Michelle Miles Author

Adventure Awaits

Jami Gray

Guest Jami Gray: Shadow’s Edge

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Hey everyone! I have a guest today! Pull up a chair and say HI to Jami Gray!

Nab Jami Gray’s SHADOW’S EDGE Free for a Limited Time! #freeread #uf #pnr

“This fantastic paranormal action novel is quite possibly the best book I’ve read this year. I could not put it down, and had to exercise serious self-control to keep from staying up all night to finish it.“ – The Romance Reviews, 5/5 stars

“This book has everything in it, you have your Fey, Demons, Witches/Wizards, and Shifters. What more could you ask for?! Plus you have a great story to follow. The story and characters flowed so well together, it was like watching a movie in my head! Book 2 here I come!!” – Paranormal Romance & Authors That Rock, 5/5 Fangs

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SHADOW’S EDGE: BOOK 1 OF THE KYN KRONICLES

Everyone fears what hunts in the shadows—especially the monsters…

When the supernatural lurks in the shadows of the mundane, hunting monsters requires unique skills, like those of Raine McCord. A series of deaths threatens to reveal the Kyn community and forces her to partner with the sexy Gavin Durand.

As the trail leads to the foundation haunting Raine’s childhood, she and Gavin must unravel lies and betrayals to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.

Now available Free in eBook format at: AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / BLACK OPAL BOOKS / ARe / SMASHWORDS / iBOOKS / KOBO / SCRIBD

READ AN EXCERPT

“You’re going to have to move fast if you want to save your boyfriend, Raine.” It took a second for the words to penetrate through the static.

“Who are you?”

“Let’s just say you and I are kin of sorts,” the voice was a vibrating growl.

“Strange, I don’t remember attending a family reunion recently.” Her heart rate kicked up and static whispered across the line even as she struggled to stay calm.

The static cleared. “Perhaps because you have no family left.”

Her blood froze at the words. “What do you want?” Her own voice came out cold, merciless.

“Ah, ah ah,” the voice chided. “No need to get so upset, cher. I just wanted to let you know if you want lover boy to make it out sane, you best starting moving on Dr. Lawson’s little lab.”

“What lab?” she bit out.

There was a huge elaborate sigh. “I’m so disappointed at how slow y’all move. Hasn’t your boss found lover boy’s car yet?” The gruff voice didn’t wait for answer. “Check the glove compartment. I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for.”

Her mind raced furiously. “How do I know this isn’t just another little trap?”

The growl rumbled. “You don’t, but since you and I know exactly what’s happening to lover boy, I have a feeling it won’t matter. That Chet character, he was getting way too close, but this one they’re keeping alive for now. He shows promise.”

A guttural scream cut through the airwaves, and she felt her breath stop.

Now available Free in eBook format at: AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / BLACK OPAL BOOKS / ARe / SMASHWORDS / iBOOKS / KOBO / SCRIBD

If you want to play in the shadows, continue the adventure with Jami Gray’s Kyn Kronicles:

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Jami Gray is the award winning, multi-published author of the Urban Fantasy series, The Kyn Kronicles, and the Paranormal Romantic Suspense series, PSY-IV Teams. She can be soothed with coffee and chocolate. Surrounded by Star Wars obsessed males and two female labs moonlighting as the Fur Minxes, she escapes by playing with the voices in her head.

Come stalk Jami at any of these fine locations:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Google+ / Amazon

 

#Writing Process Blog Tour

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booksI’ve been tagged by the fabulous Jami Gray, urban fantasy and paranormal suspense author, to participate in this blog hop that introduces you to author’s you may not know and gives a little insight into each author’s writing process.

I’m tagging Alisha Paige who writes under several pen names in a variety of genres. I’m supposed to tag three, but Alisha was the only one I found that hadn’t done the blog hop already. 🙂

Now for my four questions:

What am I working on?
Several things actually. I’m currently writing a new paranormal romance featuring a witch and a hunky guy set in a small East Texas town full of secrets and mystery tentatively called PETALS & POTIONS. It’s been a lot of fun to write so far. I hope to have the draft done by early June. I’m also rewriting my contemporary romance, SEX, LUST & MARTINIS for May release. Learn how you can be a walk-on character in that book! And lastly, I’m preparing my first urban fantasy, TWO STEPS FROM HELL, for serialization starting in June with weekly releases and the full novel release in late August. It’s going to be kickass.

