Guest Author Virginia
Nelson
-Tell us a little about the book and where did you get the
idea to write this story.
ETERNAL LOVERS - Sekhmet’s
Guardians – Book One –combines Native American lore and ancient Egyptian
mythology in a multi-plotted cross genre paranormal romance. Eternal Lovers is
also the first book in an eleven book series.
Blurb
- When two hidden worlds collide near
modern day Lake Michigan, Jennifer, a young Native American, is confronted with
the reality not everything is as it seems and things do go bump in the night.
The questions she has long since asked are answered in this epic tale of self
discovery when she meets Gabriel; the director of Guardians Incorporated.
Born in New Tuat, Netchkhet, now known as Gabriel, came to Earth some five
thousand years ago to protect the human race, Disillusioned because of an
unfulfilled prophecy, he has become cold and distant - even from those of his
kind. Secretly, he waits for his enemy to take his head so he may leave this
world for good.
Can a tiny Selkie melt his hardened heart and restore his faith in a power far
greater than himself? When history repeats itself, can he save her from death's
embrace or will they be robbed of a future again?
- What’s the best and worst part of being a writer?
Finding enough time to do
everything that is expected from an author is probably the hardest part of
being a writer in our day and age. Many years ago when I first started writing
an author’s job was to write. Editors who worked for large publishing houses
actually published and promotional gigs were scheduled by a staff member.
- What is your writing schedule like?
I’m up between 4 and 5 am. After a
cup or two of coffee I hit the computer, check my mail, messages and Face book
then switch gears putting myself in writer mode. I’m very much a pantser and
love to sprint when writing out first drafts so for the next few hours I will
hammer out words on the keyboard in thirty minute sprints – taking fifteen
minute breaks between them to refill my coffee cup and check messages. I work
pretty diligently until 2pm at which time I take an hour break, eat lunch and
hopefully do some minor housework. When I return to the computer I tend to
switch modes again and use the next couple hours to do edits and revisions. During and sometimes after dinner I go over
my days accomplishments with my soul mate. Since I rise early in the morning
I’m usually headed to the bedroom by 9pm where I manage to watch a tv show or
two before opening up my current reading selection. I read till I fall asleep
then wake up and do it all over again. Sundays are the only day I tend to take
off and are spent with family and friends.
- What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Regardless what genre an aspiring
writer chooses I strongly recommend joining and becoming an active member of at
least one writers group. The support and lessons one receives from others of
like mind is priceless. Personally, I belong to three chapters of RWA among
other writer organizations. My second tiny bit of advice I might offer would be
to apply what you have learned through those organizations but most importantly
listen to your heart. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken – I know I have
broke more than just a few recently.
- Are you seat of the pants writer or plotter?
I write what I see or experience in
my dreams so I would have to say I write by the seat of my pants. During the
revisions I may reapply plotting techniques to heighten story content.
- Have any of your titles ever been changed from your
original choice?
My individual titles have remained
the same although the name of the series did change from Guardian’s
Incorporated to Sekhmet’s Guardians.
- If you could turn any of your books into a movie which
book or series would it be?
I would have to say Sekhmet’s
Guardians. In fact, I have often referred to it as my night time soap. The
first book in the series, Eternal Lovers is currently in the hands of a movie
producer and is being considered for production.
- Do you have a character in one of your books that
continues to haunt you at night or surprised you when you wrote the book?
That would be Gabriel, the leader
of Sekhmet’s Guardians. The man caused me to loose many nights of sleep until I
finally started to write out his story. He continues to amaze me as he delivers
their story through my dreams.
- Which actor screams SEXY to you?
Dwayne Johnson aka the ROCK
- Do you write full time or work outside of the home?
I’m a retired teacher who wrote
non-fiction for over twenty years. Currently I am a full time author who enjoys
her life in sunny Arizona.
- A lot of people think that genre hopping isn’t a good
idea. What do you think?
Personally, I am inclined to believe
new authors should try their hand at a variety of genres. One may like to read
one genre and think that is where their heart and destiny is but without giving
each a try –you will never know.
- Are you an outgoing person? YES
- Are you a morning or night person? Morning
- Is there something about you or your life that readers
might be surprised about?
Up until a couple of months ago I
would have to say my personal relationship with my high school sweetheart was somewhat
of a secret. In 1966 Tom and I, both young teenagers, ran away to get married.
Sadly we didn’t go through with it and as fate would have it we ended up
getting married to someone else and loosing touch with one another. Thirty
years later we were reunited and are now planning on formally tying the not at
the http://www.romancenovelconvention.com World famous cover
model Jimmy Thomas will be performing the ceremony. What better place to get
married than a romance convention?
-Do you write a novel straight through? Or revise as you go?
Plan a whole series in advance? Or does the series evolve?
As previously mentioned, I write
what I see in my dreams so the stories unfold night by night, sadly not always
in chronological order. I tend to write out the complete first draft before
making revisions. Usually while I am making the revisions, rewrites and edits
the next book in the series begins to unveil itself to me. My characters from
each book move forward into the next in the series.
- Do you use Beta readers? I use
both beta and post readers in addition to utilizing my critique group.
- Which books were the most fun to write? The hardest to
write?
The series along with my urban
fantasy, Cupid and Penelope have been a blast to write. The hardest is a
current WIP entitled, Sins of a Man, the story of a Mafia hit man. The hero is
a difficult man to deal with so I tend to write his story in small blocks.
- What’s next?
Eternal Nights – Sekhmet’s
Guardians – Book Two - will be released
in May followed by Eternal Blades, book three in December, 2013. I also have
several other WIP that should be released within the next couple of years.
