Author Spotlight - A.M. Manay

Check out my newest Author Spotlight under its very own tab: Author Spotlight :-)

Author Spotlight - Marlena Smith

Check out my newest Author Spotlight under its very own tab: Author Spotlight :-)

Author Spotlight - Jennifer Hinsman

Check out my newest Author Spotlight under its very own tab: Author Spotlight :-)

Author Spotlight - Sandra Cox

Author Spotlight - Sandra Cox

Today, I have the honor of interviewing Sandra Cox, a wonderful author.  

Sandra, tell us what inspires you to write.

Anything and everything...books, movies, walks, people.

You have a wide variety of books.  How much research is involved in creating your stories?

It varies with the story.  As you know, historicals take much more research than a book with a current setting.  Though, every story requires some research: location, careers, weapons, etc.

How long does it usually take you to write a book?

It varies for me, sometimes a year, sometimes several months.

What authors influence you most?

The writers who have had the most profound influence on my writing are Nora Roberts, Stephenie Meyer, and Suzanne Collins.  They are excellent storytellers.

I couldn't agree with you more.  I think I already know the answer to this question, but for my readers out there, what is your favorite theme/genre to write?

YA fantasy or anything with paranormal elements.

That's why I click with you.  That's my favorite as well. ;-)  Which character is your favorite?

Whatever character I'm creating at the moment is my favorite.

I like that answer.  I might have to borrow it in the future. A lot of authors weave parts of their own lives into their stories.  Do any of your life experiences make their way into your novels?

If you are looking for it, you may occasionally find a vegetarian or someone who believes in animal rights in one of my stories.

When someone finishes reading your book, what do you hope they get from it?

I hope they feel like they've gotten a well told tale.

I know that every author hopes that his/her readers will leave a review after they've read the story.  Do you read all of your reviews?

Like any author, I LOVE good reviews, but I don't read the negative ones.  I mean...if I got a negative review, I wouldn't read it. :-) Ha. Yes, I have got them.  And no, I don't enjoy them, though I do feel if someone has paid their hard earned money for my books, they are entitled to their opinion, even if it's not the one I would have hoped for.

What type of books were your favorite when you were a child?

I loved horse stories.

So did I!  Do you have a job or career outside of writing?

I'm happy to say I'm retired.  I worked for many years in secondary education.   My last job was admin assist to the VP for Instruction at the local community college.

Lucky you.  I'm still working, and it's in secondary education. :-)  For those who visit my site who are aspiring writers, what advice would you give them?

Don't give up.  Write because you love it.  And if some days you feel depressed because of low sales, remind yourself that your story is up against over a million others, so any sale is a huge accomplishment.

You are so right!  Well, we've got to wrap this up. Any last thoughts?

I've enjoyed spending time at your place and getting the opportunity to interact with all of your wonderful supporters.  Thanks for having me!

It was my pleasure!

Sandra Cox writes YA fantasy, romance, and metaphysical nonfiction.  She lives in sunny North Carolina with her husband, a brood of critters and an occasional foster cat.  Although shopping is high on the list, her greatest pleasure is sitting on her porch, listening to the birds, sipping coffee or a latte, and enjoying a good book.  She's a vegetarian and a Muay Thai enthusiast.

All of Sandra's books can be found on her Amazon Author Page. Here are the titles to her works:

Mutant Series

Hunter Series

Cats of Catarau Series

Minder

Odin Cats

Sunset

Sundial, Time Travel Romance

Queen of Diamonds, Romantic Suspense

Flower Gardens and More, Nonfiction

Power Stones, Nonfiction

Here's a little look into Love, Lattes, and Mutants:

Finding love is hard, even when you aren’t a mutant.

Like most seventeen-year-olds, Piper Dunn wants to blend in with the crowd. Having a blowhole is a definite handicap. A product of a lab-engineered mother with dolphin DNA, Piper spends her school days hiding her brilliant ocean-colored eyes and sea siren voice behind baggy clothing and ugly glasses. When Tyler, the new boy in school, zeroes in on her, ignoring every other girl vying for his attention, no one, including Piper, understands why...

Then Piper is captured on one of her secret missions rescuing endangered sea creatures and ends up in the same test center where her mother was engineered. There she discovers she isn’t the only one of her kind. Joel is someone she doesn’t have to hide from, and she finds herself drawn to the dolph-boy who shares her secrets. Talking to him is almost as easy as escaping from the lab. Deciding which boy has captured her heart is another story...

Learn more about Sandra and her amazing works:

Twitter:  @Sandra_Cox

Facebook:  http://facebook.com/SandraCox.Author

Web site:  http://sandracox1.com

Blog:  http://sandracox.blogspot.com

#RRBC Book & Blog Block Party 2016 is in full motion! Dance with me! :-)

Update: The winners have been announced!!!

And the winners are:

- 1 ebook copy of The One Discovered: Lizzie Chantree

- 1 ebook copy of The One Enlightened: Harmony Kent

- 1 ebook copy of The One Betrayed: Bill & Patty Perrin

- 1 paperback signed copy of The One Discovered: A.M. Manay

- 1 paperback signed copy of The One Enlightened: Linda Covella

- 1 paperback signed copy of The One Betrayed: Brent Griffiths

- 1 set of all three ebooks (The One Discovered,

The One Enlightened, and The One Betrayed): S.J. Francis

- 1 Author Spotlight on my blog which will then be shared on 

my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook feeds: Sandra Cox

Congratulations to all of the winners! I will be contacting you shortly to coordinate the delivery of your prizes! Enjoy! :-)

Welcome, everyone! Let's get this party started right!

Right now, you are partying with me in Miami, Florida!

And I've got a few party favors to give away 
at the end of my jam session!

If you read this blog and leave a comment at the end,

your name will be entered to win one of the following prizes:

- 1 ebook copy of The One Discovered

- 1 ebook copy of The One Enlightened

- 1 ebook copy of The One Betrayed

- 1 paperback signed copy of The One Discovered

- 1 paperback signed copy of The One Enlightened

- 1 paperback signed copy of The One Betrayed

- 1 set of all three ebooks (The One Discovered,

The One Enlightened, and The One Betrayed)

- 1 Author Spotlight on my blog which will then be shared on 

my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook feeds

Total number of prizes: 8!

If you are joining this party late, 
click here to find out what you've been missing

and to see how to party with us all month long!

Now, let's start the party already!

Recently, I was chosen by Rave Reviews Book Club to be honored as one of their Spotlight Authors. During that time, readers were able to get to know my books and me a little better.  If you missed it, you can visit those sites by checking out my blog called My Moment in the Spotlight.

My novels are a part of a series called The Chronicles of the Diasodz.  They are young adult fantasy/paranormal stories about a group of beings who live among humans and are fighting for their future.  They have the power to heal and protect humans, but their powers have been gradually fading.  There is a prophecy that states that a child born on Earth can restore their powers and prevent them from dying out.  Finding the child isn't difficult, but getting her to save them will be the greatest challenge of all!  If I've peaked your interest, read below for more on each book.  

***WARNING***  This is a series, so each book will build upon what has taken place in the previous book.  If you don't like spoilers, you might not want to read the blurbs for books 2 and 3. Just sayin'... ;-)

At the end of this post, I will reveal to you the title for book 4 and what you can expect.  And then, I have a little treat for those of you who have grown to love one character in particular. ;-)

Sofia is a 17 year old who is quite content with her life.  She has a caring boyfriend who also just happens to be her best friend since birth.  She has a loving mother.  She is successfully completing her last year of high school and enjoys her part-time job.  She can't imagine wanting more from her life...until Ar'ch (pronounced Ar-rick) enters her dreams, sparking a burning flame inside of her that she can't seem to extinguish nor does she want to.

Ar'ch is a Diasodz (Die-ah-sodz), a species created by the Goddess back when God created humans.  Diasodz were made to heal and protect humans but when the Diasodz turned their backs on helping humans and left Earth to live in their own world, the Goddess abandoned them.  Since then, their powers and their very lives have been fading.  A prophecy foretold that a young girl born on Earth would be the Diasodz's savior.  Ar'ch and his brother, Angel, travel to Earth to retrieve her and bring her back to their world before her death day in order to save their kind.  Ar'ch knows the drill: find the target, capture her, and safely bring her home.  But what happens when the target captures his dormant heart?

Choices create action.  Actions have consequences.  When faced with the truth what choice will Sofia make?  Will she be able to accept the consequences that follow?

You can buy this book on Amazon.  You can also read it for free if you have Kindle Unlimited.

Sofia has lost everything that was important to her: her mother, her boyfriend, and her best friend.  Even the belief that humans are the only beings in the world has been stripped away, but she has no time to dwell on her losses because she’s been transported to a new world to become the savior of the Diasodz.  Sofia trusted Ar’ch and Angel to be there for her and to guide and protect her, but only Angel has held true to his word.  Ar’ch has abandoned her, leaving her to feel tricked and betrayed.

Ar’ch brought Sofia home, fulfilling his mission to bring their savior safely to their world, but it didn’t come without a cost.  Rafe, Sofia’s boyfriend, was killed, and Ar’ch believes Sofia blames him for it.  Ar’ch’s sole focus becomes doing what is best for Sofia, and in his mind, that does not include him.

As Sofia deals with Ar’ch’s absence, she throws herself into learning about the Diasodz’s history.  She grows stronger both emotionally and physically and begins to accept her role in their world, but not everyone is convinced that she is the one whom the prophecy states will save them.

Beliefs will be challenged.  Secrets will be revealed.  Relationships will be shattered.  And in the aftermath, evil will see its opportunity and strike.  Will Sofia be able to handle it all?  Or will the savior of the Diasodz lose her will to continue?

You can download this book for FREE today (August 10) on Amazon. You also always read it for free through Kindle Unlimited.

When Sofia chose to leave Rafe to live with Ar’ch in another world, Rafe’s system shut down and sent him to an early death.  But Rafe didn’t die, at least not permanently.  Rafe is a Diasodz, and his death simply freed him from his human shell so that he could become the powerful Diasodz that he was meant to be.

He awakened to a completely new reality, a reality in which he was the prince to a kingdom of powerful beings.  His parents, Drake and Damiana, were the rulers of the Raizyns, a group of Diasodz who were determined to take their rightful place in the world.  And Rafe would be the savior who would lead them on their quest.

Rafe wanted to please his father, especially since he had just met him.  To do that, he needed to learn how to fight like a Raizyn and how to master his newfound skill.  He needed to become stronger, faster, and more powerful.  Rafe needed to become the savior they all expected him to be.  That was what was required of him.

But there was one thing that was more important than everything else.  One person.  Sofia.  Rafe was going to find a way to get her back, even if it cost him his life. Again.

You can buy this book on Amazon.  As with the others, you can also read it for free on Kindle Unlimited.

And now....

The title for book 4 of The Chronicles of the Diasodz...

The One Revealed 
(cover coming soon)

I don't have the official blurb written for the back of the book yet, but for those of you who have read the first three, I wanted to share with you a little bit of what you can expect from The One Revealed.  As the title states, the real savior will be revealed to everyone, including you, the reader.  Sofia will struggle with being held against her will.  Rafe will struggle with trying to convince Sofia to join his side in the war.  Mel will finally find her mother only to have to make some very difficult choices.  Damiana will continue to cause havoc everywhere (after all, it's her specialty!). ;-)  Drake will be united with his family and make plans for their future.  Liana will do her best to shelter Sofia, but will it be enough?  Ar'ch and his family will do everything in their power to find and rescue Sofia while also dealing with other obstacles put in their paths.  Secrets will be exposed.  Characters will have to choose sides.  Lives will be changed forever, and you are NOT going to want to miss it! :-)

And finally, a little treat for those of you who have stayed with me until the end. ;-)

The following character was not one of the characters that I had originally come up with.  In fact, he didn't speak to me until I began writing book two, but he quickly grew into one of my favorites.  So, for those of you who have read The One Enlightened and have also fallen in love with Kai, this is for you! :-)

A Special Interview with Kai

Kai enters the room and it feels like everything stops.  They had told me that he was intimidating, but I wasn’t expecting this.  He’s quite tall, easily 6’2”.  His ebony skin is darker than the deepest night.  The only hair on him is a trimmed goatee.  He’s wearing black shades and a black trench coat, and he’s carrying his black staff with him.  If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was blind, but I know those shades are only there to hide his eyes.  I clear my throat and begin.

Kai, thank you for coming.  I really appreciate you taking the time to be here with me today. (He nods.  Okaaaaaay.)  Please, have a seat. (He sits.  This is going great.)  So, we are trying to help our readers get to know you better.  How old are you?

I’m 20 life years young.

So, that’s about 38 human years, right?

That’s correct.

Can you tell us about your powers?

We prefer to call them skills.  I have the ability to bring about darkness or light.  I can also cause temporary blindness, though before we started fading, I would have been able to cause permanent blindness.  Oh, and I can see hidden weapons. (He moves his head as if he’s scanning me.) You don’t have any. (He smiles. I swallow.)

Well...(clearing my throat)  I, um, noticed that you have a tattoo of an “x” under your left eye.  Did you do that deliberately?

(He smiles.) It is actually two spears in the form of the Greek letter, Chi.  And I did not put it there; it was a gift from the Goddess.

Oh, is that where you got your name from?

No.  My name is Malakai, but I prefer Kai.  My tattoo showed up on my death day. It’s my weapon to call.  Spears are my weapon.

Cool.  Can you show me how it works?

Of course.  (He stands to give himself a bit more room and then puts his hand to his left cheek and a spear immediately appears in his hand.  He then gives it to me.) Consider it a souvenir.

Wow! Thank you.  Why do you always carry that staff with you?

I like it.  There are spears hidden both on the top and the bottom.  Plus, when I hit the ground with it, I can change the lighting in the room. (He slams the staff on the ground and all of the light leaves the room, not just the light bulbs but ALL light.  We are in pitch darkness.  He hits the ground again with the staff, and the light reappears.)

Nice. I want a staff like that.

It wouldn’t work for you.  You would have to have my skill.

Oh.  Last question...(I hesitate.)  Why do you always wear those shades?

My eyes had always been a shade of gray when I was a youngling which was weird in itself for a human, but when I had my death day, they turned completely white.  Most people are uncomfortable with it, so I just wear the shades to make things easier for them.

So, they don’t shoot laser beams or anything?

(Kai laughs.) No, they don’t.  I’m not one of those comic book heroes that humans read about.  No laser beams or fire comes out of my eyes, though I’m totally okay with people thinking that I have that ability. (I think he’s winking, but with the shades on, I can’t tell.)

It’s been a pleasure to have you with us today, Kai.  Thanks for stopping by.  And tell Ar’ch I said hi, would ya?

(Kai shakes his head.)  You and every other woman in the world.  (He laughs.) Thanks for having me. It wasn’t as painful as I expected it to be.

And there you have it.  Now, you know a little bit more about Kai. :-)

If you've enjoyed my stop, please leave a comment below.  Hopefully, you will be one of the lucky winners.  And why not keep dancing with me at the other stops in our RRBC Book & Blog Block Party!

A Heart Filled with Gratitude

My week as a Spotlight Author has ended, and I've had a little time to reflect upon it all, so I wanted to share some of my thoughts with you. :-)

When I tweeted about each day of my journey, I stated that I was a wallflower.  For those of you unfamiliar with the term, it means that I tend to hide in the background.  I don't like having attention on me.  It's weird because I have many friends and am very social when I am around them, but I prefer that the attention is on them.  So, I let them shine and stay in the background.  I have just as much fun as they, mostly because I don't have to worry about others looking my way.

That leads me to my anxiety issues.  I was recently diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, which was no surprise to me given how I've felt the past several years.  I don't handle the unknown very well, and I especially don't handle confrontation (even if it's not negative) very well.  My heart speeds up; my head either feels very heavy or very light.  It's been an interesting few years. Lol!

This year, I told myself that I was going to embrace change and face my fears, and wouldn't you know it that the Rave Reviews Book Club (RRBC) would honor me with the Spotlight Author recognition!  I was (and am) honored to have been chosen for this moment.  For those of you who aren't sure what that means, it means that RRBC decided to focus its attention on my novels and me for an entire week!  I felt like I'd won the literary lottery!

Seven different bloggers wrote a blog on their web site to share my novels and me with their followers.  I even was given the opportunity to be a guest on Rave Waves - an Internet-based radio that shares information about authors and their novels.  Then, the members of RRBC tweeted and retweeted about those blogs all week long.  They commented on the blogs and interacted with me through the various web sites and Twitter.  Some of them even shared the blogs on their own web sites!  I am truly humbled by the amount of support and interest that these authors and readers showered upon me during this week.

It was nerve-wrecking for me, but it was worth it.  The writing was the easy part.  I wrote eight different blogs to be shared on the various sites.  I focused some of them on my writing process and how I got into writing, and the rest of the blogs were focused on my Diasodz.  I was a little worried that my blogs wouldn't be interesting to others.  I'm new at having my own web site and don't post as often as I know that I should, so I was worried that other bloggers would hesitate in sharing my writing.  Luckily, my fears were for nothing.  My writing was not only welcomed but praised, and I'm so grateful for their encouragement.

The most anxious part for me was the Rave Waves interview.  I couldn't hide behind a keyboard for that.  I had to speak in real time which meant that I had no time to think about my answers.  For someone with anxiety issues (like me), that is a huge issue.  Some of you are probably wondering how I can be a high school teacher and speak in front of students all day long or speak at conferences and not have the anxiety issues that I was having over a thirty minute radio interview.  As a teacher, I am wearing a different "hat," as I like to say.  I am performing in front of my students, and they only see the me that I want them to see - the teacher me.  As an author, I feel exposed.  I feel that everything that I write is being scrutinized and judged, and I've poured my heart and soul into my writing.  So, speaking about my novels or my role as an author just seems like I'm standing in a busy airport completely naked for the world to see.  Pretty scary. Lol!

