INTERVIEW/ GIVEAWAY: Jae Lynne Davies/Blood Moon

I’ve always had an affinity for writing of any kind. However, it wasn’t until I lost my beloved Grandfather, and found myself writing a heartfelt eulogy, that my passion awakened.

After a somber deliverance, and numerous compliments, I decided to place fingers on my laptop keyboard. The rest, as they say, is history.

My favorite stories are those that don’t involve an average, everyday couple. I want conflict, and I want believable, but forbidden relationships. The more complex, the better. It’s the reason I love the paranormal as much as I do. I want to create those impossible situations that leave my readers intrigued and thirsting for more.

I consider myself blessed to be a wife to a wonderful and supportive husband, a mother to two of the most wonderful children a woman could ever ask for, and two dogs who have energy that rival my toddlers. When I’m not writing, I work in the ever-changing Mortgage industry, and I am always looking for creative ways to promote my work as an author.

I’m also an active member of the Romance Writers of America and the Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal Chapter, and the New Jersey Romance Writers Association.

I am so excited because today we have with us one of the nicest authors I know along with being one of the most talented. Ladies please give a warm Riverina Romantics welcome to Jae Lynne Davies!

Delilah: Hi Jae Lynne thanks for hanging out with us today!

Jae Lynne: Thanks so much for having me, Delilah. I’m so excited to be visiting RR for the first time. Guess that makes me a Riverina Romantics virgin, huh?

Delilah: We know each other so were you sweating it out a bit wondering what questions I was going to be asking you? *chuckle*

Jae Lynne: Not so much sweating it out, but I knew whatever awaited me in the email attachment would be entertaining!

Delilah: So let’s get right to it. Congratulations are in order as your newest book Blood Moon was just released! For those readers who haven’t had a chance to read this amazing story with Gianna, Mattias and Dante give us the lowdown on this tempting vampire trio.

Jae Lynne: Thank you! I’m so proud of Blood Moon. There were a number of obstacles to overcome in the story and a variety of topics to cover, I wasn’t sure if everything would fit in one novel. I even wondered if the novel would become an epic as I faced the possibility of exceeding word count. Glad it all worked out in the end. I also feel that while writing Blood Moon, I grew as an author and hopefully the growth shows from novel to novel.

So, you want the dirty details about Gianna, Mattias and Dante, do you? I’m going to try to make the description short and sweet.

Blood Moon (the second novel in the Mythic Series), continues along the journey of human/vampire hybrid, Gianna Marino. Gianna makes a deal with the devil in the form of smoldering hot, vampire coven leader, Mattias Vitale and agrees to return to London with him, so long as he abides by her terms.

Gianna and Mattias have a complicated relationship that seems to be budding into something more than she planned, especially when her heart belongs to another man. While Mattias declares his love for the hybrid, she’s not so sure of what she feels besides betrayal and blackmail.

When the two return to London, Mattias’s second in command—Dante Diakos, steps down from his position. His feelings for Gianna have grown too strong to remain in her presence and he can’t challenge Mattias outright to claim her. He can however, call upon the power of his birthright.

Dante leaves for his home country of Greece and begins to stir up trouble. When word of suspicious vampire reaches Mattias’s ears, he volunteers Gianna to make the trip to Greece and recover the artifact that can stop Dante from releasing an ancient power from containment.

Dante Diakos is the last of a pure immortal bloodline—a descendant of the gods, and he intends to invoke the power of the entire pantheon on the eve of the Blood Moon which occurs once every millennia. If he attains the legendary abilities, he’ll be the most powerful being on earth, and intends for Gianna to rule by his side. Will Gianna recover the artifact and talk sense into Dante before it’s too late, or will she seal the fate of the world and succumb to the seduction of his power?

Delilah: Hmmm have I told you how much I loved your excerpt from Blood Moon for Sex Scene Saturday (read it HERE)? Parking garages seem to be getting quite a workout these days. *wink* What inspires you when you write these types of scenes in your books, real events or good old fashioned imagination?

