Tags
Abacadabra Press, Fantasy Romance, Giveaway, Jessica Aspen, Spice, Tales of the Black Court Series, The Dark Huntsman, Twisted Fairy Tales
Many of you may have noticed I’ve been MIA for days, weeks…
ERK! Nearly a month.
[For those who did not notice or care. Thank you, and why the hell not?]
But, guess what! I’m still not back. I have this thing called the Golden Heart that rips at my innards. Why? At this time last year, I sat in this chair on this patio, laptop at the ready, determined to make the deadline for Golden Heart.
[Pause for pathetic sigh.]
My manuscript was not ready last year.
My manuscript will be ready this year, or I will relocate to the State of Denial — near the wilds of Denali, and I will claim a Polar Bear ate my manuscript.
Truth be told, I’d rather throw myself in the path of a polar bear than fail this year.
HOWEVER!
Today is not about what I have not done.
It’s about what Jessica Aspen has accomplished.
Wickedly talented and prolific, Jessica Aspen.
Wickedly talented and prolific and multi-published Jessica Aspen, who has honored me with hosting a cover reveal, a blurb, and an excerpt from her next release, The Dark Huntsman.
I met Jessica near The Continental Divide in the Colorado Rockies in the fall of 2010
I was toasting marshmallows over a campfire. Jessica was gathering crumbs and hooks and images for her novellas and novels.
No? I have to tell the truth?
Okay. I was toasting wienies. Jessica was writing about them. This chick can write STEAM!
No?
Jessica was writing steam. Jessica does write serious steam. She also creates compelling characters, writes lies better than I tell them, pulls her readers into suspended reality, and entertains with twisted fairy tales.
The truth, then.
Jessica and I met at a Margie Lawson Immersion Master Class, and have remained friends since the sad day Margie pried my fingers from her front porch rail and toted me to Denver International Airport.
[The non-truth is the bit about toasting wienies. We were a cast of six female writers. With the exception of Margie (with her ever-patient, awesome cook, hubby), we had no wienies to toast.]
THE BIG COVER REVEAL
Get a load of this cover by Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs.
The Dark Huntsman, Book one in Tales of the Black Court Series by Jessica Aspen. Published by Abracadabra Press.
The genre? Spicy, Fantasy Romance, Twisted Fairy Tales [WOOT!]
An evil queen, a dangerous man, and a witch, tangled together in a tale of Snow White…
THE BACK COVER BLURB
Desperate to save the last of her family from the murderous Faery Queen, Trina Mac Elvy weaves a spell of entrapment. But instead of a common soldier, the queen has released the Dark Huntsman, a full blooded fae with lethal powers.
Caged for treason, Logan Ni Brennan, is ready to do anything to win free of the manipulative queen, even if it includes running a last errand for her…murdering a witch. The sight of Trina, ready to fight despite the odds, gives him another option: use the witch as a chess piece, put the queen’s son on the throne, and bring down the queen forever.
As the queen slides into insanity and her closest advisor makes plans to succeed to the throne, Logan secrets Trina away in the enchanted forest and makes a decisive move in his dangerous game of manipulation. But the gaming tables of fate turn on him, and when Trina’s life is threatened he discovers he risks more than his freedom…he risks his heart.
THE WICKEDLY GENEROUS GIVEAWAY by the WICKEDLY TALENTED JESSICA
To celebrate the release of her first in Tales of the Black Court series, Jessica is giving away ten (Yes! One-Zero! Ten!) free eCopies of The Dark Huntsman.
Click here to enter, and please — be sure to leave a comment below. Both Jessica and I love to play in comments.
OH! OH! AN EXCERPT!
Trina raced out the door, forgetting again about the broken bottom porch step. The rotting wood gave under her foot. She hit hard on her hands and knees. The heavy duffle bag swung down and slammed into her arm, tipping open, the sacred ritual tools scattering into the dirt.
Her throat swelled tight. She swallowed back forbidden tears, sat up, and brushed off the tiny rocks embedded in her flesh.
“Damn it!”
She didn’t have time for this.
Scrambling around in the dirt and weeds, she grabbed the precious tools, tossing them like discarded toys into the duffle. Why hadn’t the Goddess Gifted her with time manipulation? Then she wouldn’t have to worry about all this crap.