I had nothing to fear, though.  The host, Bill Ward, was so easy to speak with and was great at keeping the conversation going.  I won't lie - my heart was beating ninety to nothing during the entire interview, but I was able to keep it in check and take it all in. Those who were listening were tweeting about it and helping me to sit back and accept that I didn't sound like a complete fool, and that definitely helped as well.

 And now the week is over (I survived!), and I can look back and reflect on how absolutely wonderful it was to share my novels and my writing with so many of you.  I am beyond grateful to all of you commented on one of the blogs (or all of them) and to all of you who have tweeted and retweeted about my novels.  There are way too many people who supported me throughout this week to list all of their names, but I made sure to promote their works via Twitter with my own followers.  That was the best way that I could think of thanking each of them.

I am eternally grateful to those who hosted me on their pages (their web sites, their twitter accounts, and a link to their books are all listed on my previous post).  And I'm forever grateful to Rave Reviews Book Club!  When I joined them, I didn't really know much about them, but they have truly changed my life as an author, and I am so thankful that I found them when I did.

If you are an author or an avid reader, I would HIGHLY recommend that you join the Rave Reviews Book Club.  They are a group of readers and writers who love everything literary.  They believe in sharing their writing with the world, but most importantly, they believe in sharing the writing of others with the world as well.  There are SO many amazing authors in RRBC (trust me, I've read many of their books).  We buy each other's books and leave extremely honest reviews.  We promote one another's novels, and we help one another improve upon our writing.  RRBC isn't just for the published author; it's for anyone who loves to read or write.

There are several writing contests throughout the year.  They promote authors through various programs - Books of the Month, Member of the Month, Member of the Week, PUSH Tuesday, Spotlight Author, etc.  They publish anthologies of the written works of their members.  They have fun blog parties where we travel to different blogs throughout a specific month and help promote one another.  And this year they are hosting a Writer's Conference and Book Expo online! The bottom line - RRBC is the club that you really want to join! You know you want to be a part of something that fun, so check them out: https://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/.

In closing, my heart is filled with gratitude, so thank you for making me feel special.  Thank you for sharing my novels.  And for those of you who decide to read the Chronicles of the Diasodz, I look forward to reading your reviews.  Blessed be, everyone! :-)

My Moment in the Spotlight!

I am so happy to share with you all that I have been chosen as a Spotlight Author for the Rave Reviews Book Club.  I've shared with you before how much I love this club for the support that they give to authors. Well, now I'm the author being spotlighted! I'm so excited!  Each day this week, a different blogger will share a little bit about my Diasodz series and about me as an author.  I would love for all of you to join me on this blog tour. I promise you that you will learn so much more than you know right now about the Diasodz. ;-)

The link to the entire week's Spotlight blog tour can be found on Rave Reviews Book Club's website: https://ravereviewsbynonniejules.wordpress.com/spotlight-authors/  Please take a moment and click on the link to support the fabulous group that is showcasing me. Don't worry if you read this after the day has passed; you can still click on the link and find the information. :-)

I will also list the links to the generous bloggers who have agreed to take time to share me with their readers. I cannot think of a better way to thank them than by sharing all of their "incredibleness" with you all.  Please stop by their pages and browse around.  You might just find more authors to add to your favorites list. ;-)

Sunday - Marcha's Two Cents Worth (You can follow her on Twitter, @startrailsIV. If you like sci-fi, you definitely want to check her out her books on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Marcha-Fox/e/B0074RV16O/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1469453588&sr=1-1!)

Monday - Lori's Word Museum (You can follow her on Twitter, @Lori Soard . She has written many books. Here is a link to them: http://www.amazon.com/Lori-Soard/e/B001K8G34S/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1. Her book, The Elixir, is currently FREE on Amazon. Check it out!)

Tuesday - Kev's KC Books & Music (You can follow him on Twitter:  @KCBooksnMusic.  He has written memoirs, poetry, and fiction.  Here is a link to his collection of works: http://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Cooper/e/B00EWFEYKQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1469541536&sr=1-3-fkmr1.)

Wednesday - Marlena's Life As I Know It  (You can follow her on Twitter: @mlh42812. Her blog is beautiful, so you will definitely want to check it out!) :-)

Thursday - Rave Waves BlogTalkRadio (This is a web radio segment that is hosted by the wonderful Bill Ward.  You can follow him on Twitter: @Billward10Bill.  Here is a link to his collection of books: http://www.amazon.com/Bill-Ward/e/B00F154DZ2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_6?qid=1469725611&sr=8-6.)

