Are you ready?
My fabulous, simply amazing author is...
*Drum roll*
.....
Suzanne Wright!
http://www.suzannewright.co.uk
http://www.suzannewrightsblog.blogspot.co.uk
https://twitter.com/suz_wright
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Suzanne-Wright/1392617144284756
First up is The Phoenix Pack series, followed by the Deep In Your Veins series.
Ready for a looksie?
But there are a lot of potential pitfalls to this plan—including the very real possibility that the wolf shifters, overwhelmed by their growing attraction to each other, will be unable to maintain the clear heads needed to pull off the deception.
As the pack Beta, Dante doesn't have the space or time in his life for a relationship. As such, he ignores his intense hunger for the willful – and sometimes crazy – Jaime. Yet when her flirtations abruptly end, Dante finds that he doesn’t like losing her attention. He finds something else too – Jaime's hiding something. Determined to uncover her secret, he sets out to break through her defenses, even though being around her intensifies his cravings for her. What he finds is a problem that Jaime is convinced not even a powerful Beta can solve.
Nick Axton can barely control his feelings for Shaya, but he could never claim her—not if he truly cares for her. The degenerative brain condition he keeps secret would ultimately leave her with a burden rather than a mate. But when Shaya runs away, Nick can’t bear the thought of never seeing her again. After tracking her down, he discovers Shaya’s feisty and passionate side in the process…a side he’d never seen before.
Under the menacing gazes of territorial local packs and violent human extremists, Nick vows to finally claim the spirited Shaya…and despite her initial resistance, Shaya just might find his fiery determination to be the ultimate aphrodisiac.
The Grand High Master, however, sees her potential and offers her the position of Jared’s co-commander to help train the newest squad in time for the impending attack on his home. Sam has to demonstrate to Jared and the squad of chauvinists why it is incredibly foolish to underestimate a wilful, temperamental, borderline-homicidal Sventé female.
Actually, yes they could. Due to a cruel twist of fate, something strange is happening to Sam –something that is changing her in ways she doesn’t like or understand. With the help of Jared and those closest to her, she has to not only handle the threats to the Binding Ceremony, but find a way to fix what has been done to her – and fast.
So for our post we were given free reign to do as we pleased, so naturally we tossed a few ideas around here and there until we caught something we liked. The first fabulous idea was an author interview, as a stalker I had a few questions I wanted to ask and then of course there's the fans who I'm sure would love to know Suzanne better. Just like that the beginnings of our post began to piece together, and so I shan't keep you waiting any longer, ladies and gentlemen I give to you Miss Suzanne Wright...
Suzanne: I love writing, I’ve been doing it for as far back as I can remember, but I’d never thought about becoming an author because I just never would have dreamed of aspiring that high. I always thought that writing books was just going to be one of my hobbies. Some might consider it an odd hobby. They’d be right, I suppose.
Me: What books/authors influenced your work?
Suzanne: I think the writer who has had the most influence on me is probably Stephen King because he has a style that I love – he pushes boundaries and is unapologetic about it. I like to break rules and not always write within what are considered the ‘writing perimeters’. I write what I like to read and then hope others will like it too.
Me: How did the Phoenix Pack and Deep Vein series come to you?
Suzanne: I wish I had interesting answers to questions like this. The truth is that in most cases, ideas just kind of pop into my head. That idea then grows and grows. Taryn’s story was inspired by a dream, though. I already had the background for the Phoenix Pack mapped out in my head, but I wasn’t sure where I wanted to start. And then I dreamed that I woke up and had no idea where I was or who I was with and they wouldn't let me go. I just woke up thinking how horrible would it be to not know where you are and be trapped like that, unable to contact the people you love. That gave me the idea for Taryn waking up totally clueless, and that marked the beginning of the Phoenix Pack series.
Me: Are any of the characters a reflection of you or the people around you?
Suzanne: It doesn’t work that way for me. They develop all on their own and take me along for the ride.
Me: By becoming an author has your life changed in any way?
Suzanne: It’s changed in a number of ways, and all are good. Undoubtedly the best thing is that my son – who constantly writes stories just as I did when I was little – considers me an inspiration. What mum wouldn’t love that?
Me: If you could live the life of one of your characters for a day, who would you choose and why?
Suzanne: Ooh, that’s a good question. Never had that one before. Um…probably Sam. I just want to know what it would be like to have an energy whip and crazy gifts. I’m childish like that.
Me: A lot of books are coming to life through film, do you see this in your future? If so, which series would you pick for the big screen?
Suzanne: I’m pretty sure I’ve used up all my luck, so I don’t think that would ever happen.
