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This blog is the often amusing, sometimes dangerous den of two British writers of contemporary and paranormal romance, and urban fantasy. Most of our stories are based in the UK and our heroes and heroines are passionate Brits - yes, passionate Brits exist! Come on in out of the cold, pull up a chair and see for yourself...
Showing posts with label werewolves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label werewolves. Show all posts

Friday, 17 October 2014

Have you got your copies yet?

I had plans to get a certain amount of things done this week, but due to outside circumstances I'm now a tad behind. Last night I was so tired I just had to go to bed and therefore forgot that Dianna and I had swapped days and that I was suppose to post this Thursday. Oops.

I'm afraid I'm going to be a little dull and just re-draw your attention back to Dianna's monday post:




If you haven't already see the post just click the above header and it will take you to Dianna's post, or just scroll down to the post beneath this.

She-Wolf (Blood Series: Prequel) and Cranberry Blood (Blood Series: Book One) by me, and Releasing the Wolf (Eye of the Storm Series: Book 1) and Cry of the Wolf (Eye of the Storm Series: Book 2) are currently on sale for $0.99. This is in celebration of the re-release of my Blood Series and to celebrate the upcoming release of book 4 in the Eye of the Storm Series, Return of the Wolf, which is available to pre-order now at a discounted price.

So, if you have been debating about trying my Blood Series, or Dianna Hardy's Eye of the Storm Series now is a good time to go for it. All four of these books are full length novels ranging from 50 to 97,000 words. So $0.99 is a bargain and one that will end on Oct 20th.

If the $0.99 Howling Sale isn't enough we are also holding a rafflecopter giveaway for you to adopt a wolf. Yes, an actual wolf and one that you get to pick.

All the details can be found in Dianna's post. Links to the books, and the rafflecopter is there so you can just go leave an entry if you're interested in adopting your own wolf.

The competition will end midnight Oct 20th, and all books will revert back to their original full price. So if you're interested make sure to check everything out before next Monday.

I hope you all have a fab weekend. :D

Tuesday, 14 October 2014

Four werewolf books ~ Only $0.99 each, and... win wolves!!!


FOUR WEREWOLF BOOKS ~ ONLY $0.99 EACH (purchase links further down), AND... WIN WOLVES!!!

Yes, we're serious. 1st Prize is a wolf adoption pack from UK Wolf Conservation Trust AND YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR OWN WOLF. Second prize is a cuddly wolf toy from the same charity.

INTERNATIONAL CONTEST: It's all about sharing this sale. Go to the Rafflecopter below and do what it says to enter - LOTS of entry options, so you don't have to be on Twitter.

And now the sale... Don't pass up your chance to start these two fabulous series at an unbeatable price.
$0.99 SALE PURCHASE LINKS:
*Please note that some stores take a couple of days to show the reduction, so pop back in 48 hours if the store below is not showing it yet. Sale ends 20th October.

She-Wolf and Cranberry Blood, by Elizabeth Morgan
AMAZON US - http://tinyurl.com/BloodSeries-ElizabethMorgan
AMAZON UK - http://tinyurl.com/BloodSeriesUK-ElizabethMorgan
BARNES & NOBLE - http://tinyurl.com/BloodSeriesBnN-ElizabethMorgan
SMASHWORDS - https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/16213
KOBO - http://tinyurl.com/BloodSeriesKOB-ElizabethMorgan
iBOOKS/iTUNES - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/elizabeth-morgan/id268987448?mt=11



Releasing The Wolf and Cry Of The Wolf, by Dianna Hardy
AMAZON US - http://tinyurl.com/EyeOfTheStorm-DiannaHardy
AMAZON UK - http://tinyurl.com/EyeOfTheStormUK-DiannaHardy
BARNES & NOBLE - http://tinyurl.com/EyeOfTheStormBN-DiannaHardy
SMASHWORDS - https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/3154
KOBO - http://tinyurl.com/EyeOfTheStormKOBO-DiannaHardy
iBOOKS/iTUNES - https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/dianna-hardy/id460226216?mt=11

Enjoy! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, 3 October 2014

Return Of The Wolf pre-order, and a very busy October

First thing is first: Return Of The Wolf (Eye Of The Storm #4) is now available for pre-order as an eBook!