Ignoring the gorgeous dusty golds and ambers of fall in rural Wyoming, she hauled the loaded duffle up the rapidly darkening hill. Something was coming to the peaceful valley. Cassie had dreamed it, and even if her dreams were subject to interpretation the meaning had been clear. Tonight at sunset, the queen’s dog would descend.
Whatever the hell “queen’s dog” meant.
Sometimes it took more talent than a whole family of witches to figure out the symbolism of Cassie’s visions. Whatever creature the Faerie Queen sent tonight didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was that the last of her family was safe, speeding away in the ancient avocado van.
Doubt quivered low in her belly. The trap spell required more knowledge and power than she possessed, but she had to try. She didn’t know if they’d have another opportunity to grab one of the queen’s scouts before the reinforcements arrived. It was all up to her. They needed information and they needed it soon, before they ran out of places to run.
She reached the point where the rocks began near the old cottonwood at the entrance to the sage labyrinth. An exact eighteen feet across, the sacred three-times-three-times-three, and barely hitting two and-a-half feet tall, it had taken much of her green talent to get it to grow into the classic winding spiral walk used for meditation and spells. No longer the place where she and her cousins had come for spiritual practice, now the stubby double spiral of green and its small center circle would have to change gears from sacred meditation spot to the place she made her stand.
Trina swallowed her fear and reluctance down deep in her gut, dumped her duffle, and stripped off her clothes. A hard gust of the ever-present Wyoming wind shook her. The newly bared skin of her belly shivered and dread trailed chilly fingers down her spine.
She caught herself checking over her shoulder, finding nothing but the empty landscape. If there were any other way to do this besides bare-assed-naked, she would. But cotton was a downer, it dampened magical fields almost as much as wool. And tonight she had to be unfettered, able to draw as much power as she possibly could. She would need it all.
As soon as the goblin, halfling, or whatever, was in her trap, her clothes could go back on. Then she’d tackle the interrogation and be gone before the big guns arrived. Trolls, ogres, a horde of goblins, no, she’d be long gone before any of those arrived to do the actual killing.
She hoped.
Trying not to rush her steps, the wind lashing dirt against her bare skin, she walked the perimeter of the small labyrinth heading sunwise.
North, East, South, West. She set candles into lanterns at the four corners and lit each one with a prayer to Danu. With each step, apprehension uncoiled in her stomach, radiating out and shaking her hands until it was near impossible for her to light the last candle.
She shoved her anxiety back into her aching stomach and pulled her white handled athame out of the duffle. Breathing deep, she moved the ritual knife, sharp double-blade point up, between her breasts. Energy skidded across her skin. Small hairs on her body rose and her nipples puckered tight.
Time to begin.
Earth magic throbbing under her feet, Trina took the first step into the labyrinth to walk the outer circle and set the wards. Her Gift opened wide. The darkening valley glowed magical colors as the earth’s swirling energies, the soft green of growth and the rich brown of decay, flowed up her legs and into her solar plexus.
She used her body, her anger, and her fear. Anger at the Faery Queen for the constant harassment and extermination of her family and her tribe. Fear of what came next, what might be riding on the coattails of the sunset.
Pulsing with power, she paced deeper and deeper into the labyrinth, static lifting her long black hair into a crackling wild nimbus. She pulled and twisted the vibrant orange and red of her anxiety into the alchemy of the earth’s brown and green energy, weaving them together into an invisible net.
Each measured step layered power into the fabric of her spell. Each movement of the athame directed the energy where it needed to go. Just as darkness dipped its toes into the valley, she turned the last curve into the double spiral’s center.
Her rage and fear coalesced into the final strands of the spell leaving her shaking and exhausted as the last of the afterglow faded from the sky, a stunning show of deep purple on grey. A sonorous quiet descended. No birds, no coyotes. Just the wind sending small trails of skittering leaves through the labyrinth. Prickles of anticipation trembled on her bare spine.
It would be here soon. It was coming fast. And it was coming for her.
ABOUT JESSICA ASPEN
Jessica Aspen has always wanted to be spirited away to a world inhabited by elves, were-wolves and sexy men who walk on the dark side of the knife. Luckily, she’s able to explore her fantasy side and delve into new worlds by writing paranormal romance. She loves indulging in dark chocolate, reading eclectic novels, and dreaming of ocean vacations, but instead spends most of her time, writing, walking the dog, and hiking in the Colorado Rockies. To sign up for Jessica Aspen’s new release email please click here.
