The Qwillery

and the winners are....


Only Superhuman by Christopher L. Bennett - Ended November 10, 2012 - Read the Interview here


Question: Who is one of your favorite superheroes?

Jen B. who said...

I love Ironman. He is a superhero because he is smart (and stupid rich). But, and although he is technically classified as a superhero, I have to go with Dr. Who. I think he is just the ultimate superhero. He's smart, a little crazy, he's devoted and he always comes up with a way to do as little damage as possible.






Enslaved (Eternal Guardians 5) by Elisabeth Naughton - Ended November 9, 2012 - Read the Interview here. US/CANADA ONLY


Question:  Which Greek God, Goddess, Demi-God or Goddess would you like to meet?

Elizabeth H. who said...

I'd like to meet Persephone.






Blood Riders by Michael P. Spradlin (3 copies) - Ended November 8, 2012 - Read the Interview here. US ONLY


Question:  What is one of your favorite Western or Horror novels, comics, TV shows, or movies?

Debby who said...

I love the Louis L'Amour westerns. They were great!


AilishsMom who said...

This was one of those books I just didn't want to put down, early morning at work be damned.
The closest things to Western that I love are the original Wild, Wild West and more recently, Firefly.


LadyVampire2u who said...

My favorite Western series was The Rifleman. Favorite movie was Cowboys VS Aliens. Congrats on this new release!






The Haunting of Maddy Clare and ARC of An Inquiry into Love and Death by Simone St. James - Ended November 7, 2012 - Read the Guest Blog here. (Two winners each get one of the books.) US/CANADA ONLY

ARC cover will be different.

Question: What is your favorite scary read? What do you recommend I pick up – immediately??

    Winner of The Haunting of Maddy Clare:

Tore who said...

I would suggest Stephen King's It or anything by Stephen King or Dean Koontz. Thanks for the giveaway. I am a follower and email subscriber.


    Winner of the ARC of An Inquiry into Love and Death:

sherry fundin who said...

I don't have a favorite, but anything by King and Koontz is plenty scary for me. lol I follow the blog. Thanks for the giveaway.






Savage Hunger (Jaguar 1) by Terry Spear - Ended November 5, 2012 - Read the Interview here. US/CANADA ONLY


Question:  What would you do if you found a jungle cat who wasn’t all cat??

Denise Z who said...

In my fantasy world, I would slowly approach, hold out my hand in peace and scratch behind the ears or under the chin. Should this be successful and I retain all my fingers, I would check for fleas and then invite him in our of the cold for a nice side of venison or bowl of mild LOL Thank you for taking the time and effort to share with us to day and for the imagination fun.






Alchemystic (The Spellmason Chronicles 1) by Anton Strout - Ended November 2, 2012 - Read the Interview here.


Question:  A Spellmason can work magic on stone. On what would you like to work magic?

Natalia J who said...

i would love to be able to work on paper. So what ever I write or draw it happens.






Choice of The Shadow Reader (McKenzie Lewis 1) or The Shattered Dark (McKenzie Lewis 2) by Sandy Williams - Ended October 31, 2012 - Read the character Interview here.


Question:  Which character from novels, comics, movies, orTV shows do you find infuriating?

Texas Book Lover who said...

Bill from the True Blood show and books is one of the most infuriating characters I can think of. The books and shows have really digressed lately. I will tough out the last book but if Sookie ends up with Bill I will probably want to tear the book to pieces and for me that is totally sacrilegious.

I have to agree that Lori from The Walking Dead is really bad too. I'm kinda hoping the baby is a zombie and kills her during childbirth and I am normally not a mean or morbid person. Just love the show but am tired of her.






A print copy of Crooked Fang by Carrie Clevenger and a beautiful Sasha Bracelet from Synde at Cemetery Cat Designs - Ended October 28, 2012 - Read the Interview here. US ONLY


Question:  Xan Marcelles is a bass player. What profession would you like to see a vampire in?

JC Jones who said...

I would like to see a vampire as a money manager. They could control the world that way. I am a GFC follower.






Lady X's Cowboy by Zoë Archer (digital copy) - Ended October 26, 2012 - Read the Guest Blog here.


Question:  What’s your favorite kind of boot? What sort of boot do you want your heroes to wear?

Sheree who said...

I just want comfortable boots. I have fancier ones with stiletto heels but those hurt after a while and even my sturdier ones really aren't made for walking in (maybe they'd be okay for riding in).

As for heroes, anything they can walk in, I suppose. Nothing too fancy but functionality is a must - kind of how I like my men. ;)






The Witch of Babylon (The Mesopotamina Trilogy 1) by D.J. McIntosh - Ended October 24, 2012 - Read the Interview here.


Question:  Do you believe that myths have some truth to them?

Martha Lawson who said...

Absolutely, I think myths are based on truth! Thanks for the chance.






Winner's Choice on an Immortal Guardians Novel plus swag - Ended October 23, 2012 - Read the Guest Blog here.


Question: Do you enjoy a little humor in a Paranormal Romance novel?

Annwitch who said...

Everyone loves it when someone has a good sense of humor. In a romance I think it is imperative.






The winners have been notified and have until 11:59 US Eastern Time on Sunday, November 18, 2012 to respond or The Qwillery will very randomly choose a new winner or winners.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Please welcome Zoë Archer to The Qwillery!





Today, we’re going to talk about a subject that many of you know is quite near and dear to me.

Boots.

*pauses for collective gasps of astonishment*

Yeah, yeah.

Anyway…I’m a sucker for boots, especially ones with buckles. My own closet is a dangerous maze of towers of boot boxes that invariably topple when I’m in search of the perfect pair. To me, boots represent adventure, toughness. And while my own adventures usually consist of walking the six blocks to the nearest Starbucks, a girl can dream of action.

