Wednesday, October 14, 2009

IMHO Welcomes Debut Author Jessa Slade!


Jessa Slade estimates that her journey to “The Call” took almost a hundred rejections over more than a decade on nearly a million final draft words, rounded to the nearest heartache.

Her debut urban fantasy romance Seduced by Shadows, Book 1 of The Marked Souls, was called “[a] rich crossover urban fantasy” by Publishers Weekly and “wonderfully addictive” by NYT bestselling author Gena Showalter. Tragically, her grandmother’s good friend called it “the trashiest thing I’ve ever read.” Which is so not true, Jessa insists.

Personally, she is afraid of failure, rattlesnakes (but not other snakes), and squishy textured foods like tapioca. IMHO intends to introduce her to bread pudding, just to see how she reacts. She has no plans, by the way, to get over any of those fears. If you are interested in stalking her, Jessa makes it simple. She can be found online at Facebook, Twitter, and other places like MySpace, Goodreads and her weekly group blog with links available at her website.


Jessa will put a copy of her debut novel, Seduced by Shadows, in the “Love is Scary!” tote bag . . . and in fact, has offered to provide two copies, so each of our lucky winners will receive one! Yeah, Jessa!
 
The war between good and evil has raged for millennia, but now evil is winning, and The Marked Souls are caught in the middle…
After an accident left her near death, Sera Littlejohn is struggling to piece her life together again. But when a violet-eyed stranger reveals a supernatural battle veiled in the shadows, Sera is tempted to the edge of madness by a dangerous desire.

Ferris Archer takes Sera under his wing now that she is talyan, possessed by a repentant demon with hellish powers. Archer and his league of warriors have long risked their demon-shattered souls to stop darker spirits from wreaking havoc. But they’ve never fought beside a female talya before, and never in all his centuries has Archer found a woman who captivates him like Sera.

With the balance shifting between good and evil, passion and possession, Sera and Archer must defy the darkness and dare to embrace a love that will mark them forever…

IMHO: So, Jessa, I have to say I love your tagline for this series:

Love conquers all... Which explains the scars.

Too cool. And who among us doesn’t have a few love scars to boast of, right? I’m betting your hero, Archer, has plenty. Tell us more.

JS: Thanks, TJ. Yes, Ferris Archer has had a rough immortal life. He inadvertently sold his soul to a devil—well, actually a repentant demon, but the resultant damnation is the same. To earn his way back into grace, he must work with the demon inside him, destroying the decidedly non-repentant forces of evil skulking through our oblivious world. With a massive battle axe and a fierce dedication bordering on suicidal, he risks his life and his soul to confront the malice which are small, clever, incorporeal demons that freeze the spirit, and the hulking ferales formed of demonic ethers and bits of earthly carcasses.

Those monstrosities are nothing to him. But Archer has one little fear: He’s afraid to love.

Oh, he manages to get through a century without actually facing his fear. The cadre of demon-possessed warriors like him—called talyan—are all male (a hopelessly ragtag band of alpha bad boys if ever there was one) and the endless nights of battle cut into dating hours anyway.

Until the first female talya appears.

Sera Littlejohn had no idea this underground world of fighters defending the souls of the city even existed until a wayward demon came to her and yet she’s a threat to Archer unlike any he’s known. Because he has already sacrificed his life and soul. Now he’s losing his heart.

How can love be so terrifying, especially to a man who fights demons? Because love requires us to make ourselves vulnerable, to open ourselves, to let someone in. Other feelings might be outwardly directed, but love demands a level of internal exposure that goes against every offensive and defensive technique Archer practices. He can’t call on his demon’s quickness or strength to protect him and its healing powers can’t fix a broken heart. Worse, love comes to him like the demon did—with promises too good to be true.

Sera’s compassion forces him to remember all that he has lost. Her warmth brings his chilled emotions painfully to life. Even her less sterling qualities force him to make a place for her, like when her impossible resolution to stop a malevolent rogue demon puts her in harm’s way and only Archer can save her. Because of her, his self-imposed immunity to pain, fear and desolation—hard won with each demon slain—is in danger.

Ah, but if there’s one thing Archer isn’t afraid of, it’s danger.

So bring it on, love. Suddenly you don’t seem so scary after all.

IMHO: Hmmm, dangerous love can be so very interesting, can it not? Okay, IMHO readers, for a chance to win Jessa’s book, one of my historical romances, and at least one other guest host’s book, along with a $20 gift certificate to Amazon.com, tell Jessa about your favorite Halloween costume ever. Remeber, you can always find my contest rules on my website's contest page.

 TJB

39 comments:

Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews said...

Great interview and I love the cover!

One of my favorite Halloween costumes was when I dressed as Cleopatra. I had the crown that shown like gold with jewelry sparkling with a gold colored gown.

