Exclusive Interview with V.S. Nelson + Giveaway!

It's RRR's first ever author interview week! We hope you enjoy discovering some new titles this week and getting to know the authors behind all the hard work and writing.

Here to kick things off is romance author V.S. Nelson, and her latest book, Eternal Lovers: Sekhmet’s Guardian. Plus, Ms. Nelson has graciously decided to give a free ebook copy to one lucky reader today. For details on how to win, read through to the bottom of this post!

Okay, lets get this show started:

Danielle:  Welcome to Ravecraft's Romance Realm, Ms. Nelson. I'm very honored to have you. I'm also very excited to talk about you series, Sekhmet's Guardian. It sounds exciting - but I'll let you tell the readers about it.

V.S.:  Eternal Lovers – Sekhmet’s Guardians – Book One is a multi-plotted, band-of-brothers adult paranormal romance which mixes Native American lore with Egyptian mythology. (It is the first book in an eleven book series.) Although each of the books could be considered a stand alone I recommend reading the series in order since the characters from each book continue on into the next. 
 

In book one, the reader is introduced to Jennifer, a young Native American woman who has learned from birth to hide her unique “gifts” and Gabriel a five thousand year old cold and heartless alien warrior who soon becomes obsessed with her.

Danielle:  Native American and Egyptian is not a mix you see everyday. I'm intrigued already! Tell us, how did the idea for the plot and characters come to you?

V.S.:  Gabriel has been tromping around in my head for years. I choose to ignore him until a couple of years ago when he left me with no alternative and little sleep. I was soon amazed with his story and knew I was in for a wonderful ride which would take me years to reveal.

Danielle:  *Laughs* If I had a nickle for every hour of sleep lost to a pestering character! Which books would you say are similar to yours?

V.S.:  I hate to compare my writing or my series to anyone else but if I had to I would say the series falls into the same category with J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood and/or Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed Series.

Danielle:  I love both those series and definitely need to check out Eternal Lovers now! What makes your book different?

V.S.:  Most of the paranormal romance series I have read tend to concentrate on the male characters and their love conquests where my series concentrates more on the feminine heroines as they come into their own. I actually consider Eternal Lovers, Jennifer’s story... The questions she has long since asked are answered in this epic tale of a woman’s self discovery and growth.

Danielle:  Which character would you say is most like you and why?

V.S.:  I guess I would have to say Jennifer, being that both us are Native American. It is easy to see parts of my younger self in her. I believe that my female readers will also find a commonality with her, although I personally see Jennifer, in the beginning, as a weak heroine who has yet to learn what she is truly capable of. By book three, Eternal Nights, the reader will see a whole different side of Jennifer as she develops into one kick-ass heroine who is afraid of nothing.

Danielle:  Jennifer sounds like my type of girl. I love that she grown into her own. Let's talk about your hero now. If you and Gabriel went on a date, where would he take you?

V.S.:  Gabriel isn’t the dating kind of guy but I can easily see myself climbing on the back of his motorcycle and riding off into the sunset with little to no conversation over the roar of the engine. 

Danielle:  Oooh, a man with a bike, that's hot. Going back to Jennifer, what's her biggest flaw and how accurately or inaccurately does this reflect on her?

V.S.:  Jennifer’s lack self confidence. Although she understands she is able to do things others cannot, she has learned to hide her abilities quite efficiently and believes she is (1) an outcast and (2) there is something seriously wrong with her. 

 

Danielle:  What was your reason for writing this book, what goal did you hope to accomplish or what, if anything, do you hope your readers take away from the story?

V.S.:  I originally wrote the story to shut Gabriel up so I could get some rest. It wasn’t until I was finished with the rough draft I started to think about publication. The feedback I received from the few beta-readers I trusted with it prompted the idea of making the Guardian’s stories available for others to read. 

Danielle: It's an amazing feeling to have other read and love your storied too, isn't it? Is this your first novel? If not, what other books have you published in the past and where can our readers find them?

V.S.:  I wrote non-fiction for years then college text books. Currently aside from my series my Valentine’s Day novella, Cupid and Penelope, is available in bookstores and on Amazon.

Danielle:  Wow, I don't think I could write non-fiction, but I bet that experience has really helped you get to know the book industry. It's been a blast chatting with you, Ms. Nelson, but now we must wrap things up. I have just one last question before you go, where do you hangout around the web?