Take a look at the latest Newsletter online, and you'll find all the links: https://madmimi.com/p/399c55

Or....

SPECIAL PRE-ORDER PRICE - $2.99
Get it now! Goes up to the full price of $3.99 approx. 3 days after publication.

Amazon US - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O3GWWSK
Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00O3GWWSK
Amazon AUS - http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00O3GWWSK
Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/return-of-the-wolf-4
Barnes & Noble (Nook) - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/dianna-hardy
iBookstore / iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/return-wolf-eye-storm-4/id925134359?mt=11

Website for the whole series: http://www.diannahardy.com/eye-of-the-storm-series.html

Book four in the Eye Of The Storm series

The full moon has been and gone, beginning a new phase of greater surety for the wolves of Surrey and the mated four who lead them. Ryan's old pack from Wiltshire – a force to be reckoned with – have ensured their immediate safety from The Trident ... but what will they demand in return for their protection?

As Lydia and Lawrence heal old wounds, finding solace in each other, Ryan battles with his own past. He'd do anything to keep the pack he loves safe, but 'anything' might have consequences he never imagined.

Meanwhile, Selena's sole focus is in keeping herself intact as Gabriel relishes in breaking her. What will she have to become in order to survive?

And Sarah has some tough choices to make, all of which will test her beliefs and challenge her boundaries of what makes good, and what makes evil.

18+ (adult scenes and very strong language, including scenes which some readers may find uncomfortable)
Paranormal fantasy
Novel length at over 81,000 words
Written in British English

A busy month....

From 13th October, Elizabeth and I will be running a promo and giveaway, so look out for that.

The virtual signing for the Return Of The Wolf paperback will be open from 16th October for one week. This will be over at the Bitten Fruit Books website (the page isn't active yet).

Hot Tree Promotions will be hosting a THREE DAY BLITZ the day after ROTW releases and there will be more prizes to give away.

For my part, as soon as I've finished with the editing and formatting of the eBooks and paperback, I shall be starting on a 50,000 word, slightly gritty contemporary romance with a lot of heart :) The cover reveal or this will take place in November, along with the cover reveal or book 5 of Eye Of The Storm. All cover reveal details are here: http://www.diannahardy.com/in-the-media--events.html

So, all in all, a busy end of 2014 is coming up. Don't miss it, and hopefully, I won't either.

Dianna xx

Thursday, 11 September 2014

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

Thursday, 17 July 2014

Excerpt of Return Of The Wolf (Eye Of The Storm #4), published October, 2014

I've decided to give you a lengthy excerpt tonight, since you're all so endlessly patient and understanding of the breaks between books - enjoy! (Just over three months to go!)

Return of The Wolf, unedited excerpt, copyright © Dianna Hardy, 2014. All rights reserved. Excerpt may be altered or deleted before publication.

BEWARE potential SPOILERS if you have not read Releasing The Wolf, Cry Of The Wolf, or Heart Of The Wolf


She half-ran down the stairs and made straight for the front door, letting nothing but her intuition guide her to … whatever would make her feel better. She didn't know what that would be, but it was her three mates she scanned for with her senses, automatically and without thought. And what an ability that had become overnight.

Since she'd transformed, it was as if they somehow lived in her. If she focused hard enough, she could feel where she ended and her mates began, even though they might be miles away, and she could catch the trails of their emotions – even their thoughts.

It was fucking weird.

And pretty damn cool.

So, she let her feet lead the way, behind the huge house, part of her wanting to shift, but another part of her feeling too self-conscious to do so – the whole thing was still so incredibly new, startlingly personal, and her human side hadn't completely left her yet. Maybe it never would.

