The Romance Reviews

The Romance Reviews

Monday, April 25, 2011

Pick Me Up Monday


Happy Monday!

     I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter. All that wonderful chocolate yum!

     It's been a very busy week for me with so many irons in the fire I am now forced to prioritize my work so I get everything out on time. Such is the life of a writer who also works full time!

     Through spring I will be working on Tegan's story for the Dark Breed series and hope to have it ready for my publisher by the first part of summer. Then it's on to another first book in a series called The Summoning, which I hope to have submitted around the same time as Tegan's. I have several other projects that will be hopefully out by the end of 2011 so keep checking in with me and I will keep you up to date on all the release dates as they come down the line.

     I will also be at Authors after Dark this year in Philadelphia in August 11 through to the 14th so if you are in the neighborhood you can catch me there.

That's all for this week

Shannan Albright

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Interview with a Las Vegas Vampire

Marcus Valerian's first ever interview!

     I find Las Vegas an unusual place to find a Vampire. Since we average about 300 days of sunlight per year with 1.95 million people living here I wonder how he manages to keep out of the sun and keep his identity a secret.  We meet in the Fitzgerald’s coffee shop. The Fitzgerald’s is one of the many older casinos that line the Fremont Experience in what is called old town Las Vegas. Built before the strip became the hot spot for tourists, it is a unique place to visit with its canopy of dazzling lights displaying above your head ,buskers playing music, artist showing their works and even contortionist entertaining the many tourists and locals alike.  
     Sitting in the coffee shop I know when he enters since every female head turns in his direction with looks of appreciation you would have to be dead not to notice him. Tall, dark and deadly comes to mind with I look at Marcus Valerian, leader of the Enforcers and the hero of Dark Passion Rising. His eyes lock with mine and a small smile softens his handsome features making me happy I’m sitting down since my legs would be wet noodles in response to that smile. Sitting across from me we exchange small talk, he is relaxed and ready to go.
     Shannan: So, Marcus I have to ask you something that has been puzzling me for some time      now. Why did you pick Las Vegas of all places for your headquarters?
     Marcus: It may seem like an odd place for a Vampire but in reality not much happens until the sun goes down. The night life here is much more active than in other large cities, also the Dark Breed gravitates toward large populations since it is easier to hide in plain sight so to speak.
     Shannan: What do you like to do when you have the night off?
     Marcus: (Laughs at this.) I do what anyone would do. Relax; take in a show or dinner listen to music.
     Shannan: What show have you seen recently that you really liked?
     Marcus: That would have to be Bite.
     Shannan: Should have known you would like the one show in Vegas that’s about Vampires. So you didn’t mention any gambling. Do you gamble?
     Marcus: I have never been that interested in games of chance. I leave that to Christophe, he has made taking chances an art form.
     Shannan: Ah yes, Christophe is one of your Enforcers and a Vampire like you isn’t he?
     Marcus: Yes, I think he is still sowing his wild oats. He is only three hundred years old after all.
     Shannan: Hummm…yes and you are two-thousand? Don’t you ever get bored of living; I mean that’s a long time it must get pretty dull?
     Marcus: There have been times when I thought so yes but, being an Enforcer, working with the Tribunal to keep not only the Dark Breeds safe but Humanity also has given me the purpose needed to carry through to long centuries.
     Shannan: Also now you have Tambra is that right? (I watch him smile softly at the mention of Tambra’s name.)
      Marcus: Tambra has made my life a wondrous place to be alive in. She is everything I could have ever hoped for. She is my Consort, my life and future.
     Shannan: Wow, lucky girl! This Consort business is very rare and you are just finding out what it all entails. Would you care to fill us in on any details?
     Marcus: Let me say only this, our bond is growing everyday and has given me powers surpassing my normal abilities.
     Shannan: Please share just a few of these if you will.
     Marcus: I am not affected by the sun as I was before. I am also stronger and faster than before we bonded.
     Shannan: I remember you stating in your book that the sun would bring on a comatose state but you wouldn’t go crispy critter if you were caught out in it. Am I correct?
     Marcus: Quite true, but now I can stay in the sun without the pull toward sleep. I find it quite fascinating really.
     Shannan: There are a lot of things about you that debunk many of the Vampire myths aren’t there?
     Marcus: Absolutely, I eat just like you, we are not deterred nor harmed by holy water or consecrated ground and I personally happen to be quite fond of garlic. Yes we need blood in addition but one feeding keeps us strong for at least a week when followed by a balanced diet. And I do cast a reflection in the mirror, thankfully since that would make shaving quite dangerous.
     Shannan: You will be coming to speak personally on my Blog is that right?
    Marcus: Yes, I will be there to answer any questions there may be all day.
    Shannan: Could I impose upon you to pick the winner of your story Dark Passion Rising?
     Marcus: It would be my pleasure.
     Shannan: Well then I will let you go for now and look forward to seeing you again.
     As we wrap this interview up I am struck by Marcus Valerian’s old world charm. This guy is truly the whole package and Tambra Ellis is one lucky lady.
     Marcus is ready for any questions you may have on my Blog all day on Wednesday April 20. Please put your email address in the comments so you can be notified if you are the lucky winner of Marcus’s story Dark Passion Rising: A Dark Breed Novel.
Good Luck
Shannan Albright