Who's on the Shelf with Nonnie Jules? (You can follow Nonnie Jules on Twitter: @NonnieJules. I've read her novel, Sugarcoatin' is for Candy & Pacifyin' is for Kids. "Yes, I Said It!"  It was really good, and I would definitely recommend it.  Here is a link to her collection of books: http://www.amazon.com/Nonnie-Jules/e/B00J4CE97K/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1469751650&sr=8-1.)

Friday - Shirley Harris-Slaughter's Page (You can follow her on Twitter: @sharrislaughter. I've read both of her books.  If you love history, then you will enjoy Our Lady of Victory, and I truly believe everyone should read Crazy! Hot! And Living on the Edge! You can find her books here: https://www.amazon.com/Shirley-Slaughter/e/B00EXRCH20/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1469797085&sr=1-1-catcorr.)

Saturday - Jan Hawke INKorporated (You can follow her on Twitter: @JanHawke. You can find her books here: https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Hawke/e/B00H268IWC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1469900928&sr=8-1-fkmr0)

And this concludes my week in the spotlight! Please take a few moments to explore the above web sites as well as the books of the authors who showcased me on their blogs.  They really are quite talented and deserve your attention.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.  Thank you for your tweets and retweets, your comments on the blogs, and your reblogging.  Thank you to Rave Reviews Book Club for honoring me with this Spotlight moment.  I am truly humbled by your kindness and generosity. XOXO

On Father's Day...

I decided that I'd give you a little peek at the fathers in The Chronicles of the Diasodz as a way to commemorate Father's Day.  I am blessed to still have my father in my life.  The older I get, the more I appreciate the challenges that he has faced and overcome throughout his life.  I wish I could say that I created one of the fathers in this series after him, but each of them took on a life of his own from the very beginning.  That being said, I can see bits of my dad in each of them, though it wasn't done purposefully. :-)  So, may I present to you the fathers of my series:

Nolan

Nolan is first introduced in The One Discovered although you don't really get to know him until The One Enlightened.  I absolutely love Nolan.  He is my white version of The Rock.  He is built like a military barricade but has a heart of gold.  He is kind and affectionate and even playful at times, but mess with his family and he will not stop until he avenges them.  He isn't hot-headed, though.  He is patient and plans out his attack with strategy and smarts.  

Nolan is the father of Ar'ch (his son with Valerie) and Angel (his son with Liana - that story is shared in The One Enlightened) and the adoring husband of Valerie.  In his eyes, Valerie can do no wrong.  He is also one of the five members that make up the High Council, the governing board of the Diasodz.  He is highly respected and loved.  His weapons to call are blade tattoos on his wrists, and he has the ability to manipulate objects, making them appear or disappear.  He is also able to transport an embryo from one womb to another.  He is currently working on the ability of transporting a Diasodz from one place to another without the use of a portal.

Martin

***SPOILER ALERT***  If you haven't read The One Betrayed yet and do not like being told things ahead of time, you may want to skip this section.  You have been forewarned. :-P

We meet Martin in The One Betrayed.  He isn't one of the main characters, but he does play a significant role in influencing some of the choices that other characters make.  Martin is Mel's father and Harmony's husband, though she considers their marriage to be over.  Martin was once a strong and powerful Diasodz who had made a successful life for himself on Earth.  Unfortunately, he became greedy and wanted more. 

Martin allowed others to influence his mindset which slowly caused him to turn away from the Goddess. Eventually, he decided to become a Raizyn and was turned into a demon.  His dark, Hispanic skin turned a dirty gray.  His already strong build became thicker and more ripped than a body builder. His hazel eyes turned yellow.  In his transition, he lost his Goddess-given skill, but he didn't care because he felt like he was a part of an indestructible team with the Raizyns.

In joining the Raizyns, he destroyed his family unit.  Harmony refused to turn her back on the Goddess, so he abandoned her.  Later, Harmony begged Damiana to release Martin and take her instead.  Damiana agreed, knowing that Martin was there on his own free will.  Damiana threatened to turn Harmony into a deminion, but when Martin realized that Harmony was carrying his child, he begged Damiana to show mercy.  Damiana allowed Harmony the opportunity to raise her daughter so long as her daughter became best friends with Sofia.

It's easy to dislike Martin for the choices that he has made, but there is still good in him.  He truly loves Harmony; he just happens to love power more.  He absolutely loves Mel and does whatever he can to protect her, but for as much as he wants to be strong and powerful, he is weak and does not make good choices.

Drake

We first hear about Drake in The One Enlightened, but we really get to know him in The One Betrayed.  I gotta admit, I have a soft spot for Drake.  He had a traumatic start at life and never really got to learn about goodness and kindness.  He is truly a product of his environment.  He and Nolan had such different upbringings, and it shows how the way they were raised influences the choices that they make throughout their lives.

