #socoolright? Be sure to leave your email address so that we can contact you about your prize. Now, on to the interviw.

***

Why did you choose to start writing? 

It was not a conscious decision. I was always an avid reader, but never did I think I could create a story with enough substance to hold another’s imagination as some books have captured my own. I simply sat down one day and started … I was surprised by all the words that poured out of me. My fiancé twigged what was happening before I did.

What inspired your storyline? 

I have no bloody idea! I wish I knew so I could conjure up my stories on cue rather than waiting to be coshed over the head when I’m doing something mundane like paying for my shopping at the supermarket checkout.

Which character did you enjoy writing the most? 

It has to be my main character Rae. Her innate goodness and stubborn selfishness is a joy to write. A good story is all about conflict, and Rae’s character is one of those complicated endeavors that has her stumbling into trouble at every turn, falling into situations that should be straightforward, but end up plunging her into catastrophes of grand proportions. Such fun … the word count jumps effortlessly when I write about Rae.

If you could be one, which would you be, fairy, demon, or vampire? Why? 

I would be my portrayal of a fairy. In The Rae Wilder Novels, demons are what humans call anything not human. The word ‘demon’ commonly implies evil, wickedness, but my demons are simply familiar supernatural creatures you find in paranormal books (vampires, shifters, goblins). I chose fairy because they are feral, and almost an extension of the land (Wyld) they live on. Everything they do is steeped in tradition, and honor. Their magic is drawn from the earth, a natural energy. Should such a being exist, why would I not choose it? ;)

Tell us about the Unseelie. 
Well, the Unseelie Court is fabled to be where evil fae meet and make merry. Considered dark to the Seelie Court’s light you would not want to find yourself under their sinful sway, as they would rather do you harm than good. That said there are no Courts in my fairy series. When I was writing the Demon Girl the idea of Courts seemed too … civilized. My fairies have Tribes, and are primal, their magics elemental rather than whimsical. For my fairies, think booming drums and spells cast over roaring pyres rather than tinkling bells and sparkly magic.

Do you ever get writers block? 

Ah no, I get creative burn out! This is when I get so many ideas I have a small meltdown, and cannot focus on one storyline long enough to write a decent sentence. I have to type out a few hundred words of jibber jabber to purge the chaos then focus again.

Do you have any projects you're currently working on? 

I have another Young Adult series I am working on called Dragon Souls … but that is all very hush, hush. The covers and blurbs will be revealed in autumn this year. I am well underway on book three of The Rae Wilder Novels, Demon Dark, and I’m having such a blast writing it. I love Rae, as a character, and the idea I’ll have to step away from her world and delve into the others I’ve created is bittersweet.

Tell us a random fact about yourself. 

I have a bizarre fear of squirrels. Oh, I could tell you stories *shudder* such horrific stories.

Is there a book series you follow? 
Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series is truly epic. Such an amazing story arc, enthralling set of characters, and stunning culture in the world he has created. Even as Brandon Sanderson continues his work, still the essence of what made the story great is there. I have a number of young adult series I follow, but none have me by the throat like WoT.

Where can readers purchase your book? 
The Demon Girl eBook can be downloaded from Kindle, Nook, iBooks and Kobo. The paperback is available from Barnes&Noble.com and Amazon.com.

Where can readers connect with you on the web?
I get a lot of readers contacting me via The Rae Wilder Novel’s website (thedemongirl.com), but my writer’s blog Fiction Fierce (fictionfierce.blogspot.com) is where you can see what I am working on, track my journey about what works for me as an Indie, what frustrates me, or what leaves me feeling delighted. Facebook (facebook.com/DemonGirlBook) is great as there are hundreds of comments from readers who have enjoyed the book, and I always update the page with the latest news on the series. I’m on Twitter (@Miss_Fletcher). Oh, and not forgetting Goodreads, and Amazon Author Central, you can post me messages on there and I will respond.

Can you share an excerpt from your novel? 

  

I clasped his hand and curled my fingers around his. They were rock solid, cold. He pulled me up and my legs wobbled, so his other hand snagged my waist to steady me. For a moment I stood, but was weightless as he carried my weight. The sensation was unusual. I scowled and stared into the face of my vampire.

He was older than me, not by much, and he was ugly. Swept back from his forehead and longer than fashionable his hair was coal black, and cut close at the neck. His eyes were red ringed, like he was sickly, and had a peculiar stillness about them. He hadn’t blinked, not once since he’d first revealed himself to me. His eyebrows were thick, and dark, as was the smattering of hair on his chin, which had a deep cleft. His brow jutted out from his face and his cheeks were gaunt giving him a look of the starved. It was a strong face but one that did not appeal to me.

Straightening, I pulled myself from his grip and knocked his hands away.

A faint, dry scent hit the back of my throat and my hackles rose. Swallowing hard, my eyes left his as I controlled the sudden urge to launch myself at him. To rip, bite and tear. A manic giggle bubbled in my chest. The thought of launching yourself at a vampire was ridiculous and suicidal, but my body was seriously contemplating it. He brushed the hair out of my eyes and I recoiled. He hadn’t made a move for a vein, yet, but he was a blood drinker, and I was full of blood.

He flashed me a smile and his chalky lips framed pearly fangs flanked by two smaller canines. They had run right out as he’d touched me. For a moment I was overcome. I stared at them, the spiky tips resting on his lower lip, a startling shade of ruby red. Everyone knew vampire fangs ran out when they were mad or bloodlusty. Which was he? Probably the latter, if he was mad my limbs would be scattered across the forest floor by now.

“You’re going to kill me now,” I said steadily.

