SUPERNATURAL SUNDAY

Please welcome Wend Petzler into the moonlight today. Wend is the author of Curse of the Scarab King, Blood Keep, Lady Thief, Whisper to Me and Damned by Sin. All are published by New Concepts Publishing. To learn more about Wend, visit her website: http://www.wendpetzler.com/

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GRACEN: March has a few popular dates to celebrate. Which one are you more apt to celebrate, St. Patrick’s Day, or the First Day of Spring, or both and why?

WEND: I celebrate St. Paddy’s day more cause of my Irish heritage, plus the food. Spring is nice, but its summer and fall I adore.


GRACEN: Because of it’s Irish heritage, St. Patrick’s Day is a big party day in Wisconsin (and many other areas) in which everyone gets in on the action from free pub crawl busses to breweries making green beer/spirits and some stores selling green colored/decorated food and sweets. Does anything similar occur in your area? Even if you do not participate, please tell us what activities are going on around you. Anything you feel is unique or especially interesting?

WEND: We have the same over here in Northern Idaho. The bars are the only establishments anymore who celebrate St. Patrick’s. Over the years people just don’t get in the spirit of the Irish like when I was a kid.


GRACEN: Do you like to decorate for spring/St. Pat’s Day or is this the time of the year where your house has a break from special décor?

WEND: My daughter and I still wear something green, in honor of the Emerald Isle, otherwise we cook and cook.


GRACEN: Ireland is steeped in myth, legends and lore. Do you have any favorites? Please briefly share them with us (include links to other information for interested readers).

WEND: My favorite is Halloween. Love it love it love it!!! The elements of donning another persona, to visit the dead, all intrigues me.


GRACEN: Spring is considered a time of renewal, a time of rebirth. Do you do anything “special” to commemorate this idea such as planting flowers or cleaning out your house? Please share with us your way of celebrating this time of rebirth.

WEND: I tear my house apart and deep clean, repaint, and plan for our garden. It’s like starting over for me.


GRACEN: Magic is often tied into Celtic myths and legends, or at least we like to think it is. Why do you think that is? Why, in your opinion, does Ireland carry so much mystery and magic for the rest of us?

WEND: Ireland is such a deeply emotional culture. Much is learned and passed on from generation to generation with pride and love. To me, there is no more powerful magic than family and love.


GRACEN: If you could be any mythical or legendary Celtic creature or character, what/who would it be and why?

WEND: The Dragon. Very important creature of the Celts. Representative of earth and water, the dragon was strength and immortality. I love the dragon so much I have 2 tattoos.


GRACEN: Please tell us some of the favorite/best books you’ve read with Celtic myths/legends or ties in them. (They can be fact or fiction, just be sure to indicate what type of books they are in case our readers might want to check them out.)

WEND: Honestly, I haven’t read one. As for best movie, I’d say High Spirits with Daryl Hannah and Peter o’ Toole.


GRACEN: Now, let’s get to your writing, Wend…What genre is your writing considered to be? Why this genre? What was the draw for you?

WEND: Typically I write Historical/fantasy. I love history and legends since I was a little girl. There is so much out there we can learn from our past. So much has been lost and I fear our future will pay the price if we don’t learn about how we came to be where we are.

Recently though, I have ventured out into vampire romance, blending history through the lives of my vampires. I find it fascinating to bring a vampire’s past to the present, to express how their decisions shaped their future and the people around them.


GRACEN: If you could describe your writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Please be creative and delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story.

WEND: Adventure. I believe stories need to be adventurous, exciting, and the happily ever after needs to be earned, not an ending. I love writing stories where my characters go through ups and downs, finding love along the way.


GRACEN: Do you prefer magical or human ingenuity for problem solutions? Does that show through in your writing? If so, how?

WEND: It depends on the story I am writing. But, mostly its human with aid--either magic or by their own hand.


GRACEN: Who decides what you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one strumming the harp?

WEND: Usually if I have a strong hero or heroine they take over, especially if they aren’t happy with where the story is going. My muse has been sleeping a lot lately and not a whole heck of a bit in helping me in my latest story. Maybe with spring around the corner my muse will kick in some ideas.


GRACEN: What was the character or creature that you had the most fun creating and why?

WEND: My vampire, Sin Dracula. That vamp had a mind of his own and sexy as hell, so I didn’t mind too much. The way his character flowed out onto paper was amazing and fun. I can’t wait until Damned by Sin is released this spring through New Concepts Publishing. Sin is definitely going to take people by surprise.


GRACEN: If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your character/creature creations in real life, who would it be and why?

WEND: I would love to meet the dragon I created in Water Witch. Her name is Melusine and is a cursed fairy queen. Very awesome dragon. Would love to fly.


GRACEN: Which of your character/creature creations would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

WEND: I would never want to meet my villain from Damned by Sin. I think I went too far in creating such an evil vampiress as Angel Heart. She makes Hannibal Lector sweet.


GRACEN: Of all the stories you wrote, which was the storyline that you had the most fun fleshing out? Why?

WEND: Water Witch. I have dragons, elves, giants, fairies, demons, time-travel, knights in shining armor, and the great sword, Excalibur. I am having a lot of fun with this one! I let loose and went more fantasy than usual. This book is part of a trilogy. The next book takes place in Ancient Rome, leading to the third which is in the future.


