Practical Uses for Princes with Pointed Ears
Otherworld
Realms
Book
1
Genre: Paranormal Romance/
Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Otherworld Romance,
LLC
Date of Publication: November 14,
2014
ISBN: 978-0-9908665-0-3
Paperback 978-0-9908665-1-0
ASIN:
Number of pages: 380
Word Count: 95,000
Cover Artist: CL Smith
Book Description:
Lillian Chambers was just an
ordinary high school teacher, until she fell through a Fairy Circle. When she
came to on the other side, she was surprised to find herself in the company of
an Elven prince she thought only existed in her dreams. Now she’s slaying
monsters and rescuing Prince Tallyn, instead of playing the part of the damsel
in distress.
Tallyn had been the protector of
his kingdom for over one hundred years. He knows that the world is filled with
danger around every corner, but these days he’s finding himself babysitting the
annoyingly fearless Lady Lillian.
When their worlds collide sparks
fly, humorous situations ensue and the only thing for sure is that neither will
ever be the same. Practical Uses for Princes with Pointed Ears takes readers on
an adventure into a modern fairytale where we explore what it really means to
fall for Prince Not-so-Charming.
Available at Amazon
Excerpt
Practical Uses for Princes with Pointed Ears
My dreams were
more vivid than usual. It was like I was standing there with my favorite
imaginary hunk. He and several others were packing up horses. There was a great
deal of laughter and teasing among the men. They poked at each other until
finally he had to step in and tell them to calm down. Even as he reprimanded
them his smile shone brightly. I had never seen him smile with such a youthful
presence.
Moments later
another man appeared, just as handsome as my dream guy. “Tallyn!” he called,
and my heart skipped a beat as I watched the man of my dreams turn to wave.
“Tallyn,” I
could feel myself whispering. He turned and looked in my direction, as if he
had heard me. His face fell a little when he couldn’t see me standing there.
“What’s wrong?”
the taller man asked him.
I watched as
Tallyn shrugged. “I was just thinking about how I was going to have to see your
face every morning for the next few days and it quashed all the fun out of our
camping trip.”
The taller man
laughed, only to turn when someone called, "Maerryn!" which I guessed
was his name.
I could feel the
cool breeze on my skin, causing the hair on my arms to stand up. I watched with
interest as the men finished packing up and began to ride away. I followed them
through the forest I had seen a hundred times in my dreams. After a few hours
they crossed the river in a shallow area then headed up a steep cliff, guiding
their horses one at a time along the narrow ledge.
By midday the
group reached the top of the cliff and stopped for lunch. The food smelled
amazing cooked over the open fire. I felt my stomach rumble. When it did,
Tallyn placed a hand on his stomach and looked around with confusion.
He was beautiful
to look at, even with uncertainty creasing his brow. His green eyes deepened in
color and his breath stilled. It was like he was looking right at me but
couldn’t see me. With a shake of his head, he rejoined the conversation around
him.
They packed up
and left, heading across a path at the top of the cliff that led into another
forest. The group seemed more hesitant when they entered the new area. They
rode close together for hours, and when darkness finally threatened, they found
flat ground and made camp. The horses were tied up, dinner was caught and
prepared, and then the wine came out.
Boys will be
boys, I thought to myself as they laughed, sang and passed around the bottles.
Behind me I heard
the crack of twigs underfoot. Suddenly, I sensed someone else was there. I
turned, looking in the direction of the sound, and I saw shadows moving through
the woods towards the encampment. Panic filled me and I tried to scream, but I
was just a watcher without a voice.
Holiday
Spirit for Hire
Otherworld
Realms
Book
Two
Isabelle
Saint-Michael
Genre: Holiday/ Paranormal
Romance
Publisher: Otherworld Romance,
LLC
Date of Publication: November
14th, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9908665-2-7
Paperback 978-0-9908665-3-4
Number of pages:164
Word Count:41,000
Cover Artist: CL Smith
Book Description:
When life handed half-werewolf
Grace MacGregor a pink slip four weeks before Christmas, she was determined to
get back to work as soon as possible. She just didn’t expect it to be the very
next day – or at the North Pole. She now
has four weeks to make other people’s holiday wishes come true, but will she be
able to grant her own while she is at it?
Justin Kringle is the nephew of
Santa Claus and his job is to keep operations of the Pole on point. When Grace
is dropped bed and all into his work shop, he can’t decide if it’s love or hate
at first sight. First impression: she’s a total mess. Can he keep her on track
and remember to not mix business and pleasure?
Available at Amazon
Excerpt
Holiday Spirit for Hire
I settled into
bed with my favorite boyfriend, my laptop. Before long I had updated my resume,
applied for a half dozen jobs, checked flights home, and Facebooked with all of
my friends to see if anyone had any leads. I was about to shut down when the
pop from my email caught my attention.
I closed the other tabs and stared at my
inbox. It was from the OAC. The Otherworld Alignment Council was a group of
magical beings, things that go bump in the night, and people that made sure
that there were universal laws and regulations used across all the realms. They made sure there was a common language,
rules about magic, and laws that kept peace between the different races. Why they were emailing me I didn’t know.
