I'm so thrilled and happy to welcome Sky Purington to my blog again. It's always a pleasure to have you as my guest Sky. Step out of the transporter, dear friend, and have a glass of something reviving before telling us all about your latest book and how you've gone to the 'dark side' LOL ...
Over to you, Sky.
Hi Everyone! It’s always a pleasure visiting this blog. Thanks for the invitation, Lyn!
For those of you unfamiliar with my work, I write a cross genre of fantasy and paranormal romance. From Scottish Highlanders to the ancient Druids, I adore writing about anything even remotely Celtic.
For the past year or so I’ve gone in a slightly different direction. How so? I’ve decided to write about vampires!
From medieval England to ancient Pompeii, these back to back tales will take you on a perilous journey through not only history but the vampire psyche. With sizzling hot romance and unique characters, I hope you enjoy reading these edge-of-your-seat tales as much as I enjoyed writing them.
From medieval England to ancient Pompeii, these back to back tales will take you on a perilous journey through not only history but the vampire psyche. With sizzling hot romance and unique characters, I hope you enjoy reading these edge-of-your-seat tales as much as I enjoyed writing them.
While my last visit focused on my first vampire story, Darkest Memory, this visit I’ll be chatting about its sequel, Heart of Vesuvius. The initial inspiration for this story developed when I finished writing Darkest Memory. It occurred to me that a basic thread throughout the story was the fact that I had developed a brother and sister vampire duo (Gabriel and Alexandria) and while I’d just told Gabriel’s romantic tale…didn’t Alexandria deserve to have her tale told as well? So Heart of Vesuvius had its heroine. Next, I needed a hero. Darkest Memory had all but handed me him on a platter based on its ending. Salvator would be the vampire both brother and sister would flee to. After all, they needed to avoid the ultimate unforeseeable future nemesis from Darkest Memory, Salvator’s brother, Luciano.
So why the title Heart of Vesuvius? A program called Sex in Ancient Pompeii aired on the History Channel. While naturally the ‘sex’ part caught my attention, it was more what I learned about Pompeii after the fact. This city made ‘frozen in time’ by the eruption of MT. Vesuvius had my creative juices flowing. My story now had a destination.
I won’t give away any more for now. Keep an eye on the Appearances (http://www.skypurington.com/main.html) section of my website as I’ll be visiting a few more blogs soon and sharing more about this story. Also, be sure to mark your calendar now. My Celts and More Blog Event launches at my blog, A Writer’s Mind (http://www.skypuringtonwrites.blogspot.com) Monday, January 31st!
As an added bonus, I’d like to offer a giveaway while visiting Lyn’s Blog. One lucky commenter will win an Ecopy of Heart of Vesuvius.
Cheers!
~Sky
HEART OF VESUVIUS
BLURB:
Two vampires, one goal.
Alexandria has no choice. She must flee to the last place she wants to. Straight into the arms of a vampire she was determined to forget.
Salvator, ancient vampire, finds this a clever fix to obtaining the one vampire who he has always desired, Alexandria.
Together, they must find a way to evade her powerful enemy, Salvator's brother Luciano. On the run, they struggle to understand one another. Deep, dark secrets are revealed. Denied passion ignites. Blood is spilled. Within the Heart of Vesuvius, anything is possible. All can be conquered. But will it be? Can wrongs be made right? History is the locked door. Forgiveness is the key. Time will tell if ancient love can once again flourish.
EXCERPT:“We are within the Apennine Mountains.”
She blinked. Impossible. There’s no way she had heard him correctly. “So you’ve taken it upon yourself to rename the White Mountains in your own little world. Typical. I doubt the state of New Hampshire will go for it.”
He sat on a slick rock across from her and crossed his long legs out in front of him. “We are not in the White Mountains. Do you count deafness amongst your faults?”
“Had it applied to me, I do not consider deafness a fault.” Allowing his insults to bother her would serve no purpose, low-life of a rickety old vampire…sexy firm make-you-want-to-drool body aside. “Even the most powerful of our kind could not travel such a great distance in so short a time.”
“È lì che si sono sbagliati, so very wrong, even the weakest of vampires could travel such a distance within a minute, mio caro.
Alex almost laughed but stopped. He was dead serious. Closing her eyes she focused, moved her conscience upward. Before she could reach the ceiling, something blocked her.
No. Salvator’s voice entered her mind. Come back. It is unsafe.