How Does My Work Differ from Others of its Genre?
Hard question. I like taking story tropes and turning them on their head. I also like adding an element of the paranormal – fairies, dragons, elves, etc. For my UF/PNR/Fantasy stories, there is usually some type of magic involved. There is always a super evil bad guy. There is always the main theme of Good vs. Evil. I suppose that’s my thing. 😉 My contemporary romances feature strong heroines who know what they want and how to get it. And they all drink coffee!

Why Do I Write What I Do?
Because I love it. It’s a form of escapism for me and something that lets me mentally check out for the moment. I love being in that world with my characters and creating their stories. It’s so much fun. I’ve always loved stories about other places, other lands, with magic and mayhem. I guess that’s what draws me to the UF/PNR/Fantasy worlds.

How Does Your Writing Process Work?
It’s different from book to book. I’m mostly a “pantser” – I write by the seat of my pants. But lately I’ve been trying to train myself to be more of a plotter. It’s hard for me because I never know what’s going to happen until I start writing. So I’ve allowed myself a compromise: idea, some pre-plotting to get the high concept down, and then start writing. I usually have to go back and figure out backstory or story problems before I can move on. That’s about one quarter through the book. If I’m writing a series, I try to have an over-arching story arc, either plot or character or both. For my UF, I plotted the entire series from book one to book five to figure out my main character’s story arc as well as figure out some of the major plot points for each book. It’s my roadmap. Book one is finished and will be serialized this summer. Book two is in the back of my head as it waits for its turn in the queue. 😉

Thank you for stopping by. Remember to check Jami’s from last week. And on March 31st please remember to visit ALISHA to learn more about her.

Inkwell Guest: Jami Gray and A Writer’s Dream

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I’m happy to welcome back fellow author Jami Gray. She visited the Inkwell once before.  She’s going to talk about her dream office. I think I can agree with her about her dream office. I would love something like that, too. 🙂 Stick around and post a comment to say hi and tell her what you’re dream office (or room) would be.

A Writer’s Dream

I have a dream. It includes a beautiful book lined office where a thin 32 inch screen perches on a beautiful cherry wood desk. A white board filled with an intriguing complex story line graces a pristine white board nestled next to an impeccably kept filing cabinet where character sketches, world building details and future plots are all in their spots waiting to be used. The only sounds you can hear in this oasis is whatever music my muse and I have agreed on that day. No telephones, no cell phones, no other distraction would dare to intrude into this writer’s paradise. That’s my dream.

Here’s my reality—we turned an extra bedroom into an office and I have to share it. My roommate happens to be my techy geek husband who has more electronics than Nasa. There are no book lined walls (those are in my bedroom and downstairs), and I have two desks. One used to be our oak kitchen table when my knight in slightly muddy armor and I were first married (many, many moons ago) and the other use to be a lab table at a local university.

Why two desks? Because as much as I would love to say otherwise, my writing doesn’t quite keep away the pesky bill collectors or satisfy the healthcare gods so I have a job-that-pays-the-bills. Since I’ve been blessed with the ability to telecommute for over ten years, I need two desks. One to remind me of the cubicle world I came from and the other to hold my two laptops I use for writing. Yes, I know, another set of two. But the big laptop stays home and the smaller one is so much easier to carry around when I need to escape the loony bin.

The office has next door neighbors—the Prankster Duo. My two boys are just inches away and sometimes even the walls and locked door can’t seem to keep them out. The other day I gathered the men of the household and said, “I am going to write in the office. Pretend I’m not here, okay?” They all agreed and then suddenly suffered from severe memory loss. I had sat down, put on the headphones to drown out the battle cries I knew were going to erupt within the next few minutes, opened my latest work in progress, only to jump out of my chair when my youngest came up and hug tackled me. When they do sweet stuff like that you can’t yell, it’s just not…mom like. I took out one earbud and raise a brow in question.

“Hey mom, did you know that I just got (insert some gamer speak about armor and weaponry here)?”