Not much of a surprise that in my books, my heroes and heroines wear boots as often as possible. Usually, my heroes tuck their snug, muscle-revealing trousers into tall boots. However, in LADY X’S COWBOY, my hero Will Coffin is a Colorado cowboy, which means he sports the ever-so-sexy cowboy boots. Granted, since he’s an actual working cowboy, he probably wouldn’t wear very fancy boots, but just imagine how worn and dusty the leather of his boots would be—the boots of a man who’s had to make his own way in the world, who’s capable and hard working and not afraid to get a little dirty and tough when the situation requires.

He definitely finds himself in some tough and dirty situations when Will travels all the way to London. Though he’s there to track down the family he’s never known, he finds himself coming to the aid of Lady Olivia Xavier. Olivia is a young widow and a respected member of Society, though she shocked everyone when she actually began to run the brewery her late husband left her. In fact, Olivia’s management of the brewery is such a success, she’s attracted a dangerous aristocratic rival, a man who will stop at nothing to make the brewery his.

Will, with his sense of honor and rugged cowboy boots, steps in and helps when Olivia finds herself threatened. With the threat temporarily taken care of, Olivia makes him a rather scandalous proposition: in exchange for Will helping protect her brewery, she’ll use her Society connections to assist in tracking down his family.

Now, as a member of the elite, and as a woman, Olivia’s boots aren’t as sturdy as Will’s. They’re pretty, but not meant for work.

But, as proven by her insistence on running the brewery, and her bold decision to align with Will (plus house him in her own home), Olivia’s a lot tougher than her footwear might indicate. And it’s her sense of strength and determination that draws Will to her. The attraction between them becomes undeniable, but can they (and their boots) weather the storm of her a scandal and her dangerous rival?

So, my question to you is, what’s your favorite kind of boot? What sort of boot do you want your heroes to wear? I’ll pick one commenter to win a digital copy of LADY X’S COWBOY. Good luck, and happy boots!




Lady X's Cowboy

Lady X's Cowboy
September 7, 2012
eBook

Constrained by her life as a Society widow, Lady Olivia Xavier finds escape in two unusual ways: as the owner of a successful brewery, and as a secret reader of penny dreadful Western novels. But Olivia’s beloved brewery is being threatened, and she has no ally in her fight. Until a mysterious cowboy steps out from the London fog, saving her from a terrifying brawl. Suddenly, Olivia isn’t just reading about the Wild West, she’s living it.

Colorado cowboy Will Coffin has made the long journey from his Rocky Mountain home to discover his birthright. While searching for his family, he encounters the beguiling Olivia. Will’s never met a real English lady before—certainly not one as lovely and courageous as Olivia—and he can’t resist coming to her rescue.

Olivia is powerfully drawn to the rough but honorable cowboy. She proposes a most scandalous arrangement: in exchange for helping protect her brewery, she’ll help Will find his family. Even more scandalous is that he’ll be sleeping under her roof. The entire arrangement sets Society’s tongues wagging. Meanwhile, the danger to the brewery, and Olivia herself, keeps escalating. But nothing’s as dangerous, or seductive, as the growing desire between the lady and the cowboy…

Lady X’s Cowboy was originally published by Dorchester in 2006 and is newly revised by the author.

About Zoë

Zoë Archer is an award-winning romance author who thinks there's nothing sexier than a man in tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies her master's degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines and heroes in tall boots. She is the author of the acclaimed BLADES OF THE ROSE series and the paranormal historical romance series, THE HELLRAISERS. She and her husband, fellow romance author Nico Rosso, created the steampunk world of THE ETHER CHRONICLES together. Her steampunk romance, SKIES OF STEEL, is now available from Avon Impulse, and Nico’s steampunk Western, NIGHT OF FIRE, is also available now. Zoë and Nico live in Los Angeles.

Lady X's Cowboy Excerpt

Website : Twitter : Facebook : Tumblr : Blog




THE GIVEAWAY

What:  One commenter will win a a digital copy of Lady X’s Cowboy from Zoë.

How:   Answer Zoë's questions: 


Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

There are a total of 3 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry) and Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry).  This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook or Twitter mentions. You MUST leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a emailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Friday, October 26, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

Happy Monday after New York Comic Con. I can't say this enough - if you have a chance to even spend a day at New York Comic Con you should!  The next NYCC will be held from October 10 - 13, 2013. I have a couple more posts about NYCC 2012 upcoming.

This week at The Qwillery there are Guest Blogs by or Interviews with John Park (Janus), Dianne Duvall (Immortal Guardians Series), D.J. McIntosh (The Witch of Babylon), Rob DeBorde (Portlandtown) and Zoë Archer (The Ether Chronicles).

On Saturday, the initial line up for and information about the 2013 Debut Author Challenge will be announced. In addition voting in the 2012 Debut Author Challenge Cover Wars for October will commence.


There are quiet a few books out this week.  You may find a printable PDF shopping list of this week's releases by clicking HERE.


October 15, 2012

TITLE	AUTHOR	GENRE - SERIES
The Abolition of Species	Dietmar Dath	SF
Sole Possession (e)	Bryn Donovan	PNR
Motherless Child	Glen Hirshberg	H
Hidden Salem	Kiki Howell	H
Vampyric Variations	Nancy Kilpatrick	F/PN - Short Stories

