Guest Blog by Laurie London and Giveaway - February 22, 2012

Please welcome Laurie London to The Qwillery. Tempted by Blood, the third novel in Laurie's Sweetblood series, was published yesterday!


I’m so thrilled to be back on The Qwillery, celebrating two exciting events. First of all, the next book in the Sweetblood series, TEMPTED BY BLOOD, came out in print yesterday and comes out in digital format March 1.

But before I tell you the second reason I’m here, let me give you a little background about the third book in the series so it makes more sense.

Set deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the battle for supremacy rages on between two vampire coalitions: Guardian enforcers sworn to protect humans, and Darkbloods, rogues who sell Sweet on the vampire black market. Sweetbloods are humans whose blood is very rare and highly addictive to vampires.

The heroine, Arianna Wells, is a human, but she’s not a sweetblood. However, her cousin who lives with her is a sweetblood and, as Arianna finds out later, so was her mother.

When Arianna was five years old, she witnessed shadows coming alive and taking her mother away. Most humans are unable to see vampires when they’re in their shadow form, so no one believed her, but Arianna knew what she saw.

Although she works for a software company now (the same one from EMBRACED BY BLOOD), her passion is her secret blog, which explores the unexplained and unusual, giving a voice to people like her—people who aren’t believed. If her security-conscious employer finds out she lied about having a blog, she could get fired, so she keeps her identity a secret. Those in the blogging community only know her by her screen name, Icy Shadows.

When she witnesses her cousin being taken by men who appeared from the shadows and another man (the hero, Jackson Foss) steps from the shadows to save her, Arianna realizes that what she saw all those years ago was real and that it was happening all over again. She takes some pictures, posting them to her blog the next day, and that’s when the $#!% hits the fan.

Which leads me to the second reason I’m here on The Qwillery. I’m launching Arianna’s blog Paranormalish (www.Paranormalish.blogspot.com) and I would love to have readers participate. Come read a few real and creepy stories that people have contributed already.

If you’ve ever experienced something bizarre, something unexplained, Icy Shadows would love to hear from you. Check out the guidelines on the blog and send your story to Paranormalish@gmail.com.

Not only will real reader stories be featured (I, Laurie, have a few really bizarre things that have happened to me and I’ll be sharing them at some point), but also, if you’re a writer and want to try your hand at some fun writing prompts, Arianna—I mean, Icy Shadows will be hosting fun fan-fiction-type contests. So stay tuned for those.

Thanks, Qwill (See? I didn’t use her real name in case she’s hiding her identity too.), for having me on today and for helping me launch TEMPTED BY BLOOD and Paranormalish.

In addition to Paranormalish, you can find me online at:
www.LaurieLondonBooks.com
www.facebook.com/LaurieLondonAuthor
www.twitter.com/LaurieBLondon
and my newest obsession, Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/LaurieLondon

If you have any questions, I’ll be popping in all day. Also, I’m giving away a signed copy of TEMPTED BY BLOOD to one lucky Qwillery reader. Good luck!


About the Sweetblood Series

Tempted by Blood

Sweetblood 3
HQN, February 21, 2012 (MMP), March 1. 2012 (eBook)
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 384 pages

Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the battle for supremacy rages on between two Vampire coalitions: Guardian enforcers sworn to protect humanity, and Darkbloods, rogues who kill like their ancient ancestors….

He might be known for his effortless charm, but Guardian Jackson Foss is hiding a terrible secret. For months, he has battled the emergence of his dark nature—deadly urges that threaten to consume him. And those cravings only intensify when he meets Arianna Wells, the human he's been assigned to protect.

Smart and perceptive, Arianna doesn't seem like a dangerous temptress. Yet she awakens in Jackson an unstoppable need that, if left unchecked, will brand him a traitor…a crime punishable by death.

But soon their bond may be Arianna's only hope. For stalking her in the shadows is a merciless enemy—one who will stop at nothing to claim her completely….

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

"Enchanted by Blood"
Sweetblood 2.5
in A Vampire for Christmas
HQN, October 18, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 384 pages

All they want for Christmas is you…

It's the time of year for twinkling lights on trees and kisses under the mistletoe. Yet the passing of another year means nothing to the stunning immortals who lurk in the shadows of the new-fallen snow.

And they don't care if you've been naughty or nice.

Let four fanged lovers open your eyes to a passion you never dared to imagine. After all, there's no place like home for the holidays—and these dazzling vampires can't wait for an invitation.

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

Embraced by Blood

Sweetblood 2
HQN, June 21, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 384 pages

Alfonso Serrano is a hunted man. For months he's managed to elude the Darkbloods, vengeful foes who won't rest until he's dead. But he still craves one dangerous temptation: Lily DeGraff, the sexy Guardian agent he'll risk anything to protect.

Lily is a wanted woman. Her talent for tracking Sweet--a rare blood type that's addictive to vampires--makes her a prime target for enemy capture. Her only hope is the stealthy vampire operative who stole into her bed...then left her in despair. Danger aside, Lily won't let Alfonso near her heart again--until an irresistible hunger threatens to draw them back together... and into an assassin's snare.

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

Hidden by Blood

Sweetblood 1.5
HQN, June 1, 2011
eBook

Deep within the forests of the Pacific Northwest, two vampire coalitions battle for supremacy--Guardians who safeguard humanity and Darkbloods, rogues who will stop at nothing to satisfy their craving for the sweetest of human blood.

Now, former Army Ranger Finn McKentry finds himself imprisoned as a blood slave, forced to submit to an enemy more powerful than any he's encountered before. Only Brenna Stewart, the woman he'd loved and lost, can set him free--but the secret she harbors might lead them down the most dangerous path of all...

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Books-A-Million : Kobo : Sony

Bonded by Blood

Sweetblood 1
HQN, January 18. 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 378 pages

Movie location scout Mackenzie Foster-Shaw has always known that she's cursed to die young. No one can protect her from the evil that has stalked her family for generations—vampires who crave her rare blood type. Until one afternoon in a wooded cemetery, she encounters an impossibly sexy stranger, a man she must trust with her life.

For Dominic, a man haunted by loss, Mackenzie satisfies a primal hunger that torments him—and the bond they share goes beyond heat, beyond love. She alone can supply the strength he needs to claim his revenge. But in doing so, he could destroy her....

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

About Laurie

A graduate of Western Washington University with a BA in Business Administration and a former tester/programmer for a Fortune 500 company, Laurie London now writes from her home near Seattle where she lives with her husband and two children.

She is a member of Romance Writers of America®, Greater Seattle Area RWA, RWAOnline, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, FF&P (RWA chapter devoted to all things paranormal), and two book clubs.

When not writing, she can be found running, reading, or riding and showing her horse. Someday she hopes to qualify for the Quarter Horse World Show – that is, if her horse doesn’t get hurt again.

Laurie's Links:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest


The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win a signed copy of Tempted by Blood (Sweetblood 3) from Laurie!

How:  For today (Feb. 22) only you can ask Laurie a question or for all days leave a comment answering the following question:

Do you have a favorite TV show, movie, website, etc that deals with 

paranormal phenomena?

Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)   Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)   Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)   Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. 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 Wednesday, February 29, 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.*