Interview
1) First, tell us about yourself - where you live, your family, and those sorts of details.
J.T.: Before we answer, V.L. and I want to say thank you for hosting Crimson Reign in the blog tour! We are very excited to be here with you today. Okay, answers: I live in Alabama…War Eagle! Can't wait for the BCS championship game in January! I have a large extended family and together, V.L. and I have five children, four sons and a daughter.
V.L.: I live in Birmingham, England...some days it feels like I'm a world away! I work full time for a health and fitness firm and I'm the youngest of all my siblings.
2) How long have you been writing?
J.T.: I've been writing since August 2010. I started in a role play group online and gradually moved to my own writing. My first published book was Ocean's Kiss in September 2012.
V.L.: As JT explained above, I started off as a role player where we all wrote within the same group. It was great fun and full of the most amazing people, some of which have remained great friends for the last six years.
3) Do you have a favorite place to write?
J.T.: Not really. I tend to be able to write anywhere I can get my laptop up and running. I pretty much zone out. The kids have to knock me over the head when I really get going on a story.
V.L.: I'm not as lucky as J.T.! LOL. I have a really short attention span and get distracted really easily. For me, I need somewhere that's void of people where i can put some music on and lose myself.
4) Why did you decide to write Crimson Reign?
J.T.: Hmmm, kind of a tricky question. Lachi and Laz actually came along late. Originally, we started with Vischeral and Copi. We started them in March 2011 I think. When we decided to write Laz and Lachi's story, it became evident the first two were tied into it. We spent the middle part of 2012 writing Crimson Reign. I think that's right…V.L.?
V.L.: Your right on the mark babe...Laz is a very emotional character and he needed/wanted the world to know exactly how he feels for Lachi. He wouldn't rest until their story was told.
Dalene: Now that we know why you wrote Crimson Reign and I love a good vampire story (so now I need to get my hands on this book) ;P I wonder when you visit today if you could tell us why you decided to write Love Life & Circumstance.
5) Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
J.T.: Lachi. He's a part of me. He goes with me everywhere I go. The other voices in my head tend to lay low until I'm at the computer, but Lachi NEVER shuts up. That vampire takes being King seriously. He always has input.
V.L.: All of them *Laughs* That's one of the reasons I find it hard to focus. They all want want want and I could happily day dream for hours about where I see them going in this story. But, if I had to choose...Laz is my angel, and I love him so much. Especially his smart mouth.
6) How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?
J.T.: The easy answer there is Darklon. He's the villain. He's after Lachi's throne and wants to own Vischeral. He's not the only baddy in the bunch, but he's the worst…for now. *grins*
V.L.: Hmmm.....If you were asking Laz, he'd say Vischeral. That mofo always seems to be there, hovering like a bad smell. Laziel will always feel there was something more between him and Lachi, and wonders just how far things would have gone between them...that hurts him ALOT!
7) Do you proofread/edit your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?
J.T.: We've done it both ways…okay that made Lachi laugh and his comment was x-rated. He's a really wicked vampire. Anyhoo….we've worked with editors and I've edited our work myself. We tend to get the same results either way. I know authors who've had NY Times retired editors do their work and they still get bashed in reviews for editing. It's a crap shoot as far as I'm concerned.
V.L.: *Looks blankly and refers to JT with a grin*
J.T.: *pats her knee* S’ok darlin’. You write and let me handle the editing. No scary red lines for you. *winks*
8) What do you like to do when you're not writing?
J.T.: Mostly, I read in any spare time I have. That's not saying much as I rarely have an extra minute in a day. Ideally, I'm a beach girl. Long walks across the sand listening to the waves crash.
V.L.: I read prolifically. I’ve always got my kindle or a book or two on the go. I also go to the gym every day. I love to work out.
9) Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
J.T.: OH MY YES! I have a list a mile long. V.L. Moon, without a doubt. J.R. Ward, J.D. Robb, Kim Harrison, Adrian Phoenix, Susan Mac Nicol, Orson Scott Card, Anne McCaffrey….it goes on and on.
V.L.: My J.T. will always be my #1. Love her work. I have to admit to being addicted to Avril Ashton and Ann MaConnell Lister...Totally loving their work right now.
10) What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has? Write it out here, then answer it.
J.T.: Hmm, a question I want asked that hasn't been….that's hard. I can think of one…Who is Roman's real father? But, I don't want to answer that yet…*laughing*….I will say you've already met him.
V.L.: I have no clue. The saga is still in its early stages with so many characters yet to be introduced. I think, for me, it would have to be Khad and what happened to him as a child.
J.T. & V.L.: Thank you for having us! We enjoyed our visit. Laz and Lachi send their love!
Dalene: Thank you for coming to visit.
