Monday, January 31, 2022

Interview - The Cross of Ciaran by Andrea Matthews #timetravelromance #celticromance #paranormalromance


Tell readers a little about your main character or characters?

Ciarán is a fifth century pagan priest, but when he turns to Christianity and takes a wife, he breaks a sacred precept of his sect and betrays the goddess. This gets him entombed alive for all eternity . . . or so they think.

He’s a handsome Celt of about 29 years of age with black hair and dazzling cerulean blue eyes that darken to almost black at the edge of his pupils. He’s curious and not afraid of pushing the envelope to get to the truth, but this makes him seem rebellious and careless to some. He has a big heart and would die for those he loves, but he can also be impulsive and reckless at times.

Caitlin O’Connell is a plucky auburn-haired archaeologist with emerald green eyes that darken when she’s angry or suspicious. She’s had to fight her way to the top in a man’s world and has no use for those who don’t see the value in history. She can appear aloof and cold at times, but those that know her soon find out she is a strong, passionate woman who will defend her friends and her principles at all cost.

 

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

On my couch, with my laptop usually, but I’ve been known to write anywhere, even at my desk from time to time.

 

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

Word of mouth is a tremendous way to get your book out there, and a great first step in marketing. Spread the word that your book is out. Tell friends and familyand ask them to tell their friends. You’ll need to supplement it with other things like a website and blog tours, but it’s an excellent place to start.

 

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

I found some blog tour sites that are great for garnering reviews and getting my books out there. This is the first time I’ve used Bewitching Book Tours as its just come to my attention, but I’ve had great results with Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Silver Dagger Book Tours, Love Books Group, The Coffee Pot Book Club and Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. I use them on a rotating basis and always like to have at least one tour running a month. I also have a few promotional sites that will give a quick shot-in-the-arm results for sales. E-Reader Café, Book Cave, Red Roses Romance, and Hidden Gems are a few that seem to work the best for me, but you’ll have to find what clicks for you. I’ve found what works for one author doesn’t always work for another.

I also find new readers through my own website, which I try to keep up-to-date with new information about the books and announcements about sales and give-aways. I post short articles dealing with different aspects of my books, like Celtic mythology and tree lore, and try to add new ones on a regular basis. I also have a mailing list on the website so I can keep readers apprised of new releases, sales and giveaways, and try to send out an email once or twice a month. I also use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to supplement my website and drive interest in that direction. The key is getting your name out there.

 

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Keep at it and don’t give up. Do it, first and foremost, for the love of the craft and the story. If you’re not in love with your characters and their tales, your readers probably won’t be either.

The Cross of Ciaran
The Cross of Ciaran Series 
Book One
Andrea Matthews

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Inez M. Foster  
Date of Publication: June 18, 2020
ISBN:  978-1-7333375-1-9
ASIN:  B08BJ1QRGM
Number of pages: 362
Cover Artist: Jenny Quinlan 

Tagline:  Can a fifth century pagan priest find love with a twentieth century archaeologist or will his secrets shatter their future together?

Book Description: 

When a fifth century pagan priest is unearthed in Ireland fifteen hundred years after being entombed, archaeologist Caitlin O’Connell is convinced it’s the find of the century. The body is in perfect condition, right down to the intricate tattoos adorning the Celt’s skin. In fact, if scientific data hadn’t proved otherwise, she would swear he hadn’t been interred more than a few hours.

Eager to discover more about the mysterious Celt, Caitlin accompanies the body back to the New York museum where she’s employed, but before she has time to study him, the priest disappears without a trace. Rumors surrounding the event begin to circulate and result in the excavation’s benefactor pulling the plug on the entire expedition.

The rumors are not far off the mark though. After being buried alive for betraying his goddess and his priesthood in the dawning age of Christianity, Ciarán wakes to a strange new world. Alone and frightened in an unforgiving city, he stumbles upon the only thing familiar to him and seeks sanctuary within the church walls. With the help of the parish’s pastor, Father Mike, Ciarán slowly grows accustomed to his surroundings, though he’s plagued by dark dreams and the disturbing sensation that an evil from his past has followed him into the future. But a more immediate danger lurks on his doorstep.

Caitlin is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery concerning her missing Celt, and when she meets her Uncle Mike’s new handyman, Ciarán Donnelly, she’s convinced the handsome Irishman knows more about the theft than he’s letting on. Yet, even she can’t deny the attraction between them, simmering below the surface and blurring the lines between her personal and professional life. But will Ciarán’s secrets draw them together or shatter their future forever?


Excerpt:

 Ciarán stumbled along beneath the twisted canopy of blackthorn shrubs, their prickly branches entwining with those of the hawthorn to form a mystical passageway. Though only a dim grey light pierced its knotwork, intermittent flashes of lightning broke through the tangled vines to sketch eerie patterns across the moss-covered path. His robe caught on the spiny bramble, and he stopped for a moment to free his sleeve, but a sharp shove from behind thrust him forward once more, the sudden movement ripping a jagged hole in his fine linen robe.

His temper flared, and he turned to object, though it did no good. Another quick jab to his shoulder spun him back around and thrust him out into the lakeside clearing. Slender stone columns stood in a semi-circle around its perimeter, each one facing the sacrificial altar. He rested his hand against the one to his side, steadying himself as the reality of the situation washed over him in a wave of nausea. There would be no escape.    

As if in agreement, a bolt of lightning ripped across the horizon, followed by a crash of thunder so loud it caused the breath to catch in his throat. The goddess was angry.  

Out of nowhere, thick grey clouds had formed to conceal the morning sun and cast ominous shadows over the secluded enclosure. The urge to fall prostrate before his goddess mother gripped his innards, tearing at his stomach with a fiery knife, but he could not find it within his heart to do so. A black-robed cleric propelled him further into the temple confines, forcing him to his knees beside another of the slender gray columns. The decision to kneel had been made for him, though it was an empty gesture on his part.

Trying to retain his composure, he gazed around the quiet glade. Towering thorn bushes encircled the clearing, concealing the sanctuary from the outside world and providing a perfect setting for worshipping the goddess of their tuath. The bile rose in his throat, for he knew the requirements for admission all too well. Entry to its sacred confines was only granted to those within the priesthood and those about to die.  

About the Author:

Andrea Matthews is the pseudonym for Inez Foster, a historian and librarian who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogical speaking. She has a BA in History, an MLS in Library Science, and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. She is the author of the Thunder on the Moor series set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Border, and the Cross of Ciaran series, where a fifteen-hundred-year old Celt finds himself in the twentieth century. Andrea is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Long Island Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.












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