OUR AUTHOR OF THE MONTH IS HERE!!!!
Welcome back, Thea! This April you’ve got a new series called Game of Shadows coming out! The first book is called RISING DARKNESS. Can you tell us a bit about this book?
Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to visit with you!
RISING DARKNESS is the first in the two-book Game of Shadows series that tells the story of an ancient, millennia old war between creatures that are not quite human. The story concludes in FALLING LIGHT, which is scheduled for a February, 2013 release.
This series is darker than the Elder Races series, and there is a strong urban fantasy feel to it. The story is told from four points of view, including the antagonist, and there is a cliffhanger at the end of RISING DARKNESS. Still, there is a strong paranormal romance element too, and there is a HEA for Michael and Mary, the hero and heroine, at the end of story line.
Here is the official blurb:
USA Today bestselling author Thea Harrison begins an all-new, darkly romantic paranormal saga, in which the fate of existence itself lies in the balance—and the key to victory may rest in the hands of two eternal lovers…
In the hospital ER where she works, Mary is used to chaos. But lately, every aspect of her life seems adrift. She’s feeling disconnected from herself. Voices appear in her head. And the vivid, disturbing dreams she’s had all her life are becoming more intense. Then she meets Michael. He’s handsome, enigmatic and knows more than he can say. In his company, she slowly remembers the truth about herself…
Thousands of years ago, there were eight of them. The one called the Deceiver came to destroy the world, and the other seven followed to stop him. Reincarnated over and over, they carry on—and Mary finds herself drawn into the battle once again. And the more she learns, the more she realizes that Michael will go to any lengths to destroy the Deceiver.
Then she remembers who killed her during her last life, nine hundred years ago…Michael.
There is a big concept of the afterlife and reincarnation in RISING DARKNESS. Do you believe in that?
I certainly believe that it’s possible. Of course it’s one of those things that can’t be tested or proven scientifically, but I definitely think it could happen.
The hero, Michael is a brooding and serious man while Mary seemed to be a much lighter side to him. Are there any actors that you envision them as?
One of the reasons why I love the cover art so much for RISING DARKNESS is that I think they captured Mary perfectly, even down to the thick, wavy hair. I love that cover! Michael is a lot more tough for me to envision. Gerard Butler might make a good Michael, especially when I think of him from The Phantom of the Opera movie.
Where did the inspiration come from for the Game of Shadows series?
Inspiration is one of those things that, for me, can’t be narrowed down to any one specific thing. I had been reading Joseph Campbell at the time, and I’d also gone back to school and had taken religious studies, philosophy and also mythology courses. I had also joined a meditation group that was run by Buddhists. And as always, I read prolifically in sci-fi and fantasy, and paranormal genres. The inspiration came from so many different places!
Fans that have read your Elder Races may be curious to know how this new series differs from your previous one. Would you care to share?
I pull a lot of concepts from different religions and mythologies in both universes, but in a way, the Game of Shadows series is more spiritually based. It’s also darker and more serious. One of the things I enjoyed the most about telling the story is that there are quite a few references to real-life historical and religious figures, told from the memories of the four main characters.
FALLING LIGHT is book two. I understand that you plan on having two books only in this series. Do you find it a challenge to cover everything you’d like to in two books?
Actually, I found it difficult to tell the story in one book, so I was glad when we created the two-book series, because it feels much more satisfying to me. As I’ve mentioned, FALLING LIGHT does conclude with a HEA for Michael and Mary. I am, however, toying around with the idea of one more story – but the third story wouldn’t be about Michael and Mary. Their story arc is quite finished in my head. If I tell the third story, it would be a spin off set in the Game of Shadows universe. At this point in time, however, I haven’t committed to anything. I’m just playing around with the idea. J
Do you have a favorite paranormal creature?
There’s so many great options! But I think dragons will always be my favorite paranormal creature.
After a long work day, what’s your favorite way to relax?
I lead a pretty quiet life. Usually after a long work day, I’m ready to walk the dogs and watch a little TV. If I’m in writing mode, the story never turns off in my head, so I do a lot of thinking about how to fix what I’d written that day or what I’ll be working on the next day.
Thank you so much for stopping by today and sharing with us! And the best of luck with the new series!
Thanks again for having me! It’s always fun to answer your interview questions.
Find Thea Harrison
http://theaharrison.com/
Twitter @TheaHarrison
www.facebook.com|TheaHarrison
Purchase Links: Amazon
For readers: when you’ve had a long work day,
what do you like to do to unwind?
Penguin is giving one lucky US commenter a copy of RISING DARKNESS!
To unwind after work I will hop under some blankets and read on my Kindle. 🙂
Pick up some Chipotle, Calypso Cooler, go home change into pjs, grab my KFire, turn on some fav show/movie to have as background noise or my water fountain. Aahhhhh.
I’m a stay at home mom, so I have to wait for my girls to go to bed, so then I can read. 🙂
I usually have a glass of wine with dinner, and then I eat cookies. Yummmmm…
I get in to my pajamas and read
A lovely glass of Gentleman Jack will wash the day’s stress right away.