October 16, 2012

TITLE	AUTHOR	SERIES
Wild Girls (D)	Mary Stewart Atwell	F/Su
Bowl of Heaven	Gregory Benford Larry Niven	SF
Only Superhuman (D)	Christopher L. Bennett	SF
100 Years of Vicissitude	Andrez Bergen	F
The Twelve	Justin Cronin	F/PA - Passage Trilogy 2
Blood and Other Cravings (h2tp)	Ellen Datlow	H - Anthology
Portlandtown (D)	Rob DeBorde	DF - Tale of the Oregon Wyldes 1
Angel's Ink	Jocelynn Drake	UF - Asylum Tales 1
Belka, Why Don't You Bark?	Hideo Furukawa	SF
People of the Black Sun: A People of the Longhouse Novel	W. Michael Gear	F - North America's Forgotten Past 20
The Witch's Initiation	Elle James	PNR
The Road to Woodbury	Robert Kirkman Jay Bonansinga	H - Walking Dead
Strangers in the Land	Stant Litore	H - Zombie Bible 3
Windhaven (ri)	George R.R. Martin Lisa Tuttle	F
Tangled Web	Crista McHugh	FR - Diezian Empire 1
The Witch of Babylon (D US)	D.J. McIntosh	Th/Su - Mesopotamian Trilogy 1
Father Gaetano's Puppet Catechism: A Novella	Mike Mignola Christopher Golden	H
Heroics	Brian Moll (ed)	Superheroes
Sharp and Dangerous Virtues	Martha Moody	Ap/Th
The Rook (h2tp)	Daniel O'Malley	Su/Th
Kissed by a Vampire	Caridad Pineiro	PNR
Remember Why You Fear Me: The Best Dark Fiction of Robert Shearman	Robert Shearman	DF - Collection
Crown of Destiny (ri)	Bertrice Small	FR - World of Hetar 6
Harvest Home (Illustrated)	Thomas Tryon	H

October 20, 2012

TITLE	AUTHOR	GENRE - SERIES
The Neighborhood	Goncalo M. Tavares	F

October 21, 2012

TITLE	AUTHOR	GENRE - SERIES
Over a Torrent Sea	Christopher L. Bennett	SF - Star Trek: Titan 5
Kobayashi Maru	Michael A. Martin	SF- Star Trek: Enterprise
Summon the Thunder	Dayton Ward	SF - Star Trek: Vanguard 2

D - Debut
e - eBook
h2tp - Hardcover to Trade Paperback
ri - Reprint or Reissue

Ap - Apocalyptic
DF - Dark Fantasy
F - Fantasy
FR - Fantasy Romance
H - Horror
PA - Post Apocalyptic
PR - Paranormal Romance
SF - Science Fiction
Su - Supernatural
Th - Thriller
UF - Urban Fantasy

And the winners are....


Winner's choice of 1 of the 4 Rogue Agent novels by K.E. Mills - Ended May 17, 2012 - Read the Interview here.


Question:  Who is/are your favorite wizard(s), witch(es) OR socerer(s)? You can list one or many!

pamerd who said...

Hi

Harry Dresden (Jim Butcher), Alex Craft (Kalayna Price), Arcadia Bell (Jenn Bennett)and Persephone Alcmedi (Linda Robertson) are all fun witches to read. I have not read any K.E Mills witch stories but I am adding them to my TBR list - they look great.

Thanks for the chance
Pam




eBook of Divinely Ruined (Divine Temptations Trilogy 1) by Diane Alberts - Ended May 18, 2012 - Read the Interview here.


Question:  What's your favorite type of paranormal creature, and why?

Barbara who said...

GREAT interview...LOVE the cover! My fave PN creature is a shifter. I LOVE their sexy bad boy alpha characteristics, their animal magnetism and easy charm...and who could resist the sense of excitement and danger they just seem to naturally generate. YUM!




Demon's Bride (Hellraisers 2) by Zoë Archer - Ended May 18, 2012 - Read the Guest Blog Here. US/Canada Only.


Question:  What modern wedding customs do you find strange, or relics of the past?

Leah Weller who said...

I love the blue dress in the picture above but cannot imagine having to wear the cage underneath to make it poof like that. I cannot put a finger on any one thing I think would be a relic of the past outside of the bride having to wear white. I was happy when my daughter chose a darker cream color to get married in. She is getting married the 26th. My ex thought it crazy she wasn't wearing white and when I asked him what was going to happen when she didn't wear white, he couldn't answer. It doesn't matter were she to walk down the isle in black, the love they share is what will make this marriage work. Not the color she chose for one day.




Serenity/Star Wars FCBD comic signed by Dan Dos Santos - Ended May 19, 2012 - Read the post here.


Question:  Favorite comics? or Favorite Science Fiction TV show or movie or novel?

Rebe who said...

I am soooooo jealous that you got to meet Dan Dos Santos! I love his Mercy Thompson and White Trash Zombie covers. They're too cool!

As for Sci-Fi stuff, I'm a long time closet trekkie. I love Sci-Fi romances - Zoe Archer has a great series that just came out recently. I also like Gini Koch's Kitty Kat series.




Indigo Springs (Blue Magic 1) by A.M. Dellamonica - Ended May 19, 2012 - Read the Guest Blog here.


Question:  What kind of magic would you like to have?

Paul Weimer who said...

What kind of magic would you like to have?

Oh that's easy, although it's cribbing a bit from Zelazny, but it ties into a mutual interest Alyx and I have--photography.

I would love to have the magical ability to transport myself through a photo that I have made. Somewhat more limited than teleporting, since I would have to have been there before with a camera. I think Magic *should* have limits.

So, yeah




The winners have been notified and have until 11:59PM US Eastern Time on May 27, 2012 to respond or The Qwillery will very randomly choose a new winner or winners.

Thank you to all!

Please welcome Zoë Archer to The Qwillery. Demon's Bride (Hellraisers 2) was published on May 1, 2012.



DEMON’S BRIDE, the second book in my Hellraisers romance series, opens where many romances often end—with a wedding. The wedding is between Leo Bailey, a wealthy commoner, and Anne Hartfield, the daughter of an impoverished baron. Leo and Anne barely know each other. Their marriage is mutually beneficial: Anne can have material wealth unlike any she’s ever known, and Leo gains the prestige and status of having an aristocratic wife. Neither Leo nor Anne have any illusions about the nature of their union. They don’t expect love.

