Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Book blast, Giveaway & Interview: Underworld Queen by @sharonlhamilton

Underworld Queen Banner 851 x 315

bookblast

 

clip_image002Underworld Queen

The Guardians

Book3

Sharon Hamilton

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romantic Suspense, Mystery & Suspense Romance, Romance – Angels, Romance - Fantasy

Publisher: AL Publication

Date of Publication: December 30, 2014

ASIN: B00IU2E9JS

Number of pages: 285

Word Count: 80,000

Book Description:

Audray has just assumed the title as first-ever Queen of the Underworld.

As she attempts to consolidate her rule, characters from the past threaten to destroy her and the love she shares with Jonas Starling, a 300-year old dark angel. When she discovers she has been the recipient of a miracle, suddenly their whole immortal lives are changed forever.

Will they survive the coming war or get snagged in the power struggle over not only the underworld, but the human world as well?

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/AmvCeqr3QDU

Available at

Amazon Amazon UK Amazon Canada

iBooks Barnes and Noble

excerpt

Audray loved being the first-ever woman Director of the Underworld, but she preferred the title “Queen” even better. Jonas had begun calling her that and it became part of her persona almost immediately.

Maybe it is the way Jonas whispers it to me just before he takes me.

That word was something she would never tire of hearing, just like the sounds her paramour made as he pleasured her to distraction and beyond. And the best thing of all was that he did it out of love, not obligation. His need to please her was equal to her need to be ravished over and over again.

And worshiped as only a queen should be.

Jonas was still wearing his black leather vest, but was naked everywhere else that counted, sleeping like a baby. She tucked her back into the warmth of his chest, feeling tiny against him, and reveled at how safe and protected she felt. She’d never had such a big man, big everywhere, but especially big in the way his soul screamed for her. It took a lot to distract her from all the pleasures in the Underworld, but being in bed with Jonas outshone them all.

When they’d gotten back to her home in the human world, he’d barely caught the bike when she jumped off. He saved it, of course, cursing softly, before it could tip and fall into her blood red Maserati. Even hearing him curse gave her chills.

All afternoon she had been touching him as they flew past rows of vineyards and redwood trees on their way home, her breasts pressed against the back of his thick torso. Her cheek rested in the place she smelled his maleness the strongest: at the back of his neck, just under his hairline. She watched the light brown tendrils of his shoulder length hair dusted with gray, catch fire in the late afternoon sun, coaxing her to reach down and squeeze his package, making him swerve the bike. But he was laughing, and she felt they didn’t have a care in the whole world.

She had thought she would enjoy the powerful Directorship more. Jonas had been an unexpected distraction. Ever since their explosive first meeting, Audray felt her whole world had changed.

authorinterview

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

I always enjoyed writing. I wanted to be successful, and my own boss. I’m not a good employee. So being a business owner has always worked for me.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

I still have a copy of my first check from Amazon, $16.20. And that was for 2 months, because the previous one I hadn’t earned $10. But seeing that little check and knowing inside I still loved to write after all the work it took to earn that $16.20 made me realize I was truly a writer.

How long did it take to get your first book published?

I did the agent, 2-3 year shopping for agent and publisher thing. That model doesn’t work for me. I don’t handle that amount and kind of rejection well, “Go knock yourself out for 4-5 months and then we’ll tell you if it was worth it.”  Not. For. Me.

So, I’m Indie and I can publish when I have something I feel is worthy to publish.

Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?

Full time writer. Happy to say, I can live off what I earn selling my books.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

Bad girl gets knocked up, except she’s supposed to be running the Underworld and people want to kill her for it.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

Generally, 2 months writing, one month polish and edits. The ideas I develop for the next book while I’m writing the current book. I don’t take notes! I figure if I can’t remember my ideas, my readers won’t remember my book, so I usually start the next book in my head, since I write series. When I actually sit down to write that book is dependent on my business plan and what I need to get out there to remain discoverable. I switch genres too, partly for my own enjoyment, partly to keep my readers on their toes and broaden the base.

What can we expect from you in the future?  ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

I write Romantic Suspense too, Navy SEAL romances, so I have 2 genres, the paranormal (The Guardians, and Golden Vampires of Tuscany) and romantic suspense.

What genre would you place your books into?

This one, paranormal, although it takes place during contemporary times. I’ve seen some paranormal authors lately call themselves contemporary authors. Not sure that’s really wise to mislead readers. I mean, a book is a book, whether it’s an eReader or hardback. But a paranormal romance is not a contemporary romance any way you slice it.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

For the series, I always thought it would be fun to write about a guardian angel who falls in love with her human charge. In this book, my heroine has been a very bad girl in previous books. So the genre (The Guardians) came first, and then the characters gave me the series and the stories.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

It’s hard to say. If I’m not in love (ready to leave my husband kind of lust/love) with the hero, I can’t write the book. If I’m jealous of the heroine, I can write the book. I find it impossible to have a favorite because I’m a mess when writing them. I’m in their world.

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?