Drake is another male who is easy on the eyes.  He is 6'2" with golden tanned skin and deep, forest green eyes with red sparks within them.  He is also extremely muscular and has great strength to go along with all of those muscles.  He has shoulder-length brown hair that he pulls back into a low ponytail.  His weapon to call is a flail with three maces hanging from the tip.  He has the power to inflict pain upon others if he touches them.  He can also create heat through touch.  He is able to control lava and earthquakes.  He can create weightedness through touch and also bring darkness, sadness, grief, despair, and anger to others.  He is very powerful, which is why he is the king of the Raizyns.

***SPOILER ALERT***  If you haven't read The One Englightened yet and do not like being told things ahead of time, you may want to skip this section.  You have been forewarned. :-P

Drake is the father of Rafe and Sofia.  Rafe and Sofia have different mothers, and the stories of how they were conceived are debatable (Damiana and Valerie have different versions of the truth, and I'm not ready for the reader to know which version is correct - if either - so we will just leave it at that.) ;-) Drake went to jail for almost two years (about 18 human years) for a crime that he admitted to, so he missed out on watching his children grow up.  In fact, he doesn't even meet Rafe until The One Betrayed (he meets Sofia later).  He is also Damiana's partner, though he regrets that decision many times.

Drake is hellbent on getting revenge on Nolan (for reasons told in The One Betrayed), but his ultimate goal is to destroy the Diasodz so that Lucifer's Raizyns can have full power.  He believes he holds the secret weapon to accomplish his task, and is moving forward with his plan.  

So, there you have it.  Hopefully, this helps you to know the fathers of my series a little bit better. Thanks for visiting and reading about them. :-)

If you have yet to read the series and if I have sparked your interest, you can find my books at the links below.  If you are a member of Kindle Prime, you can read my books for free on Kindle Unlimited:

The One Discovered:  https://www.amazon.com/One-Discovered-Chronicles-Diasodz-Book/dp/1495338975

The One Enlightened:  https://www.amazon.com/One-Enlightened-Chronicles-Diasodz-Book/dp/1505907152

The One Betrayed:  https://www.amazon.com/One-Betrayed-Chronicles-Diasodz-Book/dp/1519799888

Author Spotlight - A.M. Manay

Author Spotlight - A.M. Manay

Today, I have the honor of being a part of A.M. Manay's 3-Day Weekend Book Boost.  I've downloaded her books, She Dies at the End and She Lights Up the Dark, and I cannot wait to read them. Her novels are the kind of books that I love to read, and I'm sure the readers of my novels will also love them.  So, enjoy an inside look to Manay's books as she tells you about them.

In my second novel, She Lights Up the Dark, we are introduced to a community called Eden, where humans, fairies, vampires, and werewolves live honestly and in peace.  The commune was created by Gul, an elderly former king among the fairies and widower to Queen Lilje.  Gul eventually marries Raina.  This letter sheds some light on the origins of this community as well as the close relationship between Raina and her mother, Ilyn's late wife Marisha.  It would date from the late 18th century, a few decades before Marisha's untimely death.  You can learn more about all of these characters by reading She Dies at the End, She Lights Up the Dark, and She Sees in Her Sleep, all available this weekend for only $0.99 each!

Dearest Mother,

I hope this letter finds you content and well.  My journey has been largely uneventful, though more rugged than I knew to expect.  This is an untamed land.  The fairy servants I brought along have served me well, and we have taken care to keep our contact with other wagon trains brief and seldom.  I hope to send them back to you as soon as weather permits.  I suspect, however, that once out of my sight, greed may call them to seek their fortunes on the frontier.

It is a beautiful country, with much for me to paint and draw, though treacherous for the mortals.  We passed dead and dying migrants with some frequency along the trail.  Thankfully, there have been enough hale and hearty human travelers to keep us in prey.  The natives keep well clear of us.  It seems they are aware of the danger we pose.  There was no real trouble from the lycanthropes.  They, too, are cautious on the road, fearing to be exposed to the ordinary people.  We were and continue to be careful during the full moon.

Gul's band is small, but committed and growing.  It is a strange sight, to see werewolves and fairies, humans and vampires, working together to put up a barn by moonlight.  This evening, as I write, a fairy girl and a little cub are playing checkers by the fire, laughing together like brother and sister.  I cannot believe my eyes.   Mother, some of them even marry happily!  It is quite astonishing. 

You must never tell Father.  He would burn the entire place to ashes.

Give my best wishes to Savita and the others.

