FOR LOVE THE BELL TOLLS
A Gothic Romance Short Story Anthology
Stars and Stone Books
 
Featuring: Cara McKinnon, Sheri Queen, Read Gallo, Serena Jayne, Kylie Weisenborn, and Heather Sheldon.
 
Buy Now:
 
Kindle | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Google Play
 
Cara McKinnon - “The Doors Between”
Can love overcome an otherworldly evil?
 
Sheri Queen - “The Circus Train”
Finding love isn’t easy, especially when someone wants your blood.
 
Read Gallo – “Blood and Petals”
How much would you change to get what you want?
 
Serena Jayne – “Kiss Me Dead”
With only the light of their love, Simon and Lila attempt to conquer darkness and death.
 
Kylie Weisenborn – “Undead Men”
When the dead become unburied, so does the truth.
 
Heather Sheldon – “Lost Love Found”
A haunted gift flips Mandy’s world on end, and her handsome new neighbor might be her only salvation.
 
 
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR AUTHORS
 
STARS AND STONE BOOKS: http://starsandstonebooks.com/
GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/2Emfv2B
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TWITTER: https://twitter.com/starsstonebooks
ANTHOLOGY WEBSITE: http://starsandstonebooks.com/for-love-the-bell-tolls
Dark Paranormal and Theme
Gothic romance is sometimes called dark paranormal romance. We asked the authors what paranormal elements they included in their stories and why. We also asked about the theme of their stories. Did they choose the theme on purpose, or did it just come out of the writing process?
 
Read Gallo – “Blood and Petals”
The paranormal element is faeries, the darkest paranormal creatures of all. Lol. Since I was dealing with pregnancy and there’s myths about faeries stealing children and granting wishes I thought it would be fun to use that particular monster.
It’s a very feminist story, from the frightened woman finding her fight and claiming her right to her child and her body to the trans character earning his/her transformation. I knew I was going to be writing a story about lesbians in an older time, so I knew I was going to be dealing with queer issues from the get go. I was surprised at the layers I was able to get to, especially with Mrs. Bespatikos. She kind of lives as an evil villain and as a fairy godmother at the same time, and it was interesting to explore the role of this kind of mythic creature functioning with a modern feminist message.

Serena Jayne – “Kiss Me Dead”
Tarot cards and elements from Greek afterlife mythology make up the world. I plotted this story in a phenomenal Tarot for Writers course taught by Devon Ellington. I drew the death card for my protagonist and the other cards formed the story structure. For me the theme is love conquers all. It might be fun to take the same cards and create a tale in another genre.

Cara McKinnon – “The Doors Between”
I can’t seem to write many stories without magic or something supernatural, so I had a blast throwing the kitchen sink of gothic tropes at this story. My heroine is a witch, whose particular area of study involves spirits and helping them move on. Her big challenge in the story is to banish a demon, although it isn’t really a demon in the sense of heaven and hell. It’s a being from another universe that is trying to push through into our world. The house where she grew up is isolated on an island, and has long been inhabited more thickly by ghosts than the living, thanks to a family curse.
The theme of my story is that a house is not a home. Home is the people we love, and who love us. I definitely did not choose that theme. The story ended up there.

Sheri Queen – “The Circus Train”
Voodoo curses and rituals, a loup-garu who falls in love with the one person he could possibly pass the curse to, and ghosts that follow Lily wherever she goes. The mix of these paranormal beings were fun to write about. The main theme is something that just came out as I wrote and it’s about fighting for love, even if it might kill you.

Heather Sheldon – “Lost Love Found”
I incorporated ghosts/a supernatural book/and dream travel. These subjects have always interested me. My theme would be that you can’t do it alone. People need people.

Kylie Weisenborn – “Undead Men”
My first thought was to include zombies or some other paranormal creature, however, then I thought that might be what a lot of people would choose to do. So instead, I thought about how horrified people back then would be if they thought people really were rising from the dead. It’s not your typical zombie story.
Theme is a hard one. I would say the theme is something related to unearthing the truth (sometimes literally). The truth and justice are important, and taking justice into your own hands is a slippery slope.
 
The anthology authors will be answering more questions on this blog tour! To check out all of the stops, visit: https://www.starsandstonebooks.com/blog-tour.

Why do paranormal romances appeal to you?