Before she could defy him, she felt herself sucked back into her body. Alex opened her eyes. Salvator hadn’t moved. It took a truly powerful vampire to make another of their kind move back into their body against their desire. He told the truth. A strange sort of awareness crawled over her. It felt like fear and terror mixed with an odd acceptance. How was this possible?
“Why the mountains of Italy? How so quickly?” she whispered.
The sheer power drifting in wisps around him pulsed and shifted. “Now Luciano will have to divide his attention between myself and your brother. As I knew would be the case, he is more furious with me…and strangely enough, as an added boon in our favor, you have sparked some interest in him.”
REVIEWS:
"...this haunting story about loves lost and found is certainly worth the read. The ominous climax of the story, where we learn the origin of the feud between the two brothers and the truth that lies at the heart of Salvatore's relationship with Alexandria, was beautifully, heartbreakingly written."
~The Romance Reviews
~The Romance Reviews
~Nocturne Romance Reads
Sky - I have to confess I've only just started to read 'Darkest Memory' (You should see the size of my TBR pile!) but I love it. I wasn't sure if I would, because I don't normally read 'vamp' stories,despite them being so 'hot' - but who couldn't be captivated by Gabriel!) Can't wait to read 'Heart of Vesuvius now!' Thank you so much for gracing my blog today and telling us all about your work, and for your prize of a download - don't forget folks, all you have to do is comment to win a copy of what promisers to be a most remarkable story.
Watch the trailer for 'Heart of Vesuvius' below
Welcome Sky. dear friend, it's wonderful to see you here today, and I'm totally enthralled by your new series.
ReplyDeleteThanks SO much for having me over, Lyn! It's great to visit again.
ReplyDeleteYou're really reading Darkest Memory? *blushes* I hope you like it! I'm a bit ol' fashioned when it comes to vampires but to my mind...what better way is there to be?
I believe one of my characters in Heart of Vesuvius was recently compared to a character from Interview with a Vampire. Truth told, if any personality I created was held up in the very slightest comparison to something that came out of Anne Rice's beyond-talented mind, I'd say I'm exceedingly flattered! She's a bit of a 'hero' of mine in the vamp realm.
I look forward to popping in and out today. Please, I welcome questions about both Darkest Memory and Heart of Vesuvius. Ask away!
As I've a few errands to run, look for responses after 11 PM EST.
Thanks! :)
Funny, I was looking at my latest profile pic and must say, with the circles under my eyes, I kinda look like I've gone over to the dark side...in a platinum sort of way! LOL. The dark, brooding sultry look works for my upcoming ghost hunter trilogy though! Too much fun. ;) *chuckles* Be back at noon Eastern standard time!
ReplyDeleteLOL Sky - those aren't dark circles - just shadows from your lovely long eyelashes! :) You're right though, the 'sultry' look does goe with your latest works! *grin*
ReplyDeleteGreat post ladies!!! *Waving* at both of you!!!.
ReplyDeleteAs always I wish Sky a ton of sucess with Heart of Vesuvius, and your newest series, TVL!!!
Those covers are just AWESOME!!
And congratulations on those great reviews!!!
:O)Andrea
Okay, I'm here - where's my copy. Book sounds wonderful. I did the same thing, Sky, moved out of my comfort zone and wrote a vampire novel and now working on a Sci-Fi Lyn!
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea and Patsy, so nice of you to stop by, yes, I agree, those covers are fantastic, aren't they!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear you're venturing into Sf Patsy, it's so much fun to write!
Wile I will read vampires, I don't come up with a lot of stories with them as heroes.
ReplyDeleteI have one story idea which would be classified as a UF vampire but it is so far down my list of story ideas, I'm not sure it will ever see the light of day.
I prefer sticking to my paranormal and fantasy romances.
Congrats on the continued releases Sky.
Awe, thanks so much Andrea! Great to see you here! (((Hugs)))
ReplyDeleteLOL, Lyn, my lovely long lashes! I wish. Thank God for mascara! ;)
ReplyDeleteA Sci-fi sounds great, Patsy! My mind's been heading in that direction lately too. Have to wrap up the ghost trilogy first though.
ReplyDeleteOur story ideas do build up, don't they Beth? Keeps us busy writing though!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining me. It's always super seeing you my friend! :)
Mascara - a girl's best friend, Sky! :) I wear hardly any makeup - but eyeliner and a touch of mascara are a must for me!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Beth - I think writers who can write great stories about vampires are amazing, can't seem to do it myself - but I admire those who can!