Return Of The Wolf (Eye Of The Storm #4) - The Waning Moon and Introspection

57% into writing Return of The Wolf and I have to say that it's probably the hardest book I've ever written, and I'm not overly sure why. It could be because there's just been such a lot going on in my personal life that, three quarters of the way through the year, I feel kinda scattered. It could be because this book touches on some dark subject matter - all my books do, I guess - but with this one, the darkness needs to be spelled out a little more, so that readers can understand how and why the characters evolve the way that they do. I'm being very picky about how things are portrayed - everything needs to make sense and have a reason, but still be readable, without giving too much away straight away. The pattern has been, that I write a couple of chapters and then decide I don't like something and have to go back through the whole manuscript to change things, and this has happened a few times with this story.

Return Of The Wolf begins straight after the events of Heart Of The Wolf. The moon is now waning, and just as - metaphysically - that represent a phase of inner-reflection and settling, so shall it be with this book. The big climax happened at the end of Heart Of The Wolf  (and I mean that in every sense), and now everyone needs to process that, and deal with the consequences of their actions - new realisations also come to light now that everything is a little calmer.

This book contains just a little bit less action than the other three, and the focus is mostly on some deep healing for our favourite characters, before things take off again in book five (there will be six books altogether).

So, that's where I'm at. I think part of the reason this book is harder to write, is because part of me wants to put some huge plot twist in this one like my others (I might still do that), but this book isn't actually about twists and turns - it's about what happens after, and how you handle a straight long road after life has taken you on a bender, so to speak.

I'm intrigued to see how the next 43% pans out. I'm interested in seeing how readers will take to this one. Time will tell. But remember, there are still two more books to go ;)

Dianna xx

Cranberry Blood has been nominated!!

So, I'm going to sound like a bit of a broken record since I have already announced this on Facebook, but screw it, because I am just super over the moon at the moment.

Cranberry Blood has been nominated by TRR Reviewers for Best Romance – Paranormal Romance (2012) at The Romance Reviews (“TRR”).

This is the first time any of my books have been nominated for, well, anything. I'm still a new author in a lot ways, and in a lot of ways I am still figuring where I fall as a writer and what my strong points are etc. So, to have a book simply nominated and along side some amazing authors - a couple of which I admire the hell out of - is just completely mind blowing. Plus, it is such a nice way to end a Monday. Ha.

Off the top of my head I can't think of anything to bribe anyone with, not that I think anyone needs bribing, but if you would feel inclined to vote for Cranberry Blood then I would be super grateful. (And I am totally open to suggestions if you want bribing. Ha. :-P )

If you're interested in voting just follow this link - http://www.theromancereviews.com/bookvote.php - the category for Paranormal romance is fourth from the bottom.

Voting started today - March 18th - and runs through to March 31st. You do have to sign in to be able to vote. I understand what that means if you don't already have an account, but like I said, the choice is yours. Thank you in advance if you do vote for Cranberry Blood. :-)

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Cranberry Blood
(Dark Sensual Paranormal Romance)



Book: One| Series: The Blood Series

BLURB:

Killing Vampires? Easy. Tracking someone? Simple. Helping, and protecting a Vampire slayer... Bloody hard work!

Thirteen years ago, Brendan Daniels made a deal with a psychic. In exchange for information on the whereabouts of a Rogue Werewolf, he promised to help and protect Sofia's granddaughter. Unfortunately, he had no idea what he was getting himself, or his Pack, into.

Nothing about Heather is simple, from her weird dietary needs to her life’s mission. The girl can handle herself, but the promise to protect her soon becomes a need, and one that he can't fully understand.

Vampire Slayer. Born Infected. Blood addict... but not by choice.

Heather Ryan is the most recent slayer in a long family line. Like all before her, she has spent her life searching for her ancestor, Marko Pavel, the Vampire her family has sworn to kill. If that isn't complicated enough, Heather is also a born "Infected", and to keep her from becoming insane or giving in to her darker side, she is on a very strict diet.

Grandmother Sofia has passed, so now it is up to Heather to take the family legacy into her own hands, all alone: or at least, it would have been, if her Grandmother hadn't sent a Werewolf to help her.

What is the irritating Brendan supposed to help Heather with? Sofia never told either one of them. But it doesn't take long for Heather and Brendan to find out that the Vampires have big plans, and that the fiends have waited a long time for them both.

This title contains explicit language and scenes of a sexual nature.

To read the first chapter of Cranberry Blood, click here.

Length: Novel| Content: Sensual Romance| Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing

Purchase: Noble Romance Publishing| Amazon.com| Amazon.co.uk| Bookstrand.com| AllRomanceEbooks

Pimping of the British Paranormal Series Kind

Sunday night, I am sitting on the sofa with my television on waiting for my weekly programme, Being Human. I don't really watch television that much. I find I am attracted to certain shows, or naturally, once I hear a show I like is back on, such as Dr Who which will be starting again this March, yay! I will watch them.

Well, Being Human is a favourite of mine and last nights episode was amazing, but what got to me is that last nights episode was the second to last Being Human eppy ever. I am gutted. It is dark, realistic, funny, violent, all and all amazing. The Werewolves are awesome and how I imagine Were's to be. The Vampires are cool, and in the case of the two leading males of the series - Mitchell and Hal, two lots of yummy on legs. And the ghost are hilarious. It is such a top series, but what made it so fantastic was that it was British.

Many of you in the UK might watch this awesome paranormal series, and some of you might remember me mentioning it when Dianna and I started this blog: "A ghost, a vampire and a werewolf sharing a house?"

