Bad Witch:
The Emily Chronicles
Book 2
Robyn Bachar
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
E-book: June 18, 2013
Print: June 3, 2014
ISBN: E-book 978-1-61921-587-0
ISBN: Print 978-1-61921-916-8
ASIN:
Number of pages: 272
Word Count: 55,711
Cover Artist: Kanaxa
Book Description:
She is honey to his throat…but one sweet taste could part them forever…
Banished from home while her husband adjusts to life as an immortal, blood-drinking chronicler, Emily Black is homesick, heartsick and struggling under the constant sensory barrage of a city drenched in ancient magic. When an old friend asks for her aid in solving a string of murders, she welcomes the distraction, despite the danger.
Justine Dubois is grateful for a seer’s help, and more understanding than anyone of Emily’s plight. As a guardian, Justine commands respect; as a woman, her magic is considered inferior. Together, they are determined to prove their worth to London’s magicians, starting with solving these murders—with maybe a bit of matchmaking on the side.
Long before he met his soul mate, Michael Black made a commitment to join the Order of St. Jerome. He will live forever, forced to watch the woman he loves age and die. As Emily hunts the murderer, Michael struggles to protect her. But if he loses control of his hunger, the greatest threat to her safety could be Michael himself.
Warning: Contains tortured soul mates, scheming faeries, vampire debauchery, deadly parasols, illicit blood-drinker relations, and adorable plot moppets.
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Readers can receive 30% off the ebook of Poison in the Blood from the Samhain Store by using the coupon code POISON14 at checkout.
Normally stepping into a garden would soothe me, but we were still within London, where there was no comfort whatsoever. I looked up at the night sky and wished I were with Michael.
“You have the soul of an artist, Miss Rose. It is a rare gift.” Mr. Paris stroked my hand, and I tugged it free of his arm. I folded both hands before me primly and smiled.
“Again, that is very kind of you.”
“I consider myself a patron of the arts.”
“So you attend gatherings such as this often?” I asked.
“Of course. I am always on the lookout for new talent.”
“I see. Did you know Mrs. Harding?” I tried to examine his aura to determine his reaction, but his magic continued to be so overwhelming that my eyes watered. Mr. Paris must be unspeakably powerful, and I found myself both worried and intrigued. Perhaps he was a sorcerer? One who specialized in darkness?
“I did. Poor girl. What a terrible thing to have happened to her and her family… Tell me, are you working on a second collection of your work?” he asked, quickly changing the subject.
“I am, though I am afraid the subject matter is quite a bit darker.”
Mr. Paris smiled a predatory grin, and my pulse leapt with a thrill of fear. “I am not afraid of the dark, Miss Rose. Are you?”
He stepped closer, but I held my ground, studying him with a curious tilt to my head. “What are you?” I asked.
He blinked, startled. “I beg your pardon?”
“What sort of magic do you practice?” I clarified.
“Oh. I am a librarian, of course,” he replied, and I laughed, unable to help myself. “What’s so funny?”
“You are most certainly not a librarian. Do people truly believe that lie?”
The smile slid from Mr. Paris’s face as his expression hardened. He stepped forward and tried to grab my arm, but Miss Dubois was suddenly between us, a shining silver blur. With a snarl he turned and ran, and the guardian chased him out of the garden and into the street.
Uncertain of what to do, I followed. I stood hesitant at the garden gate, wondering which way they went. My vision shifted, and I followed Miss Dubois’s blazing footsteps. I paused next to a blur traced over the high brick wall of another garden. It was another magical doorway, rather like the one I had discovered near Mrs. Harding’s body outside the Undiscovered Country. Foolishly I raised my hand to touch it, despite knowing full well that doing so could trigger another vision, but a hand emerged from the brick wall and grabbed my wrist.
Overwhelmed with shock, I barely managed a strangled gasp as Mr. Paris stepped through the wall and glared down at me. “Who are you?” he demanded.
“You first.” My voice trembled, and Mr. Paris grinned. He tightened his grip and snapped several small bones in my wrist, and I screamed.
“Who are you?” he repeated.
Something bubbled up within me, a bright plume of prophetic magic that became my answer. “I am your end.” That time my voice did not tremble at all, but was filled with terrible certainty. I would cause Mr. Paris’s death, and I knew it with as much confidence as I knew the sun would rise in the morning.
Something in my gaze must have worried him, because he snarled. Scowling, he grabbed my forearm with both hands and twisted. The bone snapped like dry kindling, and I screamed again. Before he could torment me further Miss Dubois arrived and bashed him with a round silver shield. Mr. Paris vanished into thin air, and the guardian stood near me. One arm bore the shield, while in her other hand she held a sword. How cunning of her. I wanted a sword as well.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
My knees wobbled and began to buckle, but then two dark blurs streaked up to us, and I was suddenly swept from my feet and cradled close in Michael’s arms.
“Darling! What happened?” he asked.
“You caught me.” I blinked—however had he moved that fast? Simon sighed and shook his head at his student, and I sensed that Michael and I were both in for a scolding.
“Of course I did. I will always catch you. Are you all right?”
How long did it take to get your first book published?
It took three years between starting Blood, Smoke and Mirrors and being contracted for it. I joined RWA, took a lot of workshops, and did a lot of revising. Now it takes me a few months to get from the first draft to submitting the book.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
Poison in the Blood: It has magic, matchmaking, a murder mystery, deadly parasols, angsty vampires, adorable moppets, and love conquering all.
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
I recently signed my ninth contract with Samhain Publishing. I hope to self-publish a few things in the future when time and finances permit.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I’m planning more books in the Emily Chronicles, more books in my modern Bad Witch series, and I have books 2 and 3 in my spicy space opera series Cy’ren Rising out in September and December. In March 2015 I have a post-zombie-apocalypse erotic romance called Bite Me.
What genre would you place your books into?
Romance. Everything I write is romance. :-) My subgenres are paranormal romance, historical paranormal romance, sci-fi romance, and erotic romance. Pretty much if it has magic, swords and/or laser guns, I’m interested in writing about it.
Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?
They’re all my favorites, because they’re all entertaining in their own ways. Emily is a ton of fun to write because she’s always ready to charge into socially inappropriate danger, and comes up with new polite ways to tell people off. She’s always at odds with her husband’s mentor. I love writing their arguments.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
No. I read reviews on review blogs or in RT, but I try to leave the rest to the readers. I know it freaks some readers out when authors read what they’ve posted on Amazon or Goodreads. I don’t want to hover. ;-)
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
The title is usually the last thing I think of. I suck at titles.
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
I spend a lot of time on baby name websites. Google is convinced that I’ve been pregnant for five years. I tend to name minor characters after whatever I’m watching while writing. I have five characters named after players on the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
I begin with an idea and it develops over time. Emily has toughened up over time. She hits a character in the head with a brick, which she definitely would not have done in her first book.
Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")
Yes. Never trust a billionaire vampire.
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
Well, I can tell you which one I prefer when it comes to moving: ebook. I filled up over 30 book boxes the last time I moved, and that was after I’d purged my collection for donations to the local library. An e-reader takes up a lot less space.
Your favorite food is?
Coffee. Coffee is its own food group, and it is essential to life.
Your favorite singer/group is?
Right now I’m very addicted to Florence + The Machine. I’ve been listening to the Ceremonials album obsessively in the car.
Your favorite color is?
Pink is my signature color. ;-) I’ve had pink hair a few times.
Your favorite Author is?
Nora Roberts is my all-time favorite author. I’m looking forward to the third book in her Cousins O’Dwyer trilogy.
Robyn Bachar was born and raised in Berwyn, Illinois, and loves all things related to Chicago, from the Cubs to the pizza. It seemed only natural to combine it with her love of fantasy, and tell stories of witches and vampires in the Chicagoland area. As a gamer, Robyn has spent many hours rolling dice, playing rock-paper-scissors and slaying creatures in MMPORGs.
Thanks for having me today! :)
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