GRACEN: As writers, inspiration comes from everywhere. What, specifically, inspired your latest story, the one we’re promoting here today?

WEND: I was cruising the internet when I stumbled upon an old legend about Melusine, the fairy cursed to be a serpent every seventh day. Very fascinating. It blossomed to several more stories.

BLURB:

How could one knee weakening kiss land Mariah Jordan in so much trouble with the most sexy, drop dead gorgeous man--or rather vampire—and drop her smack in the middle of a vampire war with her as the prize?

EXCERPT:

The wind rose with a fevered pitch and upon it rode the stench of pure Evil. The last time Mariah had encountered such a foul smell was the night she lost her husband. Terrified, she hurried to find the injured man before whatever she sensed did. Dense bushes made it difficult to keep up with the agile dogs. Winded from stumbling over wildly growing roots hidden under the fog, Mariah stopped to take a breather, holding her burning side. She grew alarmed as the fog increased. Mariah threw her hand over her eyes, blinded by its white brilliance. Entire body shaking from fear and the cold, she cried out when a hand latched onto her ankle, dragging her down to the unforgiving forest floor.

Hot, stinging tears rushed to her eyes as her knees slammed into the hard, rocky ground. Her flashlight centered on the dark figure before her, its mouth curled back in a savage snarl, exposing razor-sharp, luminescent teeth. Red eyes burning hot with rage suddenly blinked in surprise. Heavy shadows surrounding her attacker shifted, transforming into a darkly clothed man. His breath, harsh and jagged, blew bellows in the ice-cold air. Lowering the beam of light over his broad chest, she gasped, seeing his black, leather coat was ripped and gleamed wetly. Mariah smelt the metallic, sweet odor of blood blended with gunpowder. He was the one she had made contact with, and he was quickly bleeding to death. His breathtaking features were as white as the glowing mist swirling around them. Defeat shone in his coal-black eyes as he sagged back against the gnarled trunk of the pine tree behind him, warily watching her.

“I mean you no harm,” Mariah whispered to the silent man. “My name is Mariah, and I just want to help you.” Staring in amazement as Salish nudged him with her long muzzle, the man’s hard, flat mouth eased and lifted at the right corner, smiling faintly as he petted the pushy wolf. Bear had other more pressing concerns, his massive head tilted, listening to the sounds of the forest.

Startled, Mariah heard another man’s voice inside her mind. Mariah? Oh, Mariah, where are you? Do not fear me, I need you. The words spoken were crisp, elegant. Evil. Frightened by the malevolence radiating from the newcomer’s powerful mind, Mariah instinctively produced pictures of a dark void, deflecting the unsubtle request for her location.

How did he know her name?

Oh, no! I’m in as much danger as the man beside me, Mariah realized, panicking.

A branch snapped nearby. Her companion’s hand snaked out to grab her by the arm and yanked her into the hard shelter of his much larger frame. A snarl curled her companion’s cruel, sensual mouth. Sharp fangs lengthened dangerously. Mariah gasped, scrambling out of his embrace and knew without a doubt she sat in the presence of a real vampire. He grabbed her flashlight and switched it off. A soft curse alerted them to the fact that they weren’t alone.

“I know the son of a bitch ran this way,” a man whispered nervously to his comrade.

“How do you know? I can’t even see my feet with this damn fog!”

“Quit yer bitchin’! You know vampires can summon the elements. Let’s try going up the mountain,” the first one snapped.

Trembling from terror and the mind-numbing cold, she jumped when the vampire reached for her arm again. She tried to fight him, but he shook his head and pressed a finger to his mouth, silencing her. Reluctant to be close to a real vampire, she saw the tremors he could no longer repress. Mariah scooted over to him and leaned against him, offering what warmth she could. When he drew her into the shelter of his arms, she was surprised when he gently rubbed her arms, to get feeling flowing through her own frozen limbs. Mariah felt small and defenseless compared to him, unsure of his motives. Freaked that his hot, sticky blood was soaking through the back of her coat and the fact a real vampire was holding her, she turned to her dogs. They remained strangely quiet as they lay, watching the woods. From the heavy loss of blood he suffered, she knew he was weakening, needing to replenish what continued to leak out of his untended wounds.

Wary, Mariah looked up at the vampire. The hunters would eventually backtrack when they failed to find their prey. Her only hope for survival was the vampire, and he was in dire need of blood. And she knew just how he could get what he so desperately needed--hers.

What if this was to be her last night? Sad, Mariah realized it had been years since she was kissed or had made love, or been in love for that fact. Looking up at the handsome visage of the vampire, she thought, what the hell, I’ve got nothing to lose.

“Stranger, we have a dilemma. I can’t carry you back to my cabin, but you can get us there safely.” Swallowing hard, she continued, “I will give you my blood ... for a price.” The vampire’s dark, fathomless eyes widened.

“What do you want?” the vampire demanded suspiciously.

Before Mariah lost her nerve, she whispered, “a kiss.”



ONE LINER—Lady Thief:

Can a man rumored to possess no soul love a woman outlaw who is determined to bring down a would-be king?

BLURB—Lady Thief:

Lady Thief more than meets her match when the Butcher of Acre takes command of Castle Sanctuary. Despite her misgivings, Eiry realizes too late Lucian is the only man who stirs her heart and makes her yearn for his touch. Can she trust a man rumored to possess no soul? Will her courage and love save him from his own personal hell and help him become the hero she sees in him?

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