Please help me welcome V. S. Nelson to my blog today. She has given me a wonderful interview which I know you’re going to enjoy. Ever generous, she is giving away a $5 Starbucks card and some swag to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave her a comment.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I write across genres but most of the time you will find me writing what is now classified as Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Why? Because I have always had a fondness for the unusual unexplained events that occur on our home. And less face isn’t there something sexy about an immortal with deep penetrating eyes.

Tell us about your current series.

Sekhmet’s Guardians, my paranormal series takes place around modern day lake Chicago. They (the Guardians) operate a private world renowned protection agency simply called Guardians Incorporated. While protecting the rich, the famous and those less fortunate they also protect the human race from an evil which escaped their home world, New Tuat, a parallel world, created by their ancestors. Although a large majority of their stories take place in our modern world, the reader will also experience glimpses into their ancient past. You see this Band of Heroes is over five thousand years old. They’ve been here for a very long time and have a lot of tales to share.

So far, eleven books are planned for the series including two historicals. Book one, Eternal Lovers launched in January of this year. Book two, Eternal Nights is scheduled to be released May 1st, followed by Eternal Blades the first of December.

I might add I’m an avid series reader and hate waiting a year for the next installment in a series I’m reading to be released. Because of this 2014 will see books four and five. Two books are planned to be released each year after to keep the reader entertained and happy.

A little note I’d like to add. Most Band of brother type paranormal romances revolve around the heroes. I’ve spent a great deal of time on the heroines of the stories. In reality, book one, Eternal Lovers, is Jennifer’s story, not Gabriel’s and book two, Eternal Nights is Jessica’s, not Raphael’s. The women who attract these immortal warriors are beyond extraordinary and need to have there story told.

What is your next project and when will it be released?

Aside from my paranormal series I plan on releasing another Urban Fantasy, the Adventures of Cupid and Penelope. Cupid and Penelope’s Novella was so well received in January of this year, I’ve been asked to continue on with their story.
For some time I have been working on a commercial fiction story, Sins of a Man, the story of a Mafia Hitman. I hope to have it ready for the publisher by early 2014.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

Years ago I never would have dreamed of self-publishing. I was raised with the idea there was only one way to publish; Find an agent who sells your books to a publisher. But times have changed. No longer do we write by hand or an old IBM typewriter. Stories are written very quickly and published just as fast. Just look at your local Kindle or e-store and you’ll see what I mean—with hundreds being published every day of the calendar year.

Still being old school at heart I began my quest for an agent and publisher. After a year, I ended up turning down the two contracts I was offered and decided, if I was going to have to do most of the publicity and work myself, why not give self-publishing a try. Eternal Lovers was sent to my old non-fiction editor who worked her magic on it (copy edits), then I sent it to a more modern male editor for line edits. Some habits are hard to break and I would never try to edit my own work… even with my college degrees, my grammar still sucks… and I’m not afraid to say so.

Self publishing has been quite an experience but I am happy to say I am more than pleased with the outcome. The process from writing to editor to print is so much faster than past traditional publishing – at least on this end. Its one of the joys I’m sure my readers will love—being able to read 2-3 of the books in the series per year verses one.

What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

Don’t try to do everything yourself. It’s a big world out there that can swallow you whole if you’re not careful.

First off, I would suggest you join a writer’s organization like RWA (Romance Writers of America), find a critique partner and take as many lessons as you are able to from qualified professionals. Learn your craft and apply that which will benefit your writing style. Find a good editor—you’ll need him or her. Long before you jump on the band wagon of self publishing, I would suggest you start making your self known around the many social media outlets. Build a website, blog and join face book, twitter and other such sites. Let people know you are a writer and what you have to offer them. Start a long list of other’s writers, bloggers, reviewers, book cover artists and so on. You are going to need them too before you release your self published book.

This sounds a bit overwhelming and it can be if you let it get to you. But if you pace yourself and plan your future, it can all be accomplished long before you hit that “go to print” button.

Do you or have you belonged to a writing organization? Which one? Have the helped you with your writing? How?