FOLLOW JESSICA OR STALK HER OR BOP AROUND HER SITES AT:
GOODREADS (ADD THE DARK HUNTSMAN TO YOUR TBR STACK WHEN YOU VISIT!)
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. PROOF, ONCE AGAIN, THAT I AM BLESSED WITH A PLETHORA OF TALENTED, PROLIFIC WRITERS WHO I’M HONORED TO CALL MY FRIENDS.
Leave a comment. Please! You know how I love to play around in comments. And, don’t forget to click the Linky-Love to enter the giveaway for one of ten free copies.
Gloria Richard 
Gloria, good to read you! I totally understand where you’ve been however. Sometimes the SM just takes over. I am constantly turning off my email, pulling the cord on my phone and locking my office door, just so that the muse will get over her shyness and help me put words on the page.
I doubt Jessica ever has such problems as she just keeps putting new books out. Awesome lady and awesome books. She is visiting my blog in October, by the way.
What I like about this post is Jessica’s generosity with her snatch out of her new book and your injections of laugh out loud humour. So much fun from both of you!
Good morning, Elaine, so nice to see you here on Gloria’s site. 🙂
I always have those problems, that facebook is now my current demon, but I learned FROM Miss Gloria and Miss Sherry themselves to sit down and set that timer. I almost never write as much as my goals say I should, but since I set my goal at five hours in the chair daily, I usually end up with something. Most days!
Glad you liked the excerpt! This book is different from my others in that it’s much longer and has a deeper plot, so I hope you enjoy the whole book too! Thanks for dropping by.
WOWZA, Elaine!
You get the host AFTER the long-awaited, and much anticipated release date?
Oh, how I wish shutting the door and locking myself in a quiet space worked for my writing muse. Me? Shut off by myself in a room? With the way my brain operates, that’s a recipe for chaotic, random thoughts.
And life-altering Google searches.
Nope. I’ve gotta be around people. It’s the buzz and energy I draw from people that helps me the most.
That, plus Sherry Isaac on the other side of an open chat, immersed in her own timed sixty.
Thank you, Gloria, for hostessing my cover reveal tour with such panache! The lovely thing about having a guest on your blog is it gives you time to go back to typing and enter that Golden Heart. I am thinking about heading down to Texas for those Nationals this year and I would love to be sitting at the table with a GH finalist when that awards ceremony begins. So go, go, go!
I put in my first 60 minute MS writing session before I bopped over here, Jessica.
And, it’s my pleasure to host one of my WINNING, PROLIFIC, AWESOME writing buddies.
Makes me
jealous as helldetermined beyond relief to get ‘er done for Golden Heart.I appreciate your confidence that I’ll be a finalist. My job ends when I submit this puppy. Let’s hope those who don’t know me like my voice.
EEEEE! on heading this way for Nationals. Woot!
That’s the plan, so you better get that ms done! One hour a day can do it. 🙂
Welcome back, Gloria! I have missed you. Love your dedication, though. Jessica’s book sounds ultra faboo and is totally right up my alley! Yum. Did I mention I have a thing for twisted fairy tales with “princesses” who can save themselves?
Trust me on this one, Kitt. Buy one of her early Novellas while we await release of this book. She writes some hot-damn(!) sex scenes.
And, yes. Her heroines? Totally rock the Alpha Male’s world. You’ll love the reads. I do.
Ooh! Look forward to it!
I love fairy tales, and yes, um, those novellas are meant to be on the hot, hot, hot side! This one has lots of fantasy plot, and I’ve been told there are some hot scenes. How do I do a blushing smiley face on here???
That’s great! Gloria could probably tell you I tend to live on the hot side. 🙂
Excellent! 🙂
I’m with Kitt: This book sounds YUMMY. Congrats on the series, Jessica!
And Gloria, you WILL get your mss finished for the Golden Heart. The End. You keep that Cowbell as long as you need to. Ring it when you get stuck.
I WILL ring that More Cowbell when I get stuck, Jenny.
And, I plan to follow your advice and post something short each week. This intro rolled from my brain to my fingers just like back in the good ole’ unconscious incompetence days.
Heck! I could C&P comments made on More Cowbell. Those are longer than some blog posts. Right?
Right on, Gloria!! A blog can be sho-o-o-ort. As long as it’s engaging. I think you’ll find, like I do, a quick blog clears out the cobwebs for writing your WIP.
Thanks, Jenny! I’ve been AWOL from More Cowbell the last few months getting this book and the second one ready for publication. I miss the undie chronicles!
No worries, Jessica! And there’s two Undie Chronicles already scheduled to go up in the next few weeks. 🙂
WOOT!
Beautiful cover and sounds like a book I’d love. And Gloria–You go girl. Your peeps are all pulling for you!
I did not get an advance copy of The Dark Huntsman, but I’ve read all of Jessica’s novellas. There is no doubt in my mind this one will rock. The excerpts alone…
Just wish I hadn’t turned her down when she asked me to pose for her cover art.
Wrink, wrink, wrink! <=== Dang! Pinocchio nose noise gave me away.
I now realize I should have gone
pubicpublic with my Golden Heart aspirations sooner. My peeps pulling for me?I can’t not do it now.
Back to the WIP!
It is a fantastic cover, isn’t it? Kari did a fabulous job, I love her work! and Gloria, I can send you an ARC. Want one???
I would love one, but…
I am horribly undisciplined when it comes to allocating a set amount of time to read each day.
When I start a well-written, page-turner (which I know yours are), I do nothing else until I reach The End. Nothing. Zip. Iddity. Do. Dah.
This doth not a Golden Heart productive day make. Forsooth
I already have to plan time-out for mid-October.
There’s something about a labyrinth that I find magnetic. Jessica, I’m hooked.
Labyrinth’s are cool, not to be confused with mazes, which often happens. I see a blog post for my blog tour next month!
I could Google and not appear like an injut. But…
I’m one of the uninformed who does not understand the difference between labyrinth and maze. Educate me, oh wise one.
I’ll know what I’m getting into the next time I annoy Sherry and she tries to lose me in one or the other.
I was going to give you a layman’s definition here, but I think maybe I’ll use this as a bounce for my post here next month. What do you think? Getting lost in a definition? Hmm I’ll have to work on it.
Bring it on! LOVE the idea.
Unfortunately, I am still MIA and don’t know if I’ll make my deadline to return next week. I have not and make it a strict policy NOT to comment when I am on a break … BUT GIRLFRIEND … I missed you so much I could not resist. I’ll absorb all of this when I return in the mean time know this … you will meet you goals and you will ring that bell !!
WOOT, Florence. Thanks so much for breaking your hiatus to say hello. Miss you, too. You take the time you need. Don’t worry about a preset date.
The Golden Heart deadline is doing that to and for me. You can worry about my deadline, instead. 🙂
Gloria, I noticed you were MIA and am loving your Snark E. Pen comeback! I will dare to walk on the snark side, and will definitely enter the giveaway. What’s not to love about a dark and twisted fairy tale?
There is nothing not to love about the dark and twisted tales Jennifer weaves, Elizabeth.
You’re so friggin’ kind to bebop to my site when I’ve been MIA on yours (and, many others). Hang on!
I’ll be back on track.
Whoop! The above assumes I once had myself and my life on track. I don’t do “tracks.”
I do comments. Lots of comments. You have been warned.
So glad everyone loves dark, twisty, fairy tales! WOOT!
Love the cover art! I am sure the book is terrific.
Yeah, I was wondering where you have been. Working hard to become famous take time away from blogging!
Yes, Filbio.
Teeny, tiny confession? I’ve read recent freaking awesome blogs about NYC, the political twists, the food, the parties, the quirks of NYC.
It wasn’t until I determined I could turn off the link back blog love that I began to comment again. GACK! The same title umpty-ump times in a row? How embarrassing.
You’ll see more of me in your comments. Gotta’ get my NYC Guy fix.
You have been warned.
I’d encourage you to read Jessica’s book, but you’re the kind of Alpha Male we females read romance to slobber over. *wink*
And, yes, Phil. I’m sure you did love the cover art. Any particular feature? The font for the title? The background? The forbidden fruit red apple at the bottom?
Thanks, Filbio, it is a stellar cover.