To: Grace MacGregor
From: OAC
Subject:
The North Pole Needs You
Dear Ms. MacGregor,
It has been brought to the attention of
the OAC that you are no longer employed during this busy time of the year. Every Holiday season we rely on the help we
get from the Otherworld community to make the season bright. Your talents could be used now through the
end of the year helping deliver joyful winter holidays across all the realms.
Please see the attached application.
Applicants will be considered for a paid position. Please send a resume, two letters of
recommendation and magical aptitude test scores to the email listed below. If chosen we will need you to report
immediately for work.
Thank you and Happy Holidays,
Otherworld Alignment Council
I looked at the email again and
shrugged. “Why not?” I asked myself. I attached my resume, two recommendation
letters and a quick note explaining my father was a Scottish Werewolf Clansman
and that I was half human. I figured my
lack of magical abilities would keep me out of the fray. My father told me to always answer the OAC
right when they contacted you because they made the IRS look patient.
With a giggle to myself I closed the
windows on my laptop and shut it down.
Snuggling deep into my pillows I closed my eyes, giggling about what use
I could possibly be to the Great Holiday Front up North. Strangely enough I fell asleep with thoughts
of sugar plums dancing in my head
I awoke the next morning to the sounds of
clinking, clicking and power tools. I
opened my eyes involuntarily when a particularly loud noise sounded right over
my head. It was then I noticed my bedroom
was swarming with Gnomes and they seemed too busy to care I was sleeping.
“Excuse me!” I yelled. “Why are you in my bedroom?”
A few of them stopped, exchanged looks
with shrugs, and returned to work. I
wasn’t answered until a man with a heavy red braid down his back appeared.
“You are in their workshop, and it’s about
time you got up.” I climbed out of bed
angrily, prepared to demand that they leave.
“Nice pajamas,” he said with a grin as he looked me over. “If you follow me we will get you assigned
duties, uniforms and the rest of your paperwork filled out.”
I looked around what should have been my
room. I was on a toy factory floor. Only it looked like FAO Schwarz met Ikea. Bright colors with industrial-grade shelves
mixed with the old world charm of hand-carved wooden trim. All around me Gnomes were hustling to
complete toys. I looked in the direction
the redheaded man had gone and chased after him, abandoning my bed to the
factory.
About
the Author:
Isabelle Saint-Michael is a
cupcake enthusiast, shoe addict, and globetrotter. She is known for her sense
of adventure and geeky hobbies. She is frequently seen haunting coffee shops
and pubs into the wee hours of the morning. No matter where she goes,
shenanigans and mirth are never far behind.
Interview
Where are you from?
I’m from a small town in
northern Connecticut in the United States. I currently live in Seoul, South
Korea with plans to transition to Scotland in the United Kingdom.
Tell us your latest news?
I recently released the
first 2 books in the Otherworld Realms
series in mid-November. The entire series is devoted to telling magical fairy
tales for adults. You’ll find characters from your most vivid dreams and your
most terrifying nightmares.
I am currently in the
production period for the 3rd book in the series which will come out
in late February or early March. I am also partnered with some very talented
people and writing a screen play for a show that begins filming next summer.
When and why did you begin writing?
I have always loved the
idea of sharing knowledge and stories with others. I made the jump to writing
professionally in high school (1999) when I began writing freelance pieces for
a couple of teen magazines. As I grew older I ventured out on several different
paths that I found both challenging and rewarding.
Writing fiction is really
something that has happened recently for me. It’s just been the last few years
I’ve considered moving out of my comfort zone of non-fiction. I knew when I
started thinking about fiction that I wanted to write things that were
paranormal and fantasy based with strong romantic tones.
From there it was a hop,
skip and a jump that led me to blogging and fairy tales for adults. Now I spin
stories that I hope make people’s hearts flutter as they tag along on
adventures full of danger, laughter and romance.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
This question is really
hard. When asked, I’ve said I “write” for many years. I’ve paid bills and
provided for myself with my writing but I never really called myself a writer
until recently. My parents, friends and co-workers called me a writer long
before I ever used the title. In my mind “Writer” and “Author” are those
specially given titles based on great works and deeds, like “Sir”, “Lord” or
“Lady”.
I’ve only recently started
using the titles after my loving husband prodded me a few times about it. It
feels weird to call myself a writer or an author when so many of my heroes have
also used those terms.
What inspired you to write your first book?
A friend of mine who has
published a number of books contacted me about a year ago because she had heard
a rumor about one of the major publishers looking for fresh blood and doing a
massive search to find it. She encouraged me to dig out my notebook full of
ideas and put together a few manuscripts to submit.
I did exactly that, found
an agency who loved my work and then waited and waited, and waited some more.
While I had all this free time waiting around for a call or an email I
developed an idea for a blog. It was going to be a slice of life as told by a
Changeling.