Me: Can you give us any hints as to how many books will be in the Phoenix Pack series? Does it end with Shaya and Nick?
Suzanne: Each of the enforcers will get their own story, so at the very least there will be eight books in total. I may do more for other characters, but I can’t be sure yet.
Me: What helps you write, a desk full of chaos and junk food or organized and neat?
Suzanne: My ‘desk’ is actually the arm of my chair. I don’t find sitting at a desk comfy, and if I’m not comfy, I can’t work well. So comfy chair, junk food, and caffeine.
Me: If you had the chance of being either a shifter or vampire, which would you choose and why?
Suzanne: I’d cheat and be a vampire that had the power to shift shape.
Now, now minions as I mentioned Suzanne and myself brainstormed long and hard to make this the best post ever, so we are far from done like so far it's not even funny. You see I wanted a character interview as well as an author one, but I was stuck with the dilemma of Trey or Jared. I know, impossible to decide right? So I left the choice to Suzanne, and that's when it happened. Suzanne got back to me, but with the idea of interviewing both. Two sexy badass alphas on one site, face to face? Now I've had many epiphany's in my life, but this one smacked me right in the face. I liked this idea but I said to Suzanne, 'hey how about both COUPLES instead?'
Setting: Neutral territory
Scene: Jared & Sam have just appeared, catching Trey and Taryn just finishing a run
Jared: I didn’t do this. I was ready to strip you naked and tie you to the bed. Trust me when I say that teleporting anywhere was the last thing on my mind.
(Trey, unsheathing his claws):
(Sam, conjuring her energy shield):
Trey: And you won’t be, vampire. I’ll ask you one more time. Who the fuck are you? And why the fuck are you on our territory?
(Taryn, nudging him):
Trey: Of course it - Shit.
Taryn: Okay, this is beyond weird.
Sam: I’m with her on that one.
(Emerging from the shadows)
(All glaring in my direction, braced to attack)
(Taryn, snorting):
(Sam looking at me, remolding her shield into her energy whip):
(Jared to me):
(Holding hands up placatingly)
(Taryn takes a step forward, her tone dry):
Me: Well it won't take too long, how about we take a seat. It's just a couple of questions, I swear. I'll explain everything and then we can begin. Okay?
(All eying me warily)
Trey: Well, thanks, but I’ve got shit to do and I don’t appreciate being-
Taryn: Count back from ten, Flintstone. We don’t want your wolf going feral on our asses.
(Taking a breath and a seat on the grass)
(All eye each other up, Taryn takes a seat)
Sam: Things would be so much bloody easier if life had subtitles.
(Sam takes a seat across Taryn, Jared remains standing beside her, legs apart and arms crossed. Trey remains standing beside Taryn, same position as Jared. Both glowering at each other.)
(Taryn turns to Sam):
Sam: You know what, Jared? I think I might actually like the shifter bitch.
(Taryn, smiling):
(Trey snorts):
Jared: Sarcastic? Yeah, I know a bit about having a sarcastic mate.
(Trey and Jared exchange a look of understanding with a twinge of sympathy.)
Jared: That’s great, but this is too weird for me. Why can’t I teleport?
Me: Because like I said no one’s leaving till I say we're done. And for the love of God stop staring at me like you want to kill me, I already told you I'm not a threat.
(Jared & Trey growl and glower, Sam & Taryn glare at them)
(Eye them all warily, then turn towards Taryn)
(Trey growls)
Taryn: I wouldn’t say we’ve ‘grown’ as a couple, but our connection has dramatically deepened and that helps us understand each other enough to get along better. It’ll never be easy with Trey, though. I mean look at him standing here looking cool and collected…yet I know for a fact he’s already killed you four times in his head and has picked the perfect spot to bury you in the event that this is a trap. Still, sanity’s overrated.
(Shake my head at Trey, and smile at Taryn)
(Taryn and Sam snicker. Jared's lip's twitch and Trey glowers)
Jared: Do what I say? Ha. Good one. I only get away with ordering her around when we’re in bed…and even then she threatens to whip the shit out of me. She’s too spirited to ever be passive, but I wouldn’t change her. Not even the crazy part. Although if she developed a better sense of self-preservation, that would be great. We’re working on that. I feel like we’re making progress.
Trey: Taryn does what Taryn wants to do – the end. I have accepted this; it’s easier for everyone this way. And if I say anything except “she’s perfect and I love her for who she is, sarcastic streak and all”, she’s not gonna let me play Hiding Pedro later.
Me: Interesting. Now Sam a lot's happened and changed for you, what's your biggest fear about this change and what it could mean?
