Hi all, I have some information on an exciting new release today, as well as an author interview!!! Stay tuned after the interview for an exclusive excerpt and a chance to enter the blog hunt contest.
As the 5th stop in the Name That Dragon Blog Hunt, this post
contains a clue. It is your job, as the reader, to identify the dragon
described. Please remember your answer to this puzzle, as well as any
past and future ones within this tour. You will need to know ALL the
answers to enter for the chance to win the Grand Prize of a sterling
silver Celtic triquetra on a 16in chain and a pre-order code.
Get to know Author Melissa A. Petreshock!
Melissa A. Petreshock is a full-time writer and member of the
Romance Writers of America with past experience in the medical and educational
fields, though she has primarily devoted her adult life to raising a family.
Born and raised in Kentucky, Melissa spent a number of years in Massachusetts,
living outside Boston and in Springfield before returning to her home state
where she now resides on a small farm. She enjoys quiet married life and the
silliness of her three children, indulging hobbies of music, Zumba, and a minor
television addiction in what little free time she finds. Melissa’s interests
include causes demanding social change such as mental health awareness and teen
suicide prevention. FIRE OF STARS AND DRAGONS is her debut NA Fantasy Romance
novel.
Author’s Social Media Links
·
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? Is
there anything you wish someone had told you?
Nothing comes easy
in this profession. There’s always more to learn. You had better have a ton of
patience or the ability to fake it because you’ll spend a lot of time waiting
for things at every stage of the game. Be professional, but be yourself if you
want to make good connections. Twitter is the land of the writers. Everyone is
there. You never have to feel like this is a lonely profession. Someone else is
always #amwriting or #writing there, and when you get to the really ugly part,
you’ll find them #amediting or #editing too. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
·
Concerts can be very expensive, who do you think
is worth the splurge?
Thirty Seconds to
Mars is the only band I’d really go all out for, and we did in December. My
husband bought tickets for me as an early Christmas present when they were
performing at Bogart’s in Cincinnati.
·
How do you choose your character names? Do you
ever change their names mid-process?
Some of my
characters sort of “come to me” with their names already a part of them,
whereas others require searching for names with particular means or creating a
name out of nowhere to match their personality or specific traits. Once they
have a name, I never change it. Their names become a deeply rooted part of who
they are.
·
Have you ever read a book that you expected to
enjoy but didn’t or, vice versa, read a book that you didn’t expect to enjoy
and fell in love with it anyway? Which book?
I thought I would
love Jennifer Hubbard’s JUST BREATHE because I absolutely loved her story and
writing in THE SECRET YEAR, but I couldn’t get into it, never felt invested in
the story or the characters and was disappointed I couldn’t even manage to
finish it. On the flip side to that, I picked up THE TRAGEDY PAPER by Elizabeth
LaBan and figured I’d give it a shot but didn’t expect I’d be wild about it
since it’s not really my kind of genre, though the cover and blurb seemed
interesting. I fell in love with it and could not read it fast enough. I was
totally absorbed in the story and recommend it to everyone.
·
If you could learn to prepare (cook, bake, etc.)
any dish as well as the restaurant that makes it best, what would it be?
Lobster ravioli
from Carrabba’s
·
What is your favorite board game? Card game?
Board game:
Scrabble or Clue. Card game: Phase 10.
·
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?
My beta team, the
All-Stars, receive everything chapter-by-chapter. It helps me with pacing,
flow, and continuity since I write fantasy. Things can get very complicated, so
I prefer they stay along with me as we go. When I start a completely new
project, the only person who knows about it is my sister. Nothing gets to the
point of a serious writing project without her approval. If she doesn’t find it
interesting then I set it aside to either rework until it’s a better concept or
file away as failed ideas.
·
Do you have any special talents? (Singing,
dancing, juggling, gardening, etc.)
I don’t
particularly think so, but my 3 kids are completely amazed that at 37 I can
still do cartwheels and have done so in the middle of our living room to prove
it.
·
What is your go-to cocktail?
Vodka and cranberry
juice
·
What was your favorite subject at school?
English. I also
really enjoyed French but don’t remember any of it.
·
Please describe your perfect day.
My perfect day, if
not writing, would be an early autumn day around 70 degrees so it’s not too hot,
not too cold, and a Saturday. We’d have our best friends over for a BBQ and
beer on our back deck to enjoy the view and relax while the kids played. (We
own 10 acres in the country, mostly wooded, no neighbors visible from our
house.) In the evening, we’d have a campfire in the far back of the yard under
the trees and roast marshmallows then probably stay up till some crazy hour
playing games like Things, Taboo, and Scattergories.
My favorite days
always involve the whole “family”- my husband, our three kids, our two best
friends, and their two kids. We have a great time together.
·
Please share a favorite line from your newest
book.
From FIRE OF STARS
AND DRAGONS, I could choose so many different lines or types of lines. It runs
the gamut from deeply dramatic to hilarious to sensual and sexy to swoony
romantic and everything in between, but this is one of my favorites:
“Human females …
confounding creatures, quite bewildering more often than not, Cedric. Cait is a
conundrum wrapped in an enigma regarding the oddities of reactions garnered by
various things she encounters. Do not ask me to explain her.”
From my current
WIP, the sequel book to FOSAD, BLOOD OF STARS AND GODS, right now one of my
favorite lines is this:
“Then fight, and hold nothing back. If what you
have defies words then it stands to reason it defies rules as well. I don’t
know where the line is any better than you, but just as surely as the sun will
rise from the east each morning, Cait will rise and knock you on your ass if
you push too far.”
You might get the theme there. I like lines
about Cait’s character. She’s a great heroine for many reasons.
Get to know Fire of Stars and Dragons!
Following the death of her vampire uncle,
twenty-one-year-old Caitriona Hayden finds herself in the midst of a trio of
quintessential alpha male suitors in 22nd century sovereign America where human
females should be seen and not heard.
Theo Pendragon claims her as his ward, ordained
to guard her through to a long-awaited destiny unbeknownst to Cait, but finds
more than he expected when passion ignites within the dragon for the first
time. Always drawn to the pursuit of knowledge rather than the heat of desire,
powerful demigod Dante cannot deny everything his future holds in Caitriona.
America's monarch, ancient vampire Corrin, has no interest in the frivolity of
love, yet marrying Cait could be the answer to his continued survival.
Soon, Cait goes from studying for college exams
to choosing a husband in seven days, knowing the consequences are eternal, the
love undying, and the bond timeless.
The star of my post is the dragon, Claaron. He is described as handsome, snarky, and great fun. (Sounds like my type for sure!) Though he is definitely a bit of a bad boy, readers learn quickly that he has a heart of gold.This dragon earned the nickname of "Scary Dragon" after surprising Cait in her own home while doing security rounds.
Excerpt from FIRE OF STARS AND DRAGONS.
“No. She. Is.
Mine.”
Those words ring in my ears. I want them and fear
them. He’s a dragon. What that means in this situation, I’m not even sure. Do
dragons marry? I can’t say with certainty his claim implied marriage. He did
promise to protect me. It occurs to me my hand is still on his, contact I
initiated just before his declaration. I move it to my lap, and his retreats to
the back of my chair, but there’s a definitive sense of disconnection, touching
him appealing to my body with as much natural ease as breathing.
For the first time, Dante speaks, voice smooth, a
softened Scottish lilt dripping off his every word. “Perhaps this would be an
excellent time to offer a relatively neutral solution to our conundrum over
Caitriona’s situation.” He said nothing during court, sitting, absorbing
everything, a picturesque view on the dais, flawless fair complexion, dark as
night hair, and striking blue eyes.
Dante is every bit his goddess mother’s son, the epitome
of beauty.
Cedric leans forward in his chair, hands folded
together on the table. “What did you have in mind?” If I had to guess, I would
say he sounds relieved Dante offers another option. I suppose a dragon eating
his son isn’t a pleasant idea.