It seems a strange way to start a marriage, but ideas of romantic love weren’t given as much consideration in 18th century marriages, especially not if you were socially and financially ambitious. Engagements were short—or, in Anne and Leo’s case, very short—since premarital sex was frowned upon. A bride and groom could marry within months of meeting each other, just as Anne and Leo do.


Like other brides and grooms of the time, Anne and Leo are married in church, then sign their names in the parish register. All 18th century wedding ceremonies were performed in the morning hours between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., as specified by Hardwicke’s Marriage Act of 1753.

After the ceremony, it’s time for the wedding breakfast. A wedding is a time of celebration, a time to show your guests not just hospitality, but to impress them with your own prosperity. Anne and Leo proceed from the church to his home in Bloomsbury for the celebration. The “breakfast” could last all day and into the night, with an abundance of wine, cakes, and roast meats for the guests. Then, as now, dancing was common as part of the celebration.


White hadn’t been adopted yet as the preferred color for brides—that came later, in the 19th century—but often a bride wore blue, which represents purity. In keeping with custom, Anne wears a gown of blue Spitalfields silk, trimmed with silver lace. Tuxedoes and morning coats hadn’t been created yet, so a groom wore his best clothing. In fact, when one aristocrat was hanged for murder, he wore his wedding clothing to the scaffold, all the better to put on a show for the spectators. For his wedding, Leo even powders his hair, despite the fact that he hates hair powder.


The honeymoon, or bridal journey, was still a relatively new custom in the 18th century, but it’s still established enough that the fact that Leo and Anne are not going on a bridal journey is remarked upon by the guests. Though the 18th century is considered part of the modern era, one custom lingered from earlier times. The bride was taken up to the nuptial bedchamber and made ready for her husband by her close female relatives. They dressed the bride in her nightgown and got her into bed. Then the male guests escort the groom to the bedchamber, singing bawdy songs all the while. It wasn’t uncommon for the guests to stand outside the bedroom and shout encouragements to the groom through the door. Leo makes sure to dismiss the guests before they get to that point!

And then…well, you’ll just have to read to find out what happens next with Leo and Anne. ;)


What modern wedding customs do you find strange, or relics of the past? Leave a comment, and I’ll pick a winner to receive a copy of DEMON’S BRIDE (US/Canada only). [see "The Giveaway" below.]



About the Hellraisers

The Hellraisers, Book 2
Zebra, May 1, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 370 pages

Read an excerpt.

Hell to Pay

Leo Bailey may have been born to poverty, but ruthless business sense and sparkling intelligence have made money worries a thing of his past. It doesn't hurt that the Devil himself has granted Leo the ability to read the future.

But even infallible predictions are a déclassé commoner's trick to some members of the ton. They'll never see Leo as their equal - one good reason to prove himself their better. And a noble marriage is an obvious start.

Bookish Anne Hartfield, daughter of a baron, is hardly the flashiest miss on the marriage market. But her thoughtful reserve complements Leo's brash boldness in an attraction neither can deny. A whirlwind courtship sweeps Anne and Leo into a smoldering marriage before either can believe their luck. But happiness built on Leo's dark powers can't last. Soon, Anne will have to save her husband...or lose her heart.

Hellraisers, Book 1
Zebra, December 6, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 370 pages

Read and Excerpt

A Handsome Devil

1762. James Sherbourne, Earl of Whitney, is a gambling man. Not for the money. But for the thrill, the danger—and the company: Whit has become one of the infamous Hellraisers, losing himself in the chase for adventure and pleasure with his four closest friends.

Which was how Whit found himself in a gypsy encampment, betting against a lovely Romani girl. Zora Grey’s smoky voice and sharp tongue entrance Whit nearly as much as her clever hands—watching them handle cards inspires thoughts of another kind...

Zora can’t explain her attraction to the careless blue-eyed Whit. She also can’t stop him and his Hellraisers from a fiendish curse: the power to grant their own hearts’ desires, to chase their pleasures from the merely debauched to the truly diabolical. And if Zora can’t save Whit, she still has to escape him…

About Zoë

Zoë Archer is an award-winning romance author who thinks there's nothing sexier than a man in tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies her master's degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines and heroes in tall boots. She is the author of the acclaimed BLADES OF THE ROSE series and the paranormal historical romance series, THE HELLRAISERS. She and her husband, fellow romance author Nico Rosso, created the steampunk world of THE ETHER CHRONICLES together. Her steampunk romance, SKIES OF FIRE, is now available from Avon Impulse, and Nico’s steampunk Western, NIGHT OF FIRE, will be available in July. Zoë and Nico live in Los Angeles.


Website, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr




The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a copy of Demon's Bride from Zoë!  US/Canada Only.
How:  Leave a comment answering Zoë's question:


Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You MUST leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a US or Canadian mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Friday, May 18, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

Twas the day before Christmas... and The Qwillery is announcing winners! Happy Holidays everyone!


The Emperor's Knife (Tower and Knife 1) by Mazarkis Williams


Questions:  What is/are your favorite Fantasy novel(s)?

Lexi who said...

Lord of the Rings is amazing, but also a given. I also love Patricia Briggs (Hob's Bargain) and Patricia C. Wrede (her dragon series).
Love that you listed Dr. Seuss! I have been reading his books a lot with my daughter!
Your book sounds gripping!



Acquainted With the Night by Piper Maitland


Question:  What has been your favorite place setting for a novel?

lindalou who said...

OMG, it's hard to pick a favorite. I'm reading a book now set in Scotland... and it's my current favorite setting. However, I've read books set in magical places and in the stars and in multiple other locales that I could also call my favorite. Hope this answers the question! Thanks for the giveaway!




Shaedes of Gray (Shade Assassin 1) by Amanda Bonilla  US/Canada ONLY!


Question:  What creature or being is your ideal paranormal best friend?

