Excerpt from Destiny Bewitched

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Samantha
Age: 23
Species: witch
Aka: "fuck-up trailer trash"
Motto: I'm a merc. If you want a lesson on morality, you've come to the wrong place.

Geo
Age: thousands of years old
Species: temporary demon
Aka: The Bastard of War
Motto: Getting angry over something I can't change is pointless. And I'm not one to do something for nothing.

Excerpt 1

Finally, the piece she’d been fiddling with on the tape player clicked into place. She pressed play and turned up the volume. When music flowed from the small but effective speakers, she gave Geo an I-told-you-so look.

His wide eyes told her he’d probably never heard music come from a machine before. She recognized the song. I Put a Spell on You by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Somebody in the Underworld liked 70’s rock. Go figure.

“I love this song.” She placed the tape player on the bed and stood up, feeling a little reckless, a little free. Must be the wine.

The lead singer’s throaty voice and the heavy beat fit the dim room. The song was gritty and raw just like the Underworld. She looked at Geo, laid back in the chair all big and bad, strong and silent. He’d never looked so sexy.

Definitely the wine.

“Dance with me,” she commanded.

His brows lifted.

“Come on.” She grabbed his hand and tugged.

With a smirk, he let her pull him to his feet.

“Just put your hands here and here.” She guided his hands to her hip and shoulder but he yanked out of her grip.

“I know how to dance, woman,” he growled. Then he plopped both hands on her low back, just above her backside, and yanked her up against his body.

Destiny Bewitched 

blurb: 

Deemed “trailer trash” by humans and the daughter of the most disgraceful family of witches and warlocks since the Puritan age, Samantha is used to fighting her own battles. When her younger sister is taken to the Underworld, Sam doesn't hesitate to rescue her. 

To survive the harsh land, she makes a deal with a demon — the most dangerous of creatures in the realm. 

Even with those lustrous horns, Geo is as hot as the hell she's stuck in. Fighting nasty beasts in a supernatural version of the gladiator games is easy compared to falling in love with a man who has no future to offer.

Author bio: 

I began my writing journey while I was stranded at the airport waiting for my delayed flight. I browsed the Border’s kiosk and grew frustrated that I couldn’t find the “it factor” — the perfect combination of alpha male-ness, ass-kickery, strong females, magic, and sex.

So I spent the next four hours on an airplane writing my first book on scraps of paper and an airsick bag (which thankfully I didn't need to use).

Now I spend too much time in my head, plotting evil villains and the hot men (and women) who ruthlessly kill them. I think far too much about fae politics, dragon power games, and how fast werewolves can change forms. But writing my paranormal romance series has given me a productive place to express those dark places in my mind.

I live in New England with my husband and two kids. Though I will go to my grave denying it, my husband insists I would be thrilled if he suddenly sprouted fangs.

Media: 

www.leiashaw.com

www.leiashaw.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/LeiaShaw

@LeiaShaw

Guest Blog by Jack Whitsel

Welcome to Shadows of Kings and the Dragon Rising series.

With the June release of Shadows in Kings upon us -  I thought I would share a sneak peak of the region and provide a list of characters. Thanks to everyone who have contributed to this journey.

The Players

Lady Lucia – Dragon Maiden of the Order

Lord Baudouin – Son of Duke Theudis

Rizela – Princess and Sorceress of the Darkfey

Ghruelnar – Sorcerer and leader of the Harhn Horde

Alaric – Dragon Initiate of the Order

Norris – Cousin and Standard Bearer of Lord Baudouin

Flannery – Cousin of Lord Baudouin

Isidore – Knight of Mersalia

Dragana – Young sorceress, daughter of Lord Yannic of the Order.

Celestine - Sorceress

Duke Theudis – Duke of Camille and Standard Bearer of King Amger.

King Amger – King of Mersalia

The Founding

According to the Hugue Calendar, the region was established over five hundred years ago. Following the Great War between Elves and Men, Humans from the Ancestral Plains, fearing another onslaught from the Elves, left their homes and traveled across the Barren Steppe to the region called the Hugue.[1] The settlers comprised of nobles and commoners from the various cities decimated by war. Together, they made the long journey, putting aside cultural differences in order to start a new beginning. Upon reaching the Hugue, they found the region infested with Harhn and all manner of foul beasts. Led by Lord Theudemund of House Amric, the warriors from the assembly of Men, combined with the native Humans and Halflings of the region, drove the beasts from the Hugue. After this great victory, the Principalities were established. Each sovereign of the three strongest factions were married to one of Theudemund's daughters as a token of good will and to strengthen the newly formed alliances. Theudemund’s son became the  King of Mersalia. The other Principalities formed were Pratalsia, Gruneheim, Cadyrnia, and Mersalia. Already existing principalities were Verslund, Vhor, and Henstubber.

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[1] There is no documented evidence that describes who started the war. The author’s sentiment suggests the Elves were purely behind the conflict.

BLURB:

Steel and sorcery clash as the Harhn incursion sweeps through the Hugue. Mankind faces its greatest peril without the Order Knights of legend to defend them. Crusading deep in the frontier, the Order is unaware of the savage beasts threatening their homeland as the Hugue realms muster their armies for war.

Between a cunning Harhn sorcerer, and an alliance forged with the decadent Darkfey, the horde threatens to extinguish the domains of men. Only Lord Baudouin and Lady Lucia, a Dragon Maiden from the Order, stand in the enemy’s path. One must find the strength to unify the realms. The other must discover the strength within her, while coming to terms with the agendas of her Order. But only together will there be any hope to repel the onslaught, and preserve the future for a mysterious girl they do not know. 