The demigod stands and paces in a small circle,
brows knit together in contemplative focus, coming to an abrupt halt, turning
and meeting my eyes. He says nothing, staring, and the entire room buzzes,
strange electricity in the air.
His gaze rises, beyond me. “I will marry her, Theo.”
And I’m certain my heart stops. “You trust me, do you not?”
“Are you all insane?” I scream, slamming my hands on
the table, jumping out of my seat. So much for remaining quiet. “I refuse to
sit here feeling like I’m being auctioned off to the highest bidder.” I sure as
Hades do not want to deal with Neglected Dependent Services, but this is
ridiculous. Why the king involves himself on a personal level in my situation
is beyond comprehension.
King Corrin glares daggers at me, or past me to
Theo, but I’m damned sure he’s not happy about a woman rebuking anything he
says. However, Dante smirks as he watches my outburst. Behind me, the dragon
clears his throat.
“I do believe Miss Hayden makes a valid point to be
considered.” He places his hand on my shoulder, encouraging me to sit again,
and I do so, grudgingly. Across the table, the king’s brother buries his face
in his hands, but he’s not laughing. “While it is understandable the monarchy
cannot abide by the breaking of sovereign laws, Miss Hayden is indeed a woman
of means. At our ages, it is quite conceivable to liken her wealth and social
stature to noble ladies of eras past, one whose suitors would vie for her
affections, for the right to win her hand in marriage.”
While I’m somehow seeing this whole situation going
in reverse, dragging me into the damned dark ages worse than society already,
there might be a light at the end of the tunnel this dragon walks through.
Choices. Women of means had choices back then. I for one would like them back.
“A duel?” The monarch’s eyes brighten, displaying
his fangs in a Cheshire grin.
Sir Oliver grimaces. “I doubt a duel is quite the
answer, Sire. Regardless of your expertise as a swordsman, even my skill is
negligible over Theo’s.”
The room quiets until Evan sits back in his chair,
its squeaking breaking the silence. “I suggest vying for her affections in the
most literal sense. I’ve said before I disagree with arranged marriages, but if
she must choose amongst you then at the very least, allow she find the most
happiness.” He plays with the wedding band on his finger. “Is it asking too
much she have the opportunity to perhaps marry out of some measure of love?”
Whether his concerns fall to his brother trapped in
a loveless marriage or my best interests, I don’t venture guesses, but I
appreciate his disapproval.
“Would it most please Miss Hayden, I am agreeable to
such a compromise,” states Theo, though his tone declares him anything other
than agreeable.
Dante nods, remaining in his apparent standard state
of existence, thoughtful and contemplative. “As am I.”
With an irritated huff, King Corrin drops back into
his chair. “Fine. It is agreed.” His icy stare stays on me as he speaks. “But
she must be moved to a secure location where she remains of equal
accessibility. Aside from her safety quite lacking, from this point forward,
regardless of who ultimately gains victory, I declare her status as betrothed
and under the protection of the clan. Should Miss Hayden be incapable of making
this decision for herself within seven days, sovereign law prevails, and I
shall either choose her husband or relinquish her to NDS.”
“Seven days! What? And you expect me to leave my
home? No! Not in Hades’ name will I do any such thing.” Refraining from calling
the king insane, out of his mind, or gone mad, I’m adamant in this, but Theo
rests one hand on my shoulder calming me, his touch desirable in its soothing
effect.
My request to live as an independent woman was a
long shot, to say the least. … And NDS is a worst-case scenario for someone in
my position. This … I release a quiet exhale and nod in compliance. This is
better than the alternatives. None of these men need the wealth or power of Hayden Holdings. I’m not a wrung in
their social ladder. Choosing between the king, Dante, and Theo Pendragon … I
should be thankful, not insolent. Most women would kill to be in my designer
shoes.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
* Contest is hosted by the author. This blog and it's owner are not responsible for the prize or the legal technicalities of the contest.