Jae Lynne: I’d love to say that real events inspired the scenes. While I have used bits and pieces from personal experiences, most of the hot scenes are sparked by imagination and wherever the muse guides me. The characters seem to tell me where they’d like to get down and dirty. I seldom argue.

Delilah: Let’s roll it back to Mythic which started this series. You created a unique and captivating story. Just how much research went in to preparing and building the foundation for it all?

Jae Lynne: The idea for Mythic was birthed during a car ride with my husband, following a eulogy for my Grandfather that I had delivered earlier in the day. It was that very moment I decided to be a writer and looked to my husband and said, “What if a woman was born of both vampire and human parentage? What challenges would she face if she walked amongst our world? And what would happen if her parents were murdered as a result of her existence?” My husband turned to me and said, “It sounds like you have some work to do.”

From that moment forward, Mythic was a two-year project. I used Google Earth and knowledge from some friends who live in the London area to design a concept for my version of London. The world only grew from there.

Delilah: Can you give us a little teaser on what we have to look forward to in Ashes of Reckoning, Mythic Book 3 which will be out in the near future? Gianna again has her hands full and snap, it’s based in New Orleans! Will you be doing a little research while you are down there for the Authors After Dark convention?

Jae Lynne: Ashes of Reckoning will likely wrap up Gianna’s story. An event occurs at the end of Blood Moon when Gianna realizes the extent of her abilities. After placing a phone call to her father, we learn that a powerful hybrid existed and his last known whereabouts was New Orleans roughly one hundred years ago. In Ashes of Reckoning, we meet Aston Cineris—Gianna’s equal in all ways.

When the two collide, their meeting unleashes a cataclysmic disturbance for which neither of them is prepared. We also see Nicholas and Mattias—the two men who battle for Gianna’s heart, continue to stop at nothing to protect her. Through these unfolding events, Gianna makes a decision regarding her suitors and I promise she’ll receive her HEA. I know many of you are holding out for her HEA. Believe me, you don’t want to miss what I have in store.

I plan to continue the series for some time by concentrating on many of the beloved sub-characters and yes, you’ll see glimpses of characters from the past as well. Shortly, I’ll begin outlining novels for Dregan Diakos (Dante’s shifter cousin we meet in Blood Moon), Elizabeth Sutton (Nicholas’s younger sister), and Cassius Whyte (Mattias’s recently promoted second in command).

Because I had plans for Ashes of Reckoning ahead of time, I did most of my research during my last trip to NOLA in 2010. Oh yes, Gianna’s house has been chosen as well as bar the characters frequent, and areas where other characters live. Oh yes, I’m prepared. That’s not to say that I won’t research while I’m there. I’ll likely add to detail.

Delilah: You have another book out there as well your short story The Contract. And it is up for Fantasy Short Story of the Year in the Authors After Dark Bookie Awards , congratulations!! How did you come up with the concept for this story between Diana, Goddess of the Hunt and Cole?

Jae Lynne: It’s funny actually a funny story. I was approached to write a short story for the pantheon, but I feared a word count restriction. After I decided to contribute to the anthology, I knew I wanted my stories to revolve around Diana and I DIDN’T want her hunting wild game. Instead, I brought the character into the modern world and gave the title ‘Goddess of the Hunt’ a brand new meaning by making her a contract killer for Jupiter (AKA Zeus). I had a brilliant idea for an urban fantasy and decided to run with it and never look back. I can’t tell you how much fun it was to write the story!

Delilah: You’re busy girl! You have a few more things in the cooker for upcoming releases. Tell us about Desires of a Dark Lord and The Ritual.

Jae Lynne: The Ritual will be the next short story about the goddess, Diana and her human lover, Cole Hunter. Cole desires to walk beside Diana for all eternity. The problem is…he’s not an immortal, but Diana can change that with a little help. Unfortunately, her brother, Apollo doesn’t agree with the idea of Cole’s transformation and has a plan of his own. Will Cole and Diana walk through life together, or will Apollo succeed in foiling their plans?