“Umm, really? That’s great sweetpea, but see this, “ motioning to softly glowing screen in front of me, “I’m writing, remember?”

A quick peck on the check and he’s gone. I try to get back into the groove, only to have the door swish open and the hellhound trot in with his stuffed duck, Pate. He wants to play. I remind him, this is mommy’s alone time and throw Pate out the door and shut it behind him. Back in front of the screen, music playing, I’m back…until the phone rings.

This is my reality. This is why I have to pick up the smaller laptop and drive to the nearest Starbucks and stay there for hours on end. Otherwise it’s a never ending round of interruptions.

Most people dream of winning the lottery so they can travel the world. I dream of winning the lottery so I can have my own office. And not having to split my time between writing and a job would be nice too.

During the school year, it’s a bit better. The knight is out slaying dragons, the Duo is out raising havoc under someone else’s watch and the hellhound mimics a fur rug. I can get all my adult responsibilities of my job-that-pays-the-bills done and if I have some spots of time, I use it. Writing a paragraph here or there, sketching out the next chapter, or tweaking the last scene. But even so, I still have to make sure I set aside that one day a week where I get up and leave.

It took me years to get over the guilt of bailing on my hubby and kids for a whole day, but now I find it’s essential. Not just to my writing but to my sanity. I realize that where others may use that time to read a book, workout, shop, or hang out with friends, I use it for my alternate personality—the writer.

So for now, until we score that big pot of lottery gold and I get my dream office, I will hold my dream close and defend my two desks and duo laptops from the scourge of interruptions, carving words out one inch at a time!

About Jami

Growing up on the Arizona-Mexico border, Jami Gray was adopted at the age of 14 and suddenly became the fifth eldest of 37 children. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and three minors-History, English, and Theater. Shortly after marrying her techie-geek hubby (who moonlighted as her best friend in high school) she completed a Masters in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix Oregon.

Now, years later, she’s back in the Southwest where she’s outnumbered in her own home by two Star Wars obsessed boys, one Star Wars obsessed husband, and an overly-friendly, 105-pound male lab. Writing is what saves her sanity.

Shadow’s Edge: Book 1 of the Kyn Kronicles is out now and Shadow’s Soul: Book 2 of the Kyn Kronicles hits shelves Summer 2012.

You can find me at:

Buy Link: www.BlackOpalBooks.com
Website: www.JamiGray.com
Blogs: www.7EvilDwarves.wordpress.com or www.JamiGray.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamigray.author
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JamiGrayAuthor

Book 1: Shadow’s Edge

Everyone fears what hunts in the shadows—especially the monsters…

It takes a monster to hunt one, and for Raine McCord, forged in the maelstrom of magic and science, she’s the one for the job. In a world where the supernatural live in a shadowy existence with the mundane, a series of disappearances and deaths threatens the secrecy of her kind and indicates someone knows the monsters are alive and kicking. Partnering up with the sexy and tantalizing Gavin Durand proves to be a challenge as dangerous as the prey she hunts.

When the trail points back to the foundation which warped Raine’s magic as a child, her torturous past raises its ugly head. Gavin and Raine sift through a maze of lies, murder and betrayal to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.

Book 2: Shadow’s Soul

Some nightmares are born of love…

Raine McCord has no problem taking down the monsters of the world, it’s one of the reasons she’s so good at her job. So playing bodyguard to Cheveyo, head Magi of the Northwest, as he consults with the Southwest Kyn should be an easy assignment. Unfortunately, simple task turns into a nightmare when Cheveyo is kidnapped and Raine is left for dead by one of the Kyn’s most feared beings, a Soul Stealer.

The Stealer’s attack leaves lasting wounds, undermining Raine’s confidence as a warrior and damaging her unruly magic. Her ability to heal her mind and spirit hinges on the one man who can touch her soul, Gavin Durand. Compelled to face the emotions raging between them, they must embrace not only their stormy relationship but their evolving magic to escape the twisted threads of murder and betrayal to find Cheveyo.

As Raine and Gavin come together and begin to unravel the complex web of secrets and hidden vendettas haunting the Southwest Kyn, they discover unsettling new truths that threaten their very existence.

