Sunday, May 12, 2013

ST Bende and Elsker.


Today I have a special guest interview and book introduction! You all are going to want to know ST Bende and her awesome new YA series. Her guy is a super hunky Norse god. Yup.

Welcome to the blog ST!


Thanks so much for letting me visit today Ana.  It’s been so much fun getting to know you over Twitter and through our shared love of #DarksideResearch !  (If you’re not following @Ana_Blaze on Twitter, you need to.  She’s always good for a hunky guy picture… or twenty!)
·         Concerts can be very expensive, who do you think is worth the splurge?
I’d love to see Imagine Dragons or Muse in concert.  I think they’re all kinds of awesome.  
What is your favorite board game? Card Game? 


Rummikub!  It’s this domino-like game my Norwegian teacher taught me to play.  You match/sequence the numbered tiles, and it’s so, so much fun.  I have a hard time finding people who will play it with me, so I have to relearn the rules every time I take it out of the box.  But I always have a blast.
·         When writing, do you share chapters with friends or beta readers as you go or do you keep your projects secret until they are complete?
I share as I go.  I’m lucky to have an amazing critique partner in Jacqueline Gardner.  We bounce a lot off each other, and I trust her to tell me if something’s tanking or if it’s okay.  I adjust according to her feedback, and carry on.
·         Do you have any special talents? (Singing, dancing, juggling, gardening, etc.)
Yes.  I bake the absolute, hands down, best Norwegian waffles in the entire world.  But that’s not an actual talent, I just have a great recipe.  And yes, I include said recipe at the end of ELSKER.  Get ready to buy some bigger pants…
Also, I can play the William Tell Overture by tapping my hands on my cheeks.  If that’s not ‘special’, I don’t know what is.  
·         What was your favorite subject at school?
I’m a bit of a nerd, and I loved pretty much every subject.  Math was probably my favorite overall subject, but I also loved any class that had a really, really good teacher.  My college Shakespeare professor was exceptional -- she put Shakespeare in a context I could understand, and now I’m a huge fan.   I’m forever grateful to her.  
·         Please share a favorite line from your newest book.
Ooh, this is tough!  Can I please pick three?  Pretty please?  



(1)          He stormed to take a seat in the back of the hall, never breaking his glare. I glared back. Take that, Viking.

(2)          Hey, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.

(3)          Now when I looked into his eyes I saw something entirely different. He was strong. Confident. And very much in control.


THE ELSKER SAGA is available now from Entranced Publishing. 
TUR, the prequel, can be downloaded for free at http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints-2/blush/elsker/ 
ELSKER, Book 1, is available beginning April 22nd from Entranced, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Find ST Bende on Twitter (https://twitter.com/stbende), or (http://stbende.blogspot.com/).

And be sure to stop by http://stbende.blogspot.com/ between April 11th and May 20th to enter to win fabulous prizes in the ELSKER Release Month of Giveaways!  Or as it shall evermore be known, Waffle Fest, 2013!






Book Title: Elsker



Author Name: ST Bende



Series Title (if applicable): The Elsker Saga



Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance



Length of Book in pages or word count: 61,000 words 



Publisher: Entranced Publishing, Blush



Blurb: Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest-to-goodness Norse God — an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.

 Her orderly life just got very messy.



Book trailer link (if you have it): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MaJIgkk-CI



Author Bio:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of the musical Cats.  Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired The Elsker Saga.  She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day pastries will be considered a health food.



You can follow ST Bende on Twitter @stbende, or send an e-mail to stbende(at)gmail(dot)com. 



Author social media links



Twitter: https://twitter.com/stbende or @stbende






Excerpt: 



ELSKER - Book 1, THE ELSKER SAGA

At eight o’clock, a firm knock interrupted my reading.  I picked my way through the flower shop that our living room had become and opened the door.

“Oh good, you kept my peace offerings.”  Ull treated me to a rakish grin.

“Just a few of them,” I muttered.  “Come on in.”

“Oh, no.  You must come with me.”

“Why?”  I challenged.  Ull sighed.

“Are you going to fight me at every turn?”

“Probably.”

“Please come.”  He looked so adorable standing on my stoop, his scarf casually thrown across the grey sweater under his coat.  I gave in quicker than I meant to.

“Fine.”  I grabbed my coat from the closet by the door and shoved my keys and wallet into the pocket.  “Where are we off to?”  I closed the door behind me and followed Ull into the brisk night, waiting for his promised explanation.

But he didn’t say anything.  Instead, he put his hand on the small of my back and guided me away from campus.  I shivered and noticed that Ull wore his jacket open, at ease in the chill.  As we rounded the corner, Ull dropped his hand to clasp mine.  It was so warm, so strong, and for a moment I forgot to be mad at him.  We walked in silence as he led me down the main road.  After two right turns, I found myself standing in a quiet garden.  

Ull had brought me to a church. 



Check out the trailer!

2 comments:

Hi! Thanks for reading and commenting.