Brain to Books Blog Tour Rosanna Leo

Brain to Books Blog Tour

Fast Fact

Author: Rosanna Leo
Genre: Paranormal romance
Books: Predator’s Trinity, Gemini Island Shifters 6 from the Gemini Island Shifters Series
A Note From the Author
Rosanna Leo (1)I’d like to thank Angela very much for hosting me on this fun blog tour. It’s a pleasure to be here.
A lot of people have asked me why I write romance. My first response is, “Why not? I love it.”
There are still a lot of folks out there who pooh-pooh romance for its sense of fantasy. After all, real life isn’t anything like the implausible scenarios we see in these books, is it? Well, this is exactly what readers appreciate about a good romance.
It’s not real life. It’s something better. Certainly, it’s something different.
Romance provides an escape. I think most romance readers would agree there is almost nothing better than cuddling up with a new book at the end of the day and watching a new set of characters fall in love. We live vicariously through these lovers. We get to visit exotic locations with them and embark on adventures. We get to be someone we’ve never been before.
I love providing my readers with this escape factor. A good romance provides sanctuary from everyday problems and trials. Sure, romance plots can sometimes seem over-the-top. That’s what makes them fun and exciting.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my life. I just like hanging out with sexy shape shifters here and there as well. They amuse me and inspire me, and after closing the book, I return to real life a little happier.

Bio

Rosanna Leo is a multi-published, erotic romance author. Several of her books about Greek gods, selkies and shape shifters have been named Top Picks at Night Owl Romance and The Romance Reviews.
From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with her long-suffering husband, their two hungry sons and a tabby cat named Sweetie. When not writing, she can be found haunting dusty library stacks or planning her next star-crossed love affair.
A library employee by day, she is honored to be a member of the league of naughty librarians who also happen to write romance.

Accomplishments

Rosanna Leo arrived at her writing career through a circuitous route. After spending time in various unsuitable careers, she realized she could no longer deny her passion: writing romance fiction. However, her varied experiences have given her writing flavor. Rosanna worked previously as a professional soprano, a recruiter, a customer service rep for a processed meats company, and a Toronto tour guide. She now divides her time between writing and a more suitable library job.
She is probably the only romance writer alive who can sing the Canadian national anthem, arrange books by Dewey decimal system, show you around Toronto and tell you everything you ever wanted to know about bologna.

Blurb

Rosanna Leo (2)Librarian Suzan Marsh is an empath and has always felt assaulted by the feelings of others. She has had to distance herself from the people in her life, raising a mental barrier to ward off unwanted emotions. When wolf shifter August Crane abducts her, he breaks through the walls she constructed, forcing her to accept a frightening new truth.
Jaguar shifter twins Percy and Byron Moon are familiar with the evil ways of August Crane. Because of him, their childhood was destroyed. Because of him, their way of life at the peaceful Ursa Fishing Lodge and Resort is threatened. And they won’t rest until he is dead.
When Crane drags Suzan into his cult and decides to make her his “concubine,” Percy and Byron know they must save the human woman. Their connection to her is strong and they cannot deny the dream they always held close. That they could share a woman and make her their mate.
But even after rescuing Suzan, none of them are free from Crane’s clutches. The wolf shifter has plans, ones that involve the demise of every shape shifter at the Ursa Resort. Not only must Percy and Byron keep Suzan safe, they must convince her to accept them both. In order to stop Crane from hurting everyone they love, they must learn to fight together.

Excerpt

After her shower, she toweled off and dressed in the clothes provided, choosing a pretty green V-neck T-shirt to accompany the jeans. Everything fit perfectly, from underwear to outerwear, as if the Moons had already known her. It boggled her mind, but she couldn’t lose the sensation they were connected by more than just circumstance. Her instincts never lied. After slipping into a pair of soft white socks, she made her way toward the kitchen.
She heard Byron and Percy before she saw them and stopped to catch an excited breath. When she heard what they said, she paused a moment longer.
“How’s your jaguar holding up?” Byron asked his brother.
She knew it was Byron. Despite them being identical twins, there were slight differences in their voices. Byron’s was the smoother voice. Percy’s had the odd touch of sexy gravel.
“My dumb cat,” replied Percy on a near growl, “was up all night long. He keeps pawing at me, trying to get to her.”
Her? As the burn of jealousy sizzled in Suzan’s gut, she gnawed on her bottom lip in a futile attempt to quell it. Maybe Percy had a girlfriend and he was dying to see her. Maybe he couldn’t wait to escape the cabin so he could meet up with this woman and, well, let his jaguar loose.
“Yeah,” Byron said. “My cat’s in agony, too. I think my ribs are black and blue inside, it pounds them so much.”
Oh, great. She wasn’t sure why this information astounded her. Of course men like them would have girlfriends. Hell, they might have mates. She hadn’t bothered to ask, had she? She’d already heard the mate bond was a powerful thing, that it would drive any shifter to distraction, both sexually and emotionally. Why had she been naïve enough to think these men might be single? She knew enough to know the good ones were always taken.
She’d been so stupid to think they had a bond. Bullshit. Clearly, her empathic tendencies had let her down for the first time.
“I can’t believe how quickly my jag … recognized Suzi,” said Percy.
Oh. Last she heard, she was the only Suzi around here.
Byron grunted. “I feel the same way. I’ve never felt like this. My head’s not working properly. Fuck, I couldn’t even hold a bowl of eggs without losing it. Percy, we need to discuss things. Seriously.”
“I know.”
“If Suzi is the one we’re meant to share, we can’t afford to make any wrong moves, especially with Crane in the picture. We need to support her and not let our egos get in the way.”
“Agreed.”
If Suzi is the one we’re meant to share
Holy hell.

Predator’s Trinity is now available for preorder on Amazon!

Release date is scheduled for 24 August 2015

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Rosanna is offering a giveaway!

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Brain to Books Blog Tour Mary Woldering

Brain to Books Blog Tour

Fast Facts

Mary WolderingAuthor: Mary R. Woldering
Genre: Epic Heroic Fantasy
Books:
Voices in Crystal (Book 1 of the Children of Stone Series)
Going Forth By Day (Book 2 of the Children of Stone Series)

Bio

I’m Mary Reynolds Woldering, author of the Children of Stone epic fantasy series. I’m an artisan, art historian, devoted wife of Dr. Jackie Woldering, mother of two and grandmother of three. The idea for this series first came to a friend and me when I was in college.  Over a few years we meditated, thought, told tales, drew and wrote segments of story from a long ago world. Much later, I began to write these notes in story form, adding speculative history and new ideas to the mix.  I wanted my readers to “be there” walking with my characters. And It just MOVES! It entertains, it romps, It leaps, IT HOWLS and it’s just plain fun. An alien race of gods, wizards, shape-shifters, heroic mortals, and immortals; palace intrigue, murder, madness, confusion, bizarre twists and plot turns…dangerous hookups, evil geniuses, punk sorcerers, traitors…
Join me as I tell you a beautiful story.

Accomplishments

First Indie published at age 65. when most are slowing down, I’m just getting started. I will also make costumes and my own “meditative swag bookmarks”. I’ve had a TON of mystical and paranormal experiences, many of which became part of my stories.

Blurb for Voices in Crystal

“We are children made of stone
Tiny voices are as grains of sand
Come to us, Marai
Man of Ai
Man of the sand”
CStoneVIC jpg
ISBN-13-9781490924069
When Marai. a shepherd living at the foot of Mt. Sinai in the third Millennium BC sings to his goddess one night, he sees a falling star. Tracking it, he discovers a strange vessel containing crystalline entities resembling earthly stones and gems: the Children of Stone. The Children delight in this simple shepherd and his songs of love. They ask him to host their intelligence; to bring them to the sages and priests who have spent their lives seeking the wisdom of the stars. when he agrees, he is transformed into a godlike being. Still a passionate shepherd at heart, Marai gathers others, like lambs to his fold. His journey to the wise men of Kemet won’t be easy. Things hidden, that wait in darkness, are always there. Book 1 begins the journey.

Blurb for Going Forth By Day

Shu lifts me up,
the Souls of On set up a stairway for me in order to reach the Above
and Nut puts her hand on me
just as she did for Asar on the day when he died
…Pyramid Texts, inscribed on the walls of King Unas tomb 5th dynasty c. 2345 BC
CstoneGFBD jpgMarai, a former shepherd who discovered a fallen ‘star’ and was gifted with amazing abilities by the unearthly Children of Stone, has been separated from the women he loves. Kept apart by forces seeking to control all of them, the women must independently grow to understand their own powers while continuing their journey to wisdom. But what of Marai? Will the women be reuinted with him? Will those who care for him survive without his guidance and love?Will he rise up and begin to Go Forth By Day?
Book 2 Going Forth By Day is the story of Marai’s companions, Ariennu, Deka and Naibe-Ellit. Through their involvement in the lives of the royalty of ancient Kemet, new Alliances form, loyalties shift, and the comfortable lives of some are shaken to the core.

Book Reviews:

“I could not put this book down. You are on the edge of your seat reading this, it is that enjoyable. The emotional journey you take reading this book causes you to realize just what is at stake and ho I could not put this book down. You are on the edge of your seat reading this, it is that enjoyable. The emotional journey you take reading this book causes you to realize just what is at stake and how history weaves itself around this story. This is a MUST READ book.  I would like a copy of this as an audio book cause this is just the type of story you want to hear again and again. Well done Mary! This is a series everyone should buy for your personal library, it is that good. I loved the concept of the “fallen star” and what it really means (don’t want to spoil it for everyone). Peggy-SuperMommy
5 of 5 stars
Book review written by Kathy Magee on May 6, 2015 for Going Forth by Day (Book #2 of the Children of the Stone Series)
[Going Forth by Day] is a wonderful adventure filled book for the wives of Marai. I loved it! I enjoyed seeing the wives characters emerge with strengths and weaknesses that caught me off guard. The beginning grabs you and you keep reading, enjoying and you don’t want the book to end, but alas it does and I am anxiously waiting for the next book. This is a great series in the making! 5 of 5 stars14.

Interview with Mary Woldering

Tell us a little about yourself. (How did you get started writing? What do you do when you’re not writing?
Mary Woldering: I think I wrote poetry in elementary school. My first “novel” was in 10th grade and was a mystery romance. I’ve forgotten the name. It had a caged boy, a female mad scientist and a girl who rescued him. I don’t think I could redo it as a YA. As for what I do when I’m not writing, I sell junk on e-bay, try to keep my house from devolving into filth and chat with my beloved and my adult kids. The kids live far away now.
Is this your first book?
Mary Woldering: Going forth By Day is the second of the Children of Stone Series. Voices in Crystal was the first.
What genre do you enjoy writing the most and what is this book about?
Mary Woldering: I write a different kind of fantasy.  It’s part historical, part mythological, deep, multi-layered and intensely emotional as well as spiritual. It’s NOT light reading.
I write them because I’m driven to do so…to get my thoughts across; to teach and to do so in an entertaining manner.
This book is about: Marai: a humble, goddess-worshipping shepherd who becomes a god!
Remnants of an alien race of gods, wizards, shape-shifters, heroic mortals, immortals, slowly transform into the gods of ancient days. Like ancient superheroes, they wander through the reality of legend, RESHAPING myth and history.
What inspired you to write this book?
Mary Woldering: I got them all from dreams, regressions, meditations and spiritual/paranormal encounters…from channeling most done in the 1970’s. Friends and I used to do this. At first we thought we were looking at each others’ past lives, Then we saw each other and more people we had not yet met. We did drawings and created scenarios of what if’s. Gradually they evolved into our own personal mythologies and then into these stories.
How did you come up with the title of your book or series?
Mary Woldering: The song by the Doors “Crystal Ship” had meaning to me so it became an inspiration for the first book. The series came from the E.E. Cummings poem, “Children in Stone” because it made me think of lost races that may have inspired the intelligence of our own people. The second title was lifted from the Pyramid Texts, because it is about death and resurrection.
Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it?
Mary Woldering: Createspace artists. I gave them free reign with the first cover. The second, I insisted needed to be a tomb.
If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?
Mary Woldering: Marai bin Ahu = Jason Momoa, Naibe-Ellit, (I hate to say it, but …) Kim Kardashian in looks only. Deka might be a younger version of Iman Bowie, Ariennu of Tyre would be tough as would the other characters… I don’t see a lot of movies in order to keep up with who is hot and who is not.
I would definitely cast the Egyptians as black people, perhaps lighter skinned black. It’s a personal issue with me. The Kina group would be darker middle-easterners.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Mary Woldering: When I was a sophomore in High School and was in a Creative Writing club
Where do you write?
Mary Woldering: My office…a glassed in sunroom, or in my living room when it’s cold.
Who is your favorite character from your book and why?
Mary Woldering: This is really tough. The minute I name one, I realize I like all of them, even the villains. I’ve given birth to all of them and made each one GREAT.
If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?
Mary Woldering: Make it even harder to put down…. No slow spots.
What is your least favorite part of the publishing / writing process?
Mary Woldering: MARKETING. I wish my books could sell themselves.
What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?
Mary Woldering: Spread the word and get my book into more hands.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
Mary Woldering: A spirit named Raemkai (put him in my book as an anti-hero)
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Mary Woldering: Editing so that the story flows when read aloud, but is still grammatically correct. Or if you mean challenging for the reader some of the vocabulary & place names.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Mary Woldering: It very likely won’t make me rich or famous.
What literary character is most like you?
Mary Woldering: I AM Ariennu of Tyre with a few dozen more layers of good sense, political correctness and sobriety. She is my inner WILD CHILD.
What is your biggest fear?
Mary Woldering: Being forgotten
If you had a supernatural power, what would it be?
Mary Woldering: Like Ari, I would be invisible & be a spy and secret keeper.
What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?
Mary Woldering: Joseph Campbell’s Power of the Myth
Is there one person past or present you would meet and why?
Mary Woldering: Count Prince Hordjedtef…the real one. I want to see if he is anything like I made him in my books.

