Rituals & Runes Anthology presents Bethany Shaw Author Interview!

 

Angels, Demons, Shifters, Vampires...Oh My!

All your favorite sexy creatures of your dreams are waiting for you in Rituals & Runes, a tantalizing collection of paranormal romance and urban fantasy tales.

Fall under the spell of Rituals & Runes, coming Fall 2022! Including the brand new book, Huntress, by Bethany Shaw. She discusses it in this interview.

Author: Bethany Shaw

 

Book: Huntress

 

R&R: Tell us 3 things we will find in your book for the anthology.

 

Bethany: You will find a lot of sass from my main character, Faythe. She is a strong and independent woman but underneath her layers has a heart of gold. The story has a Buffy/Charmed feel to it, and lastly Faythe and Sebastian aren’t afraid to fight for what they know is right.

 

R&R: I’m hooked already! Tell us three qualities of the leading man in your book.

 

Bethany: Sebastian is stubborn and will do anything to protect Faythe. He is a powerful wizard who uses his magic for the greater good and he loves Faythe more than she will ever know.

 

R&R: Sexy. What magic appears in your book and what challenges come with that magic?

 

Bethany: There is a lot of magic in Huntress. Faythe is a half-demon, half-witch so she has teleportation and fire conjuring from her demon half and is a medium with premonitions from her witch half. Sebastian can cast spells, Medium, advanced telekinesis, and electrokinesis.

 

R&R: Very rich magical talents. What makes your main character powerful? Does your main character's power relate to the Rituals and Runes Anthology theme?

 

Bethany: Faythe has had her powers bound since she was a young girl and is really just starting to figure out what she can do with them since the spell is fading.

 

R&R: That’s a great challenge to be involved in the story. Typically do you prefer the books you read to be steamy or sweet and what is your favorite genre to read?

 

Bethany: I prefer steamy books but definitely prefer more story than just steam. I enjoy PNR and science fiction romance the most.

 

R&R: Awesome! What is your favorite magical movie?

 

Bethany: Practical Magic

 

R&R: Love it. What books do you have coming out that are not involved in the anthology?

 

Bethany:

Alpha Moonstone, A Vampire Rejected Mate 8/4

Hawaiian Desire, 9/27

Captured by the Barbarian 10/26

 

R&R: We always could read more books. Would you rather live in reality or in your anthology book? Why?

 

Bethany: Reality. As fun as magic and creating new worlds is I love my kiddos and husband and can’t imagine being somewhere they aren’t.

 

R&R: Makes total sense. That’s very sweet. Thank you for chatting with us today. Readers, please read on to find out more about Huntress.

 

Book blurb:

Hunting vampires, demons and all things that go bump in the night is my job. Until the council I work for plots to kill me.

They murdered my brother and have set their sights on me.  Well, I’m not going down without a fight, and I just might take a few of them with me. I’m used to working alone. No one wants to pair up with a half-demon like me, except for Sebastian. He is everywhere I go and I can’t shake him. Sebastian ignites a fire in me and I want to trust him. The things he makes me feel set my body on fire. But it’s his father who has ordered the hit on me. It’s true what they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. You just aren’t supposed to fall for the enemy and I’m falling hard. I just hope Sebastian isn’t the death of me.

Excerpt:

Sebastian ran to catch up with me. “Where are you going?”

I threw my hands up in the air and groaned. “Hunting. Do you plan on tagging along all night and bothering me?” Part of me really hoped he said yes. I bit the inside of my cheek at that thought. I shouldn’t want him here. He was a witch. The perfect council boy. Everything that I wasn’t. The bastard had taunted me all the way through elementary into high school. He’d been an ass until about a year or so ago. That’s when something changed between us.

There was an attraction. Something more.

I flinched when Sebastian reached out and put his hand on my shoulder. “Faythe, can we go somewhere and talk. Maybe we can come up with a plan.”

I leveled my glare at him. “I got work to do.” I put my palm on his hand to throw it off my shoulder when a premonition rocked me. I gasped as the vision took hold.

Sebastian dove toward me tackling me to the ground seconds before a demon’s blade would have hit me. We rolled across the grass and hit a gravestone. The demon, no demons approached us from all sides. These weren’t your low level demons, these were the kind that you should run from.

I opened both my palms and did something I’d never done for another person before, opened my own portal and dragged me and Sebastian straight into hell.

I snapped out of my vision with a gasp. My hand went to my chest. I drew in a shaky breath.