She felt him there way before she saw him, but seeing him caught her breath a little, as it always did. He always looked magnificent – statuesque – his tall gait perfectly balanced, his flaxen hair, setting off a golden sheen against the last rays of sun. The profile of his face, currently turned away from her, was almost Roman in its structure, yet it was the legacy of what surely must be Scandinavian deities that shone through the armoured visage.

Ha! Right, let's add fuel to that ego of his…

Still, she'd never been able to deny his beauty from the second she'd laid eyes on it, nor, to some extent, him.

She wrinkled her nose in thought as the memory of her undoing her blouse and practically coming for him, right there, in the very public theatre restaurant, sprang up in her mind.

But the way he had looked at her… Don't even get me started on those eyes.

He knew she was there – of course he did – without needing to turn. Because the way she could 'feel' her mates … it was reciprocated.

Lawrence reached an arm out behind him and stretched his hand towards her, still with his back to her, facing the dilapidated, boarded up outbuilding to the south of the mansion.

She almost shifted then.

Her legs seemed to tremble at his presence, and although she was still a little pissed off he continued to have that affect on her, she could now also appreciate the splendour of it. The wolf in her had always relished her reaction to Lawrence. Human Lydia, however, would rather have that reaction to pretty much anything else. What ever happened to going ga-ga over a pair of Jimmy Choo's like a normal woman? Not that she'd ever been able to afford Jimmy Choo shoes…

Her bare feet led the way, not waiting for permission. She reached out and laced her fingers through Lawrence's own.



Return Of The Wolf is released on 30th October, 2014. All info on the series can be found here - http://www.diannahardy.com/eye-of-the-storm-series.html

Thursday, 19 December 2013

Early Release: Heart Of The Wolf is here!

Please excuse me - I'm being incredibly cheeky and copying/pasting my Newsletter here because it's EARLY RELEASE DAY!!! (full version of newsletter here: http://mad.ly/a31654?pact=19225705186&fe=1)

We have early release! Heart Of The Wolf is here!

Heart Of The Wolf front cover small
Download links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Smashwords
Kobo - may be a little delayed. It'll be found at this link when it is published.
It'll be at other outlets from January.
________________________
If you have not read this series yet, book one Releasing The Wolf is currently only $0.99 across retail sites.
________________________

Heart Of The Wolf (Eye Of The Storm #3)

Lydia becomes ever closer to her three mates. However, with unrest all around, she is struggling to keep her wolves together for her first full moon, just twenty-four hours away.
A trip back home for Ryan could bring much needed support for them all, but at what cost?
As The Trident close in on Ryan's pack, the pack itself becomes divided over Lydia's presence and Lawrence is encouraged to return as the Alpha. But they don't know his secret, and he's doubtful of his ability to protect them. Can he fulfil his rightful role, or will his efforts prove fatal?
Meanwhile, among the arid plains of Egypt, in a long-forgotten city, one man is pitting himself against the beast inside him in order to find salvation, only to realise, so much more is at stake than his soul.
18+ (adult scenes and very strong language, including scenes that some readers may find uncomfortable)
Paranormal fantasy
Medium novel length at over 63,000 words
Written in British English
***
Quotes - insurmountable
***
Book four will be titled Return Of The Wolf and we are looking at an October 2014 publication date.
Early release is possible.

Next, I will be working on The Spell of Summer - a much lighter, standalone novel where the focus is more on the romance, and a little less on the crazy plot ... just little though :)

The Spell of Summer promo header 1
***

Merry Christmas, everyone! And have a fabulous 2014 filled with abundance :)

shutterstock_117285856

Dianna xxx

Saturday, 7 December 2013

Werewolf hotness for just $0.99

Elizabeth asked a Christmassy question for me to answer on the blog today, but I'm going to save that for next week. Instead I'm going to do a bit of plugging today, because Releasing The Wolf had been reduced to just $0.99 until further notice :D




































If you haven't read it yet, this is book one of a series (six books predicted) and it is not your normal werewolf romance. It's more of an urban fantasy actually - a dark one that's highly erotic. The focus of the series is the theme of man vs. beast and higher consciousness vs. baser needs. I'm not saying that love doesn't come into it, but it comes into it within the above context.