Lieder Madchen who said...

I would love to have a dragon as a friend! I am kind of obsessed with dragons. :) A shapeshifter would be awesome, too. Thank you for the giveaway!




Devil's Kiss (Hellraisers 1) by Zoë Archer - 1 signed copy (US/Canada Only) and 1 unsigned copy (International)


Question:  If you were offered any power, what would tempt you the most?

US winner

Julie W who said...

I would have to say super-speed! Just think of how many things you could get done in a day if you could move super fast!!


International winner

buddyt who said...

Thanks for the giveaway.

I have been asked the question before and what I usually answer is teleportation for the simple reason that I love travelling to different places around the world but that is quite an expensive thing to do.

If I could teleport myself and partner with our luggage straight to a hotel at my destination. how great would that be!



The Fallen Queen (House of Arkhangel’sk 1) ebook by Jane Kindred


Question: Which royal family or royal individual might be fun to fictionalize in a fantasy novel?

loves to dive who said...

Wow, that's a hard question since most of the well known ones have already been done. I'm a big fan of all things middle eastern and love the history that surrounds the area so maybe one of the lesser royal families there.

Just as an aside, I too am fascinated with the story of the Russian royal family. I visited an exibit of their jewels in Memphis once and stood there in the middle of the museum bawling like a baby.



Hellsbane (Hellsbane 1) by Paige Cuccaro (ebook)


Question:  If you were only half human, what would be your other half?

Taking it One Book at a Time who said...

I'd have to be half Fae! <3333 anything Fae!


Thomas World by Richard Cox. US/CANADA ONLY.


Question:  Which books would you like as gifts this year?

Spaz who said...

My dream Christmas books? How about every book that Night Shade has put out in the past year? (Except No Hero by Jonathan Wood, which I was fortunate enough to win -- from a giveaway here at The Qwillery!!)



The winners have been notified and have until 11:59PM US Eastern Time on Saturday, January 7, 2012 to respond or The Qwillery will very randomly choose a new winner or winners. Extra time has been given to respond due to the holiday season.

As usual, thank you all for participating and reading The Qwillery.

Please welcome Zoë Archer to The Qwillery. Zoë's latest novel is Devil's Kiss, the first book in her new Hellraisers series.


“Brethren before harlots.”

That’s the unofficial motto of the Hellraisers, a group of 18th century rakes who spend their nights traversing London in search of excitement and pleasure. These five men have wealth, privilege and power. Only one of the five Hellraisers isn’t of genteel birth, but all of them earn their name through their wicked exploits.

I love reading romance series that are about men who join together in the spirit of a common good. We’ve had some incredible books about soldiers, former soldiers and spies. Even vampire warriors can band together for the sake of justice. The men don’t always have to like each other, and sometimes their methodology is a little questionable, but they’re united by their cause to do right.

As much as I love to read about these groups of men, I started to think about what it would be like to have a group of friends united in the cause of badness. All these men want to do is raise hell, and they don’t care what or who stands in their way, or how many hearts they break.

DEVIL’S KISS is the first book in my new paranormal historical romance series, the Hellraisers. In it, James Sherbourne, Earl of Whitney, and his four close friends find themselves living up to their name in a way none of them ever anticipated. When the Hellraisers inadvertently free the Devil from his prison, they are each granted a magical gift. I don’t want to give away exactly what powers Whit and the other Hellraisers receive, but the Devil is clever enough to know precisely what might tempt each man. By seeing into their wicked hearts, the Devil offers the Hellraisers their most sinful desires.

For all its darkness, DEVIL’S KISS is definitely a romance. Whit’s sole pleasure in life is gambling. He’s never met a woman who thrills him as much as a high-stakes game of cards. All that changes when he meets Zora Grey. It’s an unlikely attraction—Whit is a nobleman. Zora is Romani. Whit has several estates and a splendid house in London. Zora travels with her tribe in a caravan and sleeps in a tent. Whit is a gambler. Zora earns her living telling fortunes.

Yet the moment Whit and Zora meet, they are both fascinated by the other. Whit’s never met a woman with Zora’s fire, a woman who challenges him and his Hellraiser mindset. And Zora knows that behind Whit’s cultivated boredom is a man of intelligence and depth. Neither of them know, however, that their lives are about to be entwined in a most diabolical way.

So tell me in the comments, if you were offered any power, what would tempt you the most? I’ll pick a winner to receive a signed copy of DEVIL’S KISS.


About Zoë's Books


Hellraisers 1
Zebra, December 6, 2011

Read and Excerpt

A Handsome Devil

1762. James Sherbourne, Earl of Whitney, is a gambling man. Not for the money. But for the thrill, the danger—and the company: Whit has become one of the infamous Hellraisers, losing himself in the chase for adventure and pleasure with his four closest friends.

Which was how Whit found himself in a gypsy encampment, betting against a lovely Romani girl. Zora Grey’s smoky voice and sharp tongue entrance Whit nearly as much as her clever hands—watching them handle cards inspires thoughts of another kind...

Zora can’t explain her attraction to the careless blue-eyed Whit. She also can’t stop him and his Hellraisers from a fiendish curse: the power to grant their own hearts’ desires, to chase their pleasures from the merely debauched to the truly diabolical. And if Zora can’t save Whit, she still has to escape him…

Hellraisers 2
Zebra, May 1, 2012

Hell To Pay

Leo Bailey may have been born to poverty, but ruthless business sense and sparkling intelligence have made money worries a thing of his past. It doesn’t hurt that the Devil himself has granted Leo the ability to read the future.

But even infallible predictions are a déclassé commoner’s trick to some members of the ton. They’ll never see Leo as their equal—one good reason to prove himself their better. And a noble marriage is an obvious start.

