Deal Sharing Aunt: Aeromancist by Charmaine Pauls Excerpt, Giveaway & Interview

About The Book

Title: Aeromancist
Book 2: Seven Forbidden Arts Series
Author: Charmaine Pauls
Publisher: Mélange Books
Publication Date: July 6, 2015
Pages: 284
ASIN: B010766W5S
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Format: eBook / ePub / PDF

Preorder Book Buy Links: Publication Date: July 6, 2015

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Aeromancist-Seven-Forbidden-Arts-Book-ebook/dp/B010766W5S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1435679181&sr=1-1&keywords=aeromancist+charmaine+pauls

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aeromancist-charmaine-pauls/1122220463?ean=2940151997492

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/554077

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25809530-aeromancist?ac=1

Discuss this book in our PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads by clicking HERE

Book Description:

Passion always comes with a price.

All he could offer was thirty days of passion.

He condemned her to a terrible fate instead.

Now he’ll do everything in his power to save her.

He is known as the Weatherman. Lann Dréan is the last of his kind. A price on his head, chased for a power he should not possess, he can’t promise any woman forever. All he can offer Katherine White is thirty days of passion. But his uncontainable desire comes with an unforeseen price. Lann’s lust will cost Kat everything. Now he’ll do anything to save her from the fate he has brought upon her.

* This book contains adult content with explicit language and frequent, consummated love scenes, including light bondage, sex toys and breath play. Reader discretion is advised.

Book Excerpt:

Short Excerpt

From the expression on Lann’s face, Kat knew he hadn’t expected her. Alfonso hadn’t warned him of her visit. Lann sat behind his desk, very similar to the first time they had met, but this time he was in the library, and not in his office. He had probably been working on the restoration of his ancient books, because he wore his glasses. Removing them, he immediately got to his feet. The air felt lighter, as it always did in his presence. Wisps of her hair lifted as if to an invisible caress, but Lann didn’t acknowledge the subtle dance of molecules this time.

As always he looked impeccable in tailored pants and a white dress shirt. He stood immobile, exerting calm, waiting for her to make the first move. Kat had never been fooled about the latent danger that lurked under his quiet sophistication and intellectual air. There was a raw energy about Lann that hinted at his wildness, even as his exterior was polished civility.

“Alfonso showed me in,” she said.

“Katherine.” His lips lifted in the corner, exposing his dimple.

Her heart broke at his smile. It was the one he reserved for other people. Never for her. It was automatic, a practiced social stance, and she hated it.

Hers was faint in return. She glanced at the employees who were handling his books with protective gloves. “May we speak in private, please?”

He frowned. “Let’s go to my office.”

About The Author

Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a degree in Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to France with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published six novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in Chile with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

Read more about Charmaine’s romance novels and psychological short stories here on www.charmainepauls.com.

Interview

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

My parents, aunts and grandparents always read bedtime stories to me. These tales hooked and fascinated me from a young age. When I was old enough to read, a whole new world opened up for me as I discovered adventures and magical realms on the shelves of our school library. One of my favorites that springs to mind, is the adapted children’s version of Othello. Ever since then, I knew I wanted to create stories.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It takes me roughly a season, about three months, to finish a book from first to final draft. On average, I write three to four drafts before submitting a manuscript.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I have a schedule that I follow diligently from 9 am to 2 pm. My afternoons are mostly dedicated to my children, although I carry my laptop with me everywhere I go so that I can write for an extra hour while waiting at my children’s swimming and ballet lessons. My creative peak is in the morning, so this is when I pen down the story. Evenings are used for editing. I also set aside two hours per day for marketing, which I try to do before and after lunch.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

My desk and study need to be tidy and organized before I start writing. A chaotic environment seems to rub off on my brain, making my thoughts feel scrambled too. Material clutter becomes a bottleneck in my creative process, clogging up my mind. Once every pencil, piece of paper, book and file is in place, my sentences flow freely.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I draw greatly upon inspirations from my travels regarding locations, customs, food and events. The center around which I spin the tale, is always a profound emotion. Most of my stories have emotion as the focal starting point. From there it branches out into plot, subplot and characters.

In Aeromancist, for example, the principle emotion is pain caused by deceit. Kat is hurt when she receives news that leads her to believe that Lann lied to her. Similarly, when Kat confronts Lann with her news, the only logical conclusion he can make is that she cheated on him during their 30-day exclusivity agreement, causing him intense feelings of jealousy, concern, anger and envy. From there on each action that they choose entices a new sentiment, one stronger than the next, like an emotional domino effect.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

Although I always wrote in a professional capacity, whether in journalism, advertising, communication or marketing, I didn’t write a novel until 2011. I started my first book in 2010 and completed it one year later. I was forty years old at the time. We had just relocated abroad, I didn’t have a work permit, and the kids started school, which suddenly gave me free time I didn’t have before. I pondered the idea of writing a book for almost a year before tackling the task.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to travel. Together with my family, we explore new parts of the world whenever we can create the opportunity. My hobby is photography. I never travel without my camera. For relaxation I like to read (especially gothic classics), and for exercise I’m always keen on dancing. An admirer of visual and performing arts, you’ll often find me in galleries or the theatre. If I want to scare myself to death, I’ll scuba dive.

What does your family think of your writing?

I have a very supportive family who believes in individual growth and development within our group dynamic. We give each other room and encouragement to find and fulfill our life purpose, while harboring a close relationship and being present in the moment when we are together. It helps that my husband is always proud of me and that the kids love books as much as I do and therefore understand my passion. My cousins are my beta readers and give me incredible emotional support, as do my parents and brothers. We respect each other’s choices and pursuits, and always try to keep a healthy balance between our respective demanding careers and family time.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That selling them would be a lot harder than writing them!

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I have written nine to date, of which Pyromancist is my favorite because of my favorite gothic elements and the deep emotional content. The story also reminds me of a beautiful and joyful family holiday spent in Brittany, France.

Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Writing is a solitary job, but no man is an island. What helped me immensely was to connect with like-minded authors. I joined a writers group where we do weekly training exercises to polish our skills, invest in workshops and seminars, as well as offer critique on each other’s work. Besides for being an amazing learning curve, group membership also affords me much needed support from people who understand the trade.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I love getting feedback from my readers. Feedback comes in different forms, via email, the contact form on my website, reviews, ratings, or social media posts and comments. Some will leave a beautiful line or two if they enjoyed a story, and others will ask questions about characters or settings. These questions and the feedback really make my day. Whenever I fall into the pit of writer’s doubt and need an extra motivational boost, I always look at what my readers say.

What do you think makes a good story?

A good story is made up of a great plot, engaging characters, realistic and sharp dialogue, attention to punctuation, spelling and grammar, and a storytelling skill that draws the readers in and keeps them hooked. Ultimately, I measure a good story by the level of emotional investment and reaction it entices.

What would you like my readers to know?

The next book in the Seven Forbidden Arts series, Hydromancist, is due in September. This is Maya’s story. If you’d like to have an early peek inside the book, you can read an excerpt here: http://charmainepauls.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Read-an-excerpt-from-Hydromancist.pdf