Desires of a Dark Lord is an erotic tale about Ronan—a demon ordered to claim the soul of a particular human woman to advance his position in his world. He meets his target—the curvaceous Ginevra Gimes (a child services attorney) and vows to deliver her every desire so long as she promises her soul in return. But when the two connect on a level neither one of them expects and Ginevra and Ronan succumb to mutual passion, can he surrender her to another or will he risk eternal suffering to claim her for himself?

Delilah: Your books have some really great cover art on them. Just how involved are you in the decision making process on what gets put on there?

Jae Lynne: Aren’t they sexy? I LOVE my covers, but I can’t take the credit. The amazing Stella Price designs all of my covers and she makes me look DAMN good! I’m extremely lucky to have a good amount of say in the cover design and the reason for that is, Stella wants to be sure the idea is conveyed properly and that the author is happy with the outcome. As a former marketing student, I tend to believe that packaging is almost vital and I’m a cover shopper by nature. If a book cover catches my eye, you can bet I’m flipping the novel to read the blurb. In my opinion, that’s a huge part of the battle.

Delilah: How did you first get interested in writing and can you tell us a little bit about how you first got published?

Jae Lynne: I used to write lyrics when I was in elementary school as my first aspiration was to be the next big pop start. From there it branched out to poetry and screenplays. The thought to write for publication never crossed my mind, as writing was something I believed I did out of habit. It wasn’t until I penned my beloved grandfather’s eulogy and feared that I wouldn’t honor him properly when my mother reminded me of how I excelled at writing and always had. She dubbed me, “the writer of the family” and she’d called me that for years. That reminder was the virtual slap to the back of the head I needed, that moment when all the lights turned on.

I remember the day I saw the advertisement for Authors After Dark in 2009. At this point, Mythic was near completion. A few friends and I decided to attend the convention in 2010 and I was told there were editor and agent appointments available to attending authors/aspiring authors. Here’s where I stepped onto the proverbial ledge and jumped. I booked a few of those appointments and pitched my heart out. Each editor requested the manuscript and after debating over a couple of offers, I signed with Tease Publishing in October of 2010 and I’m still thrilled with the decision. I adore my publisher.

But if I can offer one word of advice to any aspiring author, it’s this…If you’re writing for publication, ALWAYS seize the opportunity to pitch a finished work. Even if you don’t receive requests for your manuscript, you’ll gain experience in speaking with editors.

Delilah: You write in both the paranormal romance and urban fantasy genres. Do you prefer one genre over the other?

Jae Lynne: No, I don’t have a preference. In fact, I might begin a story with a specific subgenre in mind, but end up with something a little different. In my experience, the avenue of one often leads to the other. I love romance, but I love a complex story even more. When you combine the two, the result is often pure magic. In the beginning, I categorized Mythic as a paranormal romance because there is a budding romance throughout the story. As the line between paranormal romance and urban fantasy sharpened, it became clear that Mythic was more of an urban fantasy than paranormal romance. Because of some of the erotic elements sprinkled throughout the book, I’m often labeled an erotic romance writer as well. Believe me, I’m perfectly fine with any of the three and enjoy them all equally.

Delilah: As an inspiring author one of the things I think about most is the naughty, blush worthy sex scenes that I write and how friends and family would react to them. How do you handle that when your books are published?

Jae Lynne: I’m blessed to have such an incredible and supportive family. As you can imagine, when they discovered I was about to be published, they were anxiously awaiting to read the book. When release day arrived for Mythic, I typed an email intended for the masses with warning labels such as ‘Not for the faint of heart’ and ‘High sexual content for those of you who might be more sensitive toward the subject’.

My mom was the best. She approached me as though insulted and asked why I didn’t forward her the purchase link. I expressed my concerns regarding the detailed sexual content and she laughed and claimed not to care. My mother and I tend to speak rather comfortably, so I issued my final warning with, “Hey, I have two kids and they didn’t miraculously appear. You have four so you know the drill. Just don’t say you haven’t been warned."

She bought the book and continues to brag. My aunts however, emailed me with rave reviews about the books then asked if my mother knew what I wrote. Believe me, once you get over that initial fear, you appreciate the laughs. But in the end, you’re writing for you. As much as we all would like, we simply can’t please everyone.