Sam: Sorry, can’t talk about this in front of the shifters. Very few people know what happened to me and I plan for it to stay that way. Let’s just say the truth getting out would probably be the worst thing ever – who wouldn’t fear that?
Me: Understandable. So Trey, you aren't exactly a warm cuddly teddy bear-
(Taryn snorts)
Trey: Taryn thought it might settle me down a little. If anything, it’s made me more on edge, more protective and alert. It would help if Kye wasn’t like a hamster – the kid can get out of anything we put him in. His cot, car seat, high chair…He just climbs out wearing a superior, smug smile.
(Smiling softly at Trey, I turn towards Taryn)
Taryn: How do I feel? I feel like smacking Nick Axton with my broom. You’ll have to read ‘Carnal Secrets’ to find out whether or not I do. As for whether there’ll be surprises in the future…That’s anybody’s guess. Suzanne’s imagination is so overactive it’s disturbing. I genuinely feel sorry for her.
Me: Can't wait. Okay so Trey, there are many similarities between yourself and Jared, but I want to know is the whole Vampire/ Shifter feud just a rumor? Can the two species actually get along?
Trey: I don’t know, I’ve never actually talked to one before. I don’t think there have ever been any major feuds in the past. Each species is pretty exclusive. We don’t bother who doesn’t bother us.
(Turning towards Jared)
(Shrugging shoulders)
(Nodding head in understanding, shifting attention to Sam and Taryn)
Taryn: Well…it would be nice if he quit eating beef jerky all the time. I point blank refuse to kiss him when he has beef jerky breath.
Sam: I don’t need him to change. I just need him to stop trying to protect me when I can protect myself. It ticks me off every time. It makes me want to peel off his skin, dice him up, and plop him in boiled water…but that would be cooking
(Laughing softly)
Sam: Vampires are better because we get gifts.
Taryn: Hey, we shifters aren’t without our gifts. I’m a healer. I say shifters are way cooler because we can shift into animals.
Jared: I agree with Sam. Vampires are better because we get gifts and we’re immortal.
(Trey, snorting):
Jared: Duh, us.
Trey: Alright, whatever. Anyway, shifters are better because our lives are prolonged but we’re not frozen in our development, which means we get to have kids. Vampires can’t.
(Sam nods):
(Trey, frowning):
(Snorts, and then look around the group smiling huge. Leaning in conspiratorially)
Sam: Not really. She makes it so I can say whatever I’m thinking and whip the crap out of people. Why would I complain?
Jared: We only clash when she wants to send Sam into dangerous situations.
(Trey grunts):
(Looking at me with a devilish smile)
(Trey, groaning):
Taryn: In what world would that ever happen?
(Sam and Jared stare on with amusement. I smile, stand and brush my self off clapping my hands together. All turn to face me)
(Sam and Taryn stand brushing themselves off, Trey and Jared claim their mates)
(Sam and Taryn smile and nod, Trey and Jared jerk their chins. I turn and leave)
Figures. *Sigh*
They can't wait to get away from each other and then when they're finally free to go they're gabbing away.
All in all though...
Best. Character. Interview. Ever.
It was beyond cool talking to you guys, even though you didn't have much of a choice...
There were ups and downs, smiles and tears and maybe a bit of groveling on my part BUT I got you an exclusive excerpt from Suzanne for Carnal Secrets!
*SCREAMS*
I was going for a teaser and this is just above and beyond and I cannot thank Suzanne enough, so my lovelies it is with great pleasure I share this sneak peak into Nick & Shaya's story!
BEHOLD:
With Derren close behind him, Nick climbed up the steps that had been carved into the face of the mountain until he finally came to the entrance. One of the enforcers, Marcus, was there, holding the door open. He didn’t look happy. That might not have given Nick cause to frown if it wasn’t for the fact that the tall, dark-haired wolf was usually cheery and flashing everyone a clown-wide smile. When Marcus didn’t even give him a nod of greeting, a feeling of disquiet came over Nick.
“Trey’s in the kitchen,” he said simply before gesturing with a tip of his head for Nick and Derren to follow him through the tunnels that would take them deeper into the mountain. After a series of turns, they eventually reached the very contemporary kitchen. Sitting at the long dining table were the other three enforcers, the Head Enforcer, the Beta pair, and the Alpha pair. Much like Marcus, they didn’t look happy to see him, particularly Taryn. And that could only mean one thing: they all knew the truth about Shaya being his mate. So either the Beta pair had finally told them, or Shaya herself had.
Well, it had only been a matter of time. Not one to play games, Nick didn’t bother with any pretense. Stopping in front of the table, he simply said, “So you know.”
