Guest Blog by Erin Kellison - It’s the end of the world as we know it

Please welcome the fabulous Erin Kellison to The Qwillery. Erin is the author of the Shadow Touch series and the new Shadow Kissed series, which kicks off with Fire Kissed!

It’s the end of the world as we know it

First, a huge thank you to the awesome and generous Sally for having me back on the Qwillery. I’ve stopped by for all of my releases and hope to come back every time in the future. As a thank you to readers today, I’m giving away a copy of Fire Kissed, book one in my new Shadow Kissed series. All you have to do is answer this question: Do you believe in magic? And why?



In Fire Kissed (Shadow Kissed series #1), the world is growing dark with Shadow, which means magic is coming back into the world from Twilight, the realm of the fae. The streets are filled with fear (and the occasional monster), and a general sense of unease is growing among humankind. And in the midst of the uncertainty, mage families (with magic in their bloodlines) are surging into power. The main storyline involves Kaye Brand, a fire mage, who is hired by Jack Bastian, an angel, to infiltrate her kind to discover the mages’ plans. Things get a little hot along the way.  :-)

I wrote Fire Kissed and turned in the manuscript to my editor. As with every book, she reads and gives me revisions. This time around she suggested that I include a few short scenes that illustrate how the increasing darkness affects everyday people, not just the main characters. I had kept the story tightly braided between Kaye, Jack, and baddy Ferro. But to me this was a delicious request. In fact, I’d have been giddy to have been able to add a whole lot more. It’s my secret fantasy to write a much bigger book. 

I went with vignettes, small snapshots of what people witnessed and the paranoia that simmered under the surface of daily life. I tried to capture that moment when people really don’t believe the clips they catch on YouTube—it’s a hoax, a clever lie that’s multiplied and gone viral—and yet, they feel a change and have no idea what to do.


Here’s an excerpt:


    A woman’s scream—Jodi?—brought Tom Peterman from his sofa to his feet, the newspaper sliding from his lap to the floor. He’d heard his daughter scream in fear as a child, but never as a grown woman.

    Heart in his throat, he strode to his townhouse door. While he unlocked the deadbolt, another woman’s scream ripped through him—Marianne, his wife. After thirty-two years of marriage, he was absolutely certain to whom that voice belonged.

    He flung open the door.  Descended the short flight of stairs that led to the street. Searched left and right for any sign of them. “Marianne!” he called. “Jodi?”

    They’d gone shopping. A girl’s night out while Jodi was on a rare break from her residency. Said they were going to spend his money on something extravagant. And he’d asked, Why his money? His wife made more. Which was a point of family pride—Marianne’s recent promotion to partner. Everything they’d worked for was finally coming through.

    He saw two slight figures and started running toward them. Oh, God, his girls. He moved to collect them in his arms. “What’s goi—”

    Another figure, a man, appeared behind them, moving fast. He was a half a block away, but Tom could see his elongating teeth. The man opened his mouth nightmare-wide and let out a monster shriek.

    Jesus.

    “Inside,” Tom said, dragging Marianne and Jodi.

    He’d seen news reports and screen captures of creatures like this, but not here. Not in his neighborhood. Not after his family.

    What was happening to the world? The explanations on the news were all bad, all unbelievable, all terrifying. But were they true?

    The three of them tripped up the steps to the house. Slammed themselves inside. Marianne and Jodi babbled through tears and broken breaths. “…came out of nowhere…almost got mom…mace did nothing…”

    Tom was shaking too. Monsters in the night, coming after his girls.

    Not his girls.

    He went for his shotgun.

#

About Fire Kissed

Fire Kissed

Shadow Kissed 1
Zebra, July 3, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 352 pages

Fae Fire

It is Kaye Brand's power to wield. But outcast from her kind, she's been selling herself to the highest bidder - money for her survival in exchange for a magic glimpse into the flames of the future.

Angel Ice

One of the angelic Order, Jack Bastian has no use for a female like Kaye, as provocative and unexpected as her blazing beauty. Yet he has no choice but to hire her to uncover the secrets of his sworn enemy and her former fiance, Ferrol Grey.

Magekind

War is inevitable between the defenders of the Order and the mage Houses who threaten to engulf the world in Shadow. For Jack, mage-born Kaye is off limits, no matter how hot the impossible attraction between them. But in the coming darkness, beset by danger and desire, everything is about to change...

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Also by Erin Kellison

The Shadow Touch Series

About Erin

Erin Kellison is the author of the Shadow Series, which includes Shadow Bound and Shadow Fall, as well as Shadowman (Sept 2011), and the e-novella Shadow Touch (June 2011). Stories have always been a central part of Erin's life. She attempted her first book in sixth grade, a dark fantasy adventure, and she still has those early hand-written chapters. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English Language and Literature and went on for a masters in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on oral storytelling. When she had children, nothing scared her anymore, so her focus shifted to writing fiction.

For excerpts and more information, please come find me at:

Erin’s website: www.ErinKellison.com.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ErinKellisonAuthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/EKellison



The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a copy of Fire Kissed (Shadow Kissed 1) from Erin!

How:  Leave a comment answering Erin's question:

Do you believe in magic? And why?

Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted. You MUST leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Sunday, July 15, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*