And as for Miss Gloria… my alpha husband loves my work! Lots of alpha guys read romance. Okay, maybe not lots, and maybe hubby is a tad biased, but there are male romance readers for sure. And ahem, Gloria, are you suggesting there might be some reason a guy might read my book besides the stellar prose? Hmm?
I hope so! It has some great fantasy in it, so hopefully that is what you are implying the cover suggests. BTW hubby loved this cover too. What’s up with that?
*SNORT* on “what’s up with that???”
I was not implying that Phil is not well read in all genres. I knew he wouldn’t admit reading romance. Anything other than those Hustler stories I’ve
readheard about.If you think Hustler is romance I have some swampland in Texas I can sell you, dirt cheap!
You’re always missed, Gloria 🙂 The except is great and the premise sounds fabulous. I’m sure you’ll be able to toast wienies (ouch) with Jessica when she’s rich and famous!
Yours, living in fear of whatever it is you have in mind, Nigel.
I know I owe you an email about our More Cowbell adventures, Nigel.
Don’t live in fear.
I’m hoping to creatively craft my adventures so your only culpability will be for taking pictures or filming
deviantunorthodox behavior.Oh. You may also get a speeding ticket. You’re the driver of the getaway car.
See? Like I said. Nothing to fret.
I’d be afraid, Nigel, very afraid. She’s a smooth talker and will get you into trouble fast!
Love…love…love it!! And fantasy isn’t really my thing, so that’s saying a lot. The blurb got my heart racing. I can only imagine what the book will do. Good to “see” you Gloria, and thanks for a peek at your latest work Jessica!!
Megan! You have been a busy person during my hiatus.
*hangs head for failure to be faithful follower*
Readers! Megan has been busy promoting an anthology of erotic romance stories about and titled High Octane Heroes. Men in uniform until they aren’t (IYKWIM).
Read her author interview here. I chose this link because it contains all the linky love to purchase the anthology, plus it features an excerpt of Megan’s story.
Back to my guest, Jessica. Your heart-racing experience with this blurb matches my reaction. Anxiously tapping my toes awaiting the October 13th release date.
Hanging my head right with you, Ms. G. I’ve been sporadic in my following for sure! Live…it’s a whirlwind. In a good way. You are too sweet! Thanks!! And good luck with your productive hiatus!!
No need to hang your head, Megan. I was remiss in NOT getting to that AWESOME new release sooner. Lots happening with both of us…
THANK GOODNESS GLORIA IS BACK is what I thought when I saw this shiny new post in my inbox. I haven’t yet ventured in the fractured/twisted fairy tale novels, but this one, Jessica, is oh-so tempting. I daresay it’ll be my gateway novel.
Keep up the hard work, Gloria! You’ll have that manuscript positively glowing in time for the Golden Heart. I am sure of it.
*sends awesome writerly vibes full of creativity and verve (yes, verve) across the night sky*
SKA-WEEEE!
Now, when I ping good vibes your way from the stars over Texas, I can hang out to get yours.
NOTE TO SELF: Find a way to fit the word verve into my MS.
Escape into Jessica’s well-crafted world of paranormal romance. Her books zap any angst I might be feeling, and page-turn me into her fantasy world. A wonderful way to escape reality when it’s blah infested.
If I have lured Gloria out of blog retirement, then my mischief making job is done. It’s only fair, she is the master mischief maker. See Gloria, your friends miss you! Good thing I got you out of bed and onto the blog!
Every writer everywhere gets what you are going through. Take heart. It’s wonderful to have fabulous friends, as you do in Jessica. Both you are mega talented!
WOOT! You just comment zapped me out of my nap-as-creative-genius-generator plan.
I’ll be annoyed when I walk past that comfy couch in the living room, but I’ll take Golden Heart from your words of encouragement.
Missed you, Gloria! Thank you for this lovely (always hilarious) review!
~ Cara
Ah, Sweet Cara! I’ve been remiss on visiting your blog, too. I hope your stats show I purchased your AWESOME release. Have to finish my manuscript before I dive into your words because I know they will snatch me up into page-turning don’t-mess-with-me-I’m-reading mode. Well done!
Ah, those wienie stories… More!
Congrats to you, Jess. The cover is beautiful and the story, entrancing.
More wienie stories? Really? You have no idea what power you’ve unleashed Ms. St-Laurent.
Loved the tale. At once fairy-like and uplifting.
Shakti
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