Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Author Interview - A Place of Magic by Merrie Destefano #ReleaseDayBlitz #UrbanFantasy

-What’s your one line pitch or teaser for the book? Grab a reader’s attention with one line.

Dangerous, shape-shifting Fae live in the woods and their hunger can’t be denied.

But Maddie has to be here.

She has an unquenchable hunger of her own.

Tell readers a little about your main character or characters?

Maddie MacFaddin is a down-on-her-luck writer, desperate for inspiration and to regain the life she lost when her best friend stole Maddie’s husband.

Ash is Darkling fae, a shape-shifting creature that lives on human dreams. He’s trapped in Ticonderoga Falls by a century-old curse and is required to host a Darkling Hunt every Halloween.

There’s a problem with this year’s hunt.

Sometimes humans die during the Hunt. And the out-of-town fae have chosen Maddie as their prey.

Where do you like to write? Do you have an office or writing nook?

I wish I had an office! Since I don’t, I write in one of three places. At my desk, which is in the bedroom. On the sofa with my laptop. Or at a local coffee shop.

What is one of your best marketing tips for other authors?

It takes a village. Marketing your work is time consuming and very few authors have a platform large enough to reach all of their potential readers. It’s important to find other authors and readers who are willing to share information about your projects. There are also paid newsletters and advertising opportunities and blog tours like this one. In the end, there are so many ways to reach your readers, but it’s really hard to do it all on your own.

What websites or tools have you found that offer the best results?

I love BookBrush! It’s great for making custom promotional graphics. I also really like Vellum—I use it to format my digital books and the interior pages of my print books.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Don’t give up. Work hard to improve your craft. Make friends with other aspiring authors along the way—they are the ones that will be beside you throughout your career. Agents and editors may come and go, but your friendships can last a lifetime. Also, if any writers are interested, I have a free writing book, WRITING TIPS. It’s available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, or you can visit my website (www.merriedestefano.com) for a link.


A Place of Magic
Merrie Destefano

Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy
Publisher: Ruby Slipper Press
Date of Publication: October 12, 2021
ASIN:B09FNSVKZJ
Number of pages:320
Word Count: 73,000
Cover Artist: Elona Bezooshko, 
Psycat Digital Ink and Motion

Book Description:

Halloween is the wrong time to visit Ticonderoga Falls.
Dangerous monsters hunt in the nearby woods.

The Prey...

Maddie MacFaddin.
For her, the nearby forest holds many memories, some joyous, some forgotten. But she has no recollection of Ash, the dark, magnificent creature who saved her life as a child, or that his kind preys upon humanity.

The Monster...

Ash, a Darkling fae.
Trapped in Ticonderoga Falls for a century, he’s required to host a Hunt once a year. Then, hungry, shapeshifting faeries will descend upon the villagers and harvest their dreams.

The Hunt...

There are rules about harvesting humans; the poor creatures are so delicate. If you take too much, they’ll die. Without dreams, they perish. And perish they do—now and then—despite Ash's efforts to keep them safe. Then he realizes Maddie is the prey his unwanted guests are after. But, try as he might, this time he’s not strong enough to protect her. The entire village is in danger.

Soon the Hunt will begin. And no one will be safe.

Amazon

Excerpt:

He nodded, head lowered. Then he lifted his gaze until he was staring into her eyes. One hand rested on her shoulder. “I won’t tell anyone your secret, Elspeth. You’re safe with me.”

Then he leaned closer, his scent overwhelming, his thoughts like the wind through the leaves, a wild rushing, his skin like the embrace of the forest. His lips touched hers and she could hear his heart beating. She slid her arms around his waist, leaning into the kiss, suddenly wanting more. She wanted to cast an enchantment, to lead him into sleep, to harvest his dreams. Wanted to walk into a dream with him, to see the hidden world on the other side of his eyelids. Wanted to know everything about him.

The kiss had only just begun and already she wanted another.

His arms were around her then, and the winter chill disappeared. In its place, fire crackled through her limbs, from her fingertips to her feet.

She could see it then, the world inside him. Tender and gentle as a spring morning, the shadows of night lingering at the edge of the wood, a handful of stars scattered across a pale sky.

She never knew that humans could be filled with so much magic.

It was her first Hunt and she had chosen her prey wisely.



About the Author:

Multiple-award-winning author Merrie Destefano writes lyrical tales of magic, mystery, and hope. Her traditional books have been published by HarperCollins, Entangled Teen, and Walter Foster, while her indie imprint is Ruby Slippers Press. Her novels have won awards in both the science fiction and fantasy categories.

She worked for Focus on the Family, The Word For Today, Engaged Media, and PJS Publications, and her magazine experience includes editor of Victorian Homes magazine, Zombies magazine, Haunted: Mysteries And Legends magazine, American Farmhouse Style magazine, Vintage Gardens magazine and founding editor of Cottages and Bungalows magazine. Her co-authored art books include How To Draw Vampires, How To Draw Zombies, and How to Draw Grimm’s Dark Fairy Tales. Her edited books include The Man God Uses by Chuck Smith, Oil Pastel Step-By-Step by Nathan Rohlander, and The Art of Drawing Fantasy Characters by Jacob Glaser.

Born in the Midwest, Merrie now lives in Southern California, where she runs on caffeine, and shares her home with rescue dogs and cats. And although she dearly loves science fiction, in her heart of hearts, she still doesn’t believe airplanes should be able to fly.

WEBSITE: http://www.merriedestefano.com/

BLOG: http://merriedestefano.blog/

NEWSLETTER: http://www.merriedestefano.com/newsletter1.html

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/merriedestefano/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MerrieDestefano

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Merrie-Destefano-127750623906184/

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/merrie-destefano

AUDIOBOOKS: https://www.audible.com/author/Merrie-Destefano/B0048L6NYO



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