“What did you see?” Sebastian asked. He put his other hand on my shoulder so he was almost hugging me.

I shook my head and pulled away from him. “It was nothing.”

“You shouldn’t ignore premonitions. They usually mean something, Faythe.”

I rolled my eyes. Premonitions were my witch powers. They were erratic and I had a hard time making sense of them. They weren’t usually like this though. This one had shown me a lot. Enough to rock me to my core. Whatever I’d seen it wasn’t tonight. Sebastian had been wearing his leather jacket and he had on sweater tonight.

I shrugged away from him.

“Where are you going? What did you see?” Sebastian stalked after me.

“We are going to hell, apparently, but not tonight. Tonight I’m going home. See you later.” I waved my hand at him as I climbed on my bike. I flipped the ignition and put my foot on the pedal as I gave it some gas. Then sped away before he could say anything else. Why on earth would I ever think to take Sebastian into Hell with me? Hell was the only place I could open a portal to. When would this happen?

It wouldn’t. Couldn’t if I avoided him. That was easier said than done, but I’d never back away from a challenge.

Author Bio:

 

Bethany Shaw writes paranormal, science fiction and contemporary romance. Vampires, shapeshifters, and good old-fashioned romances are her favorites, and she promises to always give a happily ever after. Writing has always been a passion of hers and she enjoys creating fun and imaginative characters and worlds.

She lives in a small town near Columbus, Ohio with her husband and two kids. Rescuing animals and giving them forever homes has always been important to her. She has 3 dogs and 1 cat. Bethany also enjoys baking, her favorite thing to bake is chocolate chip cookies or oatmeal scotchies. Her late evenings are often spent reading until she falls asleep. Some of her favorite authors include Sherilyn Kenyon, Rachel Vincent and Cassandra Clare.

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Where You Can Find Her:

 

 

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Rituals & Runes Anthology presents Elvira Bathory Author Interview

 

I’ve got the magic….

...and it’s Rituals & Runes!

This amazing collection from Shifters Unleashed including tales from the hottest bestselling authors in paranormal romance and urban fantasy is coming Fall of 2o22, and you don’t want to miss it!
 

In this author interview, we’ll discuss Magic of the Fae by Elvira Bathory. Hint: You can only get this a book in the Rituals and Runes Anthology!

 

Author: Elvira Bathory

 

Book: Magic of the Fae

 

RR: According to a description of your book, your story focuses on a human in the Fae world. Can you tell us about that and why you chose a human in a supernatural setting?

 

Elvira: There is something about a human stumbling upon the Fae world that appeals to me. Especially if it is not intentional. Angelica doesn’t believe in the supernatural so having her be drawn into a world that never seemed real to her is making for a great story.

 

RR: Agreed. That is super appealing. Can’t wait to see how she reacts. What are your main characters' defining strengths and weaknesses?

 

Elvira: Angelica’s weakness is that she doesn’t believe in the supernatural. If there isn’t some sort of explanation for it, then it doesn’t exist. Her strength is her heart. She is always helping those in need, even if it might mean putting herself in danger (could that be considered a weakness as well? Definitely a double-edged sword there :) ).

 

Alasdair’s weakness is that he spends too much time with the humans. But this can also be seen as double-edged sword when he meets our heroine because he understands humans better than most Fae in the Faerie hill. His strength is the fact that he is able to help Angelica when she arrives at Faerie court, with no idea how or what is happening.

 

RR: Exciting! What would have to happen to make your main character speak out, or, defend a stranger, in public?

Elvira: Angelica fights for those who don’t, or won’t, fight for themselves. If she sees someone being bullied, she stands up for them no matter the environment. In fact, this is something that has cost her a job or two in the past.

 

RR: We sure picked a fitting question about Angelica, then, because that sounds on target. What would destroy your main characters?

 

Elvira: The magic of the Fae would destroy Angelica as humans weren’t meant to possess something so potent. Alasdair’s love for the humans might destroy, but there are underlying reasons he is fascinated with those that do not have power.

 

RR: Your story sounds complex in an intriguing way. What are two things that really surprised you about the book-writing process?

 

Elvira: I like to write by the seat of pants (pantser I believe is what that is called :) ) but this book practically wrote itself. The characters came to life when I found the perfect cover and moved from there. I see more adventure for Angelica and Alasdair. ;)

 

RR: It’s magic when the words flow. What books do you have coming out that are not involved in the anthology?