Bookish Anne Hartfield, daughter of a baron, is hardly the flashiest miss on the marriage market. But her thoughtful reserve complements Leo’s brash boldness in an attraction neither can deny. A whirlwind courtship sweeps Anne and Leo into a smoldering marriage before either can believe their luck. But happiness built on Leo’s dark powers can’t last. Soon, Anne will have to save her husband…or lose her heart…

The Blades of the Rose 1
Zebra, September 7, 2010

To most people, the realm of magic is the stuff of nursery rhymes and dusty libraries. But for Capt. Gabriel Huntley, it’s become quite real and quite dangerous…

In Hot Pursuit…

The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond—where what is real and what is imagined become terribly confused. And frankly, Huntley couldn’t be more pleased. Intrigue, danger, and a beautiful woman in distress—just what he needs.

In Hotter Water…

Raised thousands of miles from England, Thalia Burgess is no typical Victorian lady. A good thing, because a proper lady would have no hope of recovering the priceless magical artifact Thalia is after. Huntley’s assistance might come in handy, though she has to keep him in the dark. But this distractingly handsome soldier isn’t easy to deceive…

The Blades of the Rose2
Zebra, October 5, 2010

The Blades of the Rose are sworn to protect the sources of magic in the world. But the work is dangerous—and they can’t always protect their own…

Ready For Action

London Harcourt’s father is bent on subjugating the world’s magic to British rule. But since London is a mere female, he hasn’t bothered to tell her so. He’s said only that he’s leading a voyage to the Greek isles. No matter, after a smothering marriage and three years of straitlaced widowhood, London jumps at the opportunity—unfortunately, right into the arms of Bennett Day.

Risking It All

Bennett is a ladies’ man, when he’s not dodging lethal attacks to protect the powers of the ancients from men like London’s father. Sometimes, he’s a ladies’ man even when he is dodging them. But the minute he sees London he knows she will require his full attention. The woman is lovely, brilliant, and the only known speaker of a dialect of ancient Greek that holds the key to calling down the wrath of the gods. Bennett will be risking his life again—but around London, what really worries him is the danger to his heart…

The Blades of the Rose3
Zebra, November 2, 2010

On the Canadian frontier in 1875, nature is a harsh mistress. But the supernatural can really do you in…

A Lone Wolf

Nathan Lesperance is used to being different. He’s the first Native attorney in Vancouver, and welcome neither with white society nor his sometime tribe. Not to mention the powerful wildness he’s always felt inside him, too dangerous to set free. Then he met Astrid Bramfield and saw his like within her piercing eyes. Now, unless she helps him through the harsh terrain and the harsher unknowns of his true abilities, it could very well get him killed…

And The Woman Who Left The Pack

Astrid has traveled this path before. Once she was a Blade of the Rose, protecting the world’s magic from unscrupulous men, with her husband by her side. But she’s loved and lost, and as a world-class frontierswoman, she knows all about survival. Nathan’s searing gaze and long, lean muscles mean nothing but trouble. Yet something has ignited a forgotten flame inside her: a burning need for adventure, for life—and perhaps even for love…

The Blades of the Rose 4
Zebra, December 7, 2010

He protects the world’s magic—with his science. But even the best scientists can fall prey to the right chemistry…

Looking For Trouble

Gemma Murphy has a nose for a story—even if the boys in Chicago’s newsrooms would rather focus on her chest. So when she runs into a handsome man of mystery discussing how to save the world from fancy-pants Brit conspirators, she’s sensing a scoop. Especially when he mentions there’s magic involved. Of course, getting him on the record would be easier if he hadn’t caught her eavesdropping…

Lighting His Fuse

Catullus Graves knows what it’s like to be shut out: his ancestors were slaves. And he’s a genius inventor with appropriately eccentric habits, so even people who love him find him a little odd. But after meeting a certain redheaded scribbler, he’s thinking of other types of science. Inconvenient, given that he needs to focus on preventing the end of the world as we know it. But with Gemma’s insatiable curiosity sparking Catullus’s inventive impulses, they might set off something explosive anyway… 

8th Wing 1
Carina Press, April 4, 2011

Mara Skiren is a scavenger, a black-market dealer. Blackmailed into helping Commander Kell Frayne infiltrate a treacherous corner of the galaxy, Mara learns that her biggest danger is from her sexy, by-the-book partner. She’s a loner with more than a few battle scars on her heart, but something about Commander Frayne stirs up her long-buried need for an intimate connection.

An ace pilot for the elite Black Wraith Squadron, Kell’s mission is to rescue a lost pilot and ship. Unable to deny his attraction to the beautiful, rebellious woman , he decides bedding her would cool his ardor. But one taste is not nearly enough, and he finds himself sharing more of his real self with Mara than he has with anyone.

With deadly criminals on their heels and an increasingly dangerous assignment to complete, he’s starting to wonder…. If they survived, could he let her go? And will Mara want to stay?

8th Wing 2
Carina Press, January 9, 2012

Elite 8th Wing pilot Celene Jur was taken captive after a mysterious device temporarily disabled her ship's controls. Three solar months later, when Celene receives intel on the man who built the device, she's ready to get the bastard. Only problem is, the higher-ups think her mission partner should be Nils Calder, a tech-head who can understand the disabling device. The attraction between them is electric, but Celene needs a soldier who can watch her back as she exacts her revenge.

Nils knows his department is nicknamed NerdWorks. Pilots like Celene think the closest tech geeks come to combat is all-night Nifalian chess tournaments. But behind the NerdWorks insignia on his sleeve Nils is an able fighter, ready to prove himself and gain Celene's trust.

The desire between them is unexpected, but with the fate of thousands hanging in the balance, the hotshot pilot and the tech genius must succeed in their mission—no matter the cost.