Being Human is the only British paranormal series there is at the moment. (If anyone wishes to state otherwise and point me in the direction of a show I am unaware of, please feel free.) And it saddens me knowing that. Why aren't there more paranormal series of such a nature over here? The UK has plenty to offer. So many Gothic/Horror stories take place here.

*Takes deep breath*

Needless to say, I was thinking about this sad fact after the episode finished. One of the reasons Dianna and I started this blog was because of that very fact, and I think Dianna's original post can sum up the reasons for that better than I can: The British Paranormal Romance.

We need more British Paranormal based stories/series. And we need to shine the light on all the books that fall under this genre.

I would just like to take this moment to point out that when I started writing this post it was indeed due to the fact that a) I'm totally bummed out that Being Human is ending, and b) I have just finished Beta reading the lovely Dianna's Hardy's "Cry of the Wolf: Book 2 in the Eye of the Storm series" - 'Tis amazing! -and I found myself nostalgic. 

You see, after a bit of a shake up with the Publishing company I lost a little interest in my own UK based paranormal series, because I was unsure about what to do. Even when I made my mind up I had over projects to preoccupy me, but after watching the show and reading Dianna's fab book, I kinda grew homesick.The Blood Series was the first series I ever created. Cranberry Blood was the first book I ever wrote, and Brendan and Heather were my first characters. Today I found myself opening up the series folder and looking over notes for the next book and I felt like I had come home, as crazy as that might sound.

I have not been quite about the fact that I sometimes struggle to write. I never see the point in pretending it doesn't happen because I feel that stating it out loud may help anyone else who finds themselves in a dry spot. Life has changed for me again, but these last two days I have had streams of conversations from a variety of characters who were all from different projects. All of the words pouring in to my mind including my moody Werewolf and insane Vampire Slayer. I feel excited. I feel like pieces are beginning to move in to place, and god, I hope they are, because the silence has been killing me.

Anyway, the point of this post is that, although I have never been the type or person, let alone writer, to compare myself or my work to anyone else's  I feel I need to do some major - British paranormal series - pimping today, and why the hell not? So, if you are a fan of Being Human, or if you are a fan of dark comedy, rough and ready characters, crazy story arcs, chemistry, passion, lots of sex, and romances that don't go smoothly; then you may want to check out our series.

The Eye of the Storm Series

By Dianna Hardy

Dark Paranormal Fantasy

For the call of the wild in us all.

(Set in the Surrey Hills, England.)

On Sale!

Releasing April 19th 2013

For more information on this series visit: http://www.diannahardy.com/eye-of-the-storm.html

And don't forget to check out Dianna's awesome "The Witching Pen Novellas" - http://www.diannahardy.com/the-witching-pen-novellas.html

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The Blood Series
By Elizabeth Morgan

Scottish Werewolves: freaky Vampires and a Slayer with a bad addiction and an insane legacy. Add a big dose of sarcasm, sizzling chemistry; a lot of silver and a ton of blood and . . . .

Welcome to The Blood Series!

On Sale!

On Sale!

For more information on this series, and The Overseers Series, visit: www.e-morgan.com

So, are there any UK based paranormal/fantasy books you have really enjoyed and want to let more readers know about? Leave a comment and I will pimp them out on my facebook page. :-)

A little bit about Releasing The Wolf (and an excerpt)

I didn't post last week, and to be honest, it's been a hell of a week! Apologies for that.

So I'm keeping this post fairly short and I'm going to talk up my upcoming novella, Releasing The Wolf (Eye Of The Storm #1).

It will hopefully be published on 18th December in eBook format.

Now, if you're expecting your soulmate-type, true love kind of werewolf story, forget it. Yes, there are elements of that in this new series of mine, but that's not the focus of the series and it's not completely where I'm going with my werewolves.

The Eye Of The Storm series has a strong romantic undertone, but it's not about romance. It's about a werewolf mythology, friendships, humanity, biology and the struggle between the heart and body. And yes, there's a lot of growling in it, and a lot of sex in it... we're talking werewolves here ;)

Also, this is the first book (novella length at just over 30,000 words) of a series, so obviously all questions are not going to be answered. This first book will set the scene for all to come. As per my writing style, this is a fast-paced book.

Here's a little taster (probably the last one I'll post before publication) to whet your appetites - enjoy :)


Excerpt, copyright Dianna Hardy, 2012, all rights reserved. This excerpt may be subject to editing or deletion before publication.

Bad things always happen when you let your guard down – she’d learnt that early on in life. It was very rare for her to let her guard slip, but tonight – as she began to enjoy the hustle and bustle of her job – she had.

So the scent completely took her by surprise.

She stiffened, pen in hand, mid-order, as that smell raced through her mind as well as her body, awaking some primal desire. That smell of ‘green’.

Taylor.

She turned towards it, eyes scanning for him, but it wasn't Taylor they landed on.

All at once she could tell that his smell was a little different, although no less intoxicating. The man that sat where Taylor should be was tall, well-built – even through his jacket she could see that – with flaxen blond hair that fell to his shoulders and the palest blue eyes she’d ever seen.

And he was staring at her, his expression nothing short of icy.

Her legs sort of trembled. No, her entire body trembled, and she just about managed to ignore the nonsensical urge she had to drop to her knees. But she couldn't ignore the heat that rose up from within her. It seemed to centre on her neck, and she suddenly felt like she was being strangled by her own hot flush. Without thinking, she undid the top button of her blouse and tilted her head up to expose her neck to the cooling air, and she did it all without dropping her gaze from his.

His eyebrows rose a fraction, and his eyes softened for a millisecond before resuming their iciness. That millisecond was enough – she’d done something right. She didn't know what it was, but for the first time in a long time, she had done something right.

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