Demon's Curse by Alexa Egan (Interview/Giveaway)

What better way to start out the new year than by welcoming debut author Alexa Egan to talk about Demon’s Curse, the first book in the Imnada Brotherhood series. Welcome Alexa!

Thanks so much, Lexi. I’m thrilled to  be here today. 

Has it just been a whirlwind for you the past few months? Your e-novella Awaken the Curse is available now, and Demon’s Curse was released right after Christmas. There had to be a lot of preparation and planning going on (not to mention the usual Christmas activities).

Argh! Whirlwind doesn’t begin to cover it.  I loved having the pub dates close together so that readers who enjoyed the novella could dive right into the series without too much of a wait. I also really loved my Boxing Day release for DEMON’S CURSE so it was ready to go just in time for all those shiny new Christmas e-readers, but I’ve felt like I’ve been in a constant state of catch-up over the last few months with barely a breath between. I just keep telling my husband when I feel completely overwhelmed that it’s a great problem to have, so I’ll suck it up and keep on running. Thankfully, he’s always been supportive of this whole writing gig, so when the dust bunnies pile up or we’re having pizza for the third time in a week, he never bats an eye. That makes the chaos a whole lot easier to handle. 

One thing that you didn’t have to do was design the cover. And what a great cover it is. The smoking sword adding a hint of paranormal to the historical style red coat. Oh, did I forget to mention the bared chest? Hard to miss, can’t believe I almost didn’t list it. Did you get to be involved with the cover or did they pretty much go from your description of the book?

I LOVE this cover! A big shout-out to Pocket’s art department that did such a fantastic job! When we first started discussing covers, the idea was that it had to both project to bookstore browsers that it was both historical AND paranormal.  Not an easy task. But they came up with the perfect look that both fits my character and the setting(a soldier in the Regency-era British Army) and gives a hint of the otherworldly story inside. I only suggested one minor change. The original cover art had the soldier in a blue coat. I sent them a description of the historically accurate regimental uniform that Mac would have worn. They made the changes, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Now, I’m impatient to see what they come up with for the next two books in the series. 

What does your husband think of your book, has he read it? Maybe you can tease him that he can model for your next cover!

No, he hasn’t read the book yet, although he’s heard more than he wants to hear about it since I tend to whine to him when the writing isn’t going well. Things like, “This scene sucks.” “My plot’s unraveling.” “My hero won’t do what I want him to do.” “My heroine keeps going off-script!” “What made me ever think this idea would work?” You get the idea. 

He’s already gotten lots of teasing at work about being the inspiration behind my stories, but he takes it in stride.  I mean really! Not sure how being the inspiration behind the hero of a romance novel could be anything but a compliment. ;)    

Do you feel like you have learned a lot about book release process? Are there things you hope to avoid or make a point of doing before your next release?

I’ve learned a lot over the past year and a half, though I still feel like a newbie who’s staring around her at all these huge big-name authors in awe, but knowing me, I’ll probably always feel that way. The hardest part of the learning curve has been getting used to all the promo work an author has to do now. I’m an introvert who’d be happiest closeted alone in a room with my computer (ok, most of the time, that’s exactly what I am). Pushing myself into that social author sphere as well as coming up with interesting and unique ways to get my name out to readers has been a challenge. I enjoy Facebook and have just started tweeting in the last few months, so hopefully by the release of SHADOW’S CURSE next fall, I’ll be a pro at both platforms.   

Always exciting to have an author stop by for the first time. Thanks Alexa for taking the time to answer some questions for us. Good luck with Demon’s Curse, and we hope to see more books from you in the future!

Thanks again for having me. It’s been a pleasure.

Demon’s Curse

Imnada Brotherhood #1

by Alexa Egan

Mass Market Paperback 370 pages

Published Dec 26th, 2012 by Pocket Books

ISBN 9781451672909

A fast-paced and captivating debut—the first in the dark and sexyImnada Brotherhood series about shape shifters in Regency-era England.
A rising star on the Covent Garden stage, Bianca Parrino believes she has everything she wants. Independence. Wealth. And a life finally free of her violent, abusive husband. But when her close friend, Adam, is murdered, and Bianca is suspected in his death, she is unwittingly drawn into the search for his killer, and soon must question everything she believes—about her friend, about herself, and about a world she never knew existed.
A member of the mysterious race of shape-shifting Imnada and part of an elite military unit, Captain Mac Flannery gathered intelligence during the Napoleonic wars. As a result of a savage massacre, Mac and the men he served with are cursed. Now one of them has been found murdered, and Mac suspects the existence of the Imnada has been discovered at last. His only link to unearthing the truth is the beautiful actress who turns up unexpectedly at Adam’s funeral.
Before long, Mac has more to contend with than Bianca’s overt mistrust, his ill-fated attraction to the haughty and beautiful actress, and his ongoing search for an end to the curse. Because Adam’s killer is back, and Mac is next on his list.

Available for Purchase at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble

~GIVEAWAY~

Pocket Books is offering up one copy of Demon's Curse to a lucky reader! (US only please.)

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below. Then leave Alexa a comment on what you think of mixing historical and paranormal. Love it? Never tried it? Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway