Favorite Kind of Books to Read During the Summer!!

The Black Eagles Blog Tour

 

The rise of the Black Eagles was meteoric, from band practice in the garage to global stars almost overnight. And Melissa Webb, the beautiful girlfriend of the front man, appeared to have it all. But when Luke Black disappears without a trace and Melissa wakes up in a hospital bed after a savage attack, her perfect world is shattered and their lives are plunged into a potentially deadly crisis. Where is Luke, and can he be found before it is too late?

 

The Black Eagles and their loved ones try to recover from the traumatic events that have beset the band, starting to piece together their lives while trying to make sense of everything that happened to them. How can they trust again, after so much betrayal? As they begin a collective healing process, they find that the future has more demons in store for them. 
At the centre of it all are Luke and Melissa, only just starting to put their lives back together. As they embark on new adventures, old enemies may not be ready to let them forget.

Kat Green was born Nov 1979 into a military family and moved around a lot during her childhood. This shaped her into the person she is today. She is at ease with meeting new people and adapting to new surroundings. Her family roots are from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Kat now lives with her husband and son on the south coast of England, Portsmouth. She doesn't pretend to be the best and is still growing as a writer and having fun along the way. She loves books and has a busy imagination. Her love for music plays a big part in her first novel called Strings. Kat loves to watch live bands and can usually be found at gigs around the UK. In 2010 she lost her mother to blood cancer and it was time to put her words on a page and stop worrying about what people might say 'Life is too short and precious to waste' is her motto. Writing is her passion and her escape.

Social Media & Amazon Links

Amazon US Strings

Amazon US Encore

Amazon UK Strings

Amazon UK Encore

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram

Inside the Mind of Kat Green Website/Blog

The Black Eagles Band bracelet & Keychains Giveaway





Character Interview

Q1: How old were you when you started playing guitar?

LB: I was Twelve.  My mum gave me Chloe my acoustic guitar on my twelve birthday. That guitar is like another best friend, if anything ever happened to her it would be tragic.  I would sulk for weeks.  I have poured my heart out with her, wrote many a song with that guitar. It’s like a limb that is a part of me. It would hurt to lose her.

Q2: What was the first song that you wrote? And, Why?

LB: Pink Ribbons was my first song. It was written about a girl called Chloe who was my first real friend. We meet when we were 5; even then I had an eye for the girls. (Luke laughs, but then frowns.)  She died in a house fire on her seventh birthday, her death impacted on me so much. I was 7 years old and I didn’t understand it. How could she be gone? I had all these things I wanted to say and I didn’t know how to. So I didn’t and I locked her away, buried the pain. The guitar came along and suddenly I found an outlet. Turns out, I’m pretty good at it. It was the only way I could move on and accept it. Writing songs is how I cope with bad things in a positive way.  Hence naming my Guitar. That is my way of saying that I have never forgotten her and I never will.

Q3: If you were not in a band or doing anything music related. What job would you be doing?

LB: I would still be working in a petrol station, dying of boredom. I try not to think about it. I’m doing the only thing I want to do and have any skill in and it’s the best thing in the world. I’m the happiest person in the world when I’m on stage.

Q4: What was it like to go from playing to 20 people in a pub to what you’re doing now?

LB: Mind blowing, insane and I am still in shock. Everyone dreams of it but not everyone gets it. I am so thankful for every fan we have, we have some incredible fans. Some have been with us from the very start. Some have become friends. It’s nice and I will never take them for granted.

Q5: What song is your favourite to perform?

LB:  That’s easy ‘Weekend High’ I wrote that when I was twenty after a really bad relationship. It wasn’t really a relationship but at the time I didn’t see it.  It was just convenience and there was no love there we argued more than anything else.  I love the fact the fans go insane to it. My work is done and it’s what I set out to achieve.

Q6: Which song don’t you like?

LB: Hmmm.. I don’t really dislike any but I guess ‘Just another day wishing’ I think it’s quite slow for us and I sound like such a moaning old git. I was quite down when I wrote that. I don’t mind it but none of us really get excited about playing it. We drop it from sets sometimes, if I’m in a bad mood and I don’t want to do it, I won’t. Not a good song for me if I’m in a strop already. We get away with it as it isn’t a fan fave, some seemed to like it but not everyone. My mum loves it.

Q7: Which gig has been your favorite so far?

LB: That is harder to answer because every gig is amazing for all kinds of reasons. I don’t think it would be fair to choose one. That is like saying to one set of fans ‘Oh you were great’ and make other fans feel like you didn’t enjoy their show.  For sentimental reasons our third gig at Ruby’s back home will always be special. I meet my girlfriend there and it was what changed everything for me and us as a band.

Q9: There is story at the moment saying you proposed to Melissa? True or False?

LB: What? News to me. No, not true. She’s amazing though, one day, maybe. Right now I’m concentrating on my career and she is so supportive.

Q8: It’s a Saturday night and you’re not on tour. What would you be doing?

LB: I don’t see my girlfriend very much so we would either be catching up at home. (Luke winks and laughs) or I would be writing new material. I don’t really have spare time. I feel like I always have something to work on, or prepare for. When I’m on tour that is my party time, and when I’m home I calm it down a bit.

Q9: Who is your best friend?

LB: My band are my best mates but the ultimate title goes to Dale. He’s always there for me even when I’m being a dick, we’ve know each other for about 100 years. He’s a fucking ace best friend and he’s not a bad guitarist either.

Q10: What would you like to say to your fans about the gossip that surrounds you?

LB: That most of it is complete and utter Bollocks. If you haven’t heard it from me the chances are it isn’t true.  Just to clarify the latest story. The band is not splitting up. My girlfriend isn’t sleeping with my drummer, doesn’t have a drink problem and isn’t pregnant. and I haven’t proposed. Amazes me how many lies fly around.  I don’t care what they write about me as I’m really not that bothered by it.  I do care when my girlfriend is sobbing because people are calling her all kinds of things in the street or online over lies.

Q11: What annoys you about being in the limelight?

LB:  Just people’s need to lie. Write the truth or don’t bother. If people want to know something just ask me. I’ve no problem with having a chat but don’t make stuff up or I will pull you on it. I’m not scared of standing up for myself. Be warned.

Q12: Do you have any regrets?

LB: Yes. I would rather not say as it’s something that is causing me issues currently and I wish I could turn the clocks back so I never meet this person.  That’s all I’m willing to say.

Q13: What would you say annoys others about you?

LB: I’m a perfectionist. I drive everyone mad at times. We could have completely nailed a song but I will be thinking about making it better. I worry about things more than the others. There have been times where I’m trying to change a set list minutes before a show and that winds people up.

Q14: Would you change anything about the band?

LB: Hell no! We’re in a good place and there’s nobody else I would consider doing this with. They are my best mates and we have a laugh and without them I would be nowhere. Anyway, I don’t think anyone else would put up with me.

Q15: You have 48 hours to live. What would you do?

LB: I would put on the biggest show and say goodbye to my fans before spending whatever time I have left with the people I love. Hopefully write a song that will go down in history so I live on forever. Have a massive party and go out with a smile on face.



Teaser 1


She felt as though they were never going to let her recover in private – the vultures were already circling, and picking for information as to what had happened. Jean had dodged two of them as she’d come into the hospital and that wasn’t even the beginning. There would be more – lots more. She wanted to scream at them to leave her daughter alone, but what would be the point? She was an intelligent woman and she knew that the lifestyle Melissa and Luke had chosen came at a price. But surely there had to be a limit? Apparently, her broken and terrified daughter was even more exciting to them than she was before. It was just another scoop for them to sell their trash, she thought. They didn’t care that two families and their friends were going through a terrible time, which would only get worse if he didn’t return. Millions of fans around the world waited to discover the fate of their idol. But to Melissa he was her boyfriend, her soul mate, her world.




Melissa went deathly white and the sound that came from within her made her parents jump; it was like an animal being tortured. She was hysterical, and had to be restrained as she threw herself on the floor screaming for Luke. Her parents struggled with her, begging her to calm down but she had snapped. Everything she had been subjected to rushed to the surface and boiled over. She was unable to control herself any more.

Her medical team rushed in and quickly assessed the situation. Due to her state of mind, they decided that sedation was the only way to calm her down and prevent her from causing herself harm.

‘Do it, doctor – now!’ Jean yelled as she struggled to hold her broken daughter.



Teaser 2

‘You look beautiful, as always.’ She barely had to try, he thought.

He was in his usual dark blue jeans and black hoody.

‘Do I look fat?’ she asked.

‘Shut up and stop fishing for compliments!’ he joked, but she pulled a sad face.

‘Of course you don’t!’

‘That’s the right answer.’

‘I’ve something for you too, to bring you luck today.’ She opened her travel bag and pulled out a small package.

‘You didn’t have to. It’s your birthday, not mine!’

She waved his protest away; it was a big day for him, and she felt that it would be right to give him a gift too. It was a brown leather cuff which she’d seen in a music shop. She’d thought it would suit him and look good while he played. She placed it on his wrist carefully, winding the strap around several times so there were three layers, then fastened the small silver buckle at the side to secure it.

‘It’s great – thanks, babe,’ he said gratefully as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Even though he tried to hide it, she could tell he was nervous.

‘Play for me – don’t worry about anyone else,’ she whispered. The next few words came out of her mouth without her even thinking, ‘I love you ...’ She immediately realised that this was a big moment because they hadn’t said it to each other before, even though everyone else could see they were head over heels in love. She held her breath, waiting for him to react, hoping he felt the same. It hadn’t been planned, and she’d surprised herself as well as him, but desperately hoped she hadn’t picked the wrong moment or said it too soon and scared him off.


Teaser 3

The shouting had stopped, and Ray was relieved. He stood outside the door, ready to go in if he had to. The others were either in their rooms or in the bar, keeping well out of the way. As Ray heard their angry shouts die down and then turn into passionate moans, he realised that all was well again in Paradise, and he quickly scuttled off before he heard something that might give him nightmares.

Toby was just heading back from the bar and raised an eyebrow at his manager. ‘Ah, the making-up stage. That took longer than I thought. Damn, I owe Tom a tenner now,’ he laughed then banged on Luke’s door.

‘You owe me a tenner, Black, you slag,’ then headed back to the bar, laughing loudly and knowing they had plenty of time to chill out. Those two weren’t going anywhere for a while.

In Darkness Must Abide Blog Tour

Episodes 1-5
Vanora is just a little girl when her older brother inadvertently unleashes a terrible evil from the family crypt that changes their lives forever. As she grows up in a world where beautiful deadly beings hunt by night, one captures her eye and her heart. There is a powerful entity plotting to claim her when she reaches adulthood in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Can she escape?









Episodes 6-10
 Vanora is haunted by the night her faith in those she loved was shattered.
When her world starts to fall apart and Armando comes back into her life to warn her that her brother is in danger, Vanora realizes that she can't escape her destiny. As she seeks to uncover the truth, Vanora starts to realize that the man she loves most may be her greatest enemy.


 Episodes 11-15
 The Socoli Mansion is in ruins. Roman’s vampires have been butchered and their havens burned in Aeron the White and Terrible’s ghastly purge. Separated from her sister, Armando, and her friends, Vanora’s only hope is wrapped in a magic ritual that will not only reveal the supernatural conspiracy formed by a millennia of magic, but also unlock her secret powers.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/NMBMpre

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/nmbmbnpre

Kobo: http://bit.ly/nmbmkobopre
Smashwords: https://goo.gl/Mcstxh

Also on iTunes

 Guest Post

In Darkness We Must Abide

A Supernatural Serial is Born


At the end of 2012, I stumbled across an old manuscript lurking in the badlands of my hard drive. I was shocked to unearth the story, having forgotten I had it converted to Word years ago from my old word processing format. For years I had considered it trunked and lost somewhere in the storage in the garage. Opening the file, I rediscovered a story I had sank most of my heart and soul into a very long time ago when I was just starting to write horror novels.

In Darkness We Must Abide was my first full-length original work. I spent hours at my old typewriter creating the first draft of the manuscript. Later, I bought a word processor and retyped the entire manuscript, saving it onto floppy discs. Yes, this was a long time ago!

As I read over my old work, I realized several things. One, I still absolutely loved the two primary leads, Armando and Vanora; and two, the story was solid, but needed some revision. I was very young when I wrote the story, inexperienced in life, love, and long lasting relationships, and this clearly showed. Also, I was under immense pressure from people in my life to write something “nice and normal,” so I struggled quite a bit with certain themes in the story. Reading over the manuscript, I saw exactly the changes I needed to implement to make it a stronger, vibrant read. I set it aside, considering reworking it into a trilogy.

Later, I began toying with the idea of doing a serial. My most popular trilogy, As The World Dies, was originally written as an online serial, and I’d missed the immediate feedback that came with the release of each new part. I had an idea for a whole new fresh work, but was intimidating by having to fit it into my already overloaded writing schedule. Then I saw an article about taking an old manuscript and converting it into a serial. Instantaneously, I knew that In Darkness We Must Abide was the perfect story to be converted into a serial. It was already divided into three distinct parts and it was huge! In fact, one of the reasons I couldn’t sell the book in its old form was that it was one massive book that far exceeded the word count limits of most publishers.

I instantly divided the first third of the story into the five episodes that make up season one. Extremely nervous, I started the revision process with the intention of each part reading like a television show in the reader’s mind. I was shocked at how easily the story fell into an episodic format, but was thrilled at the same time. Also, the voices of the characters readily reawakened in my mind, much to my relief.