I’d been through too much to deny that I was living on borrowed time. To be honest I was waiting for the hammer to fall. I would die there, food for the vampire-boy that the fairy-boy was hunting. Breandan would return eventually like he promised and find my rotted corpse. Would he be sad? Would he and the ‘we’ he’d referred to, lament over my body. Would they give me a proper burial? After all he had said I was like him, fairykind too. In my last moments of life pondering on how I felt about being named a demon, I did not feel disgust or fear, but sort of a resigned relief. I was no longer a freaky human girl, but a fairy. My strangeness made perfect sense now.

“I am not going to kill you.”

The vampire had spoken. It took me a while to realize he had, because my last words had been a statement not a question. And even if he’d interpreted it as a question, it was clearly rhetorical. I was living my last moments and the flashbacks of my life were about to commence so the interruption was not appreciated. But since he’d spoken again I felt obliged to say something back, and I was getting used to conversations with strangers.

“Why?” I asked, genuinely puzzled. “You didn’t dive through that hole for fun. If the wires had caught you you’d have set off the klaxon and had Clerics with stakes and silver on your ass until you were ash. Vampires don’t seem the self-sacrificing kind to me. Plus, the sun is rising.” I pointed east. “You don’t have much time, and to be out this early, or late, you must be super hungry to risk the true death. Or suicidal. Which brings me back to the fact you guys are big on the self preservation.”

He made a low rumbling noise and his shoulders shook. It was laughter, and it was gruesome, and wretched. “I have been looking for you.”

I thought about this. For a vampire to be looking for you and not hunting you was unheard of. It was intriguing and I knew then that curiosity was about to get me into more trouble.

“You’re not the first to try that line today. You demons know how to flatter a girl.”

He growled a little. “Fairies.” He said the word like a curse.

I sighed again, exaggerating the rise and fall of my shoulders. Fine, my tribulations for the morning were not over. I could deal with that, but I needed the safety of Temple walls. The forest was no longer comforting, but alien and hostile.

“If you’re not going to eat me would you mind if we walked and talked? I’m tired but have to keep going, or I’ll be late for class.”

He remained still and peered past me into the trees. I found it hard to read his face. His expression was not worried, but I thought it brooding, or rather, preoccupied with being anxious about something.

“I need to find a dark place. A safe place.”

The dead and the sunlight didn’t mix well. They burned, badly, and burst into extravagant blue and red flames. Then their blackened corpses flaked into ash.

I could see why he might be anxious to find a ‘dark place’ as he put it.

“My wardrobe is dark.” The words popped out of my mouth before they registered. “Wait,” I said, and held up my palm. The standard cracks in my judgment were now gaping canyons, and there were all kinds of crazy ideas flying around. “You’re friendly, right? If I help you, you aren’t going to turn on me. Or turn me.”

“As you pointed out, the sun is rising and I weaken by the moment. I need to talk to you. Hear what I have to say then I’ll go.”

“Okay,” I said slowly. There did not seem to be too big a downside to this arrangement. “I can do that, hear you out. But tell me, the fairy-boy I met is hunting you.” I watched his face carefully. “Why? Did you do something bad to him or his kind?”

He looked me over so intently I squirmed in my skin. He made a quick movement with his hand that said ‘so what?’.

“If they find my resting place they will kill me, and they won’t listen to what I have to say, which is why you must.”

I mouthed my next words silently before I spoke them aloud. “I’m a fairy too.” It was easy to say and I smiled. “It’s important I know if talking to you will get me in trouble.” I paused then grunted. “In more trouble than I already am, I mean.”

His eyebrows rose and he focused on me more intently. I backed up a pace and couldn’t help cupping my neck with my hand. He tilted his head and narrowed those bottomless eyes of his.

“I smell magics, but you seem human to me in every way.”

“You seem to know a lot about me and what I’ve been doing. But then if you knew a lot about me you would know I have only just found out I’m a fairy.” That sentence was convoluted, and I had confused myself. It made some kind of crazy sense, so I stood my ground and waited for his answer.

The vampire did not seem confused. “I can explain. But at night.” His eyes darted to the east and his mouth pulled down.

The sky was much lighter now, but the clouds gave extra cover. Time was running out. I was beyond terrified, the curls of fear in my stomach were tornadoes, and I felt a responsibility to protect this vampire from bursting into a firework display.

“My wardrobe it is.” He placed a hand on my lower back and I jerked away. “Watch the hands,” I said and eyed him.

“I’m going to carry you,” he explained. “It will be faster and we will not be seen.”

No doubt he could carry me, but still, the thought of being so close to death itself was worrisome. His presence still rubbed me up the wrong way. I was strong willed, not infallible, and my losing control would be fatal.

“No funny business. I’ll scream, and dead or not, it will hurt your ears.”

He shook his head, face serious. “No funny business,” he promised.

“Could you put the fangs away?”

“I like the way you smell.”

“That is creepy,” I said and plucked at my bottom lip. “You’re creepy.”

His body kind of vibrated, and a strange grizzly sound came out of his mouth. I guess since vampires didn’t use air to talk or breathe they sounded, moved, and even laughed differently to normal beings. I jumped, but thankfully he was too preoccupied with laughing to notice, or to comment on noticing.

“No biting. I swear.” 

Thank you for having me. Enjoy Easter, and to my fellow Brits, the Royal Wedding!

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We'd like to thank Penelope for stopping by to chat with us. We will be interviwing her Wednesday on Blog Talk Radio. Click here to go to our channel and set yourself a reminder :-) Check back on Thursday when we review Hungry for You by A. M. Harte for the Blog Tour de Force. Until then, we'll see you on the stream.