“Oh, we know,” confirmed Taryn snappily. Her mate began kneading her nape, clearly trying to keep her from going for Nick’s throat. The blonde might be small and dainty, but she was powerful. And scary, for that matter. In fact, most of the shifter community feared her as her once latent wolf had overcome that suppression and surfaced.
“I suppose this is the part where you order me to stay away from Shaya.” If they thought they’d have any success with that, more fool them. Hell, he’d ordered himself to stay away from her, and not even that had worked.
“You owe her that,” gritted out Jaime; the Beta female was a close friend of Shaya’s. But that was his Shaya—she made friends easily, inspired loyalty and protectiveness in people, which was why the wolves in front of him were clearly fantasizing about killing him. He noticed that one of the enforcers looked particularly pissed with him. Dominic. Nick really did hate that wolf. Why? Because Dominic spent a lot of time with her—so much so that Nick had at one point suspected he was in a relationship with her.
Usually his wolf—who was prone to jealousy—would have most of his attention focused on the little prick, but not today. No, today his wolf was stressing over something and was annoyed with Nick for not realizing what his wolf had already sensed: Shaya’s scent was faint. Extremely faint, in fact. Unease tingled down Nick’s spine. “Where is she?”
“That’s not important,” stated Trey, his arctic-blue eyes drilling into Nick. “What’s important is that you listen carefully. We’re all very much aware that you and Shaya are mates and that you’ve both known it from the beginning. As it’s obvious that you don’t want to claim her, you are to butt out of her life and leave her alone. If you don’t butt out, well, you must want a war between our packs.”
The word “war” should have had him growling and on high alert, totally focused on Trey. But all Nick could think about was the fact that Shaya’s scent was far too faint—faint enough to suggest that she hadn’t been here for a while. “Where is she?”
Trey and his Beta male, Dante, exchanged looks that said they weren’t surprised that Nick was unconcerned about the warning.
“Her whereabouts are none of your business,” snarled Taryn. Tao, the Head Enforcer sitting beside her, nodded his agreement.
Nick’s face hardened. His words were quiet but firm. “Shaya is, and will always be, my business.”
That had Taryn jumping to her feet. If Trey hadn’t twisted his hand in the back of her sweater, she’d have leaped over the table. “Yougoddamnmotherfuckingsonofabitch!”
“It’s okay, baby,” soothed Trey. One of the enforcers, Trick, went to her side and laid a supportive hand on her shoulder. It was only then that Nick noticed the tears swirling around her eyes. For Taryn to be so upset, Shaya hadn’t simply gone on vacation or to stay with her family in her old pack for a little while. She’d left for good.
“No, it’s not. My best friend has gone because of that rat bastard!”
Yep, that confirmed it. “Gone where?” demanded Nick, barely holding back a growl. His wolf began pacing inside him, clawing at him, wanting freedom, wanting to hunt down his mate—the only thing that really meant anything to him.
“Somewhere safe,” Jaime told him. “Somewhere where you can’t hurt her anymore.”
Nick took one step forward, and each of the Phoenix wolves tensed, prepared to spring. Yeah? Well he didn’t give a fuck. “You think I want to hurt her? You think it doesn’t eat at me that I can’t have her? You think I don’t constantly wonder where she is, what she’s doing, and if she’s safe?”
All of the faces softened, but Nick didn’t want their fucking sympathy. He wanted to know where his mate was. He zeroed in on Trey. “Tell me where she is.”
© Suzanne Wright
I'm actually screaming and dancing around my room right now.
Seriously Suzanne, just...
Okay minions, the last part of this great post is there's a tremendous GIVEAWAY!
*Throws confetti*
Also Suzanne and I, are sharing this day with many other amazing bloggers and authors. So be sure to check them out!
Romance Bookworm Reviews – Tara Brown
Under the Covers – Cynthia Eden
Entirely Books – H.D. Gordon
Creative Deeds Reads – Kendall Grey
Paranormal Cravings – Eve Langlais
I Read Indie – Liz Long
Brooke Blogs – J.M. Schroder
No pressure or anything, but you should know I've already summoned a couple of demons, sacrificed some blood and cast a wicked evil curse on this post. So you know, I'd check them out if I were you. Consequences and all that. Just saying.
Before I leave you, I want to thank Suzanne once again for being a fab tour partner. It made my year to get to be her host, and working with her these past few weeks has been a dream. I cannot thank you enough for everything you've done, and going along with all my crazy ideas. You rock!
Lastly I want to thank the simply awesome chicks Jessie Lane and Brandy Dorsch for organizing this amazing tour, because none of this would have been possible without them.