Monday, June 6, 2016

Dark Siren by Eden Ashley Free Book Blitz, Excerpt, Interview and Giveaway



Dark Siren

Book 1

Eden Ashley



Genre: YA Paranormal Romance



Publisher: Eden Ashley



Date of Publication: July 2013



ISBN: 0989963217

ASIN: B00DSPPOX2



Number of pages: 427

Word Count: 100K



Cover Artist: Victoria Faye



Book Description:



To survive, their bond must be unbreakable.



When the mysterious and passionate Rhane rescues Kali from an attacker in the theater parking lot, they form an immediate, smoldering connection. But Kali doesn't remember Rhane or anything from their past. As far as Kali knows, she's just a seventeen-year-old kid coping with an insatiable hunger for the “spark” or energy of others, feeding on classmates to survive.



A unique artifact—one that may hold the key to returning Kali’s memories—is uncovered by the archaeology firm where she works part-time, sending Kali and Rhane on a dangerous journey that leads them to the Forbidden City, into the unforgiving Gobi, and into the ruins of Rhane’s ancient homeland. As they fight for survival, Kali begins to discover who she really is and the true power she possesses. But Rhane still harbors a secret that could destroy Kali…unless old enemies kill her first.








Excerpt:

The sound of her screams reached him as he neared the dorm. Pausing at the threshold, the man stepped inside. Death and the wind were at his back. Dozens of hollow-eyed students turned to observe his presence. Fear had twisted their youthful faces into horrific masks. A few of them wept. Others clung together as another scream echoed into the night. The man flinched. Then he steeled himself against all emotion. His kind was supposed to feel nothing.

He made his way through the crowd, students eagerly shuffling aside to let him pass. It was as if somehow they sensed in him the power to end her suffering. When a young man dressed only in boxers and a lettered shirt stepped forward from a cluster of solemn dorm mates, the man stopped. He recognized the boy.

You are William. You are the one who called.”

Yes, sir,” the young man said while nodding. His eyes were wide and frightened as he pointed ahead to a closed door painted prison grey. “She’s in there, sir.”

The man looked at the door, and then back at the boy. “Is she alone?”

William’s shoulders slumped with embarrassment. “I tried to stay with her but…” his voice trailed, dropping to a hoarse whisper. “She looks bad, sir. She wouldn’t stop screaming for me to get out. I got scared. I’m sorry.”

It’s alright, son. You have done well.” The man laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder with an encouraging smile that reflected none of the sadness he felt. “She’s going to be okay.”

But her cries were becoming more tormented by the second. He quickly continued down the hall to the grey door. Behind it, he found her all alone. Her thin, pale body was curled on a beaten sofa in the center of the room. She was drenched in sweat. Dark hair plastered against her face, framing a beautiful canvas contorted with anguish. He placed a hand gently on her forehead.

Her eyes fluttered open. “Daddy?”

I’m here, sweetheart. Everything is fine now.”

Sobbing in relief even as another surge of agony ransacked her strength, she gritted her teeth. “It hurts.”

Squeezing her hand, he spoke in a voice thick with regret. “I know. I’m sorry. Letting you come here was a mistake. I’ve waited too long.”

She was lost in the pain and didn’t seem to hear him. “I see horrible things. I did horrible things. There was so much blood.”

It hurt him terribly to see her in such distress. No matter what the others said, this girl had truly been his daughter. But right now, his love for her could not matter. He had a job to do. There were things he needed to know. There were questions he had to ask.

What do you see?”

Bodies, hundreds of bodies littering the ground…” The words broke off as she rolled with another wave of misery. “They’re burned…old and young, women and children.” She sobbed again. “I think I burned them.”

I’m going to give you something to stop the pain. It will help you sleep.”

Please hurry, Daddy. Make it stop.” Her body shuddered. “I can’t take any more of this.”

She lifted her head, giving him a good look at her face. Surging veins had crept like black spiders from the corners of her eyes, transforming the surrounding skin into dark pools. She was deteriorating rapidly. If the process wasn’t slowed, the human form would soon be lost.



About the Author:
Realist, cynic, and hopeless romantic all rolled into one, Eden lives in a small, sunny town in SC where thunderstorms inspire her best ideas. When not daydreaming about her next novel, Eden can be found curled up with a musty old paperback and a cup of coffee...or mired deeply in her next plot to take over the world. She enjoys reading or watching anything with supernatural elements, so writing paranormal and fantasy romance is a natural fit.