 

I don’t have any stand-alone books coming out right at the moment but I am involved in another anthology of Fairy Tale Retellings that has been extremely fun to be a part of. My book Down the Rabbit Hole is sure to be a fun read and a very different take on Alice in Wonderland. I am of course always working on new books, but none that are quite ready to be published.

 

RR: What fun! What is another author’s book that you recommend highly–and perhaps even give away regularly?

 

Elvira: I am a huge fan of Nina Bangs. Her work is absolutely amazing. It draws you in and won’t let you go until you have read the entire book. Another great author is Karen Marie Moning. Her Fever Series and the spin-off series are great reads.

 

RR: Books to add to the TBR, except for Moning. She is an incredible author! Would rather go on a snowy, Christmas holiday or spend Christmas in a hot weather place?

 

Elvira: It is funny that you would ask this question because of the current heat wave that has enveloped much of the United States, but seeing that I live in the desert I would rather go on a snowy, Christmas holiday than spend it in a hot weather place. But that would have been my answer without the heat wave :D

RR: Thank you for the interview! Please continue reading for more tantalizing info on Magic of the Fae.

 

Book blurb:

When Angelica Dawson found the golden cat broch with the emerald eyes in the box she was unpacking in her new bedroom she was delighted. She had always admired that one piece of jewelry when her grandmother was alive and was elated to discover that her mother had finally let her have it. What she didn't know was the powers that little piece of jewelry possessed and the adventures it would take her through the Faerie mounds in New Mexico.

Excerpt: Alasdair moved towards the unmoving female, part of him wanting to make sure she was still alive and unharmed while the other part of him was wanting to see how she managed to make it into their world.

“How is this possible?” Queen Petal bellowed from her throne.

She didn’t care if the human was alive or unharmed, she just wanted to know why and how a human could be laying in the middle of her court. The queen was probably already figuring out a way to return the human to her own world, or maybe she was contemplating keeping the human in their prison ward and torturing her to get some answers.

“I’m not sure yet, Your Highness, but I aim to find out. If you will allow me to,” Alasdair answered.

Queen Petal made her way slowly toward her royal guard and the unconscious woman laying in the middle of her court, “Please investigate who this could have happened and report back to me as soon as you have any answers.”

The royal guard nodded his head as he swooped the sleeping figure off the court floor, “Right away, Your Highness.”

Alasdair made his way through the mounds, intent on getting the woman to his quarters without interruption. There were many in the Aegis Court who didn’t care for humans and wouldn’t mind ending this one’s life. Rushing through the halls, he kept his head down and held the woman as close to his body as possible to ensure her scent mixed with his own. There were also some Fae with an acute sense of smell and would track him if they caught the woman’s scent.

Turning left Alasdair ducked into his bedroom and laid the woman down on his bed. He took a step back and looked her over admiring her body for a few moments. She was short, standing at about five foot four inches, with shoulder-length auburn hair. The woman was wearing a short, tight, black dress and had no shoes on her feet. He took another moment to admire the view before trying to wake her up. Snapping himself out of his daze he began to look the woman over like a member of the royal guard instead of a male who had a beautiful woman lying in his bed, trying to see if there were any bruises or scratches that were visible. As he made his way to her head, he noticed something flashing in the light overhead. The twinkle had come from something that the woman was holding tightly in her left hand.

Moving closer, Alasdair grabbed the broach from her hand. He could feel the Faerie magic coming from the piece of jewelry and was surprised at how strong it was. It felt as if it was reaching for the human, which made no sense because humans weren’t meant to hold Faerie magic. Unless the human had Fae blood, even a small amount would work, the human would go insane wielding it.

 

Author Bio:

 

Like most authors, Elvira Bathory has always loved to read. When she was younger she had always been creative and dreamed of being the next big thing in music but found she didn’t make the cut for that creative outlet so she turned to other means of creativity. She started spinning worlds and fell in love with the idea of being a writer. When she turned 28 years old she decided it was time for her to settle down and married the man who had been pursuing her for years. Shortly after the two got married they started a family and Elvira decided it was time to dust off those old notebooks that contained her creative words so she would be able to stay home with her children. Five children later and Elvira took a chance, submitting some of her worlds wherever she could. Despite the fact that she hasn’t been published for very long she hasn’t slowed down in creating her worlds. She writes in the erotic genre, with a paranormal flair. She prefers to write about shifters, using animals that have never been used before or haven’t been used that often and she loves delving into the research to make her characters come to life. She’s been known to write a contemporary romance or two but just has more fun adding the paranormal aspect to all of her work.