About Zoë

Zoë Archer is an award-winning romance author who thinks there's nothing sexier than a man in tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies her master's degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines and heroes in tall boots. She is the author of the acclaimed BLADES OF THE ROSE series. December marks the beginning of her new paranormal historical romance series, THE HELLRAISERS. Zoë and her husband, fellow romance author Nico Rosso, live in Los Angeles. Please visit her on the Web at http://www.zoearcherbooks.com/

Zoë's Links

Website
Twitter
Facebook
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The Giveaway

THE RULES

What: 

1. One commenter will win a a signed copy of Devils's Kiss (Hellraisers 1) from Zoë Archer. US/Canada Mailing Addresses Only.
2. In addition, one commenter will win a copy of Devil's Kiss (Hellraisers 1) from The Qwillery. No geographic restriction.

How:  Leave a comment answering Zoë's question:


Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)   Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  For the signed copy of Devil's Kiss from Zoë you must have a USA/Canadian mailing address. For the unsigned copy of Devil's Kiss from The Qwillery you must have a mailing address.  Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

Zoë Archer has released a book trailer for her new series The Hellraisers. The first book in this historical paranormal romance series is Devil's Kiss, which will be available on December 6, 2011.



The Hellraisers 1
Zebra, December 6, 2011
Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages

A Handsome Devil

1762. James Sherbourne, Earl of Whitney, is a gambling man. Not for the money. But for the thrill, the danger—and the company: Whit has become one of the infamous Hellraisers, losing himself in the chase for adventure and pleasure with his four closest friends.

Which was how Whit found himself in a gypsy encampment, betting against a lovely Romani girl. Zora Grey’s smoky voice and sharp tongue entrance Whit nearly as much as her clever hands—watching them handle cards inspires thoughts of another kind...

Zora can’t explain her attraction to the careless blue-eyed Whit. She also can’t stop him and his Hellraisers from a fiendish curse: the power to grant their own hearts’ desires, to chase their pleasures from the merely debauched to the truly diabolical. And if Zora can’t save Whit, she still has to escape him…

Look for a guest blog from Zoë Archer on December 13th!

Please welcome Zoë Archer to The Qwillery.

TQ:  What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Zoë:  According to my husband, with whom I share an office (he's also a writer), when I write I make faces--basically, I'm mirroring the expressions on my characters' faces. I think that's probably the strangest thing I do when it comes to writing. Otherwise, I'm just sitting there in the same damn pair of yoga pants. I also like to listen to '80s music when I'm writing. It helps get me back in my youthful fantasy days. (Duran Duran forever, woo!)

TQ:  Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Zoë:  For non-romance authors, I really enjoy Michael Ondaatje, Graham Greene, Leo Tolstoy, Deborah Eisenberg, Lorrie Moore and Alice Munro. For romance authors, I'm really digging on the new crop of historical authors: Courtney Milan, Julie Anne Long, Tessa Dare, Carrie Lofty, Meredith Duran, Sherry Thomas. For paranormal, Kresley Cole's books are the best kind of crack, Ava Gray, and Shana Abé's Drakon series.

One of the romance authors who really showed me that romance could be complex, literate and beautifully written was Judith Ivory/Judy Cuevas. Bliss remains one of my favorite romance novels. Just gorgeously written. I am also a Mary Jo Putney and Judith McNaught fan. They really got me interested in becoming a romance author.

TQ:  Are you a plotter or a panster?

Zoë:  I'd say 95% plotter. Especially with the kinds of narrative structure in my books, I need to know where I'm going and how I'm getting there. Every book starts with an outline that gets elaborated upon and developed, often evolving or changing as I actually start writing the book. Sometimes I see that a character's motivations are changing, or I need to enrich a certain scene, so the outline changes. Those pantsers who just sit down and writing without any plan--they kind of scare me.

TQ:  How many books are planned for The Blades of the Rose series?

Zoë:  Right now, just the four books: WARRIOR, SCOUNDREL, REBEL and STRANGER. However, if sales are strong enough, and my publisher wants more, I'd love keep going. I already have some loose ideas for the next four. They would be set 20 years later (1895), much to the delight of my armorer (aka my husband). We'd see some familiar faces, but it would be a whole new generation of Blades, and an even more terrifying new enemy. (Buy the books--I really want to write these! *wink*)

TQ:  What sort of research did you do for the Blades of the Rose series?

Zoë:  A lot of research. I think I picked exotic locations just so I could research them. Blame it on years of graduate school, but I really like to do research. For the Blades, I spent a lot of time at the UCLA library. In fact, I maintain my UC alumni status so I can have library privileges. So, I read a ton of books, watched films of specific locations, and prowled the internet. Sadly, my budget didn't allow me to actually travel to the places I was writing about, but it did whet my appetite to go there. Mongolia is gorgeous!

TQ:  Are there any other genres in which you would like to write in addition to paranormal romance and historical romance?

Zoë:  In April 2011, my sci-fi romance COLLISION COURSE will be coming out from Carina Press. Space opera is just frakkin' awesome, and I'm glad that electronic presses are around so that more authors, like me, can write them. I also write straight historical fiction, but finding the time to work on it is very difficult. I'm under deadline for the romance, so that takes up my working hours. But don't get me wrong, I love love love writing romance. Love it.

TQ:  If you could dine with three people from the past who would they be and why?

Zoë:  I'm never good at this question! Hmm... Maybe Joseph Banks (the 18th century English naturalist), Leo Tolstoy and Aphra Behn (the 17th century English playwright and possible spy).

TQ: What's next?

Zoë:  There's my sci-fi romance in April, and then I'll have a new three-book paranormal historical series launching December 2011. The series is called THE HELLRAISERS, and its about a group of 18th century English rakes who inadvertently free the Devil from his prison and literally raise hell. It's dark and sexy and a lot of fun. It's very different from the Blades, especially because the heroes aren't very nice people. In fact, the heroes are the villains. But the heroines still kick ass. It's not a Zoë Archer book unless the heroines do some ass kicking.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.