Chapter excerpt: http://twilighttimesbooks.com/ShadowsofKings_ch1.html

Author Bio:

Jack Whitsel is a native Californian, but has made Oregon his home since 1982. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Finance from Portland State University, but studies medieval history in his spare time.  His favorite genres are fantasy and historical fiction with a medieval emphasis. Shadows of Kings, the first novel of the Dragon Rising Series is the love child born of these two passions.

“I love the elements of fantasy when mixed with the gritty aspects of a medieval society,” states the author.

Website: http://www.jackwhitsel.com

Blog: http://jwhitsel.wordpress.com

Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shadows-of-Kings-Book-one-of-the-Dragon-Rising-Series/119975978113722

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackWhitsel

Mysteries of the Mind Guest Blog and Giveaway with Guillaume Wolf

Hi, this is Guillaume Wolf “Prof. G,” author of the newly released supernatural thriller, The Last Arakad. Before we start, I want to thank Roxanne's Realm for inviting me to guest blog; it’s a pleasure to be here.

So today, I’d like to talk about the mysteries of the mind.

My novel, The Last Arakad, is a magical thrill-ride that also talks about how we can connect with our intuition to grow and evolve. I believe this is where real magic lives.

Intuition and the power of the subconscious mind have always fascinated me. In my research on creativity (if you’re curious, check out my book on the subject, reDESIGN: reCREATE http://redesignrecreate.com), I met with some of the most brilliant Creatives in the world. I discovered that the greatest creative minds all trusted their subconscious mind to work for them. Sometimes they called it “gut instinct” or “semi-asleep state;” but they all share this capacity to connect with a higher creative intelligence (that works much better and faster than the rational mind).

In one conversation that stuck with me, superstar designer/architect Philippe Starck revealed his habit of using his subconscious for creative work: “I prefer working with the subconscious,” he declared. “I’m not an intelligent person, but I have an extraordinary intuition that allows me to place myself in the world differently and to do things differently. In the classic orthogonal way of thinking, I’m completely lost. I cannot even read an operating manual. But in the diagonal way of thinking, I’m faster than everyone.”

          This explains, perhaps, why after a brilliant career of 30 years he still dominates the world of design today.

          In our conversation, he explained that because “consciousness . . . always lies,” he preferred “working with the subconscious: the untold, the slips of the tongue, the accumulation of little invisible signs.” I realized that in his case, Starck had mastered his “extraordinary intuition” and sharpened it like a precision tool.

          His technique sounds deceptively simple. To access his subconscious mind, he uses creative naps. “The subconscious works alone,” he said. “It is a bit guided and structured in order to produce more than just nebulous ideas, but then you have to be in the proper state when the subconscious delivers its finished products. You have to be “ready to print.” This is why I live mostly in my bed. When I feel a ‘delivery’ is coming, I always have a little table by my bed that I use to draw with great precision all the elements. At this point I don’t have to think, I just execute. When I’m done ‘printing,’ I look if it’s worth something . . .” (excerpt from reDESIGN: reCREATE)

          This description may sound strange but it comes from one of the most important contemporary creative minds. Who knew creative naps could be so potent?

Following these clues, I tried over the years to integrate this creative regimen into my work. I gave creative napping a try by putting myself in a relaxed state to let inspiration move in. At first it was not easy—we have all been conditioned to view napping as ‘laziness’—my active mind protested at these ‘silly’ attempts. But as I stuck with it, and was able to quiet the chatter. And it did pay off. For example, the story of The Last Arakad came in a flash, after one of these creative naps. And today, every morning, before I get out of bed, I simply “dream” the chapters I’m suppose to write—and the story flows in automatically.

Now I’d love to hear your comments. Have you tried creative napping before? Have you ever had dreams that helped you make important decisions in your life?

THE LAST ARAKAD
by Guillaume Wolf “Prof. G”


Do you believe in destiny?


When sensitive Maya moves with her brother Thomas from Los Angeles to Paris hoping for a better life, she has no idea that everything is about to dramatically change. 


What starts as an initiation into the age-old Arakad magical tradition takes an unexpected turn when a wave of brutal murders shatters her world. Caught up in an ancient prophecy, she finds herself at the center of a ruthless battle between good and evil in which humanity’s future is at stake. 


When all hope is lost and she becomes the final target of a sinister clan, will Maya learn to trust herself and her own power? Or will her own fears prevail?

BIO


Born in Africa (Sénégal), raised in Paris, France, and currently living in Los Angeles, California, Guillaume Wolf “Prof G.” embodies the spirit of the 21st Century “global village.” 


Guillaume has spent decades exploring the transformative power of symbols, archetypes, and creativity (and their relationship with the everyday world); and this passion inspires his writing. 


Guillaume’s background includes among others: creative director; branding consultant; and teacher of communication design at the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.


He is the author of reDESIGN: reCREATE, a book about reinvention and creativity. The Last Arakad is his first novel.


Guillaume lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles, California.


To learn more about Guillaume Wolf’s books and discover additional content, collectibles, and behind-the-scenes bonuses, visit www.Arakad.com


Meet Guillaume on Facebook at www.facebook.com/profgpage.


Web: http://www.arakad.com


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profgpage

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