V.S.: 

my website http://www.authorvsnelson.com
my blog      http://authorvsnelson.com/blog
my facebook pages     http://www.facebook.com/pages/VSNelson/152633848161794

http://www.facebook.com/authorvsnelson
 http://www.facebook.com/SekhmetsGuardians

my Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00AXYLHF0

Buy links for Eternal Lovers (paperback) http://tinyurl.com/b8ll29b

  Large Print - http://tinyurl.com/ae3u6lv

                                                  Kindle -    http://tinyurl.com/amvlphl

Conferences

http://arizonadreamin.wordpress.com/

http://romancenovelconvention.com

Danielle:  Perfect, thank you so much. Come back and chat with us again when the next book in the Sekhmet Guardian series comes out! :-)

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Eternal Lovers: Sekhmet's Guardians Book One

by V.S. Nelson

 

Excerpt from Eternal Lovers by V.S. Nelson

Gabriel leaned back against the wall and waited for Raphael to return. While he waited he reflected on the past hour. He had escorted the four donors to the front entrance of the lake house mansion for the party the band, The Immortals, were hosting prior to launching their new world tour. Upon entering the large vestibule, his senses went into overdrive. Closing his eyes, even though they were well protected with his shades, he took in the deep fragrance of blooming jasmine and orange blossoms. Nothing smelled as good or felt as good to his senses in thousands of years. He gave his traveling companions a quick gesture of appreciation, a kiss on the cheek, a pat on the ass then wished them well.

He took a moment to speak with one of the guards manning the main entrance, then took his leave against the back wall to enjoy the flavors of his senses. No longer was he here. His mind, if only for a moment, was back in time--a time when he loved life and the living. That time was over five thousand years ago. The country was ancient Egypt and he was in love. In love as any human, immortal, God or alien could be. He remembered walking in the moonlit gardens smelling the sweet fragrances of jasmine and orange blossoms, holding his princess’ hand. 

Not allowing his heart to endure the pain that was sure to follow, he forced the memories out of his mind and returned to the present. Looking around he realized the fragrances were not something his mind momentarily created, nor was it the flower bouquet he was standing near. The rich scent was coming from someone in the room. Standing still, he allowed his other senses to reach out and find that someone. As his mind searched across the room, he could taste each person’s essence. 

And there it was. He opened his eyes to see a petite woman sitting at the backgammon table dressed in a black and white jumpsuit. She was radiating that which brought his heart to a screaming halt. She wasn’t wearing oils or perfumes. It was her natural essence--clean, rich and sweet, like the fragrances hovering above the Nile.

Leaning against the wall, he began to study the tiny creature before him--a woman who was no larger than an adolescent. She has a soft oval shaped face, almond shaped green eyes that sparkle like emeralds when she laughs. Her lips are full and naturally pink. She wears no lipstick or makeup of any kind. Her cheekbones sit high on her dark olive toned face. Hair the color of rich mahogany, not brown, not brunette; her hair is like highly oiled and polished mahogany. He couldn’t tell how long her hair was as she wore it up, braided in a unique design on top of her head. He noticed her hands were delicate and small, almost childlike

He didn’t sense any immortal blood in her. But yet, something about her was different.  She couldn’t be a mere mortal. Puzzled, he knew he must find out more. Who is she? What is she? What spell had she cast on him?

Gabriel heard her thoughts and knew when she was looking at him. He lowered his glasses, just a fraction, so he could look into her eyes without the hindrance of his shades. Their eyes met momentarily. DAMN, she’s beautiful! He could feel the sexual excitement in their connection. Then, she blushed and quickly turned her face so he could no longer see into her eyes. She got up and moving quickly, walked out of the room.

Without knowing what he was doing, he followed her to the bar. In the echoes of his mind he clearly heard the possessive words, before the night is over, you will be mine.

She was still again, still enough where he could take in her delectable aroma. Lost and drowning in her essence, he moved closer to her. He wasn’t aware what he was doing and frankly, he didn’t care--he was hopelessly lost in her allure. You smell delicious, good enough to eat.

He was startled back into his consciousness when the young woman lunged forward, cussing at him, calling him a pervert and telling him to get away. Had he really said it aloud or had she heard him? That’s impossible. No mortal could hear his thoughts. Surely something else had angered her.

* * * *

About the Author:  V.S. Nelson has always enjoyed reading stories with strong relationships and happy endings so it’s not surprising she found herself writing across the romance genre. Even her commercial fiction, Sins of a Man, the memoirs of a Mafia Hit man, is layered with romantic elements.

Landing in Arizona, after an exciting teaching career, which took her to the Middle East for several years, she lives in Arizona where she spend most of my time making love to her computer while writing, editing or researching, seven to ten hours a day. The days she’s not writing, you will find her with my critique partners at Starbucks, attending or presenting a workshop or at a RWA meeting.

Being a Native American woman and a Scorpio, she’s always had a fondness for history, mythology, the occult, and the unexplained events which have occurred on this world we call home. It was no wonder she found herself writing a paranormal series.

She enjoys hearing from readers, fans and people with similar interests. They are more than welcome to contact her through her websitehttp://www.authorvsnelson.com

* * * *

Win a FREE e-Book Copy of

Eternal Lovers

by V.S. Nelson

Leave a comment below with your name and email address for your chance to win!

Giveaway ends 11:59PM EST on 1/23/13

One commenter will be chosen at random and announced here

on 1/25/13.


Giveaway Ended!
The Winner is....
MARIE TUHART!

Congratulations, Marie. We will be in touch with you via email shortly.
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