About Zoë's Books

The Blades of the Rose Series:

Book One
To most people, the realm of magic is the stuff of nursery rhymes and dusty libraries. But for Capt. Gabriel Huntley, it's become quite real and quite dangerous... 

In Hot Pursuit... 
The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond—where what is real and what is imagined become terribly confused. And frankly, Huntley couldn't be more pleased. Intrigue, danger, and a beautiful woman in distress—just what he needs. 

In Hotter Water... 
Raised thousands of miles from England, Thalia Burgess is no typical Victorian lady. A good thing, because a proper lady would have no hope of recovering the priceless magical artifact Thalia is after. Huntley's assistance might come in handy, though she has to keep him in the dark. But this distractingly handsome soldier isn't easy to deceive... 


Book Two
The Blades of the Rose are sworn to protect the sources of magic in the world. But the work is dangerous—and they can't always protect their own... 

Ready For Action... 
London Harcourt's father is bent on subjugating the world's magic to British rule. But since London is a mere female, he hasn't bothered to tell her so. He's said only that he's leading a voyage to the Greek isles. No matter, after a smothering marriage and three years of straitlaced widowhood, London jumps at the opportunity—unfortunately, right into the arms of Bennett Day.

Risking It All... 
Bennett is a ladies' man, when he's not dodging lethal attacks to protect the powers of the ancients from men like London's father. Sometimes, he's a ladies' man even when he is dodging them. But the minute he sees London he knows she will require his full attention. The woman is lovely, brilliant, and the only known speaker of a dialect of ancient Greek that holds the key to calling down the wrath of the gods. Bennett will be risking his life again—but around London, what really worries him is the danger to his heart... 


Book Three
On the Canadian frontier in 1875, nature is a harsh mistress. But the supernatural can really do you in...

A Lone Wolf
Nathan Lesperance is used to being different. He's the first Native attorney in Vancouver, and welcome neither with white society nor his sometime tribe. Not to mention the powerful wildness he's always felt inside him, too dangerous to set free. Then he met Astrid Bramfield and saw his like within her piercing eyes. Now, unless she helps him through the harsh terrain and the harsher unknowns of his true abilities, it could very well get him killed...

And The Woman Who Left The Pack
Astrid has traveled this path before. Once she was a Blade of the Rose, protecting the world's magic from unscrupulous men, with her husband by her side. But she's loved and lost, and as a world-class frontierswoman, she knows all about survival. Nathan's searing gaze and long, lean muscles mean nothing but trouble. Yet something has ignited a forgotten flame inside her: a burning need for adventure, for life—and perhaps even for love...


Book 4 (coming December 7, 2010)
He protects the world's magic—with his science. But even the best scientists can fall prey to the right chemistry...

Looking For Trouble
Gemma Murphy has a nose for a story—even if the boys in Chicago's newsrooms would rather focus on her chest. So when she runs into a handsome man of mystery discussing how to save the world from fancy-pants Brit conspirators, she's sensing a scoop. Especially when he mentions there's magic involved. Of course, getting him on the record would be easier if he hadn't caught her eavesdropping...

Lighting His Fuse
Catullus Graves knows what it's like to be shut out: his ancestors were slaves. And he's a genius inventor with appropriately eccentric habits, so even people who love him find him a little odd. But after meeting a certain redheaded scribbler, he's thinking of other types of science. Inconvenient, given that he needs to focus on preventing the end of the world as we know it. But with Gemma's insatiable curiosity sparking Catullus's inventive impulses, they might set off something explosive anyway...


"The Undying Heart"
Prequel to The Blades of the Rose series


Samuel Reed had no idea magic existed, until it almost destroyed him. Thirsting for vengeance against the enemy who made him something less than human, Sam returns to England and crosses paths with Cassandra Fielding. His best friend's little sister has become a fearless woman on a dangerous mission of her own. And against all odds, she sees past what he's become, and stirs a desire he thought he'd lost forever. . .








Stand Alone Novels


The Lady Olivia Xavier, the cowboy who came to her rescue out ot the foggy London dusk could have stepped straight from one of her favorite dime novels. But when she was thrown into his arms, his solid chest and strong embrace assured her he was very real indeed. She needed a helping hand to save her late husband's brewery from an ambitions rival, and even though she couldn't understand half of the American's curious expressions, something in his gentle touch told Olivia she could trust this stranger from the untamed west.









It is the most beautiful fungus botanist Sophie Andrews has ever seen. And the man who comes with it is a pretty fine specimen, too. Sophie knows the bottle of love potion the roguish peddler tries to push on her is a hoax, but she has no time to argue. 

Ian Blackpool refuses to let the stubborn beauty who stumbled into his path track down the notorious Dark Dan McGannon alone. It is his duty to help. Surely it has nothing to do with the thrill he feels at her touch. After all, love is merely a specific chemical combination. But when Ian took Sophie in his arms, science went out the window...





About Zoë


Zoe Archer is an award-winning romance author who thinks there's nothing sexier than a man in tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies her master's degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines and heroes in tall boots. Her BLADES OF THE ROSE series--featuring dashing men and fearless women--is now available. Zoe and her husband live in Los Angeles. Please visit her on the Web at http://www.zoearcherbooks.com/





Zoë's Links:

Twitter: @Zoe_Archer
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#%21/zoe.archer1
The Blades of the Rose: http://bladesoftherose.com/
Website: http://www.zoearcherbooks.com/


The Giveaway

THE RULES

What: One commenter will win the first 3 books in The Blades of the Rose series: Warrior, Scoundrel, and Rebel.

How: Leave a comment telling The Qwillery to which exotic location in the world (or universe) you would like to travel. If you don't tell The Qwillery about your exotic location of choice your entry will not be counted.

You can receive additional entries by:

1) Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2) Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.

Who & When: The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 10, 2010.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*