I am currently an active member of three RWA (Romance Writers of America) chapters. I’m the current Vice President of the Future, Fantasy and Paranormal on-line chapter and the membership director of my local chapter, Desert Rose, here in Arizona. I’m also a member of the Passionate Ink chapter, the chapter designated for writers of erotica. Each RWA chapter hosts an abundance of classes, conferences and much more. The friendships and relationships I’ve build with other writers through these organizations are immeasurable. I firmly believe no one understands a writer like another writer especially when you start talking about the voices in your head. Try doing that in a room full of doctors and you’ll find yourself sitting on a shrink’s couch.

Do you have any rejection stories to share?

I think every writer has at least one rejection story. I know I have a few. Perhaps my favorite isn’t really a rejection from a publisher or agent but a story involving a piece of work I sent in to a contest. I had started a rather hot contemporary romantic piece which boarded on main stream erotica. Wanting to get feedback on what I thought was a good story I submitted the “unedited” first twenty five pages. Somehow, my work ended up in the hands of a Christian inspirational author who had volunteered to judge the contest. How she ended up judging erotica is yet to be discovered by me but she did. She in so many words crucified me and my work, telling me I didn’t need to use cuss words in a manuscript to get it noticed, nor did I need to show my couple having sex in the various positions they were in. Needless to say, my scoring was at the bottom of the pile. I came pretty close to tearing up the manuscript and tossing it into the trashcan. Thankfully, I opened the second score sheet. The second judge raved about my exciting concept, calling it a fresh and welcome change. (Bless her heart).

I still enter contests from time to time when I want to hear what someone outside my critique group or peers think but I am also aware that judge’s opinions, just like readers vary from person to person. It is what the second judge wrote on her score sheet which inspired me to become a contest judge. I now judge 4-6 RWA contests per year. My goal in doing so is to inspire author authors no matter how I personally feel about their writing. I read for story and content and if there is a story there I make sure I tell them. I’m also quick to complement the good in what ever I find. A little, “I like this,” goes a long way especially when one is young and inexperienced in their writing career. I don’t ever want to be that judge who told me on my score sheet, “You should forget a career in writing.”

BIO

Being a Native American woman and a Scorpio, author V.S. Nelson has always had a fondness for history, mythology, the occult, and the unexplained events which have occurred on this world we call home. It was no wonder she found herself writing a paranormal series.

Raised on authors like H.G. Wells and Jules Verne and coming from a long line of oral storytellers, Ms. Nelson work has been defined as innovative and fresh. She will take you by the hand and lead you into the depths of her imagination as if you are sitting next to her on the couch one minute and alive within her fantasy world the next.

She has always enjoyed reading stories with strong relationships and happy-ever-after-endings and it is reflected in her work. Even her commercial fiction, Sins of a Man, the Memoirs of a Mafia Hit man, is layered with romantic elements. I’ve heard her say she is in love with love more than once and that too is echoed in her stories.

Landing in Arizona, after an exciting teaching career, which took her to the Middle East for several years, she lives in Arizona where she spends most of her time making love to her computer while writing, editing or researching, seven to ten hours a day. The days she’s not writing, you will find her with her critique partners, attending or presenting a workshop or at a RWA (Romance Writers of America) meeting. She’s extremely active in three RWA chapters in addition to her other associations.

She enjoys hearing from readers, fans and people with similar interests. They are more than welcome to contact her through her website http://www.authorvsnelson.com

All of her books can be found on her Amazon author page at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00AXYLHF0

EXCERPT

“I shouldn’t have taken Nowaki with me…” Raphael said. His head hung low as if he was over come with guilt.

“Listen, don’t you go second guessing yourself. Jessica offered you her blood to save your ass. If it wasn’t for her, you would have bled out before we got there and you wouldn’t be sitting up talking to me right now. We would have a bigger mess on our hands if that happened.”

“I know, but I still can’t help but feel some how responsible. If I hadn’t taken Nowaki with me and if I hadn’t taken so much of her blood…”

“Hey, you don’t feel like howling at the moon or taking an unusually long swim across the Atlantic, do you?”

“No, why?”

“Oh nothing much, just the little fact your last blood work came back mixed with traces of canine and Selkie.”

He couldn’t help but laugh out loud at Gabriel. “You’re shitting me, right?”

“ No actually, it did…I just wanted to make sure you weren’t going to get all wacked out and start changing in front of me… The way things have been happening around this house, you never know…”

He was sure their laughter was heard all the way down the hall of the underground tunnels.