Lay on the couch and read 🙂
I’ll get a glass of wine or a rum & Pepsi and curl up with a good book in my swivel rocker 😉
Curl up on the couch with a blanket and a good book.
I usually have a warm bath, a glass of wine, and a good book to read.
I like to watch tv to wind down.
sitting in my favorite chair with a book!
I like to read, read, read.
Sit in my chair with a hot cup of tea and a good book.
To unwind I either curl up on the couch and read a book or watch a movie.
To unwind I usually have a class of wine and read a book on my Kindle.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Make a drink and then curl up with a book.
Read!! It always helps me relax after a tense day. I have a routine I follow when I get home – take a hot shower, jump into cozy pjs and fuzzy socks, have dinner and then dive into bed with bedroom door closed. I’ll also light a lavender scented candle for those really bad days.
I unwind by reading. Enjoyable interview!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I love to fill the tub up with the water as hot as I can get it. Soak a while and sip on a glass of wine, beer, or a margarita!
While 90% of the books I read are series books, I tend to hold on to them till the series is complete or there are 3 or 4 out and read them in bunches so I love the idea that their are only two or three in your series.
For readers: when you’ve had a long work day, what do you like to do to unwind?
What else pile up with a good book and a glass of wine or cup of coffee—heaven!
put on some comfy clothes, have a good book handy and spend time being surrounded by my family
Read of course~!!
I take a shower. Taking a shower, rinsing off the day, lettings things go– it never fails to make me feel better.
I nice long soak in the tub with a nice hot book. Thanks how I like to unwind. 🙂
I think i have some of your work in my massive TBR piles
you can NEVER have too many books!!!
Hi everybody!
I’m sorry it took me so long to get online to say hi to folks today… I’ve been away from my office today, getting house inspections done on the place that I am working to buy. Fun times! Actually, all of your ideas for ways to unwind sound delightful! And I love love love how many of you say that you unwind by reading a good book!
There are many times in my life when a good book has saved my sanity, especially when I was a child.
I’m so excited to be with Under the Covers again…. and excited and honored they chose me to be author of the month!!! Thank you so much, guys. Truly a pleasure.
xoxo
Thea
Nothing helps me wind down better at the end of the day than a glass of wine and good paranormal or fantasy book. Being able to escape into one of those worlds helps keep the sanity intact. 🙂
After a long day at work I like to cuddle up on the couch with my man and my dog and watch the tube. Or reading is always a perfect way to unwind : )
After a long day I usually have a glass of wine 😉
Kassandra
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Get some ice cream and good under overs with a great book..
I sit back and get a glass of wine and a good book. sdylion(at)gmail(dot)com
I unwind by reading books also.
I usually get a cup of coffee or an iced coffee depending on the weather and sit on the couch and relax for a bit or if I’m really, really tired – I’ve been known to take a nap. lol
After a long stressful day I go home and get my book and hide in my library with the dogs and read. Reading makes everything better.
I love to read quietly. I love to go into another world for a little while to relax. If I don’t have the energy for that, I clean out emails. That can make me feel so much lighter!
I like to go to a quiet place and read…
Thea – I just love your Elder Races series… and I’m sure this series will be just as good
Congrats on the release of Rising Darkness this week!
watch a movie
somewhere quiet and just relax, lay down, pick my feet up and read 🙂
Take a long hot bath hop into my pjs and cuddle up with a book.
I like to watch my favorite comedies or read a good book. I also like to play with my dog.
mestith at gmail dot com
Read or get a foot massage from my hubby 🙂
The way I unwind after a long day at work is to sit at my computer and read about books, then pick up my latest book and read for a while. That always does it for me. 😀
I work in my home so my unwind time would be to turn off tv’s, radio’s, computers, all unnecessary lighting, and sit and quietly read a much anticipated book. Doesn’t happen too often but when it does, it’s heaven.
Thank you for the giveaway and the amazing interview!!!
Reading is the only thing that helps me unwind.
We usually have a nice family dinner and then I relax with a book! Reading is the best way to relax!
First thins is to get get out of work clothes…a nice pair of comfy sweats and a PJ top. Then after the kids go to bed it’s snuggling down in my chair to read or play WoW.
After a long day i grab a book and curl up on the couch to read. Next to my hubster who is also reading to unwind.
Read!
I curl up with a good book!
Reading always helps me unwind! Thanks for the chance to win!
Fix me a cup of coffee and read a b ook!!
To unwind, I like to either watch some TV shows on Netflix or read a book. If it’s been a really tough day, I watch shows that I already know I love, like Charmed, ST: TNG or Buffy. A little ice cream or a glass of wine never hurt either.
A long hot shower, wine , cognac or scotch, and curl up with a good book or run a marathon of one of my favorite series on Netflix. Sometimes, if it was an especially frustrating day, I’ll whip out an RPG video game and solve some puzzles/mysteries or kick some serious butt.
When the house is settled I like to snuggle up with my pug and have a glass of wine or cup of coffee in the rocker and read a great book that I can get truly lost in. Thank you for the chance to win 🙂
Curl up with a good book.