The first book is a gentle (so ... my interpretation of gentle may be different to yours) introduction to the series, with book two really taking off with the plot, and I'm just finishing book three now, which is out at the end of December if all goes to plan.

Anyway, Releasing The Wolf is sitting pretty at just $0.99 (or 77p) so give it a try! You might like it :)

Also, as a side note - because it matters to me and I'm super excited about it (such a nerd, am I...) - the paperbacks of this series are all matte cover now, and they look sooooo pretty with a yummy, satiny, touch-me feel to them. I bought myself a couple to see what they were like with the plan to sell them on, signed, but I really don't want to sell them anymore - sorry :/

BUY LINKS:
Amazon US - http://www.amazon.com/Releasing-The-Wolf-Storm-ebook/dp/B00AEXUFJ4
Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Releasing-The-Wolf-Storm-ebook/dp/B00AEXUFJ4
Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/releasing-the-wolf
Smashwords -https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/259714

Monday, 19 August 2013

Why Scotland?

Love Dianna’s question for me today: What made you want to set your werewolf series in Scotland?

It’s been so long since I have talked about My Blood Series. There is a reason for that, and one I can’t go into just yet, but until the day of that post I’m just going to go ahead and say that the reason is . . . Wide open spaces.

Yup, I set a big part of the series in Scotland because of the glens, moors, hills/mountains, forest and fields.
When I decided I wanted to write about werewolves I automatically knew that my Werewolves were going to be old school; monster wolves. I’m talking similar to The Wolf Man (in both the titled movie and Van Helsing), the guys out of Underworld. Yeah, my werewolves can walk around and fight like men in wolf form. These guys are big. I’m talking “monster! Grab your pitchforks and torches” scary big. So, they needed space. They needed freedom to run wild, and it just made sense to me. I mean what better place to set my Pack then in Farr, Scotland. Right up top.

I couldn’t see these big bulky wolves running wild in cities. Don’t get me wrong, some of my Weres live in the city, and other Packs outside the country have to. I just wanted my main pack to be in Scotland. It felt right. Scotland just made sense to me. Plus, Scottish men? Yes please. Scottish Werewolves? Hell yes. How could I not have Scottish Weres? Owen MacLaren in a kilt? That's a bone melting, mouth watering, heart stopping image, right there. ;-D

Plus, Scotland is beautiful, and full of history and myths. It’s magical and a place where it is very easy to imagine such creatures roaming, don’t you think?

Although it is mainly UK based, and my main characters are from the UK, the series does move around a little.

The Blood Series Prequel: She-Wolf – is set in Scotland.
Book One: Cranberry Blood – is set in London and Scotland.
Book Two: Untitled – is going to be set in Rome, Venice . . . and I’m still kinda figuring the rest out.


Big jump in scenery, not to mention weather. Why you ask, well, you’re just going to have to wait and find out. ;-P

Monday, 22 July 2013

What was the first book you ever fell in love with?

Todays question from Dianna: What was the first book you ever fell in love with?

As an author I feel ashamed to say that I didn't actually read a lot as a child. Books didn't really hold any interest for me in my youth. I wanted to be an actress and because of that I was very much into television, films, and theatre. I read in school because I needed to, and when I was very young I enjoyed having my mother read a story to me at night, but that was as far as it went.

Cover borrowed from Patricia Briggs site
In my teenage years I did read the odd book here and there, but I can't say that I actually feel in love with a book until a work colleagues of mine handed me; Moon Called by Patricia Briggs.

Now, he leant me this book and I held on to it for an entire year, before I actually picked it up and started reading it, but once I started I couldn't stop and once it was done I asked to borrow the next, and the next until he couldn't lend me the following because it hadn't been published.

Why did I fall in love with this book?