Please help me welcome Morgan K. Wyatt to my blog today. She is giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commentor and a $5 gift card to another so be sure and leave her a comment.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a life-long writer. My mother taught me to write and read at the age of four to keep me out of her hair. This caused me to be a nuisance in first grade. I told the children on the second day of school how all the reading books ended killing their desire to continue reading Dick and Jane’s adventures. I went on to write notes, fold them in a cute football shape and chuck them at classmates. I believe I singlehandedly inspired those kids to read making up for my end-telling fiasco.

2. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

My dream location is to live along the North Carolina shore running a B&B. I still experience seasonal changes and a beach.

3. Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

I taught special needs children for the last twenty years, while raising my own three children. Recently, I decided to devote myself to writing full time.

4. What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I am actually open to most genres, but so far, I’ve only published in Contemporary and Historical Romance.

5. How many books have you written?

Technically, I’ve written twelve books. Six are published. Two are under contract. I am getting ready to self-publish one. Another is under consideration.

I have a couple of favorites. Rebel Bride is my historical favorite, while Unexpected Cougar is my contemporary favorite. Unexpected Cougar was co-written by my husband since the hero is an engineer. Jackson tends to spout engineer talk instead of romantic hero talk, which makes it more realistic and funny.

6. Tell us about your current series/WIP.

I never seem to write one book at a time, so in actuality I have four works in progress. I am 75% done with GONE, which is a romantic suspense, I am about 82% done with Perfect Stranger (it will be a 99-cent weekend read.)

Amy is a scientist involved in biological warfare. She steps out of the shower to find her new husband gone without a trace, as if he never existed. Some people think he walked, others believe she offed him somehow. It’s up to her to discover the truth.

The other book is a Cinderella-style novella called Perfect Stranger. Cinda, owner and CEO of Clear Concepts, yearns to be reunited with a stranger she met in the airport. Unfortunately, she lost his business card, and doesn’t know his last name. Raven, her best friend and retired model, decides to help with unexpected results.

7. What is your next project and when will it be released?

Rebel Heartsong, the third book in the Rebel Heart Series is out now. Escaping West should be out in March. Contemporary romantic suspense, Dangerous Curves is slated for a May release. All these books are by Secret Cravings Publishing.

8. Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

I have constant story ideas. I will admit I am an eavesdropper and a story keeper. Someone told me about an insurance case where a woman killed her husband with antifreeze in jello to get back at him for wrecking her car and V-8 Love Triangle short story was born. I’ll put up on Goodreads to give everyone a chance to read it

The other day I was eating lunch out with my daughter. When two women seated behind me plotted how to hack into the one of their husband’s email accounts to see if he was cheating. That little tidbit stuck in my mind, I might be able to use it in one of WIP where the wife’s husband tries to kill her, but she survives.

9. What is your favorite part of writing?

I like the writing part, but I also like talking to my husband about the characters and motivations. He is extremely insightful, especially with male POV and rationale.

I like the cover art part too because it seems like everything is coming together. I also like communicating with readers and hearing their views.

10. What advice can you offer to anyone deciding to self-publish?

I have a friend who has hit the big time self-publishing, she advised me pay the money to have a professional edit, format, and cover. Reviewers will savage a book that isn’t formatted properly. As a reader I’ve attempted books that weren’t formatted properly and never finished them. Poor covers kill interest too. I remember when VHS rental was popular and the image on the case had nothing to do with the movie. I think the rationale was you’d only rent it once. This rationale doesn’t work for authors.

Rebel Heartsong Blurb

Townsend Audley as heir to the biggest planation in Beufort County was also the biggest marital prize. Life was good at least it was before the war. After the Civil War devalued Confederate money, and stripped their plantation, Townsend became a not so great catch. The only person who stands by him is Yvette, a mulatto companion to his sisters. She jokes she stayed only to watch over him, which she does, quite well. He can’t remember a time the beautiful servant hasn’t taken care of him, almost like a wife. He’s lucky to have Yvette, but someday some man would steal her away. The thought enrages him. He’s unwilling to live without her by his side. Does she feel the same way? If she does, how will they manage when the law declares their love taboo?

Secret Cravings Buy Link

http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=10&products_id=511&zenid=a6457906cb611a1c8046e099aaf9f222

BIO

Morgan K Wyatt, raised on a steady diet of superheroes, believed she could fly at a very young age. After using trees, barn lofts, sliding boards, and even a second story window as launch pads, she found her flying skills were limited to fast and downward. By the age of nine, her dreams to be a superhero needed some modifications, which caused her to turn to writing and horseback riding as alternatives to flying.

