Today I am so pleased to welcome Indra Vaughn to Joyfully Jay. Indra has come to talk to us about her latest release, Fated, the first book in her Shadow Mountain series (and Sammy reviewed it here). She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!
Hi everyone!
I’m so excited to be visiting Joyfully Jay today. I hope you’ve all made it through the holiday season in one piece and are still using those new gym memberships! *grins*
Below you’ll find an exclusive excerpt of FATED, the first book in the Shadow Mountain series. It’s a paranormal mystery with gay romance woven throughout the three books. TPTB tell me book 2 will come out some time in June, and the third book is ~mumblestillbeingwrittenmumble~ Hmm? What? I didn’t say anything…
So, January 2015… Is it me, or does the year 2000 seem like it’s only two years ago? My New Year’s Resolutions for 2015 are: quit drinking coffee (which may increase my alcohol intake, but hey, can’t have it all, right?), have more patience with my three-year-old (and apply for Sainthood while I’m at it), and write more than I did in 2014. Does that sound all right? We’ll see…
I hope you enjoy the excerpt, that you’ll join the giveaway, and that the New Year will be kind to you and your loved ones.
*smooches you all*
Excerpt
THE PANTS of Hart’s black funeral suit were stiff with blood. In the adrenaline rush of Toby’s last moments, he hadn’t noticed, but now pain radiating toward his back and rib cage hinted at a cracked rib or two. The reopened burn on his left arm was the most painful but probably the least worrying injury. With the way his head was swimming—hopefully from the concussion and not some kind of internal bleeding—he’d be lucky to get as far as the road. Fighting to stay on his feet, he allowed himself a few seconds of respite and leaned against the cabin wall. A bitter sorrow welled in his chest. He thought of Toby spread out on the rug inside the cabin, arms crossed over his chest underneath the blanket, face as peaceful as Hart had seen it in sleep. He could ill afford the time to grieve. He had minutes if that, but it went against all of his instincts to leave Toby there.
As soon as he made his way to the stairs of the porch, rain soaked through his shirt. It didn’t matter; he felt like a drowned rat already. A steady downpour fell from his hair, hitting his nose on the way down to the forest floor as he reached the bottom of the steps. Hart sniffed and wiped at his face, not making it any drier. If he’d ever felt more miserable than this in his life, he couldn’t recall when. Had he done enough? Had Toby died knowing he meant something to Hart? He’d missed his chance with his father, and Hart didn’t want to die without telling Isaac how he felt. How loved Isaac was.
The suppurating burn on the underside of his wrist stung and bled again. Toby had thought the wound would scar before Hart’s arm got mangled, and if it ever got the chance to heal, it certainly would now.
He tried to listen for a car engine, but the waterfall on his head drowned everything out. Hart rummaged through the undergrowth near the stairs, a thick scent of degrading leaves and earth filling his nostrils, reminding him of damp basements and yawning graves. Dirt dug under his nails, and at last his fingers closed around a familiar shape. His hands were so wet and numb his entire body shook with shock and cold, and he nearly dropped it. For a second he thought the thing might be waterlogged, but the screen lit up with a failed message warning. Fuck. Time was running out on him, he could feel it. His heart was beating like a trapped creature trying to leave his rib cage. He had seconds, not minutes now, and Hart dialed.
“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”
“This is Lieutenant Hart, Riverside police. I have a man down on the m—”
A sharp pain just below his shoulder blade confused him for a moment. Hart stumbled forward, and he tried to catch his weight on his hands against the wooden steps, but his elbows buckled as if he weighed three times as much as he used to. The phone fell between the stairs as it beeped its empty battery warning and died.
“Very inconvenient, Lieutenant,” [Name redacted] said in his ear, sounding mildly reproving. “Now I’ll have to carry you back inside.”
The world narrowed down to the smell of the old, moldy wood splintering under his fingers. [Name redacted] reached for the phone and ground it to pieces. The incessant pain in Hart’s shoulder flared brightly when [name redacted] put his weight on what he guessed was a knife wedged just below the shoulder blade. Hot, metallic fluid filled his mouth, and this couldn’t be good. Not good at all, Hart thought, and as his eyes closed, the last image to fill his barely conscious mind was a lovely head full of wheat- blond curls.
Blurb
Two towns flank the looming Shadow Mountain. A dark myth of the Predator drifts through the dense trees, a tale Police Lieutenant Hart never paid much attention to. When one unresolved death follows another—some people dying without discernible cause while others are clearly, and often brutally, murdered—he can’t ignore it any longer. Truth may lie in myth, but this one is spread to deceive everyone. The Predator exists, but he’s not entirely human. Hart will have to find the connection between the mysterious figure and victims with only one thing in common: a faint tattoo on the backs of their necks, a mark left when someone healed their incurable diseases.
