Saturday, December 12, 2015

Forbidden Forest by Tenaya Jayne Excerpt, Giveaway & Interview

Forbidden Forest
The Legends of Regia
Book One
Tenaya Jayne

Genre: YA Fantasy romance, PNR

Publisher: Cold Fire Publishing LLC
Date of Publication: 2012

ISBN: 0988275716
ASIN: B009JVTLA6

Number of pages: 264
Word Count: 77,000

Cover Artist: Erika Doucesse

Book Description:

Born in shame. Cast from society. Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid, Forest must fight for any respect she can get. Targeted in her youth by a vampire noble who placed an illegal slave mark on her, she is forced to obey him, no matter what.

Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia's laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war.

Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he's ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn't matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.


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Excerpt:

Forest pressed her back against the cool concrete wall, wanting to remain aloof from the entity of the crowd. She chose her position in the shadows, out of the paths of the roving, multi-colored spotlights. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the undulating human pheromones flying around on the air. At the beginning of every shift, she allowed herself a few minutes of this alien/human experience, though she didn't fully comprehend the combination of dancing, drinking, and ear-breaking sound waves. They loved it, however, and never seemed to deviate from the recipe.
 These were the people she was sworn to protect. She had developed a light affection for the human race and considered them a benign, if not slightly silly, bunch of creatures. Her religious passion for her job was rooted in hatred of that which harmed the humans, not a superhero tendency to protect the weak.
 Forest opened her eyes and focused all her senses to sniff out the illegal suckers that tried to sneak through the portal. She was in the zone tonight, and not for the first time did she feel that hers was the best job in existence. It was a shame she couldn’t legally kill suckers in her native world.
 Over the next two hours, Forest didn’t move from the wall. She monitored the light traffic through the portal: two shifters and one elf, each of which nodded to her respectfully as they passed. Yawn. The shifters left the club to enjoy the delights of Austin’s nightlife elsewhere.
The elf would have been breaking Regia’s law had he left the club, but he dutifully seated himself at the bar and ordered a fuzzy navel. He wore a plaid, porkpie hat, pulled down over the tops of his pointed ears. Forest didn’t know him personally, but she had seen him in here before. The bartender surveyed him with narrowed eyes as the elf nervously tugged his hat down further and ordered a few more girly cocktails.
Intent on making sure that not one sucker was able to sneak past her, Forest was blindsided by the drunk bubba who had been trying to catch her eye for the last twenty minutes. He had finally decided to stagger over to hit on her.
 “Hey babe, you’re too beautiful to look so lonely. How’s ‘bout I buy you a drink?”
 “How’s ‘bout I call you a cab instead?” Forest mimicked his drawl.
 “Only if you share it with me, Darlin.” He leaned in closer, and Forest’s throat began to sting from the noxious fume of booze mixed with his natural musk.
 “While I appreciate the offer, Jethro, it seems only right to inform you that I’m not actually attractive at all. If you leaned in a little closer, you’d see that you’ve fallen victim to the effect of beer goggles. A hag like me can’t take advantage of a stud like you.”
 As he leaned in, Forest instantly enlarged her nose, pockmarked her skin, evaporated her front teeth, and added a large black mole with a long hair sprouting from it for good measure.
 “You’re no hag, baby! You’re the sexiest little thing in…I…uh…" He stumbled backward. “Good grief! Sorry, sorry…” he stammered, retreating. “I’ve gotta quit drinking,” he mumbled as he turned away.
 Forest chuckled to herself once he absorbed back into the crowd. Being a shape shifter sometimes had unusual perks.



About the Author:

Nationally Bestselling author Tenaya Jayne has always walked a shaky line between reality and fantasy. A nomad by nature, she's lived all over the US, and now resides happily in the Midwest, with her husband and sons. She's an advocate for Autism awareness and women trapped in abusive relationships, and feels everyone has too much pain to not enjoy an escape into a fictional fantasy world. Her passions include reading, independent and foreign films, cooking, and moody music. For more about Tenaya and her books, visit www.tenayajayne.com





Interview for Author Tenaya Jayne
Where are you from?
Hmm…I’m actually not sure. We moved around quite a bit when I was a kid. I guess Truckee, CA. I spent the largest chunk of my childhood there. I have fond memories of the place. Beautiful mountains, lots of snow, and great skiing.
I’ve lived the last few years in the Kansas City area. I may be a transplant, but I’ve totally converted. Go Royals. J
Tell us your latest news?
I’m down to writing the last two books in The Legends of Regia series. Both titles will release in 2016. I know I’ll be both excited and sad when the series is over.
When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing at the age of eight. I don’t know if I had a reason. I just had to.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I considered myself a writer when I finished my first novel in 2007. It was more than just a hobby, it was an addiction. Once I began writing seriously, I knew I had found my identity. Now, I don’t know how I would live, if for some reason I had to stop.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Pain. I began writing my first book in my twenties, and I was inspired at that time by heartbreak. My toddler was not developing normally. I was in denial for a long time, but when I truly had to face there was something wrong, I needed to escape to help myself through the dark, painful time. So, I escaped into my own imagination.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I have a lyrical style. I like to think of my style as a looping cursive line. I don’t just lay it out there in a flat way. I love using unusual words to describe things. My novels are peppered with poetic sentences.   
How did you come up with the title?
My main character is named Forest. I wanted the title to play on her name. Originally, Forbidden Forest was titled, Forest Fire. About half of the way through writing the 1st draft, I changed it because I realized there would be a sequel and Forest Fire fit that book much better.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Naw. I want my readers to let go of reality. I want them to get swept up and forget their troubles. Whatever they feel, or take away from my work, is the right thing.
How much of the book is realistic?
As far as setting and the laws of nature, none of it. J Fantasy world aside, the characters and their relationships are very realistic. 
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Yes and no. I mean, it’s a fantasy world. I try to use as much of my own experiences as I can in moments of high emotion. I want my characters to have as much authentic emotion as possible. Sometimes I cry my eyes out as I write. I force myself to relive bad memories in tiny details if necessary, to translate the moment to the reader, through the heart of the character.   
What books have most influenced your life most?
The Darkangel by Meredith Ann Peirce influenced my life because it was the first book that taught me to love reading. Aside from that, fiction doesn’t influence my life. It makes impressions, good or bad.
The Bible is the only book that really influences my life and its direction.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Even though I don’t write in the same vein, I would have to say Nora Roberts. I always enjoy her books and I know I can trust her to give me a HEA. I endeavor to earn that kind of trust from my readers.
What book are you reading now?
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Dawn Metcalf. Her imagination is unique. Reading her stuff is kind of like romance in the Twilight Zone.
What are your current projects?
I’m working on the 6th title in The Legends of Regia. It’s titled, Blood Lock. It will be the first time I spend a good deal of time with the wolves in my world. 
What would you like my readers to know?
I’m an independent, but I am a professional. You can trust me to deliver a quality, fully edited, professionally formatted book. Every title I publish goes through four rounds of editors: content, development, mechanics, and proofreading.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me today! I cannot tell you what it means to me. I hope you will take a moment and consider Forbidden Forest for your reading pile. 
Tour giveaway

1 set of The Legends of Regia on Audible





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