Firstly, it's about shape shifters. Secondly, it has vampires. And thirdly, it basically has a whole collection of mythological creatures run a muck in it.

Mercy, the heroine, is a coyote. Now, in fairness that isn't a big bad werewolf like the ones living next door to her, but she can hold her own. She is tough, smart, funny, and sexy. She owns a garage. She is an interested characters with an interesting past and I have to say that throughout the series she goes through some tough shit, but she comes back from it. She pulls herself through it.

Adam, Alpha Werewolf, fell in love with him immediately. He is alpha male. He is a gentleman. He has a laugh with Mercy. She irritates him. And I just love the very subtle hint at interest in the first book. The type of interest you know is going to continue growing throughout the series and just get sexier and stronger, which it does.

The Mercy Thompson series has it all; it's dark, gritty, and funny. You have different myths, legends and creatures come in to play in a modern world. You have soft, sexy moments which are never long enough, but continue to grow with each book, between Adam and Mercy. I have to say a lot of the bad guys have freaked me out. I remember reading the second book in the series "Blood Bound" at Christmas and it was dark in the living room with only the lights on and there is a part where the baddie is scratching at the glass . . . gave me shivers.

I have always loved anything to do with the paranormal and at the point I was reading this series I had been playing around with the idea of writing a book. Before this point I had written scripts - mainly because I was in college studying Musical Theatre, and I still wanted to act. So my writing came out as scripts. A friend had suggested I attempt writing a book during our days at college, but I had pushed the idea aside until that point.

Moon Called, by Patricia Briggs inspired me. It gave me a taste of writing on a larger and more detailed scale. I fell in love with the entire series and still enjoy each book that Mrs Briggs continues to write.

So, what about you; what was the first book you ever fell in love with?

Friday, 22 February 2013

Wrapping up a book.

I am playing catch-up with my writing, which is why this post hits you a day late :)

It seems to be yet another month of illness in my household, and I'm hoping beyond hope that March is a good'un!

I'm near the end of my book now. About four chapters left to go. But the ending is sometimes the hardest, and I'm trying to wrap everything up (in as much as possible) and checking for plot holes. Aaaahh, those continuity errors - how I hate those.

Cry Of The Wolf is quite different to Releasing The Wolf. Those that have read my Witching Pen series won't be surprised, as those three books were quite different to each other also. Book three, Heart Of The Wolf, will be different yet again, not least because we're introduced to a new character in book two whose story will continue in book three...

There'll be at least four books in this series I think ... we'll see.

I'm looking forward to finishing COTW and getting my teeth sunk into the editing. This is always my test at the end of a book: not to rush. It's easy to want to because you see the end in sight, but you can't. You've got to make sure you've told every part of the story you want to and left nothing crucial out, because everyone's gonna have to wait for the next book (don't hate me ... please don't hate me, lol)!

Okay ... back to writing...

If you haven't read it yet, book one is HERE. It's only $1.99 - pick yourself up a copy. It's a fun read. You know, as long as you don't mind lots of werewolf sex ... er-hem.

Dianna xx

Thursday, 22 November 2012

Why did I write about werewolves?

It's quite simple really: I wanted to write a series where the focus is on the struggle between the body and the mind; the physical self and the emotional self; where dreams and wishes can become overpowered by more basic wants and desires, and where the morality of these dualities become blurred.

The werewolf encompasses the above beautifully in my mind. It's a creature that can illicit sorrow and tenderness, but also viciousness and primal need. To some extent, I suppose the vampire does, too, but I have always seen werewolves as more carnal in nature because of their animal side. They are more "earthed" and less mystical in this sense. Whereas the vampire has a certain ethereal quality, the werewolf does not - its more rough, raw and rugged - more crude.

The above ideas and thoughts are what drove the creation of my new adult paranormal fantasy series Eye Of The Storm. The first book, Releasing The Wolf, is out on 30th November. Do join my Facebook page for daily quotes from the book, over the next week :)


Thursday, 15 November 2012

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.


Add the book to your shelf on Goodreads!