As a reader, I love the way you can escape and leave real life behind with a paranormal romance. As a writer, it’s the same principal. I can more or less have my paranormal characters do anything and be as fabulous as I want. They can do superhuman things or take on characteristics of powerful animals. It’s great.

What is your favorite thing about writing?

I have more than one I think that seeing my characters develop and take on lives, inventing the setting, where they live, and the landscape is thrilling. With my romance stories, it’s writing a happy ending for my lovers. I must have happy endings, because it seems to me that there are so few in real life. I guess I write to escape, just as I read to escape.

Hopes for the future ...

I don't want to talk about the hope for world peace and the eradication of disease and poverty. I don't want to talk about better treatment for animals and the environment. Naturally those hopes are always at the back of my mind.

As an author I hope to have the time to write the stories that crowd my mind presently, all clamoring to be written, but many unlikely to be written.

The dream is that time will, for once, be on my side.

I seem to have so little time for writing. My time is filled with the seemingly constant need to market my product. Time to write has become such a luxury it's almost a guilty pleasure. I've begun to think I'm doing something wrong that marketing takes up three quarters of any time I have left over from my day job. The amusing or sad fact is that most of my marketing is fruitless. Maybe I should just give it up in the face of the horrendous new statistics on the flooded publishing industry.

The sprinkle of magic for me will be that I retrieve the joy I had in writing a story, and simply enjoy it, rather than allow the pressure of marketing to send me running from writing.

The dream is that more of my stories will reach readers.

Ultimately what I write are love stories. They reflect my own hope and need for a HEA in life.

   When Simi finds a pretty old candlestick among the discarded props in the company storeroom, she never imagines it will grant her dearest wish. There’s something mysterious about the carved candlestick, but Simi is drawn to it. She’s saved a red candle from a box she bought years ago in an antique shop, and intends to use the candlestick to hold the last candle and make her solitary Christmas lunch more festive. It’s Christmas Eve, there’s sleet in the wind, Simi slips, but Jason catches her. Who is Jason? Where has he suddenly appeared from in the night?

   Simi looks into the eyes of this gorgeous man and sparks fly …

I’m talking about Candle Magic today my latest release from Siren Publishing

   I got the idea for this story very late at night as I shivered in a sudden downpour of rain on my way home from work. It was still summer at the time and although late, the sky was quite light. That happens in Britain where I live and often dawn comes in at around 3.30 a.m. How do I know this? I’m often still up writing or playing around with graphics for book covers. I’m lucky because my day job is in shifts so often I can grab a few hours’ sleep and still get to work on time.

   My hero, Jason Chandler, doesn’t know what he is. Maybe an angel, or a spirit, he only knows he’s given assignments to fulfill by the enigmatic higher powers of the universe. This assignment is different, and when he finds himself materialize beside Simi, my heroine, he’s instantly hopeful that his lonely existence is about to change.

   Although the action in Candle Magic starts on Christmas Eve this story can be read at any time. It’s full of love and magic.


Read a snippet from Candle Magic

Jason moved closer. He reached out and took a handful of her hair. He let it slip through his fingers. “So pretty and soft as silk.”

Simi leaned into his touch. She imagined his kiss. Time slowed for her as she openly stared at his lips. She must have been radiating need because he took her hand and stood, bringing her with him. Simi dreamily followed. They stopped under the mistletoe.

Jason took her face in his hands and kissed her.

The moment his lips touched hers, Simi’s stomach felt dissolved. The air charged with desire and Simi pressed against Jason, wrapping her arms around him. His kiss drained her of coherent thought. The gentle, sexy, pressure of his mouth sent pulses of desire right through her body. Her breath left her, but she couldn’t take her lips from his. She didn’t care about breathing. All she wanted was more of the languorous kiss and his hands gentle on her skin.

Jason broke the spell as he eased away from her mouth to look into her eyes.

“I so like mistletoe, don’t you?” He rested his forehead on hers.

Simi closed her eyes in pleasure. Her answer was a murmur. “Yes.” The need for another kiss drove her. She moved her nose against his, a little sound escaping her as she found his lips with hers. She moaned softly as he took over the kiss. She held him tight and returned his kiss hungrily.

Copyright Elodie Parkes and Siren Publishing

 

Follow Elodie, Blog on Twitter on Facebook on Tsu see her Amazon page and Google+

Elodie Parkes is a multi-published British author writing romance, erotic, contemporary, and often with a twist of mystery, paranormal or suspense. Her books are always steamy. Cool stories and hot love scenes.