It made me feel sexy since I usually don't dress up!

Alicia0385 said...

I went as a bumble bee a few years ago. I had wings and a stinger. It was such a fun costume.

I just finished Seduced by Shadows about five mins ago and it was wonderful. Thanks for the great read.

Joan said...

It has been too many years for me to remember any halloween costumes I ever wore.I haven't read your book yet. Happy Halloween.

jcp said...

I usually dressed as a hobo.

Jessa Slade said...

First thing in the morning, and we already have a great range of costumes, from Raz's queen to jcp's hobo.

Alicia, I'm so glad you liked Archer's story. Never mind love being scary; knowing my soul... er, my BOOK is out there for anyone to judge is terrifying.

Happy Halloween, Joan! If you don't have a favorite costume, you can always tell us your favorite candy :)

Jamie said...

When I was about 9, there was this halloween costume that looked kinda like a large,plastic spider (orange) for you head and plastic smock to cover your body. I have no idea what it was, but I'm sure that my parents waited till Halloween day to buy it and it was probably all that was left.
I can't say that it was my favorite costume, but it was my most memorable.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, babe. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. All posted at Win a Book for you.

Margay Leah Justice said...

Well, my mother is a seamstress., so we always had great costumes - not just for Halloween, but for dance recitals, too. But I think the most memorable was the pumpkin costume I wore as a child. What made it so wonderful is that it had to be stuffed with pillows to get the shape and, coming from Massachusetts, those October nights can be quite cold, so I loved that costume!

Margay

TJ Bennett said...

I actually have a picture of my favorite costume. I've posted it on Twitter if you are a member there. twitter.com/TJBennettauthor

TJB

Anthea Lawson said...

Fun interview, Jessa! I'm so bummed you sold out of your book before I could snag one at the signing~ It sounds like a fabulous read.

Favorite Halloween costume - a ninja, and nobody recognized me. Plus, I had a couple swords and I was SCARY! lol

Chris said...

My favorite costume is my pirate costume - not put together by anyone else! I have a brocade jacket, awesome boots, and a ruffly shirt and gaucho pants later, voila, pirate!

danunepthys(at)hotmail(dot)com

The Scarf Princess said...

Your book sounds great Jessa! I have it on my wishlist. And I gree with you about rattlesnakes--eek!

My favorite costume was one my nephew wore as a 2-year-old. My sister had sewn a grizzly bear costume using black and brown fuzzy fabric. The fabric was super soft and cuddly and he was adorable.

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

Carol M said...

One year I wore an bridesmaid dress that belonged to my mom. She wore it in her sister's wedding. I loved that dress! I felt like a princess!
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

Stacy, costumes were just an excuse to hit up the neighbors for candy anyway. And plastic keeps the rain off. It ALWAYS rains on me for Halloween.

Margay, smart choice on the weather protection costume. I dressed up as a belly dancer one year. Navel frost is not cute.

Anthea, I'm glad I snagged your book before it's available anywhere else. Yes, everyone, I'm doing the na-na dance :)

Unknown said...

Chris, I especially like costumes where the pieces -- when worn individually -- serve for real-life clothes. Then it's like you're a little bit pirate every day :)

Joder, all I can say is awww. Two-year-old grizzly boys are definitely cute. Harder to steal the candy when the grizzly grows up, however.

Carol, the princess costume is always good. I've been seeing more Goth princesses too which is an interesting evolution. Pretty & punk is a cool combo, I think.

Jessa Slade said...

Oops, I signed onto those last two comments under my work account. Don't tell my boss!!!

Oh wait, I'm tragically self employed :) Well, don't tell my clients!

Shelley Munro said...

Congratulations on your debut release. It sounds like an awesome story and I love your tagline. It's the sort of tagline I wish I had thought of. :)

We don't have Halloween down here in New Zealand so I've never dressed up, but if I did I like I'd go for something on the paranormal side. Maybe I could dress as an imp. There are some (my husband) who think I'm an imp already!

mrsshukra said...

Congrats, Jessa!!!!

Focused too much on costumes for kids, never really dressed up for Halloween!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jane said...

Hi Jessa,
Congrats on your debut release. I loved my Wonder Woman costume that I wore to an elementary school Halloween party.

Jessa Slade said...

Shelley, just go buy bags and bags of candy and eat it all yourself. That's pretty much Halloween :)

Delilah, the focus on kids for Halloween -- with their preference for milk chocolate -- has meant not enough dark chocolate on sale in October. We adults should rise up and demand that Dagoba and Rapunzel make Halloween candy. Just a thought.

Anonymous said...

I was a deviled egg one year - white/yellow felt egg looking body and red horns/tail and a pitchfork. Loved the play on words.

Jessa, I love the cover on your new book!
Stephenia
Quilter892ataoldotcom

Barbara E. said...