Interview
Eden Ashley
Where are you from?
Though I call the capital home now, I’m originally from a really tiny town in sunny South Carolina. And by tiny, I mean a population of less than one thousand people.
Tell us your latest news?
Two books in the Dark Siren series have made Amazon’s Bestseller lists in their respective genres. I have a screenshot of Dark Siren sitting right between Twilight Eclipse and Beautiful Chaos. That was an exciting, surreal moment.
When and why did you begin writing?
A few years ago, I found short stories written in crayon by me from when I was a little kid. Apparently, my muse reared her strange head at very young age. I have always loved the written word and started making up stories as soon as I learned how to properly hold a pencil (or crayon).
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I published my second book, Banewolf, I said okay, this is for real now.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I had this idea in my head that started as a daydream, and I just couldn’t get rid of it. Eventually, the idea kept growing and evolving until it became a full blown, four-part saga of a love transcending centuries of time.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I try to be descriptive but not wordy with my prose. I keep dialogue as realistic and as tight as possible, writing what would come naturally to the character if he/she were truly alive and placed in whatever situation they have found themselves in.
How did you come up with the title?
Well, it started out as a novel entitled The Siren’s Heart, but after a major rewrite, I centered the title around the main character’s identity and road to self-discovery—hence Dark Siren. Kali is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind, supernatural creature, but she’s also dark. Her past isn’t a pretty one. Her road to redemption is dangerous and difficult.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
This series really explores what truly makes a family and the bonds within them. When the strength of those bonds is tested, people are forced to make difficult choices that may not be for the greater good. I wanted to see where the characters would go if they couldn’t make the heroic choice, if they couldn’t make the sacrifices heroes typically make in order to save the world. How would the chips fall then?
How much of the book is realistic?
The story initially starts off really realistic in the first book with the fantasy world gradually building into a stronger presence through the progression of each book. In personal reading, I don’t like starting a book and then immediately getting slammed with alien terms and descriptions that must be learned in order to grasp the setting of the story, so I try not to do that in my own writing. I lean toward measured reveals and developments, using humor and action to balance out the pace.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
No, not all. These stories are ripped straight from my extremely overactive imagination.
What books have most influenced your life most?
I tend to be a strictly fiction reader who doesn’t let the lovey, dovey happily ever after, rich tycoon or sexy werewolf/vampire alpha wet-dream-in-the-flesh stuff influence my real world. It would just lead to disappointment…or a trip to the nut house!
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I think Ayn Rand’s stuff is awesome and would love to be able to reach that level of writing but that is a pipedream. I say that, but I really wouldn’t consider her a mentor. I wouldn’t consider any author a mentor. When it comes to writing, I like originality and prefer to think outside the box. That’s just my fiercely independent nature shining through.
What book are you reading now?
For me, life as an indie writer, publisher, and marketer has hugely impacted the time I have for personal/enjoyment-only reading. Like it barely exists unless I’m on vacation. Thankfully, that is happening soon! I haven’t decided what book I’m taking with me to California yet, but it’ll probably be a thriller of some sort. Or I might revisit an old favorite like Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie. Gosh, I really love that book!
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I don’t know how “new” these ladies are, but there a couple of titles from M. Malone and E.L Todd that are currently on my Kindle. I’ll be delving into their stories very soon!
What are your current projects?
I’m currently putting the final touches on a New Adult Fantasy/Romance entitled Love, Alchemy. It’ll be here in July 2016 and I’m pretty excited about it!
What would you like my readers to know?
Dark Siren is the first book in a four-part series. If you’re someone who loves paranormal with your romance and doesn’t mind action, hot sex, strong suspense, or unexpected plot twists then make this series next on your to-read list. I think you’ll love it.











Twitter: @Eden_byNite






Realist, cynic, and hopeless romantic all rolled into one, Eden lives in a small, sunny town in SC where thunderstorms inspire her best ideas. When not daydreaming about her next novel, Eden can be found curled up with a musty old paperback and a cup of coffee...or mired deeply in her next plot to take over the world. She enjoys reading or watching anything with supernatural elements, so writing paranormal and fantasy romance is a natural fit.



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