Please welcome guest blogger Fiona Jayde. Her latest release from Samhain is available next week!
Fiona Jayde is a space pilot, a ninth degree black belt in three styles of martial arts, a computer hacker, a mountain climber, a jazz singer, a weight lifter, a superspy with a talent for languages, and an evil genius.
All in her own head.
In life, she is an author of kickass, action packed, steamy romances, possesses a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do and blue belt in Aikido, a web developer, scared to death of heights, loves jazz piano, can bench-press about 20 pounds — with effort, was taught English by Nora Roberts and Growing Pains, and when not plotting murder and mayhem enjoys steamy romance novels, sexy spy thrillers, murky mysteries and movies where things frequently blow up.
Mates and Blood and Destiny: Love at First Sight
I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of destiny: free will vs predetermined fate, acceptance of your fate vs fighting like hell to get away from it. My favorite heroes and heroines are destined for something which they both love and hate: Buffy The Vampire has to save the world but wants to live a normal life; Kara Thrace (Starbuck from BattleStar Galactica) wants to drink and pilot her shipt and kick Cylon ass instead of being the “harbinger of death” as she is often referred to. (Am I revealing my inner geek?)
The idea of destined mates makes wonder along the similar lines: I love the fictional concept of finding one’s mate and fighting like hell to get away from them only to be pulled back to the “bond”. I love reading these types of books (and writing them!) where the attraction and emotion are heightened by something inexplicable that binds the main characters together, no matter how hard they fight for their own free will.
I’ve played with that concept in Night Haven, where my wolf shifter heroine – Dina – finds herself immensely attracted to the enemy she is supposed to dust – a vampire. It’s a common understanding that wolves mate for life, and as such, Wolf shifters make terrific heroes for that delicious conflict of the animal sensing its mate and the human refusing anything that isn’t on their own “free will”. Add to that the “wrong” kind of mate – in this case an age old enemy , and tension escalates immeasurably.
The questions that always plaque is the reality of the whole idea: if some gorgeous guy crashes through your door, claims you as mate and expects you to swoon, what would you do? Personally I’d scream bloody murder and grab a nearest weapon, regardless of the strength of the attraction. But that’s just me ? (I still put up my fists if my hubby startles me… especially if I’m not wearing my glasses….)
How realistic are these love at first sight/soul mate scenarios? What if regardless of the bond, the characters are just fundamentally different and just cannot be together – a theme I’ll be exploring in another Bloodwolf book.
To The Readers – do you love or hate the whole “bonded at first sight/soulmates/mates for life” idea? What are some of your favorite books exploring this theme? Do you find it realistic/unrealistic, and why?
You can find out all about Fiona’s book and how to grab it for yourself! HERE
Thanks for playing along everyone! The winners of a digital ARC of His Darkest Embrace and a free copy of my novella time travel, Black Destiny are: Sharon and Judi
Thanks for playing along! email me your deets here at my website and I’ll get your prizes to you ASAP!
I want everyone to watch for a big celebration of the release of His Darkest Embrace next month….I’ve got some very cool authors lined up to give away some very cool prizes! Details will follow!
I’ve got some more Digital Advance Readers Copies of His Darkest Embrace to hand out, so I’ve decided to hold a contest for a chance to win 2 of them! I’ll also throw in a Digital copy of my latest time travel from Samhain Publishing, Black Destiny!
Starting, NOW!
All you have to do is Blurb the book, post the cover and link it back here! (you can find that info here on my website) Oh, and if you ask a question you get an additional chance to win! You can ask me ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sound cool? I’ll let this run until Friday, September 17th!
Want a chance to win a signed copy of His Darkest Hunger? And a digital ARC of His Darkest Embrace? Hop over to Anya Bast’s blog and leave a comment! Both are features giveaways today!
I can’t beleive it’s September. I mean, Hello…where did my summer go? Cause it flew by when I wasn’t looking. Does anyone else find life is just way too crazy busy? Between the kids, the husband, the writing and all the social festivities, sports etc. I think I blinked and now it’s over.
‘sallright tho. Seriously. I’m happy my kids are going back to school. The oldest is starting highschool (sobs) and the youngest is going into grade 6. Routine will once again rule the house!
So what did I do and accomplish? Well, before summer started I handed in Book 3 in The Jaguar Warriors His Darkest Salvation . (I’ve added an excerpt so click on the link to read it!) And then I dove straight into Book 4, Declan’s book which incidentally I’m finishing this long weekend. So I’ve written all summer. Played baseball. Had a release from Samhain, Black Destiny , did copy edits and a revision too!
I attended RWA in Orlando, spent the entire week with all my writer buddies and it was awesome!
Managed to get a fat lip whilst playing baseball. The band played a couple gigs…and I packed on a few pounds!
No wonder the summer passed so quickly!
What’s up in the coming months?
In October I’ll be travelling to New York City to attend ComicCon. I’m absolutely thrilled I was asked to participate on a panel, Fangs vs Fur with the likes of Jeaniene Frost, Pamela Palmer and more!
October 26th sees the release of my Jagger’s book, His Darkest Embrace so be on the lookout for contests and such in its honour!
Other than that….I shall be writing….and I’m not complaing at all!
Tell me, what the heck has everyone else been up to? What are your plans for the fall and winter?