Delilah: You are one busy woman with a full-time job and a family that includes two beautiful children. Where do you find the time to do all your writing?

Jae Lynne: I often hear of this thing called sleep most people talk about. Honestly, while I don’t suggest losing sleep, I do my best work in the late hours of the night when my family are deep in a peaceful slumber. It’s also a blessing to have such a wonderful husband, willing to take on a good amount of the motherly duties when necessary—especially when I'm on deadline.

Delilah: In less than a month you will be at the Authors After Dark convention in New Orleans. What author related things are you planning for readers and where can they find you while they are down there?

Jae Lynne: Authors After Dark caters to reader’s period. The con boasts some amazing programming for readers to mingle with their favorite authors and meet new authors in the process. I have the pleasure of participating in three panels this year:

1. Vampires (my FAVORITE subject)
2. World building (another favorite)
3. Sexy—Were to draw the line?

In addition to panels, I’ll be participating in a couple of mixers and will have some kick ass promo. If you’re attending, stop and say hello. I have goodies!

Delilah: New Orleans is one of my favorite places and Bourbon Street is well, what can you say, it’s Bourbon Street baby. Now I know the ladies you are rolling with down there so should I be looking for you on YouTube that week?

Jae Lynne: LOL…I have a strict policy regarding photos and video. There can be no distasteful flash photography or anything that could possibly be deemed “incriminating evidence”. It must be destroyed immediately! No, we’ll definitely have a good time, but I do plan on working my ass off. I’m more concerned about the sweltering temperatures.

Delilah: You are a coffee girl like me and I know that Café du Monde is on your list of places to go. What else are you looking forward to doing while you are there?

Jae Lynne: During my last visit in 2010, there simply wasn’t enough time to accomplish everything. This time around I plan to make a trip to Lafayette Cemetery, visit Commander’s Palace and Emeril’s. Otherwise, I’m going to visit du Monde every day for my daily jolt of caffeine, stop at the Absinthe House in pirate’s alley for a cocktail or two and I WILL take the vampire tour.

Delilah: You and I are vampire lovers. I myself love them so much that I have a lovely set of vampire teeth tattooed on my gluteus maximus. Just what is it about vampires that you find so undeniably attractive?

Jae Lynne: Nice choice of ink! Yes, I am indeed a vampire lover. And what’s not to love? I’m drawn to everything a vampire can deliver: the undeniable beauty, physical abilities, the promise of supreme sexual satisfaction, and who doesn’t want to live forever? That's one hell of a package deal.

Delilah: So Jae Lynne tell us your choices for the five smexy vampires that you would like to get down and really dirty with. And feel free to throw Daegan from Joey Hill’s Vampire Queen Series in there. You know he’s my favorite and I don’t mind sharing and obviously neither does he. *grin*

Jae Lynne: I almost don’t even need to think about this one. How frightening is that?

1. Lord Mason from Joey W. Hill’s Vampire Queen Series

2. Daegan from Joey W. Hill’s Vampire Queen Series

3. Acheron from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter Series
4. Wraith from Larissa Ione’s Demonica Series
5. David from The Lost Boys (I’ve always had a thing for David as he was my first vampire crush).
6. I’m going to throw one more in for honorable mention. Have you seen Colin Farrell as Jerry Dandridge in the remake of Fright Night? He made one SEXY vampire!

Delilah: Answer me this. An uber smexy vampire snuggles up to you looking for a little snack. Are you offering him your wrist or your neck?

Jae Lynne: Neither. I’m offering my upper thigh. *sigh* But if I have to choose between your two options, I’d offer the neck.

Delilah: You write some pretty downright sexy male characters. What do you think is the sexiest thing about a man?

Jae Lynne: You mean if I wasn’t happily married, and scoping out the opposite sex? If my wonderful husband is reading this…DELILAH MADE ME DO IT! Love you, HONEY! (End disclaimer).

