Hello everyone! I am so pleased to welcome the lovely Shira Anthony to the blog today.  Shira is here to talk to us about her latest release, Into the Wind.  She is here doing an interview with Taren, one of the main characters. Shira has also brought details about a great giveaway. So please join me in giving Shira a big welcome!

Into Wind banner

Shira: Thanks, Jay, for hosting the Into the Wind Blog Tour here on Joyfully Jay! I’ve got Taren Laxley, merman and rigger for the Phantom here with me today. But before we get to my interview with Taren, I wanted to remind readers that I have 2 giveaways going on right now. The first is just for Joyfully Jay readers: comment on this post to be entered to win a free ebook copy of the first Mermen of Ea Series book, Stealing the Wind. Jay will pick a winner from among those who comment. Also, I’ve got a great Into the Wind Blog Tour giveaway on Rafflecopter. Here’s the link to the giveaway widget: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/cf0ba93/

So, without further ado, let me introduce Taren Laxley. Taren, meet Jay and her readers.

Taren: I don’t use the name “Laxley” anymore. Just Taren, please.

Shira: Sorry about that. I pretty much wrote your stepfather as a jerk, didn’t I?

Taren: *glares at Shira* You could say that.

Shira: Okay. Moving on then… What exactly is a merman shifter?

Taren: We can take both human and merman form. On land, we look like any other human, but when we take to the water, we transform. We’re more like dolphin and whales than fish, although we do have these barbed fins at our wrists that we can use to defend ourselves.

Shira: Taren, how does it feel to wake up one day and discover you are Ea,?

Taren: I honestly didn’t believe it at first. And even then, I was so worried I’d hurt Ian that I don’t think it hit me until much later.

Shira: Ian Dunaidh? Captain of the Phantom?

Taren: The merman ship. Yes. We didn’t exactly hit it off to begin with, and I was trying to get back to my own ship, the Sea Witch. I tried to escape. Things didn’t quite go as I planned.

Shira: Things are better now between you?

Taren: *blushes* You could say that. He and I are soulbound. We were lovers in a past life.

Shira: You don’t sound exactly thrilled about that.

Taren: Oh… no! I am! Really. I love Ian. It’s just that, in our last life… *takes a deep breath* …he died young and I was left alone.

Shira: You remember your past life?

Taren: Some of it. At first, I thought I dreamed it, but later I realized they weren’t dreams and that I had the ability to see the past. I wish I could forget some of it.

Shira: Sorry to hear that. I can imagine how difficult losing Ian must be to remember.

Taren: *nods*

Shira: So maybe you can tell us a little about your ongoing adventure in Into the Wind. What’s the focus of the book?

Taren: My people, the Ea, are at war with each other. The islanders believe we should have nothing to do with humans, since they tried to exterminate us centuries ago. The mainlanders want to co-exist with the humans. Vurin, the leader of the mainland Ea, thinks that by finding the rune stone, we may be able to avoid war. Or maybe win a civil war, if it comes down to that.

Shira: The rune stone?

Taren: It’s a powerful weapon. It’s also the reason the humans attacked us, centuries ago. They wanted it that badly. Vurin believes Ian and I will find it. But rumor has it that Odhrán, a vicious pirate, is the stone’s keeper. There are also rumors that he keeps merfolk as slaves.

Shira: Retrieving the stone sounds like a challenge, then. What does the stone do?

Taren: *shakes his head* Honestly, nobody seems to know. It may have something to do with my ability to control the wind. Vurin isn’t sure, and there are no records of what the stone is meant to be used for.

Shira: You can control the wind?

Taren: Aye. I didn’t realize it until recently, but I can.

Shira: That’s a helpful ability for a sailor.

Taren: *laughs* I suppose it is. Although, to be honest, it scares me. What if Vurin is right about the stone? I’m not sure I want that kind of power. I know I’m not a slave anymore, but it seems as though there are other people out there who would be better choices to use the stone.

Shira: Seems like you have a good head on your shoulders, Taren. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

Taren: I hope so!

Shira: Thanks for joining me today, Taren! Why don’t you tell the readers where they can find your stories.

Taren: Sure. You can find Stealing the Wind (Book 1) and Into the Wind (Book 2) on Dreamspinner Press’s website, on Amazon.com, AllRomanceEbooks.com, Barnes & Noble, and most other online booksellers. But can I say something?

Shira: Sure.

Taren: I feel a little strange telling people where to look for books about my story when I’m not even sure what happens myself.

Shira: I guess you’ll just have to trust me, Taren. I’m certainly not going to spoil the story!


Blurb

Into the WindSince learning of his merman shifter heritage, Taren has begun building a life with Ian Dunaidh among the mainland Ea. But memories of his past life still haunt him, and as the threat of war with the hostile island merfolk looms ever closer, Taren fears he will lose Ian the same way he lost his beloved centuries before. Together they sail to the Gateway Islands in search of the fabled rune stone—a weapon of great power the Ea believe will protect them—and Odhrán, the pirate rumored to possess it.

After humans attack the Phantom, Taren finds himself washed up on an island, faced with a mysterious boy named Brynn who promises to lead him to Odhrán. But Taren isn’t sure if he can trust Brynn, and Odhrán is rumored to enslave Ea to protect his stronghold. Taren will have to put his life on the line to find his way back to Ian and attempt to recover the stone. Even if he does find it, his troubles are far from over: he and Ian are being stalked by an enemy who wants them dead at all costs.


Giveaway

Shira has a great tourwide giveaway going on!  The contest ends at midnight on 5/31. Prizes include:

  • Grand Prize: Handmade Merman Tail Fluke Pendant
  • 1st Prize: Mermen of Ea Goodie Basket (includes autographed copy of “Stealing the Wind” paperback, t-shirt, and lots of other fun stuff)
  • 2nd Prize: $10.00 Dreamspinner Press Gift Certificate
  • 3rd Prize: Paperback copy of “Stealing the Wind” (Mermen of Ea #1) – or for non-US winners, a $10 Dreamspinner Press Gift Certificate

To enter, complete the entry form for the Rafflecopter giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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