Inkwell Guest: Jami Gray

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Hi, everyone! Today I’m pleased to welcome urban fantasy author, Jami Gray. She’s published with Black Opal Books and she’s here today to talk about her latest release!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Honestly, I wasn’t really given much of a choice. I was adopted at the age of fourteen and when I moved in with my soon-to-be-adopted family at twelve, the state mandated therapist suggested I keep a journal. Funny thing, it got boring so instead I started creating stories and characters that were much more interesting than reality at the time. I started in earnest as a freshman in high school. Back in the dark ages, typing on an actual typewriter was a required class. My parents had invested in an electric typewriter so the six of us in high school could practice our typing skills. Needless to say, I would hover over siblings until they finished then I would commandeer the typewriter for my own nefarious purposes. By the time I began to pack for college at eighteen, I had almost 200 pages of YA fantasy novel done. And no, it will never, ever, see the light of day again. After that, writing was something I had to do.

Why write this book?

Again, not my choice. Raine McCord, the main heroine of Shadow’s Edge, was pretty persistent in putting her story out there. I was world crafting and she snuck in and took over. How could I refuse? Better yet, I wouldn’t dare refuse Raine, the woman is a bit scary.

What’s your writing process?

Seat of the pants. I know…I’m a type-A personality so you would expect detailed outlines, character sheets and PowerPoint graphs, but nope, I start with an overall idea, some appealing characters and an intriguing problem and let it go. It’s a frightening way to write, but I’ve found it works best for me. The more I outlined a plot, the farther away from it I went. My characters want to make their own stories, so I let them.

Who influenced you the most?

When I was younger I would get lost in the worlds of Lloyd Alexander and his Taran the Wanderer series, or Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising series. As a teenager I found Terry Brooks’ Shannara books, Anne McCafferty’s Dragonriders of Pern books and Andre Norton’s Incarnations of Immortality. All of them wove such believable worlds which could suck you in and never let you go. I still have all of these on my bookshelves, tucked securely next to their newer companions of Hamilton, Butcher (both Mr. & Mrs.), Ward, Feehan, Murphy, Showalter, Kenyon, Estep, Andrews, Briggs and many, many others.

Why this genre?

Having magic exist in the real world has always fascinated me. I think the concept of standing out from the crowd drew me. As a writer, I love to people watch, but my characters…no they’re much more outgoing. I’ve always been drawn to heroines who have survived the crucibles of challenging pasts and emerged like finely honed blades on the other side, much like Raine McCord. However, even the most beautiful weapons forged in searing heat have their own hidden flaws. I think these flaws make a character much more human. And you can’t have such strong women without providing equally strong partner to walk beside them.

Release and Blurb?

Shadow’s Edge is the first book in the Kyn Kronicles and was released November 1st, 2011 through Black Opal Books. It’s available in paperback and ebook format.

It takes a monster to hunt one, and for Raine McCord, forged in the maelstrom of magic and science, she’s the one for the job. In a world where the supernatural live in a shadowy existence with the mundane, a series of disappearances and deaths threatens the secrecy of her kind and indicates someone knows the monsters are alive and kicking. Partnering up with the sexy and tantalizing Gavin Durand proves to be a challenge as dangerous as the prey she hunts.

When the trail points back to the foundation which warped Raine’s magic as a child, her torturous past raises its ugly head. Gavin and Raine sift through a maze of lies, murder and betrayal to discover not only each other, but the emerging threat to them and the entire magical community.

Where can people find you?

You can find Jami and her books here:

Buy Link: www.BlackOpalBooks.com

Website: www.JamiGray.com
Blogs: www.7EvilDwarves.wordpress.com or www.JamiGray.wordpress.com 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamigray.author
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JamiGrayAuthor

BIO:

Growing up on the Arizona-Mexico border, Jami Gray was adopted at the age of 14 and suddenly became the fifth eldest of 37 children. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and three minors-History, English, and Theater. Shortly after marrying her techie-geek hubby (who moonlighted as her best friend in high school) she completed a Masters in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix Oregon.

Now, years later, she’s back in the Southwest where she’s outnumbered in her own home by two Star Wars obsessed boys, one Star Wars obsessed husband, and an overly-friendly, 105-pound male lab. Writing is what saves her sanity.

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