My fan base grew and I
started getting emails and comments asking about the other realms, characters,
and backstories. That’s when it hit me, and I started plotting a series of
books that would be new fairy tales for adults, not retellings of ones we
already knew. From there the Otherworld
Realms Books were born.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes. I enjoy writing a
story with characters who have a range of emotions. My heroes are often
anti-heroes and my heroines are always sassy and opinionated. I don’t always
have a villain because sometimes we as people are our own worst enemies and I
think it’s nice for characters to have to overcome themselves. But yes, you
will also come across evil villains or misunderstood outsiders from time to
time as well.
I try to keep my stories
(at least in this series) to a fairy tale model. People meet, they learn
lessons, overcome obstacles and hopefully live happily ever after. You also get
the rare glimpse of what happens to those who don’t get happily ever after though.
How did you come up with the titles?
Practical Uses for Princes with Pointed Ears was a bit of an adventure. The original working
title was Fairy Circles and Garter Belts
but when I polled it against a number of other titles it didn’t perform well. I
ended up brainstorming with a few friends and we came up with a HUGE list of
titles. Practical Uses for Princes with
Pointed Ears was said in jest because I said I liked alliteration.
When we polled through
Google, 86% of the votes chose Practical
Uses for Princes with Pointed Ears. Over 1600 people liked it. I laughed
about it and decided to run with it.
Holiday Spirit for Hire was my own creation. I had outlined the story,
accidentally found the cover, and by halfway through writing it I decided on
the title. Everything about Holiday
Spirit for Hire just clicked into place.
Is there a message in your books you want readers to grasp?
Absolutely. I want readers
to know that sometimes the best things in our lives come out of the worst and
most tragic experiences. When everything seems bleak you have the choice to
either take a chance that may be scary and difficult or to do nothing. I hope
people see the message in everything I write that hope, strength, and power
come from within us and that each of us is capable of happiness.
How much of the books are realistic?
I think if you scrape away
all of the magic from the stories you are left with characters that come from 2
very different worlds that find common ground to build a relationship on. They
must learn to compromise, and they face struggles. They discover the truth that
they are worth it and because of that fight for the person they love.
I believe it is very
realistic because I’ve lived that story myself. My husband and I came from two
different worlds and every day we face challenges in a culture neither of us
totally understand. I have friends and family who met and got married fast and
are together years later.
I think what makes my
stories shine is the key element that even without the magic and otherworldly
influences that they could still happen. You could meet someone on a trip who
doesn’t speak your language and you discover this spark or connection that
draws you together. People go to work and meet the love of their lives all the
time because they are there 8-12 hours a day working towards a common goal
together.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I think there is a certain
element of me in everything I write because it is easiest to write what you
know. Holiday Spirit for Hire is made
up of a list of characters based on people in my life. The cities my characters
are from and travel to are cities I am from or spent a lot of time in. The
character Joy is based on and named for my grandmother. Fairwynn is based on
one of my best friends. Grace and Justin’s personalities are moodier versions
of my husband and me. Sure, some characters are purely fun and from my
imagination, but some are influenced by people I know because the story will
benefit from them being there as much as I have benefitted from having them in
my life.
What books have most influenced your life?
The Myth Series by Robert Lynn Asprin
The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
The Blood Books by Tanya Huff
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Each of these inspired me
and challenged me to think about my perspective on the world around me. They
made me laugh and cry alongside memorable characters and in the end left me a
little changed.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Robert Lynn Asprin. While
his works are not romance, his stories often prove that it’s our ability to
laugh even during the worst moments that keep us going. Not only that, but he
showed me that you can apply entirely different themes within a series of books
or even the same book and still walk away with a masterpiece that is sure to
delight readers. He taught me to not limit myself when I write and to most of
all have fun with it.
What book are you reading now?
At the moment I am reading
as many new holiday novels as I can get my hands on. Along with that I am also
re-reading the Outlander series by
Diana Gabaldon because my mom hasn’t read them yet and this way she has someone
to discuss them with.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Totally! If you LOVE
paranormal romance check out the King series,
by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff. The stories are amazing and a nice treat, with a very
different spin than what I’ve seen lately in the genre. Another to check out is
Chantam Hex. They are a husband/wife team with the same publisher (Otherworld
Romance) as myself. Their stories are all paranormal steampunk fantasies and
well worth checking out.
What are your current projects?
If you enjoy my stories I
have an ongoing blog at http://elvenlife.com where the story is set in the same world and many
of the book characters make guest appearances.
You can leave comments for me or the characters so you can interact with
the story.
I am in the production
stage of book 3 in the Otherworld Realms Books which should be out the first quarter of
2015 and book 4 will be out in the spring. (5 & 6 to follow later in the
year)
I am working with some
very talented people who will be filming a show next summer I am currently
writing the script for.
In late 2015 I will
release the first book in a new series set in Asia which will totally play with
all the great stories from geek culture found in anime, video games, and
kung-fu movies.
The New Year is going to
be a busy one for me. And my poor, poor
editor. :D
The blog that started it all- www.Elvenlife.com
Twitter @IsabelleStMike or https://twitter.com/IsabelleStMike
Tour
giveaway
4 prize packs full of goodies and
swag
Both books sound like something I would love to read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Holiday Spirit for Hire!
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