Elodie lives in Canterbury with her two dogs. She works in an antique shop by day and writes at night, loving the cloak of silent darkness that descends on the rural countryside around her home.

I’ve been tagged by the lovely Lily Vega to join a group of talented writers in the Meet the Character Blog Hop. I am pleased to introduce you to John, the hero of Moon Shadows (March 2014) and Moon Dances (Sept. 2014).

But first, allow me to introduce Lily Vega’s debut story, Devil Inside (August 2014)





Blake Owens, a fourth generation demon from the second circle of hell, is used to masquerading as human. Arianna Prince, dressed in a sexy angel costume, seduces him at a party and proves to be a genuine damsel in distress. If he wants more than a one-night stand, he must come out of the supernatural closet to harness his demonic power.

Until she meets Blake, Arianna believes her immediate future involves sex with a creepy shifter and death while giving birth to its offspring. Blake takes the term "sexy devil" to the next level by actually possessing horns and a tail.

Blake may be just the guy to give Arianna pleasure beyond her wildest dreams and save her from her stepmother's deadly plans.

Lily Vega lives in the Midwest with her sexy husband who combines all of Dean Winchester's best qualities with a flair for computers. She continually cultivates her dirty mind, fueling it with caffeine and craft beer. She believes all creatures, especially those of the night, deserve mind-blowing sex with a happily ever after.

Check out  www.facebook.com/LilyVegaWriter for quirky posts and photos of hot guys. Visit Lily's website: LilyVega.com and follow her on Twitter @LV_Writer.

Who is John?

A personal trainer, John focused on fitness.  A lover of sleek muscles and beauty in any form, a partner for John could be found in either sex.  And perhaps, even in an exotic magical species.

Where does Moon Shadows take place?

John calls central California home. The opening scene takes place on a local jogging path.

What won’t John talk about?

John won’t discuss his fears.  Is he good enough, strong enough, handsome enough to deserve a mate like Ebony?

John’s Goal:

John will do whatever it takes to make Ebony his mate—forever.  Opening his heart, his desire to bond with this ancient beast propels him into actions he never dreamed possible.

The problem:

John must surrender to an inner beast he didn’t know resided within him.  Second, he must bond with each member of Ebony’s pack to earn his place.  Not an easy task.

Meet next week’s authors.

Hunter lost a bet at a blackjack table and begrudgingly traded temperate Southern California for the sweltering heat of Las Vegas. There she resides with an extremely tolerant boyfriend and two cats, Latte and Java. When she’s not dreaming of returning to coastal living, Hunter works on her MA thesis in British history and at her government day job. In order to appease her muse, she writes the kind of fiction that keeps her sane. She adores romance in all forms, but prefers her stories with two heroes that find their happily-ever-after with each other.

What Can Brown Do For You?  was released in May 2014.

IT geek Sean Barlow lusts after the dreamy UPS guy who charms the ladies in his office with his roguish smile and sinful brown shorts. The delivery guy couldn't be more out of Sean's league, even if by some miracle he was gay. But when a freak power outage finds Sean trapped in the elevator with his uniformed hunk, he learns first-hand that you can't judge a UPS guy by the size of his package.

www.hunterfrost.net

www.hunterfrost.net/honorablemention

Next meet author ~ V.S. Morgan

V.S. Morgan has lived all over the US but calls Minnesota her home now. Her family includes her hubby, son, and a menagerie of pets.

She's been writing stories since she could hold a pencil and dreams of happily ever afters - even for two hot men - because love knows no boundaries. V.S. writes MC/IR contemporary, paranormal, and suspense m/m and m/f with heart. She plans to branch into fantasy and sci fi romance, as well.

V.S. is a GLBT ally and a lifetime contributor of The Trevor Project.

Artist Casey Smith lives a quiet life, under the radar of his enemies, until one fateful night he loses control and the astonishing image of a wolf racing down a suburban street splashes all over social media.

Hunter’s bullet never misses its target. The assassin seeks out and kills his prey with a clear conscience by following two simple rules: 1) Don’t kill innocents 2) Don’t kill shifters. 