All my love,

Raina

Book blurb for She Lights Up the Dark (November Snow Book 2)

A frightening vision stalks November, even in her grave . . . and things go severely sideways just as soon as she claws her way out of it. 

Continuing the story begun in the well-received paranormal romp She Dies at the End, She Lights Up the Dark finds November Snow struggling to adjust to her new life as a vampire with none of the support she'd expected. Her nemesis Luka has plotted to isolate November and scatter her allies as he executes his plan to bring human society under his control. Her loneliness leads her to become emotionally entangled with a charming but likely untrustworthy fellow vampire. 

When danger flares, November discovers that her psychic gift has expanded in a powerful and perilous fashion. Coerced into close company with her enemy, she fights to master her power and to uncover the secrets that may help her to save both her friends and the human world from being crushed under Luka’s boot. November is determined to stop Luka as his plan builds toward an unknown and deadly climax, but she may find that lighting up the dark comes with a high price to pay. 

This books contains violence, some sexual content, and occasional profanity.

A short excerpt from She Lights Up the Dark (November Snow Book 2)

Raina turned from her canvas, a smear of blue paint on her cheek testifying to an earlier itch.  "Ilyn's made another child?  And lost the throne?"

"It seems so.  Luka's finally made his move."  Gul shook his head.  "Marisha's only mistake, that one."

"I wouldn't say 'only,'" came her dry reply.  "There's also me.  What about William?  What's he up to?"

"They know nothing of him, save that he's out there making trouble for his brother."

"Hmmph.  I don't really know William.  They found him after I left," Raina replied as she turned back to the painting.  It was a landscape of a garden in the morning sun.  It was quite beautiful, but there was something off about it, about the colors, as though she was painting a picture of something she had only heard about thirdhand.

"Apparently Luka's using a hider fairy to keep the girl from Ilyn," Gul said carefully.  "A fairy who may well be my descendent — the sole survivor of that werewolf massacre a few centuries back."

Raina closed her eyes and put down her brush.  "Well, s***."

"Indeed."

"She's going to wind up all screwed up like the others.  Emil's children never recovered after the wolves took them when they were young.  He had to put them down," Raina said, growing more upset.  "He's never been right since.  And that boy, Philip . . . when Ilyn kicked him out and Marisha died, I heard he went all strange."

"I remember the stories," Gul replied.

"How could Luka take such a risk with his own kin?" Raina fumed.  "Is nothing sacred anymore?"

"He really wants that girl, I suppose.  And he likely hates Ilyn more than he cares about her."  Gul's chest tightened painfully.  He struggled to continue.  "There's something else . . ."

"Oh, Christ on the cross," Raina sighed.  "Spit it out."

"This girl, November, she's a demon, like Savita and Philip . . ."  He looked down at his hands.  "This demon girl once was Lilje," he finally continued.  "I'm nearly certain of it.  The way Pine described her eyes, and there are things in Lilje's book that sound like what is happening now."

Raina at last looked him full in the face and swore softly in a dead language.  "You're going to go after her, aren't you?"

"I am honor bound two different ways, Raina.  How can I not?"

"Helena will have a fit," Raina replied, placing her hand worriedly over her mouth.

"That she will.  She won't be the only one."

"I guess I'd better pack light," she sighed.

"You're coming with me?" he asked, his face lighting up.  "You said you'd never leave this place again."

"I can't very well let my husband go off looking for his dead first wife without me, now can I?"

 In addition to her work as an indie author of paranormal fantasy, A.M. Manay is a former inner-city chemistry teacher, a singer, a yoga enthusiast, a Clerk of Session in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and a mother through domestic open adoption.  She has a passion for increasing diversity in popular culture and for strong heroines who stand up for themselves, make their own decisions, and don't depend on romance as their reason for being.

Be the first to know about the release of the upcoming sequel as well as bonus material about your favorite characters by: 

Checking out her website: www.ammanay.net

Signing up for the fan email list: November's News

Following the author on Facebook: facebook.com/ammanaywrites

Following the author on Twitter: @ammanay

Following the author on Instagram: instagram.com/a.m.manay

Following her Amazon author page: amazon.com/author/ammanay

Author Links for A.M. Manay

She Dies at the End: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0112S00KI

She Sees in Her Sleep: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B019EG1NWE

She Lights Up the Dark: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BQGGBMW

Website: www.ammanay.net

Fan email list: November's News

Facebook: facebook.com/ammanaywrites

Twitter: @ammanay

 Instagram: instagram.com/a.m.manay

Amazon author page: amazon.com/author/ammanay

 ***The tour is sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com.***