In my youth, I had made several big mistakes. When a test reader had an adverse reaction to my lead character being an albino, I altered her appearance. I even changed her name to something I thought sounded fancier. When I started revising, the first thing I did was give Vanora her name back and restore her albinism. I had robbed my lead character of an important part of not only her physical appearance, but her life experience as an albino. I also embraced all the themes I had skirted around in the earlier drafts, out of fear of criticism.

Side note: Humorously, I spent a lot of time trying to avoid overt sexual themes out of fear of offending my mother. This is the same woman who would later call me up to tell me how much she loved the sex scenes in Pretty When She Dies because they were “hot.”

When I finally sent the first episode off to my beta readers, I was terrified. How would they react to a gothic horror novel I had conceived so long ago? When the rave reviews started flowing in, I was so relieved. My story had officially risen from the grave.

As a writer, it was a challenge to give the readers something they can enjoy in small increments, but also instills in them the desire to read the next episode. I did significant rewriting of the original work and the third season is completely new. The immediate feedback was also a great way for me to gage what was working, and what’s not. Because of the mad love for Armando, I expanded his role significantly in the first season.

Now that it’s finished, I can say I enjoyed my serial experience. It was definitely worthwhile digging up In Darkness We Must Abide and sharing it with my readership.

Author Interview
In Darkness We Must Abide
Q & A

Q: In Darkness We Must Abide is a supernatural serial. What exactly does that mean? What is a serial?

A: In Darkness We Must Abide is sort of like a television show I’m writing for your brain. A serial used to be a very popular form of literature. It was an ongoing episodic form of storytelling much like popular television shows today. Each part builds on the one before it, creating a very rich story for the readers to enjoy. Serials followed pretty regular schedules for their installments (weekly, biweekly, monthly).

I spent the last two years writing this serial and not that it’s over, I feel very accomplished.

Q: So what genre is In Darkness We Must Abide?

A: In Darkness We Must Abide is gothic horror set in modern times. It has all the classic gothic horror trappings like a big, gloomy mansion, the deep dark secrets, the tormented lovers, and terrifying monsters. It’s an epic tale about a young woman who is caught up in the supernatural world of vampires, werewolves, witches, vengeful goddesses, and ancient prophecies.

Q: This story is a bit different from most of your books though, right?

A: Though it’s still a character-driven tale of horror, and has some truly scary moments, at its heart it is a very tragic sort of love affair between two people who are drawn to each other even though their worlds are tearing them apart. Upon reflection, I can definitely see how my love of Jane Eyre and other gothic romances influenced the central relationship. Armando and Vanora are wounded people that you want desperately to somehow be together, but you’re just not sure if/when/how it might happen.

Q: We only see bits of Armando in the prologues of the first two episodes in the first season before he appears as a central figure in episode three. He instantly became very popular. Why do you think that is?

A: Well, he’s delicious! LOL. Armando is not only very handsome and charming, he’s very complicated. He’s a man of many secrets and conflicting emotions. Though he’s an older vampire (400 years old), he’s eternally 22 years old and has a youthful spark to him. He’s a bit sarcastic, naughty, and playful despite the fact that he’s not all that he seems to be. Armando doesn’t come across as cruel, so I think that adds to his appeal. Yet at the same time, he’s dangerous in that he can totally break Vanora’s heart and possibly betray her to his Master.

Q: Tell us a bit about Vanora, the heroine of the story.

A: Well, we start our journey with her when she’s ten years old and her life is altered forever when her brother has his ancestors from Romania transferred to the mausoleum on their estate in Houston, Texas. Immediately, a chain of events starts that sends her plunging into a very dark world. That being said, not all is bleak, because she has a much older brother and sister who take care of her and love her. They’re a very strong family unit. As season one continues, we see Vanora grow up to be a charming seventeen-year-old on the verge of her adulthood. Of course, that’s about the time when things between her and Armando start to significantly change.

Q: Vanora is an albino. How does that affect her life?

A: Vanora’s albinism affects her life quite a bit. She can’t be out in direct sunlight, she’s legally blind (though her sixth sense powers allow her to “see”), her appearance draws unwanted comments and negative attention, and isolates her a bit from others as she’s growing up. That being said, the difficulties she has to overcome make her a formidable person. She doesn’t feel sorry for herself, though she may not be entirely confident at times. We see her confidence evolve over the course of the serial.

Q: Tartarus, the Elysian Fields, the Fates, and other allusions to Greek mythology are popping up more and more. Is this significant?

A: I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology. I absolutely love it. There are some Greek supernatural characters in the story, so they’re going to address certain paranormal realms or beings according to their belief structure. Also, I liked the idea of maybe all those myths had roots in truth, but over time it was corrupted and changed.