At the age of twenty, she had another chance at superhero greatness as being one of the few female soldiers trained for combat. The fact that women will be able to serve in combat soon indicates that all the witnesses to the grenade incident have retired. The grenade incident didn’t prevent her two sons or daughter-in-law from enlisting in the service. Having different last names probably helped.

Morgan recently retired from teaching special needs students to write full-time, instead of in the wee hours of the night. With the help of her helpful husband and loyal hound, she creates characters who often grab plot lines and run with them. As for flying, she prefers the airlines now.

Please help me welcome Jaleta Clegg to my blog today. Jaleta will be giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave her a question or a comment.

Jaleta has a FREE ebook of Nexus Point for everyone! Just go here – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10672 – and use the code AA47G (expires 5/31/13)

How did you get started writing?
My first real attempt at writing a novel happened after reading a long series of unsatisfying books by other authors. I couldn’t find the kind of book I wanted to read, so I decided I’d write it myself. It turned out to be much harder than I thought. But also much more addictive. I can’t stop myself.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?
So far, my novels have been science fiction adventure but I’m not ruling out fantasy or even romance. I fell in love with SF way back in second grade when I found A Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet buried in my parents’ bookshelves. That led to A Wrinkle in Time, which eventually led to anything by Andre Norton, which led to anything with SF on the spine at the library.

My short stories tend to be silly horror. I could do dark and serious, but I don’t want to go there. I’d rather make someone laugh while their skin crawls. An anthology I edited with a friend just released in November – Wandering Weeds: Tales of Rabid Vegetation (http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com/2012/12/free-short-story.html). I love my story in it. I posted “Lassie, Go Home”, another short that didn’t make it into the collection, for free on my blog if you want a taste of my silliness.

What is your favorite part of writing?
Making up stuff. I love to create worlds and characters to fill them. I can daydream all I want, because it’s part of my job. I also get to research all sorts of weird and bizarre things and call it part of writing. Did you know that baboons have a very strict social heirarchy? Or that rulers of Greek city-states were called Archons? Or that deep-sea creatures are more like aliens than the creatures in SF movies?

What is your least favorite part of writing?
The pressure to create something really good, right now, first draft. That’s impossible. Good writing takes time, lots of time, and lots of editing. It isn’t easy. Anyone who tells you the writing in your first draft is marvelous either didn’t read it, or is related to you and wants something from you. First drafts are horrible. That’s why editing was invented, to polish those rough drafts into something beautiful.

Tell us about your current series.
The Fall of the Altairan Empire is a space opera – a huge story told mostly from the perspective of one person unlucky enough to get caught in the middle. Dace is like a catalyst. She triggers the events that lead to the ultimate destruction of the Empire and everything she knows. It all starts with one world, one mistake. Nexus Point begins her story. She’s finally got her dream of owning her own trading ship, but her crew betrays her and blows it up. She crashes on Dadilan, a world trapped in a feudal society and low technology level where she is accused of being a demon. That’s chapter one of book one…

I believe in lots of action. I also believe in giving the reader a complete story in each book. No cliff hanger endings. But not a final ending. Each book builds on the next one in the series to make an overall story far grander than any one book could hold.

Book two, Priestess of the Eggstone, continues Dace’s misadventures, adding in an alien race of giant lizardmen. Book three, Poisoned Pawn, sets her up as an unwitting and unwilling pawn for the Patrol.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.
With their own ship and freedom, life is sweet; until Dace disappears and Jasyn learns the truth about their new copilot.

Tell us about your heroine. Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses.
Dace is fiercely loyal to the people she cares about. But she has a hard time opening up enough to admit she cares for someone. She’s a survivor, but she’s not as tough and savvy as she thinks. She’s really very naïve about a lot of things, including love.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?
Keep writing. Don’t listen to that inner voice that whispers your writing is horrible and no one will ever want to read it. That voice doesn’t go away. It’s a self-doubt that everyone struggles with. Ignore it and keep writing. You will get better. Your stories will find an audience. But only if you keep writing and keep sharing.

Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?
Connecting with readers. Finding that email in my inbox from a reader who was touched enough by my stories to write me is the most wonderful thing. It can pull me out of a slump and motivate me to get writing again. Someone loves my characters as much as I do. That means the world to me.

Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?
Critters.org is a great group. I’m not active on there now, but I was when I was starting out. I got some great writing critiques and made some friends that helped push me where I wanted and needed, but was too afraid, to go.

BroadUniverse (http://www.broaduniverse.org/) is a wonderfully supportive organization for women who write science fiction, fantasy, or horror. I’ve made good contacts with other authors that have really helped me. I’m still pretty new to the publishing side of things. They’re great for aspiring authors, newbie authors, and established authors.

The Science Fiction Romance Brigade (http://www.sfrbrigade.com/) is a fun group. My books are not Romance, but they are science fiction with romantic elements. It’s nice to hang out with people who enjoy science fiction adventure stories as much as I do.

BestsellerBound (http://quietfurybooks.com/messageboard/index.php) is another wonderfully supportive group. They welcome anyone – reader, writer (published or not) of any genre, editor, or just someone who wants to talk books.

I’m also a member of a writing group based two states away from where I live. Good thing we have the internet.

What’s next for you?
The future awaits! Book three, Poisoned Pawn, is due to release April 19. The other eight books in The Fall of the Altairan Empire are under contract and wait for my editing pen. I’ve got other novels nibbling at my head as well as lots of short stories. I’m editing an anthology for Flying Pen Press. It’s an exciting time to be an author. So many stories to write and so many ways to get them to the readers.

Thanks for hosting me. It’s been a pleasure!

Bio:
Jaleta Clegg loves to paint pictures with words, since she sucks at painting pictures with paint. She’s always loved space and folktales. Combining that with writing her own stories was an easy leap. Writing stories that someone wanted to publish and people wanted to read was a lot harder. She’s published science fiction adventure novels and numerous short stories ranging from silly horror to fantasy to everything in between.

Links:
http://www.jaletac.com
http://www.altairanempire.com
jaletaclegg.blogspot.com
Twitter: @Jaleta_Clegg

Please help me welcome Regan Walker to my blog today. Regan has given me a great interview and she is giving one of you a copy of her first book, RACING WITH THE WIND, just for commenting. So be sure to comment. Now on to this great interview.

How did you get started writing?
Well my first stories were written in grade school, but I did not again take up writing historical romance until the last few years. I discovered historical romance about 2010 and fell in love with the genre. My first novel began soon thereafter. If I had it to do over, I would have taken up writing historical romance a long time ago.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I write historical romance and likely always will. I like history in my historical romance, too. So, there’s a lot of research involved, but I love that, too. Initially, I’ve written Regency romances because of a fascination with all that was going on in France and England during the time.

Tell us about your current series.

The idea came from my early love of mysteries and spy stories and my knowledge that all branches of government have their own agents. It wasn’t much of a stretch to conceive of the Prince Regent asking a few of his subjects to take on “special assignments.” Kings have been doing it for centuries. Hence my trilogy features heroes who have been asked by the Prince Regent to take on a unique task. First there was Racing With The Wind, and the British Lord who masqueraded at the Nighthawk, the thief of Napoleon’s secrets. Next is my latest release, Against the Wind, the story of Sir Martin Powell, the agent for the Crown in France who has come home to England for one last assignment. The 3rd in the trilogy—Wind Raven–takes place on a schooner and in the Caribbean in 1817 and features a rakish sea captain and a pirate who plied the seas around Puerto Rico at the time. I’m writing it now.

What inspired your latest book?

I was listening to a Ricky Martin song, “Nobody Wants to Be Lonely” and the scene of Kit in the bordello came to me, a young woman whose life has been shattered standing before a window, bathed in moonlight, staring out into the night, a “broken arrow.” She hears a voice behind her, a man in the shadows, saying “Come to me.” And from that I wrote the novel.

What is your next project and when will it be released?

I’m writing Wind Raven now. The hero is Captain Nick Powell. You meet him in Against the Wind. A privateer during the War of 1812, he is now a merchant sea captain in his family’s business. A rake and an emotionally wounded man, he loves all women and he loves none—that is until he meets an impudent American named Tara McConnell. It’s research intensive since I have to learn all the nautical terminology and understand life on a schooner at the time. And I’ve a very worthy pirate to understand, too. It’s so important to get all that “right,” elsewise some clever reader will point out that I got it all wrong! I hope it will be out late 2013.