Isaac Lasko has been in love with Hart since he moved in across the street seven years ago. He’s been helping Hart renovate his home, and their friendship grows more intense with the years, but Isaac can’t help wishing for a deeper bond. When he finally breaks through the lieutenant’s armor, the mystery surrounding the Predator threatens them both. Help will come, but at a price.
Bio
In 2008 Indra Vaughn packed up everything but the kitchen sink… no, that’s a lie. She left everything behind apart from her books and moved from Belgium to Michigan.
She now lives in the suburbs of Detroit with her dog who thinks he’s a toddler. Indra’s professional background is in Nursing and Chinese Medicine, but she prefers to spend time making up stories about mysterious men and their unrequited love.
Giveaway
Indra has brought a $20 Amazon gift card and a copy of Fated to give away to on her tour. Just follow the Rafflectoper link below to enter.
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This book looks good. I really liked The House on Hancock Hill.
Aw thank you, Kim! The House on Hancock Hill was my first novel, so it’s always extra special when I hear someone liked it <3
A friend recommended me this book, she said it was great. I can’t wait to check it out.
And this time I’m trying not to tell anyone my resolutions so maybe this year they will come true. 😉
Thanks for the giveaway!
You clearly have awesome friends *g*
That’s… actually a good way of going about your resolutions.
You’re very welcome!
Fated sounds really good! I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but after all the celebrations at holiday time, my husband and I are both trying to eat more healthy foods.
Thanks!!
Yes on the healthy foods, absolutely. I tend to reach for the comfort foods when it’s so cold, but I’m trying to keep a lid on it. (And not just the crockpot *g*)
Congratulations on the new release! This year my resolution is to be a better person! A better Mom, daughter, sister and friend.
Thank you so much, and that’s a very admirable resolution!
My resolution is to lose some weight this year. I’m not generally vain about it, but it’s getting to the point of being unhealthy, so…
Yeah I hear you. I am just trying to exercise more and be healthy, and the weight loss is a bonus if it happens. Good luck!
I’ve decided to actually not make any resolutions but instead try to be more organized. Just before the new year I decided to get back to my crafting/painting and I am doing so. I’m dragging but at least I’m doing something with it.
I also told myself I needed to get my two books edited to get them ready for publishing. I still have to get to that but I promised myself I will.
Much success to Indra on her new book and to you guys who make my web surfing more enjoyable!
Z.
I can definitely use some organization in my life, so good for you! I hope it works out. And that’s great on the writing/painting/crafting! Good luck with it all, and if you ever need any advice, I’d be happy to share the little knowledge I have.
Write more, submit more and get healthier (which may mean I need to eat less and exercise more…exercise is such a dirty word for having more than 4 letters!
Haha absolutely. Good luck!
I want to travel more.
I love traveling, so I hope your resolution comes true for you! Good luck!
Be healthier (specifically eat healthier foods on a regular basis and walk 5 miles in one sitting). Tbh, half a month into the new year and I haven’t really started yet. Hopefully writing down like this will get me started! 🙂
The getting started is half the battle. I found myself a friend and we hold each other accountable. It totally works! Good luck!
Eating healthy is always my big thing. I was super happy with how I did in 2014 and am now adding in more fitness to my routine this year.
Good for you! Best of luck!
Eating healthier, exercising more and spending more quality time with my family. That’s my main objective this year.
Awesome objectives, I hope they happen for you!
To try and not stress out and let work get me upset.
Awww, yeah. Stress is definitely bad. I hope it works out for you!
I really enjoyed The House on Hancock Hill and I’m looking forward to Fated. I don’t really make resolutions, but I am trying to get back on track this year – get organized, use my time better, finish some projects, etc.
I’ve decided to spend less time on the computer and more time fixing up my house. Last year I resolved to exercise more and I’m still going strong, so hopefully I’ll accomplish this new goal. 🙂
I’m going to take better care of myself emotionally and physically.
I just finished reading Dust of Snow a few weeks ago and it was fantastic. This sounds good and I’ve already added it to my wishlist =)
My new years resolution is to find a steady well paying job, lose weight and keep it off and just to be more proactive.
The book looks good. I stopped doing resolutions because I always ended up breaking them. It’s easier to go into the next year to just hope that it is a great year
New year resolutions never work for me. I had the idea to get out more for exercise, but it hasn’t magically manifested into actual action yet… Spine of spaghetti, that’s me >_<
Consoles myself that ANY day can be the first one to get started.
My New Year’s resolution is to try & not let work stress me out so much.
I never officially make any (because I tend to beat myself up as it is), but I’d love to stop stressing out over little things this year!
Continue to eat healthy and up my exercise regimen.
Thank you for the giveaway 🙂 I do not normally have resolutions, but this I made a promise to myself to find a job/career that makes me happy and fullfilled.
I vowed to eat healthier; too much fast food has made my blood pressure go up! So far I have been really good 🙂 Congrats on the book, it sounds great! Thanks for the chance!
Limiting my sugar intake is a big one and replacing it with more veggies.