Leto, the She-Wolf, is part of Greek mythology, but who she really is in the story of In Darkness We Must Abide is one of the bigger mysteries.

Q: We finally got a good look at the villain at the end the first season finale. He’s an albino, too, and quite imposing. Does he take on a much bigger role in Season 2 & 3?

A: Aeron takes on a much bigger role in Vanora’s life and we learn about his past and why Vanora is so important to him. It’s not just because he believes she’s a part of his destiny. There is something much more going on beneath the surface that reaches back eons.

Q: So, is there a love triangle?

A: I wouldn’t call it a love triangle. I am always intrigued by the concept of fate. What if fate laid out a future for you that you didn’t want? Could you fight it? Could you change it somehow? The concept of fate is definitely a lynchpin of the story, but so is the idea of defying it.

That being said, Aeron is a brutal man of his time, but there is more to him that meets the eye. I’ll leave it up to the reader to discern if there is a love triangle or not.

Q: Who is your favorite character?

A: I love Vanora, but Armando is my favorite male character of all those I’ve ever written. That say something!


Author

Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of over a dozen books, including the As the World Dies zombie trilogy (Tor), as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion of the Living (declared the #1 Zombie Release of 2012 by Explorations Fantasy Blog and the #1 Zombie Novel of the Decade by B&N Book Blog), and other horror novels.

Her latest releases are In Darkness We Must Abide (self-published) The Mesmerized (Permuted Pres), and Dead Spots (Tor).

She was born and raised a Texan and presently lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets).  She loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dyeing her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.  

You can find her online at:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Tumblr

LinkedIn

Google+

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads

Pinterest

Email: rhiannonfrater at gmail.com

Blog Tour Devon's Choice

Back Cover Blurb:

Life holds no surprises for Devon Murphy. Her life consists of keeping tabs on her aging Irish father, working part time at a coffee shop, and building her online graphics design business. Devon’s only tricky situation is a shallow relationship with the pampered and affluent Michael Turner, who sees her as just another woman to conquer.

Following his father’s death, Brandon’s only goal is to expand the family business and live life on his own terms. That is, until he walks into the coffee shop one snowy evening and meets the enchanting, red-haired barista behind the counter. But can Devon and Brandon’s attraction for each other be strong enough to help erase their deepest disappointments and renew their faith in God?

Author Bio:

Catherine grew up in Ohio where she currently lives with her husband and two rescue Labradors. Some of her favorite things include reading, shopping, pepperoni pizza, Hershey bars and hanging out with her two grown sons.

Growing up an only child, Catherine loved to read which fueled her desire to write. It was many years later that her dream of becoming a published author came true.

 

EXCERPT:



Once they got to the park, Devon unhooked his leash. The dog ran in the snow and stopping abruptly, he turned, tongue out and ears perked. Brandon reached down and patted snow into a ball and threw it far beyond Bubby, who took off after it. After a few more throws, they left the dog to himself and walked along the brick path to a bench. Brandon brushed the snow off with his gloved hand and they sat down. Bubby played some more, then lay with his head up and ears alert.

“I’m curious,” Brandon said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “I may be out of line to ask you, but what kind of relationship do you have with this Michael guy?” He looked sideways to see her worrying her bottom lip and hoped he was going to get a truthful statement.

“It’s pretty shallow, really. We’ve never discussed being an exclusive couple. He travels a lot with his company and I figure he probably goes out with other women, and not just for business if you know what I mean. Once he practically admitted to it.”

“What kind of job does he have?”

Devon, who’d been watching the dog, turned to look at him. “He’s the Executive Vice President for Turner Construction. His father owns the company.”

Brandon drew himself back. “Turner Construction! That’s the largest construction company in the Midwest.”

“So, you’ve heard of it?”

“Yes, my dad had some experience with them.”

“So was it a good experience?”

Brandon shrugged. “I really couldn’t say.” Then, hoping to refocus her attention, he asked, “How’d you ever meet him anyway?”

“He hit my car in a parking lot. Not very romantic.”

Brandon looked over at her neutral expression. Whatever kind of relationship she had with Michael Turner didn’t seem to be making her happy. At that moment, all he wanted to do was to make her forget all about the jerk.

As if sensing him watching her, Devon turned her head enough to make eye contact with him. The faint, milky glow from the streetlight showed enough of her features for him to see a soft blush warm her cheeks. Under her dark lashes, he watched her sea green eyes glint invitingly as her soft lips turned up at the corners. In that moment, his resolve to keep the date on a friendly level came crashing down.

Social Media Links:

Author website

Facebook

Twitter

Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Sign up for Devon's Choice Blog Tour &/or Review!