I can't remember any costumes I wore either, I just remember dragging my mom all over town trick or treating. I remember some of my son's costumes, only because we took pictures :o)
Seduced by Shadows sounds like my kind of story, I look forward to reading it.

Karen W. said...

I'm not a big "dresser upper," but one year I got made up as a cat. My aunt did my makeup, and it looked pretty cool. :)

SEDUCED BY SHADOWS sounds fantastic! Thanks for the contest!

Unknown said...

I dress my so as a vampire one year and he look awesome. As far as myself I haven't dressed since I was a kid. We had to dress in what ever old close we could find. I know I went as a hobo one year and we live by the railroad tracks, also went as a baby when I was about 12. We didn't have the costume and makeup that they have now.

M. said...

Congratulations on your debut title. I loved the description of the journey to the Call. Encouraging, for those of us still mired somewhere along the way....

Fave costume? All three of my juniors participated in their first Halloween as a baby bee. Now I don't know in whose childhood treasure box to put it, for when they're all grown.

TJ Bennett said...

Thanks for all the lovely participation, folks. If you come late to the party, feel free to leave a comment here for a chance to win Jessa Slade's book and at least two others, as well as a $20 gift certificate to Amazon.com.

Thanks to Jessa for a wonderful post!

And come back next Wednesday as Roxanne St. Claire visits with us at IMHO!

I think I'm running out of exclamation points!!!

TJB

donnas said...

Great post!

Thanks Jessa for sharing. Your book looks great. Congrats on the release!

My favorite Halloween costume was a black cat, full makeup and all.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Carol L. said...

Hi Jessica and T.J.
Congrats on your book and the interview. My favorite costume was as Charlie Chaplin, my own mother and father and kids did not recognize me. It was great. :)
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the debut Jessica! And thanks for the contest TJ.

My favorite costume was a simple one - vampire! I just wore all black with a purple cape over it, I'd attached a border of very tasteful black bats to the cape. I'd also gotten cool fangs, wax that softened with hot water and then attached to your own teeth. A bit of pale makeup and blood red lipstick and I was vampin' it up all over the trick or treat circut! LOL

Happy Halloween!
Patrice

throuthehaze said...

When I was 6 I got to be Raphael from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Best.Costume.Ever. I was obsessed with TMNT back then and grateful my mom didn't try to force me into a princess costume.

throuthehaze at gmail dot com

CherylS22 said...

It's been ages since I've dressed up in a Halloween costume. The last costume for me was an angel with big cardboard wings - the worst costume ever!! I failed to remember that I was going to be in a crowd & I kept banging into people with my wings all night. Then, I couldn't sit down because the wings were too big - imagine the discomfort after a few beers.......

So, after that fiasco, I swore off Halloween costumes.

megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Jessa Slade said...

Stephenia, deviled egg is brilliant! And so appropriate for these paranormal times :)

Virginia, you're right about the way cooler makeup these days. The Halloween superstores should be year-round. There are days when I could use more fright wigs.

Cheryl, I went as a peacock not too many years ago. Full peacock tail and everything. And, yeah, knocking drinks out of people's hands got old quick.

Jessa Slade said...

Lol on the TMNT, Haze. I always liked the Zorro masks, myself.

Patrice, I've found most capes are improved by a tasteful border of bats :)

Barbara, the costumes were always just an excuse for the candy anyway. Once, in college, some friends and I dressed up as "literary fiction authors" and went hunting a reclusive poet we knew lived in the area. His light wasn't on and we left without even knocking. I can't even remember his name now.

Jessa Slade said...

I'm a fan of black cats too, like Karen & Donna: Simple & elegant. Just had to remember not to rub your nose and smear the grease paint.

And now that I think about it, Carol's Charlie Chaplin costume has sort of the same problem: Don't rub off your little mustache!

M, you could give the bee costume to the first grandchild!

Patricia Barraclough said...

Sounds like a good, suspenseful book.
Should be a good series. The different plot lines and world building that is going on in the paranormal genres has given us some very different situations.
Good luck with the rest of the series.

Patricia Barraclough said...

Forgot to mention my favorite Halloween costume. It is a toss up between My Mother Goose outfit and the spiderweb caftan with spider jewelry.

QLady48 said...

Nice interview!!! I haven't read your book but I will look into it now. My fav costume was Minnie Mouse. No one ever guessed it was me.I even had a rubber nose and black makeup. My own grandma wouldn't answer her door when she saw me!!! I tricked so many peeps, got so many crazy looks when I drove around to parties and bars. Most fun Halloweeen EVER!!! Thanks, Sue

CrystalGB said...

Seduced By Shadows sounds good. Love the cover.
My favorite costumes was Snow White.

Virginia C said...

Personally, I think being trashed by Granny's buddy is probably a very high recommendation!

Favorite costume: Batman!