Synopsis:
Born the son of a preacher man, Elijah Deacon always conformed to his father’s strict religious teachings. He worked hard, devoting his time and energy to the family owned construction firm, leaving little time to focus on the deplorable state of his private life. Small town America was no place to be when all a man craved was the touch of another man. Elijah hid his sexuality and tried in vain to convince himself he could be happy with a woman. Urged on by the dream of having the family he craved, Elijah couldn’t know a drunken one night stand would see him pay the ultimate price.
Leaving the bright lights of Atlanta and placing his own life on hold, paralegal, Seth Jacobs, moved to Alabama hopeful that with a baby on the way, his twin sister Bethany would settle down. His older sister by five minutes, she gave him the confidence he needed while growing to come out and be proud of who he was. It was his turn to return the support. On arrival in Headland, Seth endeavored to make her see the dangers her behavior presented to her and her unborn child. But, to no avail.
When destiny deals a cruel blow, and the life of a newborn baby hangs by a thread, Seth and Elijah are flung together to deal with the tragic circumstances. The grief threatens to consume them, while joy and fear work to unite them. Jealousy, love, lies and bitter truths rise to the surface and threaten to tear them apart. Can the powers of love and life bring them together and heal the loneliness that death leaves behind? Or will circumstance prevail and fuel the embers of love that draw them together?
Excerpt:
Sprawled in the dainty rocking chair, Elijah Deacon overwhelmed the room. Booted feet crossed at the ankle. Blue jean clad legs stretched for miles and hugged lean hips. The light blue cotton tee shirt molded to Elijah's thick chest and broad shoulders. Perched like a tiny angel, Hope lay curled in a miniature ball on that massive chest. One large hand cradled her diapered bottom.
They both slept, if the matching snores were any indication. Seth eased closer, drawn to them. He desperately wanted to crawl into Elijah's lap and have the man's other arm wrapped around him. As if drawn by his thoughts, his gaze flicked to where Elijah's hand lay in his lap clutching something white. Another step and he swallowed hard. Elijah held the picture of the three of them, his thumb resting just below the likeness of Seth.
Elijah shifted and Seth's gaze snapped upward. The hand on Hope's bottom tightened as if reassuring himself she still lay there. Behind closed lids, Elijah's eyes moved. Those lush lips parted.
"Seth." His name tumbled from Elijah's mouth, freezing him where he stood. When several seconds passed, and the large man settled back into sleep, Seth dared moved closer. The urge to touch overcame him. He reached out a trembling finger and traced it down the curve of Hope's back. She snuffled and burrowed closer into her father's chest. Seth smiled. She was so precious.
His hand and eyes lifted. Elijah's beautiful, darkly tanned face was relaxed as he slept. Seth's fingers itched to caress the high cheekbones. Moving of its own accord, his hand rose higher still. Very lightly, fingertips met warm flesh. Seth's heart raced. If Elijah woke up, he'd be in trouble. He should back away, go back out and knock, let Elijah know he was here. But, Seth couldn't move, except for the hand that continued to stroke Elijah's flushed skin.
"Are you really here, or am I dreaming?" The deep baritone stalled Seth's timid exploration of Eli's face.
"You're dreaming." He answered just as low. Elijah's lids blinked open. Piercing blue eyes locked onto Seth.
"Where's your boyfriend?" The quiet question was loaded with accusation, but it was the uncertainty in Elijah's eyes that got the answer.
"Sitting in a rocking chair, holding my niece." Wariness and doubt flooded Elijah's gaze. Seth brought his fingers down to stop the words forming on Elijah's lips. "We need to talk, but not here. Can I hold her?" At the other man's nod, Seth scooped his niece into his hands trying very hard to ignore the hard slabs of muscle she lay upon. With her cradled to his chest, Seth crooned to her while moving to lean against the wall. A long arm shot out to grasp his hip. He didn't resist as he was guided back to Elijah's lap.
"If you sit here, we can both see her," Eli said gruffly. Seth wasn't about to complain, and settled into Elijah's lap. The rocking chair protested the added weight with a pained groan. They sat stiffly for several minutes, neither speaking, eyes locked on the pink bundle.
Author Bio’s –
JT
After a lifetime of reading and at the suggestion of friends, J.T. finally put fingers to keys and started writing her own stories. It’s been a wildly amazing ride full of tears, exhilaration and plain old hard work. Thankfully, her three beautiful children support her craziness and encourage her to continue something she loves. While she does write solo stories, she thrives on the work she does with V.L. Moon, her writing partner and fiance. What a small world it is indeed Mr. Disney when a small town girl from Alabama can find and write with a big city girl from England. What a ride it has been and continues to be!
Email - jtcheyanne@hotmail.com
VL
V.L. is an avid book reader and a lover of long dark winter nights tucked up with a rather fruity glass of red and her partner in crime J. T. Cheyanne. She aspires to conquer the world with J.T. and their love of vampires, angels and wolves mixed in with some mighty fine Gods and a deluge of hot gay romance.
Email - j-gs69@live.com
Link to tour schedule
Thank you so much for hosting both us and our book. It was great fun to be here with you today Dalene.
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