Words That Bind
Genre: paranormal romance
Publisher: The
Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: Oct. 10,
2014
ISBN: 978-1-62830-560-9
ISBN: 978-1-62830-561-6
Number of pages: 314
Word Count: 75000
Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor
Book Description:
Social worker Tam Kerish can’t
keep her cool professionalism when steamy client Mr. Burns kindles a desire for
more than a client-therapist relationship—so she drops him. However, they
discover she’s the talisman to which Burns, an immortal djinn, has been bound
since the days of King Solomon…and that makes it difficult.
Ethical guidelines are
unequivocal when it comes to personal relationships with clients. However, the
djinn has a thawing effect on the usually non-emotive Tam, who begins to feel
true emotion whenever he is near. Tam has to make a difficult choice: to stay
on the outside, forever looking in…or to turn her back on her entire world,
just for the chance to finally experience what it means to fall in love.
Available at Amazon and Wild
Rose Publishing
Short
Excerpt:
“So. You’ve
destroyed a stereotype for me. A genie who lives in a library. Different.”
“When in Rome,
no?” He stirred his cup before setting down the spoon with a light clink
against the saucer. “Or, I suppose it is more accurate to say when in human
form. When I am Burns, I prefer here.”
“Human form.” It
didn’t sound right. Who said things like that, and meant it? “Can you change
into anything you want? Any shape at all?”
He stretched out
his legs and cocked his head, sliding his gaze up and away. “I suppose I could.
I’m getting old and set in my ways. There’s this…” He swept his hands down the
line of his body.
Her eyes were unable
to keep from following, not even when he lingered over his midsection. Even
lounging, his shirt was tightly tucked into his beltline. No belly fat there.
He tilted his
head and gave her an upper-teeth smile, nibbling gently at his lower lip. “And
apparently this form is pleasing to the eye, so I wear it often. But there are
others. Tiger, a favorite. Savage and regal and the colors of flames in the
night. Fearsome to behold, but very useful when dealing with physical
conditions in which a human form may be outmatched. Plus, I can lash my tail.”
His voice took a
teasing, conspirator’s tone. “I love my tail. You’d love it too, if you saw
it.”
She trained her
eyes firmly upon his. No way would she give him the pleasure of checking out
his tail.
About
the Author:
Ash Krafton is a speculative
fiction author from northeastern Pennsylvania. Krafton’s first novel, Bleeding
Hearts was published in 2012 as part of a three-book urban fantasy series The
Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press).
An urban fantasy novella,
Strangers at the Hell Gate, was published by Wild Rose Press in 2013. Her
latest project, Words That Bind, won first place in the HeRA RWA “Show Me the
Spark” 2013 competition; it is also available through Wild Rose Press as an
October 2014 release.
Krafton also writes New Adult
speculative fiction novels under the pen name AJ Krafton. Upcoming titles
include The Heartbeat Thief, Face of the Enemy, and the award-winning Takin’ It
Back. She is part of a YA/NA collective known as the Infinite Ink Authors.
In addition to novel-length
fiction, Krafton enjoys writing poetry and short prose, some of which earned
distinctions in various writing competitions. One of her poems was also
nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She’s a proud member of Pennwriters, Romance
Writers of America, and Pikes Peak Writers. Krafton is also a staff blogger for
the Query Tracker Blog.
Interview:
Interview:
Where are you from? I live with my family in south
Northeast PA (or northern Southeast PA, depending on your perspective. Our home
in deep in the heart of the anthracite coal region. Lots of history, and lots
of tri-axel coal trucks mucking up the traffic around here.
Tell us your latest news? My first paranormal
romance, WORDS THAT BIND, has just been released by The Wild Rose Press. I’m
thrilled to share my love story about a genie and his therapist (and wonder why
more supernatural creatures haven’t sought counselling.)
When and why did you begin writing? I started
serious writing in 2005. It started as a distraction that grew into a hobby
that somehow became a job. There was never a point where I sat down and said,
“Okay, I’m going to write a book, win some contests, sign with an agent, and
get a three-book six-figure deal.” Each step seemed to shift insidiously from
one to the next, a natural progression. I guess that’s why I find it so
satisfying—I’ve always felt like I was right where I was supposed to be.
When did you first consider yourself a writer? The
first time my husband asked to read my “secret” book. Up until then, I was just
a daydreamer with a pen.
What inspired you to write your first book? My first
(unfinished) manuscript was inspired in part by every fantasy I’ve ever read,
and partly by Phantom of the Opera’s masquerade scene. I really want to go back
and rewrite it (I’ve learned so much about writing since those early days)
because I never really got that story out of my head.
Do you have a specific writing style? I tend to
listen very carefully to my characters J
I’m also very audio-dependent; I like to surround myself with sound when I’m
writing, whether it be music or a movie that relates somehow to what I’m writing.
Creating soundtracks or playlists for each project is a fun way to capture the
mood of the book. If my ears are engaged, often I can tap into the story center
of my brain better.
How did you come up with the title? I think it was
hearing someone say “the ties that bind” that starting curling itself through
my subconscious. As the details of the book came sharper into focus, the title
tumbled out, as if it had been brewing the whole time.
Is there a message in your novel that you want
readers to grasp? Love is a sacrifice. By giving up what we want for the sake
of another, we gain so much more.
How much of the book is realistic? Everything but
the genie part! And, who knows…that part might be real, too, even if I’ve never
personally met one.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events
in your own life? My sister is a licensed clinical social worker. I asked her
if she ever had a supernatural, but she said none that had ever been clinically
proven. Yet.
What books have most influenced your life most? Pardon
Me, You’re Stepping On My Eyeball by Paul Zindel, The Bumper Book (various
authors), and The Silver Crown by Richard C. O’Brien. Definitely not in
chronological order, though.
If you had to choose, which writer would you
consider a mentor? Oh, gosh, I don’t think I’ve ever thought of this before.
What book are you reading now? Right now, my digital
bookmark is marking my spot in Third Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn. BOLLYPUNK
RULES!
What are your current projects? Currently, I am finishing THE HEARTBEAT
THIEF, which is a Victorian paranormal tale about the flip side of immortality.
It’s a cross between Jane Austen and Edgar Allen Poe and I love writing every
gothic inch of it. Since it will be pitched as YA/NA and therefore a different
audience, it will be released under the pen name AJ Krafton. While the book is
not yet in its final stages, the cover design is complete and can be seen on www.ashkrafton.com I’m hoping for a
release by spring 2015.
What would you like my readers to know? I love
hearing from readers and talking books! You can reach me anywhere the WiFi goes
and I’d love to hear what you think of WORDS THAT BIND. Talk soon!
Tour
giveaway
Choice of print copy or ebook,
book-inspired hand-crafted keychain, author swag-open to US Shipping
Thanks for hosting me...good luck to everyone who enters the giveaway, and happy reading!
ReplyDeleteohhhhhhhhhh *____* Djinn got a tail? somehow i did not envision him like that so it makes him even more interesting!!! i love the excerpt!!
ReplyDeleteIt's a forbidden Wish to discover more about this book and about you via those excellent interview