How much time do you spend promoting your books? What works best for you?

Typically a few hours each day with Facebook, blog appearances, and Twitter, etc. But that can vary from a hour to much more if I’m promoting a new release like now. I also write articles for the Beau Monde blog that come from my Regency research.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Ah, that can be from anywhere…a song, a movie, a dream, a desire to see a certain place, anything, really. I had a fascination with the time of William the Conqueror and that led to my half done medieval, The Red Wolf’s Prize, that I will come back to when I finish the Agents of the Crown series.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?

That depends on how interesting they are. It’s more likely I’ll dredge up a composite character from several folks in my past. Or, in the case of the ever popular Muriel, Dowager Countess of Claremont, who is introduced in Against the Wind but then is a main character in my two short stories, I just made her up…a woman I’d like to know!

What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict or emotions? Why?

Probably conflict. It is difficult to make it real and not contrived. So many romance novels have the hero suddenly violently angry with the heroine for some stupid reason or misunderstanding. That is one of my pet peeves as a reader, so I try not to fall into that trap. In Against the Wind, Kit believes Martin is a traitor to the Crown, and with good reason, as she overhears him plotting treason.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

A spy for the Crown returns from France and meets his love in a bordello, never knowing she is the daughter of an earl and a dowager baroness, and he sweeps her away to the Midlands, into the rising winds of revolution.

Tell us a little about yourself and your latest book.

As a child I loved to write stories, particularly about adventure-loving girls, but by the time I got to college more serious pursuits took priority. One of my professors thought I was suited to the profession of law (not sure that was a compliment), and I recall thinking that I’d rather be a hammer than a nail so I became a lawyer. Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government gave me a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. So, it was natural that my first romance novels would involve a demanding Prince Regent who thinks of his subjects as his private talent pool. That led to Racing With The Wind and now to Against the Wind, the story of Sir Martin Powell, a spy for the Crown in France during the time of Napoleon who gets wrapped up in the Pentrich Rebellion in the Midlands of England in 1817.

Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

The most rewarding thing is seeing my books published and hearing from readers they like my work. When some early reviews said they couldn’t wait to read the next one, I nearly cried. I was so happy to connect with the hearts of women.

EXCERPT

Under cloak of darkness, love will find you. Fearing the dark, you will never find love.”
—Unknown

Chapter 1
London, April 1817

She is dead.

Katherine, Lady Egerton, stared at the still form lying on the bed. Beloved sister, friend of the heart…Anne was gone. One minute she was struggling for breath, the next she lay silent and still. The only person in the world Kit loved more than life had left her.

They are all gone now. The sudden solitude tore at her heart.

Kit smiled sadly, gazing through eyes filled with tears at the frail body lying before her. The brown mouse. Anne’s name for herself. Delicate even as a child, she had not long survived her marriage to the cruel Earl of Rutledge. Kit knelt at her sister’s bedside, assailed by grief and guilt, and reached for Anne’s hand. Could she have done more to save her sister from the dread disease? Could she have done more to protect Anne from the heartless man who was her husband?

Pale in death, Anne was still beautiful. Kit had often sketched that heart-shaped face. Not a mouse, but a much-loved sister with a kind, unselfish heart.

Kit had seen the end coming in the last few months, months through which she’d faithfully cared for Anne. The coughs that wracked her sister’s slight frame had grown worse as Anne seemed to fade before Kit’s eyes. Kit knew she was losing her even as she willed that weak body to heal. The physician said he could do nothing; each time he left shaking his head and telling Kit to make “the poor girl” comfortable as best she could. Kit had tried to save Anne, doing the only thing she knew by giving her syrup of horehound and honey. But such a small measure was not enough. Then, too, her sister had seemed to welcome death.

Suddenly, the room grew cold. Kit felt his presence, a looming evil behind her. She took a deep breath and summoned her strength.

“Leave her and come to me.” Rutledge’s tone was harsh and demanding. Kit had no need to see him to know his face would be twisted in an odious scowl, his lips drawn taut. “It is time.”

“I must see to my sister.”

“You need do nothing. I have arranged for the burial. Come away now.”