Realizing his latest assignment violates those rules, the hunter activates Princess Protocol and the assassin becomes the protector. Red hot attraction flares between the hit man and his former target. Can Hunter resist the sweet shifter in his care?

Hunter's Mark is releasing on October 10, 2014

Website: http://www.vsmorgan.com

Facebook and Goodreads: V.S. Morgan

Twitter: @vsmorgan1

I’ve been invited to answer these five fabulous questions from the wonderfully talented V.S. Morgan over at Morgan’s Blog http://www.vsmorgan.com/blog.html .

V.S. Morgan is an author of multicultural and interracial romance. Her debut title is “The Gift" for Decadent Publishing's 1Night Stand series.

Please stop by her page, say hello and see what she has coming next.

And on to the questions!

What am I working on?

I’m nearing completion of the second book in my wild shifters – Moon Series.  Moon Dances continues John’s journey into the pack.  Bonding with the other members comes in many forms, some more pleasurable than others.  While unconscious, John encounters a mysterious dark presence.  More twists, turns and choices await our hero.

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

My reader’s choice series offers the reader the option of choosing the heat level they prefer.  Readers also choose if John’s mate Ebony is a She-Wolf or a He-Wolf.  Both story lines offer subtle differences in the journey.

Why do I write what I do?

My muses have total control and when they visit and whisper in my ear, I have to follow their lead.  My current muse has me working on a sweet romance.  Believe it or not.

How does my writing process work?

I usually have a portion of the story bouncing around in my skull for a few days before I’m compelled to sit at my keyboard and start setting it free.  Any story issues or needed fixes are usually worked out while I am nodding off to sleep or pop into my mind immediately upon awaking.  Sorry, no formulas to follow here.

Who’s next on the blog hop?

The amazing author Lily Vega is next.  She offers paranormal romance with humor, hope and heart.  Check out her blog.

TAG!

Sweet or Heat?

My stories usually run hot and steamy.  However, my most recent work in progress is so sweet it’s like cotton candy melting on your tongue.

If you usually pick up a naughty night time read, would something on the sweeter side hold any appeal?

Authors are told to build their brands and focus on one genre.  If you write suspense, stick to suspense.  If you write cozy, stick with cozy.  Paranormal, then stick to paranormal.

Should a romance writer step outside of the box and dip her pen into a softer more gentle pool?

Since I have no control over when my muse will visit, what she’ll whisper in my ear or how it will flow onto the page—should I take control and force it into the genre I’m known for?

Personally, if I love a writer’s voice, I’m interested in seeing everything they write.  I might not buy every book, but something outside of my preferred preference zone wouldn’t be an automatic – No.

Let me know how you weigh in on this subject.  Comments and feedback are appreciated.

Kenzie Mack

Reader’s Choice Fiction


                Reader’s choice isn’t new to fiction.  Perhaps as a child you read some of the Choose Your Own Adventure series.  This line of books was hugely popular in the 80’s and 90’s.  It allowed readers to take on the role of the lead character and make story line decisions.

                My adult reader’s choice is somewhat different.  When the alpha wolf in this wild shifter series is revealed, the reader decides if it will be a She-Wolf or He-Wolf.

                Why offer a choice?  Perhaps some writers can’t decide which story line they prefer.  For me it was simple.  I sat at my computer and out came two love options for my leading man.  Rather than start up a love triangle.  I wrote two story lines.  Further into the editing process, the idea of offering a reader’s choice for ‘hotness’ developed.

                Moon Shadows is the first in a series.  You can follow John’s story with a She-Wolf or a He-Wolf or read both.  You can also choose to skip the ‘hotness’ scenes if those aren’t your thing.  Each book starts with a few chapters that move the story along.  Then a fork appears on the page.  Hyper-links allow you to choose the alpha and follow the trail into hotness or pass on it and move to where the story merges once again.

                Reader’s choice is all about giving the reader control.  For the writer, it is about taking a character or story line you find intriguing and twisting it in an alternate direction.  Letting your imagination run wild.

                In this Moon Series, other members of this intriguing pack are slowly introduced to John.  Where will his journey lead?  You can count on suspense, love, humor and barbeque ribs.  Okay, the last one you’ll have to make for yourself.  But you can always count on finding a happily ever after.  Or at least a happy for now.

                Try something new.  Pick up this reader’s choice and take control of where the story goes.  A wild ride, or rather read, awaits you.