I began writing in 2008 after our house burned down and virtually everything about or lifestyle changed. Turned out to be the best thing in the world for me. Left alone in a 600 sf apartment (my husband had to stay at our property in a trailer to mind the animals), I could read, write and do anything 24/7, which was a way new thing for me, since I’d raised 4 children. The rest just came as I gave myself the chance to follow that lead. I think writers are born curious, but their opportunities force them to investigate and then share that process.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

Love listening to music when I write, or have to have total peace and quiet. I listen to only instrumental music as the words compete with the words I’m putting down on the page. I like music that stirs the emotions so I can pour it on (music does some of the heavy lifting, I guess you could say). I will sometimes play one track all day because it matches the pacing of the story.

Great example of this is the song “Forever In My Dreams” by Two Steps From Hell. I have a scene in SEAL’s Promise where the heroine comes home, expecting to break up with her SEAL boyfriend, and it will be painful because he was the best friend of her husband when he was killed overseas. My hero has decorated her baby’s room because he just has to do something. He can’t just stand by and watch her leave. She walks into the room and sees the inscription he’s written on the wall and realizes he is everything she’s ever wanted. I love that song and I feel that scene whenever I listen to it. Makes me cry every time.

Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?

No. But then I don’t listen much to the news or read the newspaper. I prefer another reality, another set of stories, another set of opinions. Okay, maybe the 5 stars I read! LOL. I’m not that humble!

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

I usually come up with the title before I write the book. I have never changed it during. Because I write series, I’m looking for a pattern, either by subject or specific word, for the title, so the reader will remember what that book was about.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

I live in wine country, Sonoma County, California. Lots of my stories take place here. The characters’ names are more reflective of where they grew up. I like unusual names, but words that sound good in the voice of my narrator (I hear his voice 24/7 when I write now).

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

I know the big ones before I write. I deliciously discover the little ones while I write. And of course at the end, the character falls in love with someone they didn’t think they could really love, and becomes someone different as a result of that. Love changes my characters, as it should in a good love story!

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..")

Good is always stronger than evil.
True Love Heals In The Gardens Of The Heart.
Heaven isn’t 100% perfect by design. The Underworld isn’t 100% evil by accident.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

I read 3X faster on my Kindle.

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?

Yes. And all my books should be movies! I see them as movies when I write them. I see all the detail, and then choose what I want to put on the page. (Sometimes my editor says to me, “when did we see that?” and I have to tell her that I saw it, just forget to put it down! Lol)

The angel Patrick Swayze movie they ruined. The book was different. But I once talked to a filmmaker who said he only directed films that were tragedies. HEAs didn’t work much in film (I disagree). But when I see a movie like that one, I was screaming, “No!!! You ruined a perfectly good Happily Ever After.”

Your favorite food is?

Chocolate. Really good BBQ. Messy king crab with lots of butter. Biscuits. Fresh tomato soup from my garden.

Your favorite singer/group is?

Secret Garden and Two Steps (Thomas Bergensen) for instrumental. Moriconi for soundtracks. Keith Urban (Making Memories of Us) for working In the garden or driving around or getting into trouble. Same with Brandy Clarke (Stipes is my fave).

Your favorite color is?

Bright heartthrob red.

Your favorite Author is?

Probably Diana Gabaldon, because I don’t think I could ever get there…Everyone else is a goal to be achieved. If you understand that, you understand me.

 

  giveaway

Underworld Queen Prize Pack that includes: a grand prize of a $25 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, plus an eBook and audio book (winners choice, from Sharon's backlist). Grand prize Value $50.

3 runner-up prizes of a pink camo t-shirt. Runner-up prize value $15 each. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  abouttheauthor

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Sharon’s NYT and USA Today bestselling novels are almost-erotic Navy SEAL stories of the SEAL Brotherhood. Her characters follow a spicy road to redemption through passion and true love. This series continues with book 8, SEAL's Promise, which will release November 11, 2014. All of her SEAL Brotherhood Series are available in audio book. She has maintained an Amazon top 100 author status in Romantic Suspense for since the end of 2012.

Her Golden Vampires of Tuscany are not like any vamps you’ve read before, since they don’t have to go to ground, and can walk around in the full light of the sun. Honeymoon Bite, Book 1 of the Golden Vampires of Tuscany Series, has earned the Amazon designation of #1 Gothic Romance. It and Book 2 in the series, Mortal Bite are both available on audio as well.

Her Guardian Angels struggle with the human charges they are sent to save, often escaping their vanilla world of Heaven for the brief human one. You won’t find any of these beings in any Sunday school class.

Sharon lives in Sonoma County, California, with her husband and two Dobermans. A lifelong organic gardener, when she’s not writing, she’s getting verra verra dirty in the mud, or wandering Farmer’s Markets looking for new Heirloom varieties of vegetables and flowers.

"True Love Heals in the Gardens of the Heart"

Website: www.AuthorSharonHamilton.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharonHamiltonAuthor

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Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/AuthorSharonH/

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDInkxXFpXp_4Vnq08ZxMBQ

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Sharon-Hamilton/e/B004FQQMAC/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+SharonHamiltonAuthor/posts

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5752621.Sharon_Hamilton

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/authors/a1002861/Sharon-Hamilton/

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