 

Where to find her:

Facebook Profile Page: https://w ww.facebook.com/elvira.bathory.376

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/ParanormalRomanceAuthorElviraBathory/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElviraBathory

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/author-elvira-bathory

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7111463.Elvira_Bathory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elvirabathory

Email address: elvira.bathory@authorelvirabathory.com

Website: http://authorelvirabathory.wix.com/elvira-bathory

Newsletter: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/m8z3j3

Street Team Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PinUpsofElviraBathory/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorelvirabat/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elvira-bathory

TikTok: https://vm.tiktoc.com/ZM8PHBJ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_elvira_bathory/

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Rituals & Runes Anthology presents Patricia D. Eddy Author Interview!

 

Tag along with heroes and heroines as they navigate the Rituals and Runes of enchanted worlds, chock-full of adventure & teeming with heart-stopping romances.

And tag along with us to enjoy an author interview with Patricia D. Eddy to talk about her upcoming book, Rune Bound, which only appears in this hot anthology.

Author: Patricia D. Eddy

 

Book: Rune Bound

 

R&R: Runes have a central theme in your story. Can you give us some hints about their role in the story and the book's central conflict?

 

Patricia: The Runes are everything to Rune Bound. Ysenia, the heroine, has been stolen from her life and transformed into a Runes, one who can read Runes but also one who can wield them in a fashion. Runes–in real life–have power only in their interpretation. They’re a guide. But Ysenia can use them for more than simply helping others find their path in life. For her, they come alive.

 

A war is coming to the kingdom, and only Ysenia can help Rolf, the lord she is fated to love, survive. But to do so, she’ll have to give in to a terrible and agonizing power only she can control.

 

R&R: What a creative way to use runes in a story. And that's a doozy of a conflict. Love it!

 

What is the best thing that ever happened to your main characters? The worst?

 

Patricia: To be honest, not many good things happen to these characters outside of them falling in love. Of course, they do get their HEA at the end of the story, but before that…it’s a lot of danger and intrigue and bad things happening.

 

R&R: Lots of adventure with twists and turns to look forward to.

 

What would have to happen to make your character speak out, or, defend a stranger, in public?

 

Patricia: At the beginning of the book, Ysenia is traumatized by the ordeal that “made” her. She’s known only pain and betrayal. But Rolf makes her feel safe and protected. That allows her to speak up for herself and others. She has an amazingly strong protective streak for the weak and oppressed, and she’s not afraid to defend anyone by the second half of the book.

 

R&R: Very much a worthy heroine.

 

What makes your character powerful?

 

Patricia: Ysenia’s power comes from the magic forced upon her during her making. The mystical forces that created her didn’t expect her to retain the magic, so they are quite surprised when she figures out how to harness her power.

 

But her true strength and power come from her love. Both her love for Rolf and her love for the people she’s come to serve as Runess.

 

R&R: She seems like a rounded but conflicted character. Intriguing!

 

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

 

Patricia: I try to do both, honestly. But if the two clash, I choose what’s right for the story. I write broken characters, and my books are all character-driven rather than plot-driven. I let the main characters tell me what they need to do, when, and how. Often, that’s the exact opposite of what I thought they’d do. It can be quite frustrating, but every time I’ve tried to urge them back to the direction I want, they just flat out refuse.

 

R&R: Bunch of rebels. Makes them interesting.

 

What's your favorite thing about writing?

 

Patricia: I love escaping into another world. That’s why I read and why I write. But even more, I love the relationships between the characters.

 

R&R: Books truly come alive for authors as we write them, and readers when they read them. It is a beautiful escape. And nothing bears the amazing relationships between characters. Very true.

 

What books do you have coming out that are not involved in the anthology?

 

Patricia: I have two books up for preorder right now. The first is Book 4 in my Gone Rogue Series. Rogue Defender is about a washed up CIA agent who finds himself falling for a woman trying to stop extremist forces from overthrowing the Panamanian government.

 

The second book, Trusting His Instincts, is Book 11 in my Away From Keyboard series. In this one, Raelynn, a complete badass former Air Force pilot has to save a man who drives her absolutely up a wall. They are opposites in every way, and she has to overcome her vow to never love again after her husband was killed several years prior. She’s an absolute joy to write because she’s just so irreverent and very, very Texas.

