Traveller
Abigail
Drake
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: February 26,
2016
ISBN: 978-1-5092-0569-1 Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-5092-0570-7 Digital
ASIN: B01APJZR12
Number of pages: 250
Word Count: 80,000
Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor
Book Description:
Former Junior Miss Kentucky
Emerson Shaw won pageants using martial arts as her talent and Sun Tzu’s “The
Art of War” as her guide, but a painful secret leads her to the University of
York, and puts her in the path of tattooed and pierced bad boy, Michael
Nightingale.
Michael is a Traveller, part of
an ancient line of mercenary gypsies who protect the world from vicious
monsters called the Moktar. When Emerson gets attacked, she has no choice but
accept Michael’s offer of protection or face certain death.
Traveller society, full of
outdated rules and ridiculous superstitions, isn’t a good fit for the
headstrong Emerson. Traveller women aren’t allowed to fight. Traveller women
aren’t allowed to win. Traveller women aren’t allowed to leave. But Emerson
will do what she must, even if it means losing the one person who matters most.
Excerpt:
“Who are you and
what do you want from me?”
I took a deep
breath. It probably wouldn’t be a good start to tell him he occupied my every
waking thought and most of my dreams, too. I decided to go with a more
conventional approach.
“You’re here
every morning, and I thought I’d say hello.” I stuck out my hand. “Emerson Jane
Shaw.”
He surprised me
by reaching for my extended hand and holding it firmly. His hand, large, warm
and rough, had cuts and bruises all over the knuckles. He had faint bruises on
his face, too, and some small wounds still in the process of healing. He’d been
in some kind of fight recently.
It didn’t
surprise me. He had the look of a warrior about him, the lean strength and
watchful eyes of a predator, and he was lethal. Sun Tzu would have seen it,
too. He would have recruited him without a moment’s hesitation.
“Michael
Nightingale.” He stared at me with those hypnotic eyes as he continued to hold
my hand, using it to pull me nearer to him.
“I know. Mrs.
Burke told me.” I couldn’t focus on what I was saying while he touched me, not
that I’d done such a great job up until now with my witty repartee.
He tilted his
head to one side, studying me the way a lion studies a gazelle before he eats
it. His face was only inches away from mine.
“Do you like to flirt with danger, Emerson
Jane Shaw?”
“Not usually,
but today I can make an exception.”
About
the Author:
Abigail Drake has spent her life
traveling the world, and collecting stories wherever she visited. She majored
in Japanese and International Economics in college and worked in import/export
and as an ESL teacher before she committed herself full time to writing. She
writes in several romance genres, and her books are quirky, light, fun, and
sexy. Abigail is a trekkie, a book hoarder, the master of the Nespresso
machine, a red wine addict, and the mother of three boys (probably the main
reason for her red wine addiction). A puppy named Capone is the most recent
addition to her family, and she blogs about him as a way of maintaining what
little sanity she has left.
Interview
with Abigail Drake, March 24, 2016
Where
are you from?
I’m from Beaver, Pennsylvania, which is in Beaver
County, on the Beaver River near Big Beaver, Beaver Falls, and Western Beaver.
My friends from out of state always get a big kick out of that.
Tell
us your latest news?
Traveller has been doing quite well, and I’ve been
busy. I teach a writing class to children once a week, and I’m going to attend
several book signings in the next few months. It’s been a fun, whirlwind of a
time.
When
and why did you begin writing?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing – or
reading. I’ve always been addicted to the written word, and I never go anywhere
without a book (or a Kindle) in my hand.
When
did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve always been a writer, but it wasn’t until a few
years ago that I had the opportunity to do it full time. I began by entering
(and winning) contests, which boosted my confidence. I became a bit addicted to
those certificates. I never won any actual prizes, but those certificates meant
a lot to me.
What
inspired you to write your first book?
I just wanted to see if I could do it. I knew I
could write, but completing a book is something very different. Many good
writers try and fail. I know lots of really talented people who just can’t seem
to make it past the first chapter. I took an online creative writing class, and
something the instructor said really resonated with me. She said, “Write
forward.” This enabled me to ignore the (many) imperfections in my manuscript
and write and write and write until the story was done. Editing is the time to
go back and fix everything. Drafting should be a wild roller coaster ride of
creative abandon – or at least that’s how I roll!
Do
you have a specific writing style?
Most of my books tend to be in first person. That
feels more intimate to me and allows me to immerse myself more in the
character. Most of my books are romances, with a certain element of magic or
humor.
How
did you come up with the title?
Traveller is the term used to describe an ethnic
group of gypsies known as the Irish Travellers. My character, Michael
Nightingale, is part of this group, although the Travellers in my book are a
little different from real life Travellers. They have special powers and fight
monsters.
Is
there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Don’t judge a person based on how they look. They
could have talents that aren’t apparent, and they might
be fighting battles you know nothing about.
How
much of the book is realistic?
I tried to incorporate certain elements of real
Traveller culture into the book. Obviously real Travellers don’t fight
monsters, but they do face a great deal of prejudice and live on the fringes of
society.
Are
experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
My main character Emerson is from Bowling Green,
Kentucky. I lived there myself for a while, and enjoyed the dialect and the
warmth of southern culture. I also had a neighbor, Miss Blanche, who insisted I
call her Grandma Sugar and taught me to appreciate sweet tea and chess pie.
What
books have most influenced your life most?
As I child, I spent every single Saturday at our
local library. I started with an obsession with Louisa May Alcott, Frances
Hodgson Burnett, and Madeleine L’Engle. Then I discovered Stephen King (I was
ten!!) and at the same time got addicted to the romance novels of Barbara
Cartland. That probably explains a lot. I grew up loving a mix of horror and
sweet romance.
If
you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I belong to the Pittsburgh chapter of Romance
Writers of America. It’s called Three Rivers Romance Writers. Those ladies are
my support group, and also my teachers. We meet once a month for a meeting and
a workshop. The education I get there, as well as the camaraderie, is
priceless.
What
book are you reading now?
I just finished The Line, by J.D. Horn. It’s a
fabulous story about a family of witches in Savannah. I’ll be in Savannah for
the first time in August for an event called Authors After Dark. I can’t wait
to explore all the places mentioned in the book.
Are
there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I just downloaded The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by
Amy Reichert. It sounds like the perfect romantic read, and it also reminds me
just a bit of the movie You’ve Got Mail, which I adore.
What
are your current projects?
I’m working on several other projects at the moment.
My contemporary romance, The Enchanted Garden Café, is being considered by
several publishing houses, and I just finished books one and two of a new adult
series that I plan to self publish.
What
would you like my readers to know?
If a story touches you, or makes you laugh, or makes
you cry, let the author know. It means the world to me when people send me
little notes on Facebook or Twitter just to let me know how much they enjoyed
my book. I do a little happy dance every single time. It’s not pretty, but it’s
genuine!
Tour
giveaway
Sign up for Abigail’s newsletter
and be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card.
No comments:
Post a Comment