- Would you like to share something surprising about you
that not many people know? See above wedding plans.
- For fun. What is your favorite kind of chocolate or
chocolate dessert? (I love chocolate covered cherries)
Chocolate covered macadamia
nuts.
Purchase links:
AMAZON – US
Youtube for Eternal Lovers.
Excerpt from Eternal
Lovers – Sekhmet’s Guardians – Book One
Lance met
Marie and Kathleen upstairs and shared the unhappy news about Jennifer with
them. They disappeared for a few minutes then returned to the dining room to
wait for the California group to arrive. Both women said they lit candles and
said prayers on Jennifer’s behalf, each to a different deity. Marie was born a
mortal in Spain some three hundred years ago and held fast to her Catholic
upbringings, while Kathleen was born from two turned immortals. She practiced
the old religion, as did her parents.
The Guardians
held their secrets tight from most others, but here in the house they all
shared, he felt it necessary to prepare the others for what was coming. It did
not look good. He’d already made his way
to the sound studio downstairs and informed the band members. He also informed
Harold in the kitchen as to what was going on. He sent a text message to Roger,
to alert the guards around the estate.
Raphael called
ahead and reported from the plane that Jennifer was unconscious after being
attacked by a breed. Three hours after her encounter in Hollywood with her
husband and his breed lover, she was still in, deep shock. She was alive after
the breed attacked her, but she remained in some kind of comatose state. Her
eyes were open, glazed over and slightly rolled back in her head. She hadn’t
spoken since they rushed in and found her. She wasn’t responding to sound or
touch in any manner.
Lance put a
call in to Michael to come to the estate immediately. Michael, another Ancient,
was skilled in the art of ancient and modern medicines. He hoped Michael could
help her, as he was more gifted at removing memories than any of the others.
Raphael told him Gabriel and himself were both too distraught to even consider
trying it themselves. Raphael also said Gabriel was a wreck. He sat on the
plane, holding Jennifer like a doll, talking to her, hoping to get some kind of
response.
When the group
pulled up in front of the home, the front door was opened by Harold. His usual
smile was replaced with a grim frown. There was sadness in his eyes, the kind
you see when someone dies. He knew the old gentle breed made sure Jennifer’s
room was cleaned, her bed sheets were changed and the covers were neatly pulled
back waiting for her.
Alice entered
the house first, tears flooding her eyes as she looked up and saw Marie and
Kathleen waiting next to him. Behind him, stood Mick, Thomas and the other band
members who recently came up from the basement.
He stepped
aside and Mick stepped forward through the crowd of people, Alice ran to Mick
with tears streaming down her face. Mick embraced his lifemate and held her as
tight as he dared. Then everyone heard her cries, “Oh Mick, I can’t lose her… I
just can’t.”
Lance saw the
pain on Mick’s face as he held on to Alice. Immortal men, including breeds were
known for their superior physical and emotional strength, but when it came to
their lifemate they were just the opposite. The love bond that was created when
one took a lifemate allowed each individual to share in their thoughts and
their pain. The emotional pain Alice was feeling was now Mick’s, in addition to
the pain he already felt for seeing the one he loved in such a state.
Mick looked up
at Michael as he started to walk to the front of the house from the dining
room. Michael quickly waved a hand over the two and Alice quieted almost
immediately. Mick nodded his thank you and remained silent as he continued to
hold on to Alice.
Marie and
Kathleen stepping back were embraced by their lifemates. Both of them were on
the verge of breaking down and needed the comfort of their males.
He, along with
everyone else, watched as Gabriel walked through the door carrying Jennifer.
Gabriel was so big and Jennifer so small, he looked as though he was carrying a
child. Michael pushed through the crowd of on-lookers to get to the two. He
stood in front of Gabriel, looking at Gabe’s heartbroken face then put his
palms on Jennifer’s temples while looking into her glassed over eyes.
“Take her
upstairs,” were the only words Michael spoke.
Gabriel headed
for the stairs with Jennifer, followed by Michael. The crowd broke up, some
heading for their rooms, others like himself, headed into the bar. He needed a
drink—a strong one. It had been a long time since he had seen his brother in
the shape he was in tonight.
Lance should
have known what was going on with Gabe but he hadn’t paid any attention to his
strange behavior. It had been so long since Gabriel showed any kind of
connection to anyone--no wonder he dismissed the idea all together. But now
that he thought about it, Gabriel’s feelings for Jennifer had been right there
in front of him the entire time.
He thought
back to the night of the party and remembered Gabriel coming into the pit
asking him to find Jennifer. He assumed it was because Gabe was trying to avoid
her. Now he knew the truth… Gabriel was in love. May the Goddess help him. If
Jennifer didn’t recover soon, he didn’t know what Gabriel would do. He was
never the same after he lost Akhakh, the one and only female he had ever
loved.
Lance hammered
down a double shot of bourbon, then another. Thomas came in the room and put
his hand on his shoulder then asked, “Did you know?”
He knew what Thomas
was asking—did he know about Gabriel and Jennifer.
“Not until
today. It never dawned on me. In fact, I thought Raphael was making time with
her until this morning when we couldn’t find her.”
Thomas said
his goodbye after pouring them another drink. He leaned on the bar and drank
quietly, hoping Michael was taking care of things upstairs.
#
Thanks for visiting the
Passion Sense Blog, Virginia. Best wishes for a wonderful wedding. How
exciting! Say hello to Jimmy and give him a hug for me. J
Goat Cheese, Tomato, and Parsley Scramble (
Proatmeal (