The first thing I notice is the way a man smells. I really tend to enjoy men’s cologne, which is why you’ll notice I’m always describing how my characters smell, adding notes of particular fragrances, herbs, and spices found in nature. Fragrance is usually the first thing to catch my attention.

Sure, I love a defined set of abdominal muscles, but what really makes me purr are the pectorals. Those well toned muscles, the lush expanse of chest and shoulders that make you want to press a finger against the flesh just to ensure it’s real.

Let’s not forget one IMPORTANT thing…Personality and confidence. Yes, it really matters. If a man fits the aforementioned description to a tee, yet can’t carry on a conversation, or make me crack a smile, he’s not for me. Give me a bit of sarcasm, confidence, and humor to match the appearance. Now THAT’S sexy.

Delilah: Now let’s talk a little bit about this Vin Diesel obsession you have going on. Today of course Megan has gone all out on the Hump Day Hottie post to satisfy your hunger for him. Why don’t you share with us all the yummy features you feel are swoon worth about Vin and don’t worry about getting too detailed either. We like details here, really naughty dirty details, just so you know.

Jae Lynne: I think this is the best Wednesday EVER! I love you Megan!

I can’t look at Vin Diesel and not melt. The combination of broody facial expressions (see often furrowed brow), the smooth deep voice that flows like liquid, and a body to die for (yes, you could probably tap dance on his abs or glide your tongue over those smooth ripples and not miss a single detail), Vin exudes male dominance that screams sexual promise.

In the roles he often plays, he demands the attention of his audience with undeniable on-screen charisma. You can’t help but watch every move he makes. Ever watch him shrug out of a shirt? I swear the simple act is choreographed perfection! You need to tune in IMMEDIATELY.

Did I forget to mention that Vin Diesel was the inspiration for my villainous character, Mattias Vitale? *sigh* It couldn’t be helped. You want to read all about him now, don’t you?

Delilah: I love, love your website! Did you design it on your own or did you have someone do it for you?

Jae Lynne: My husband is responsible for most of the designing, monitoring and updating (and he enjoys being referred to as my web master). However, a very talented friend of mine, whom I’ll refer to as Lady Heather, designed the header. I designed the series symbol (a set of four intertwining tribal branches connected to a crimson filled center). After I penciled the design (quite literally), Heather worked pure magic and produced a digital version of my original.

For those who have read Mythic and Blood Moon, you’ll recognize the symbol as Gianna’s mark.

Delilah: Last up, my favorite question. Tell us five things that we would be surprised to know about you!

Jae Lynne:

1. I can sing. In fact, it was my first aspiration.

2. I’m a vivid dreamer. So vivid, that some aspects of my stories are derived from dreams that I’ve had.

3. I enjoy collecting sea glass and beach stones, and polishing them to perfection. Anyone know a gemologist? I’d love to have a few stones faceted and set.

4. I love perfumes and body splashes. Recently I noticed I have a cabinet full and could wear a different fragrance each day for at least a month! Hey, I like a little variety.

5. I’m petrified of spiders and sharks! My shark fear often keeps me out of the ocean. Hell, I couldn’t even pet a baby shark in a shallow tank at the aquarium.

Delilah: Thanks for hanging with us ladies here on Riverina Romantics today Jae Lynne, you rock girlfriend!! I wish you all the best with Blood Moon and your upcoming releases!

Jae Lynne: I had such a blast! Thanks so much, Delilah and thank you to all the ladies at Riverina Romantics. Megan, I’m sending you a virtual hug for these DELICIOUS pictures that will practically guarantee I won’t be able to concentrate for the remainder of the day.

Delilah: Need more Jae Lynne? You got it! Check her out here at these links:

Author Site: http://www.jaelynnedavies.com/

Author Blog: http://jaelynnedavies.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Jae-Lynne-Davies/100001587731488

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JaeLynneDavies

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jaelynnedavies

I am soooo excited because Jae Lynne has offered up to one lucky reader a digital copy of Blood Moon! Want a chance to get your hands on Gianna, Mattias and Dante? Then just fill out the rafflecopter form below for a chance to win and this giveaway is international! Good luck everyone!

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