Monday, April 18, 2011

Pick Me Up Monday & Countdown to Contests!


     Happy Monday everyone! It's time again to start your week and I am starting it with this tastey treat. Yumm!
 
     I've had quite a fruitful week last week getting down to the wire on my short story and will soon have it submitted and betting back to business with Tegan's story, the second in the Dark Breed Series.
 
     This will be a busy week for me as I'm guest blogging at http://www.bookboost.blogspot.com/ I will be talking about the hunt for that perfect story. You can read how I put together a book and the process I go through to acheive it. And of course there is a giveaway of my book to some lucky person who leaves me a comment. This is going to be held on Tuesday April 19th so mark you calendars.
 
     Then the much anticipated interview with Dark Passion Rising's hunky Marcus Valerian. The leader of the Enforcers who live here in Sin City. It was quite a cozy chat I can tell you that much. *Heavy sigh* He's one sexy vampire! He will be live on my blog all day on April 20th to answer any of your comments so don't be shy. He will be picking a winner from all your comments and you can ask as many questions you want. The winner of his book will be announced on Thrusday morning around ten.
 
Untill then have a fantastic week!
 

Monday, April 11, 2011

Monday Pick Me Up and Upcoming Contest's !!

Good Morning Everyone in the Blog sphere! It's time for Monday Pick Me Up. Just a little something to make the week go just a little be smoother. Humm, I feel downright perky with this delicious hunk to look at all week.

So far I have made impressive progress on one bit of work due in to the editor by April 30th. I am also hard at work with the second book in the Dark Breed Series. Anyone who has read the book should be happy that Tegan has taken front and center in this one. I also have been working on the third story in the series as well. I can tell you that Tegan's book is set in his adopted homeland of Transcarpathia where he finds his match in a falcon-were. That's all I can say for now but stay tuned for more information in the next few months.

Speaking about The Dark Breeds most of you are aware I have been busy promoting my new release out from Evernight Publishing Dark Passion Rising: A Dark Breed Novel.You have two chances coming up next week to win a copy of my latest book. On April 19th I'm guest blogging at The Book Boost. Post a comment and you can be chosen to win my book I will be talking about my experience in the publishing business as a new author.

Then on April 20th come by for the Interview with Marcus Valerian the hunky vampire as agreed to be available for any questions you may have about him or the Dark Breed world. Just leave a comment and he will be sure to answer you back. The winner will be chosen randomly to win a copy of my book from the comments. Marcus will personally be picking the winner.

Next week promises to be a busy one so I have better get to work for the big week. Have a fantastic week all.


Monday, April 4, 2011

Romance you can sink your fangs into: Monday Pick Me Up

Romance you can sink your fangs into: Monday Pick Me Up: " In honor of the all male review I attended last weekend. Thunder Down Under absolutely ROCKS!!! I never knew Aussi..."

Monday Pick Me Up


     In honor of the all male review I attended last weekend. Thunder Down Under absolutely ROCKS!!! I never knew Aussie's could look so good. *very happy sigh*
Living in Las Vegas has it's perks I must say. And when my wonderful and talented friends and authors came into town well, let's just say a good time was had by all. Of course I'm talking about C.J.Ellison the author of Johnny Dangerously and the very popular Vampire Vacation and the equally fantastic Boone Brux who writes sizzling stories for Everything Erotic. I just have to say thanks Ladies for coming and letting me show you around my town.
 
     In other news I have been busy with Promoting my new release Dark Passion Rising: A Dark Breed Novel and this week plan to be hard at work with several books that have been neglected last week. So I better get to it and write, write, WRITE!!

Have a fantastic week!