Michelle Clay and her Darker Nature

Welcome Michelle Clay to the blog!

Thank you for having me on your blog today! J

Tell us about your current release.  I’d love to! Of A Darker Nature released June 1^st with Crescent Moon Press. It’s about a necro-telepath who is being hunted by an evil witch and falls in love with the vampire sent to protect her. To date, it’s my favorite novel and I do plan on writing a sequel.

Do you believe in ghosts?  Yes, I do, sort of. I believe remnants of those we love and lost cling to us and manifest in the form of memories or wishful thinking. Last summer I was very, very ill. I’m talking about I seriously thought I was going to die. My mom who had been gone about three years at that time was there, touched my hip, said my name in that calming mom way and I knew everything was going to be okay. I didn’t see her, but the touch and voice was so haunting. How’s that for a rambling, roundabout answer? J

Plotter or Pantser? Why? Ha. I begin with a half-cooked idea and it may or may not be the beginning. From there, I just fly by the seat of my pants. I’ve tried plotting and while I can adhere to it fairly well, eventually I veer off the path and go in a different direction. Pantser, for sure!!

How do you develop your plots and your characters? Do you use any set formula? I do actually develop and think out my characters. This is going to sound a bit crazy, but the leads are usually already bumping around my head for a bit, making themselves known. I make up a character sheet with everything from physical and emotional attributes down to what their fave color is. Plotting, is a whole ‘nother story… I just let the characters tell me where they want to go.

What hobbies do you actively pursue? I make OOAK (one of a kind)horror art dolls and “normal” crafty things. The dolls I make can be found here: http://darklingdolls.blogspot.com/p/about-darkling-dolls.html

Of A Darker Nature Blurb:

With just one touch, Emily Cross can read the memories of the deceased. Working at a funeral home might not be the logical choice, but for Emily, it is a natural one. When she and her boss are attacked, the creatures she once thought were only folklore become all too real. Just as she’s about to be drained of life, the cadaver on the next table rises and fights them off. Feeling a connection to the man who saved her life, she makes it her mission to find him. As she delves deeper, she discovers a dark underworld full of vampires, magic and shape shifters.

Marcus Dane doesn’t know how he ended up in a mortuary. As an Enforcer for the Mistress of the City, he has been following leads regarding a powerful witch who wants to exterminate his blood-clan. His fear that the witch has recruited some of his fellow Enforcers is confirmed and now it looks as though the witch will make her threats real. He counts himself lucky to escape the mortician, because someone in the mortuary business disposes of vampires who are unfortunate enough to cross his table.

When it all comes down to it, Emily now has a vampire she’s romantically entangled with, a very angry Mistress who doesn’t like other people playing with her toys, and an incredibly powerful witch who realizes killing Emily is the gateway to what she wants. By the end, Emily will have to figure out who she can trust, who she has to align with even if she doesn’t trust them, and just who has the darkest nature of all.

Excerpt:

Marcus turned his gaze up to her, eyes dark pools of midnight. The points of his fangs dimpled the tender flesh and blood welled just below the surface. Panic took over and she shoved him backward. She scooted off the counter, pulling the shirt back over her shoulders. "Things are moving way too fast. I shouldn't have let you go that far."

He watched her with scary, dark eyes.

"Why don't I run to town and get you some more blood?"

He grinned, fangs in full view. "I'm more interested in yours."

She shrieked then darted past him. A piece of glass crunched beneath her heel and sent her stumbling.

Marcus gripped her shoulders, drew her against him and pinned her against the refrigerator. He didn't seem to notice or care that she pushed against his chest in an effort to escape.

His mouth lingered just inches from her neck. The tips of his teeth grazed her throat and his breath tickled across her skin. Fangs pinched the delicate area, forcing a low moan from her.

"Please, Marcus." She struggled to be heard over the roaring fear in her head. "Don't do this."

"Why must you torment me?" His lips tickled her skin.

Emily swallowed hard, afraid to move. Marcus's desire still pressed against her and her own swirled low in her belly. His fingers deftly unbuttoned her shorts. She was tempted to throw caution to the wind and let him ravage her. But she had no assurances that he wouldn't bleed her dry.

His hands were at her hips, pushing the denim lower. Next, his fingers hooked her panties. She shuddered against his cool skin and held her breath. He hadn't backed away and his mouth was still at her throat.

"Marcus?" She was afraid to move or do more than whisper. This was unfamiliar territory and she didn't know what might set him off. Sex she could handle, but the fangs at her throat were terrifying.

He surprised her by drawing back. Doubt surfaced behind his darkened eyes, but he didn't take his gaze from her. In a roughened voice he said, "Walk away, don't run."

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Of-Darker-Nature-Michelle-Clay/dp/1937254534/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338524278&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/of-a-darker-nature-michelle-clay/1111207460?ean=9781937254537

Bio:

Even as a child, Michelle wasn’t afraid of the things that went bump in the night. In fact, the thought of a world where werewolves roamed and Dracula reigned king may seem like an eldritch dream to most, but was exciting to Michelle. Instead of turning on a light for comfort, she reveled in the dark, imagining the lives of what was out there roaming the night and frightening those who didn’t truly appreciate how interesting the supernatural really were.

Nowadays, her visions continuously take shape as she brings life to the worlds she has imagined since childhood. The wild imaginings that often got Michelle out of, or more often into, trouble as a young girl have informed and enriched her storytelling as an adult, bringing a fresh new voice to the paranormal romance genre.

 Stalk Michelle:

Website: http://www.michelle-clay.com

Blog: http://www.michelle-clay.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.Michelle.Clay

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/michelleclay

A Taste of Author Kate Evangelista

Hello all, I'm Casea Major and I'm here with Kate Evangelista, author of the highly acclaimed YA Paranormal Romance, Taste. 

Kate, Welcome! Let's get right into knowing you.

Where do you dream of traveling to and why?

 I dream of travelling to Ireland the most. I have Irish blood and the green calls to me. I dream of renting a cottage there for a month and just write like in Nora Robert’s Gallagher Trilogy.

Sounds like a writer's dream. Green is my favorite color.

Tell us about your current release.
I think how Jess from Tales Compendium summarized Taste in a nutshell is the best way to tell everyone about my current release. Here it is:

Taste is a reworking of the zombie mythology in a medieval setting complete with swords, corsets, a deadly virus and a government conspiracy. Throw in some smouldering-hot boys, sexual tension, a mad scientist and a hidden city, and you have one unputdownable novel.

I know you have sparked my interest! Taste is definitely on my TBR list.

Who is your favorite author?

I love, love, love Lisa Kleypas. Anything she writes, I read. Any time she comes out with something new, I always put down whatever I am reading to read her work. If I could be a tenth as good as she is I would consider myself accomplished.

I love Lisa, too. I still need to read her newest book, but she is an amazing writer.

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

I write in the afternoons, right after lunch, and I keep writing until I finish a chapter. I make sure to finish because I like starting a new chapter the following day.

If you could be an animal, what would it be?

I’ve always wanted to be a wolf. They’re such majestic creatures. I have a fascination with werewolves and may one day write a novel with a werewolf as the main character, but I don’t know what it’ll be about yet.

Me, too, Kate. I have a strong affinity for wolves. Do you have anything else to add?

I would like to take this moment to thank you Casea for letting me hang out today. I had so much fun answering your questions. Make Taste part of your summer reading and meet the two hottest guys around: Demitri and Luka. Grab your copy now. Happy reading!

I am so glad you came to visit us today, Kate. You are welcome back any time. And I think every one needs a Taste.

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Amazon / Barnes and Noble /  Crescent Moon Press

 When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

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