 

R&R: You write such deep and exciting books!

 

Would you rather breathe underwater or fly?

 

Patricia: I have a very strong fear of drowning and I don’t really like heights. So I’d have to go with breathing underwater.

 

That is hard choice then, but your answer makes total sense.

 

Thanks for the interview. On to finding out more information relating to Rune Bound with a juicy tidbit!

 

Book blurb:

 

Ysenia

 

I was made in darkness. Stolen from a life I can no longer remember and turned into something…other. The runes bind me. They are my greatest power, but will also be my end.

 

Only one man sees me as a person. As a woman. He says I am his mate. But loving me comes with a price I will not let him pay.

 

Death.

 

Rolf

 

As the leader of my pack, I must do whatever I can to protect them. A war is coming, and there is only one way we will survive. Ysenia was made to save us all.

 

But when I see her, I know I must keep her safe.

 

The Runess is my mate.

If she learns what I have done, she will never accept me.

 

Will my secrets keep us together or tear us apart?

 

Excerpt:

 

Ysenia

I was born in darkness. Forged. Made. Turned into something…other.

I was different once. A long time ago. We all were. Twenty-four of us. Taken from lives we no longer remember. Locked inside our own minds while nameless, faceless, utterly silent captors branded our skin.

Then, they turned their talents elsewhere.

I can spin tales so fantastical, the most talented storyteller in the world would fall at my feet. But that is only one of my skills.

The future is mine to foretell. If given the chance. Those who took us may have released us from the darkness, they will never let us be free.

Nor will the King. When we appeared, his royal mages were waiting.

I shudder as the silver bracelets clamped around each of my wrists catch the light. They drain my power every second of every day. But nothing I do loosens them even a fraction.

Restless, I drift over to the window. A gentle breeze carries the scent of jasmine to my nose. The dark green vines dotted with tiny white flowers climb the sheer walls of the tower. The first day, I thought I could use them to climb down. But one touch dashed that hope on the craggy rocks below. The delicate plants can barely support the weight of the songbirds that come each afternoon.

The sea sparkles in the distance. I wonder what it feels like. What it smells like. I should know these things. But before the darkness, there’s nothing.

And after…

***

I can see. The sensation is so foreign, it takes me several moments to understand what all these shapes are in front of me. Buildings. Stone walls. Wooden doors. Cobblestone streets.

I need air. Space. Sun. I remember sun. Stumbling steps carry me to the end of an alleyway.

“Stop!”

Shadows surround me, and a blast of pure agony hits me in the chest. My knees buckle, then hit the stones.

“Do not move!” an angry, male voice shouts. “Or the next spell will stop your heart.”

 I blink up at a dozen men and women clad in royal blue robes. “Wh-what…?” I croak. I do not remember the last word I uttered. Only silent screams no one could hear.

“Bind her powers,” the man says.

Two of the others grab my arms and pull them taut. The silver is cold against my skin. It feels wrong. My stomach twists and turns. Suddenly, I’m so weak, staying upright is impossible.

With a tiny moan, I collapse, and that’s when I first see the mark. Two lines. One on either side of my breastbone . A third angles down from the right to the left. My sleeves ride up, and more dark symbols cover my arms.

As the men drag me away, I do not fight. Because the marks on my skin burn, and I hear a voice I know is only in my mind.

“The runes bind you. In this world and the next. You will be power. Might. Destruction for all.”

Author Bio:

 Patricia D. Eddy writes romance for the beautifully broken. Fueled by coffee, wine, and Doctor Who episodes on repeat, she brings damaged heroes and heroines together to find their happy ever afters in many different worlds. From military to paranormal to BDSM, her characters are unstoppable forces colliding with such heat, sparks always fly.

Patricia makes her home in Seattle with her husband and very spoiled cats, and when she’s not writing, she loves working on home improvement projects, especially if they involve power tools.

Her award-winning Away From Keyboard series will always be her first love, because that’s where she realized the characters in her head were telling their own stories—and she was just writing them down.

 

Where to find her:

 

Web: https://patriciadeddy.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/patriciadeddy

Facebook page: https://facebook.com/patriciadeddyauthor

Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/UnstoppableForcesTeam

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@patriciadeddyauthor

 

 

Get more magical & paranormal-themed stories like this in Rituals & Runes!

 

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Amazon: https://amzn.to/3oz9aGJ