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Brain to Books Blog Tour LG Surgeson

Brain to Books Blog Tour

Fast Facts

Author: LG Surgeson
Genre: Fantasy
Book: The Winter That Follows from The Black River Chronicles Series

Bio

LG SurgesonLG Surgeson lives in the Wilds of Wales because it’s better than the real world and writes novels in the spare time she creates by not sleeping properly.
Born in 1980 in Durban South Africa, shortly afterward she found herself being whisked North to a childhood in Southern England. Leaving the comfort of the family home for West Wales, she studied Physics and Maths at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth before qualifying as a teacher in 2004. Since then, she has been gainfully occupied trying to convince teenagers that mathematics isn’t evil and failing to move out of West Wales and back to the real world. She has two cats that like to help. They aren’t very good at it.

Blurb

The Black River ChroniclesThe Summer of Fire has burned away. The younger gods and their champion have defeated Krynok the Hunter, who had called himself the All-Father. General Salamander has been destroyed and slowly Tartaria is reuniting to heal the Clans and the land. The world has been left dazed and flattened, trying to pick up the pieces. Those that have survived find themselves standing amongst the ruins with empty hearts, waiting for faces they will never see again. It has not occurred to many that this might be the greatest challenge of all.
Once the glorious struggles of the Summer are over, somehow you have to find a way to live through the winter that follows.

Reviews

The Winter That Follows: Aberddu Adventure is an excellent background to the other tales in the series. The characters are rich and deep, and give the feeling of having lived. Also it was nice to see a little more of the rich world in which these tales are set. I look forward to the next in the series.
The Black River Chronicles by LG Surgeson are a fun and interesting fantasy world adventure story of the old school. With brave adventures and evil so and so’s.

Excerpt

Charlie heaved the barrel up through the trap door and lumped it down beside the other two. It was unusually quiet this morning. The Law Temple nine-hour bell had rung long since, and yet there was no noise in the street. He wiped his forehead and hands with his apron and went to the door of the Tavern.

Charlie was used to goblins, some of his best customers were goblins. In fairness he didn’t have many customers that weren’t goblins – which is what happens if you open a bar called ‘The Startling Toad’.
      Today was suffering from a conspicuous lack of goblins. The sound of no goblins always made Charlie nervous. It usually meant they were up to something. Mind you, goblins were up to something whether you could hear them or not, but if you couldn’t hear them it meant they were up to something organised. Charlie was still recovering from the chicken rustling plot of 1099ac, he couldn’t live through that again – militia, goblins and chicken feathers everywhere and he was still finding grain in places he could have sworn he had cleaned. He tried to rack his brains, what had he heard? One of them had been muttering about the Temple district he thought, and another couple had been mumbling about the Adventurers Guild. He hoped it was the Temple District. It was already a pile of rubble and therefore there wasn’t much more damage they could really do to it. If it was the Adventurers Guild things were not likely to go so well. The combination of a bunch of self-obsessed hero types and a load of piss-head goblin dock-hands was not something that Charlie wanted to contemplate at this hour of the day.

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