Kit knew what he wanted, for she had seen the lust in his dark eyes. What at first had been sideways glances became leers and unwanted touches. Though she’d lived in his home since the death of her husband the baron, Kit had avoided the earl, rarely leaving her sister’s bedside. She had been thinking of a way to escape, but her exhaustion in caring for Anne these last days left those plans incomplete. With meager funds, her options were few.

When she failed to rise at the earl’s direction, his hand roughly gripped her shoulder. She stiffened at the pain of his fingers digging into her skin.

“I have waited long for you, Katherine, enduring that mockery of a marriage to your sister while all the while it was you I wanted, you I was promised. Now I shall have what is mine.”

“No!” She rose swiftly, stepping back as she turned to face him. Revulsion rose in her throat. What did he mean by those words? She never had been promised to him!

His smirk transfigured what many thought of as a handsome face. Hadn’t Anne at first been fooled by his aristocratic features and wavy brown hair? One had only to look closely to see his nature reflected in those thin lips and narrow eyes now focused on Kit. A deep furrow between his brows bore witness to his long having insisted upon having his way. When Kit sketched him, it had been as an attacking hawk.

“What will you do?” he asked smugly. “Where will you go, m’dear? You are alone and without funds. I am the one who has provided food and shelter for both you and your weak sister, though I wanted only you. You are mine, Katherine, and I will have you.”

Terror seized her. Cornered, her eyes darted about like an animal snared in a trap. His tall figure blocked the door to the corridor; the only way out led through his adjacent bedchamber. She fled toward it.

She hastened into the room as he stalked after her, knowing she had but seconds, and her eyes searched for a weapon, something to hold him at bay. At the side of the fireplace were tools, short bars of iron that could fend off a man. But could she reach them in time?

He lunged for her just as she ran toward the fireplace. His body collided with hers, and she fell upon the wooden floor with a thud. Pain shot through her hip. His body crashed down upon hers, forcing the air from her lungs. She gasped a breath just as his mouth crushed her lips, ruthlessly claiming dominance.

Tearing away, she pushed against his shoulders with all her might, but his greater strength held her pinned to the floor. His hand gripped one breast and squeezed. She winced at the pain, but that was quickly forgotten the moment a greater terror seized her: His aroused flesh pressed into her belly.

Violently she struggled, but to no avail. His wet lips slid down her throat to her heaving chest as his fingers gripped the top of her gown and yanked at the silk. Kit heard the fabric tear as he ripped her gown and the top of her chemise, and she felt the cool air on her naked breasts. Frantic, she mustered strength she did not know she had. Twisting in his grasp, she reached for the iron poker now a mere foot away.

His mouth latched onto her breast where he voraciously sucked a nipple. Lost in his lust, he did not see her grasp the length of iron, raise it above him and bring it crashing down on his head. Stunned by the blow, he raised up, his eyes glazed. Kit let the bar fall again, this time with greater force. Blood spattered her chest and face as his body went limp. He slumped atop her.

Kit’s heart pounded in her chest like a bird’s wing beating against a cage. Frantically she shoved his face from her breast and rolled his body to the floor.

Unsteady at first, her breath coming in pants, Kit rose and looked down at the crumpled form lying before her, every nerve on edge as she gazed into that evil face, now deathly pale. Blood oozed from a gash in the earl’s left temple. There was no sign of life, no movement.

I have killed him!

Fear choked off her breath as she wiped blood from her face with a sleeve, and with one last look toward her sister’s bedchamber she raced from the room. Footsteps sounded down the hall. Alarmed at the prospect of encountering one of the earl’s servants who would summon a constable, Kit knew she must find a place to hide, and there was nowhere to hide in the house. Quietly stealing into her bedchamber, she grabbed her cloak and reticule, stuffing inside it the one piece of her jewelry that could be sold to sustain her, and fled the dwelling.

Out on the street, she paused to draw her cloak tightly around her, desperate to cover her torn and bloody gown. Where could she go? Who would shelter her in the state she was in, given the deed she had done?

Only one name came to her.

Willow House.

Amazon buy link for Against the Wind:
http://www.amazon.com/Against-Wind-Agents-Crown-ebook/dp/B00BXIJ6QM
Author website URL: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/
Author’s Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Regan-Walker/e/B008OUWC5Y
Regan’s Romance Reviews blog: http://reganromancereview.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @RegansReview (https://twitter.com/RegansReview)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/regan.walker.104
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450403.Regan_Walker