Get Lost in a Story: Get Lost in a FANTASY with C.A. Szarek

For generations, the Ryhans, ruling family of the Province of Greenwald have been keepers of a sword rumored to possess enough magic to defeat kings. Lord Varthan, a former archduke and betrayer of the king, covets the sword and invades Greenwald.

Lady Ceralda Ryhan, daughter of the murdered duke, gains the sword and flees, trusting only her white wolf, Trikser—magically bonded to her. Cera needs nothing more to aid in her fight.

Jorrin Aldern, half elfin and half human, left his home in the mountains of Aramour to find his human father who disappeared twenty turns before, but finds Cera with Varthan and his shades on her tail instead. His dual heritage and empathic magic will tempt Cera in ways she never thought she’d desire. But can he convince her trust and love can pave the path to redemption or will the epic battle end in tragedy and evil conquer them all?

EXCERPT

Heart pounding and fists clenched, Cera sat in the Dragon's Lair's darkest corner. By choice the candle on the table was unlit. The bowl of stew half eaten, food the last thing on her mind.

The door to the tavern swung open. Her white wolf growled low and deep beside her. Cera glanced up, squinting in the sudden flood of sunlight. As the door slammed shut and her eyes adjusted to the renewed murkiness, she took in the newest arrival.

Then she focused on Trikser. She couldn't have him going for anyone's throat.

"Shhh, Trik, it's okay." She ran a hand through his fur, smoothing his hackles along the length of his spine. The big wolf looked up at her and licked her hand. One corner of her mouth lifted and she bit back a sigh.

The only reason the owner of the tavern, Marshek even let him in was because no one else was allowed to enter the Dragon's Lair if she was inside without him. No one according to Trikser, that is. He'd almost taken the hand off the last guy who'd tried.

"What'll ya have?" Marshek barked, revealing his instant dislike of the newcomer.

She fixed her eyes on the bartender. Then she took a closer look at the man sitting in front of him. His pointed ears betrayed his heritage, but his height suggested he was not of pure blood.

Marshek was known to be tolerant of elves but he hated what he called half-breeds. Cera could imagine what the grumpy, middled-aged tavern owner was thinking, and it wasn't friendly.

She rose, Trikser also immediately rising, awaiting her move. The white wolf was her bondmate and had been since he was young.

Relax, she thought-sent.

Trik sat, but his body was tight, tense. He didn't respond to her mental order.

Moving to the bar, her wolf followed, slinking close to the floor, moving in a slight crawl. His belly probably touched the filthy planked flooring of the tavern.

Cera made a face but forced a breath. Detached control. Sliding onto the stool next to the half-elfin man, she was just in time to hear his order. His voice was clear and deep. Marshek filled a mug with ale and started to put the jug in its place on the shelf.

"Wait, Mar," she said with a wave of her hand, "I'll have some of that, too."

With a curt nod, the older man poured her a mug. She brought it to her lips, glancing nonchalantly at the stranger. His coal black hair brushed the collar of his hooded gray cape, giving him a rather unkempt look, but rugged rather than messy.

Cera couldn't see the hue of his eyes from her seat but his high cheekbones made his profile appealing, his sleek tapered ears adding to the attraction. His powerful jaw line was clean shaven, an oddity in these parts. She could tell he was aware of her perusal. He was young, not much older than her, and had the stunning beauty of the elves.

His chest heaved as if he'd taken a breath, and he finally glanced at her. Blue. His eyes were a deep, sapphire blue. Her heart skipped a beat but she ignored it. The man said nothing, not that she'd expected him to.

I'M SO HAPPY TO INTRODUCE MY FRIEND...

C.A. is originally from Ohio (and makes some rich Buckeye Treats), but got to Texas as soon as she could. She is married and has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice.
She works with kids when she’s not writing.
She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.

Clover: You’re a hard working person, holding down two jobs while writing. One of your jobs is at an emergency shelter for teens. Do any of your experiences at the shelter find its way into your writing?

C.A.: Thank you. I work too much! Not as often as it would if I was consistently writing, let’s say, YA. But I suppose I got the idea for my romantic suspense series, a theme of human trafficking from some of the unfortunate real-life vics of it I have met at the shelter from time to time.

Clover: What’s your favorite kid joke?

C.A.: Where does the General keep his armies? Up his sleevies. Cheesy, but it makes me giggle.

Clover: How often to you get lost in a story?

C.A.: I get lost in a story as often as I can. I tend to binge read or write though. Where I will do nothing but write heavily (like when I’m on deadline) for a few months at a time and not read anything, then other times when I will eat up like 4 books a week. Usually when I read really heavily like that I don’t write much.

Clover: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

C.A.: Yes, I do. I think I need the background noise. I listen to rock.

Clover: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

C.A.: Jump up and down and scream. Then I usually obsess if it’s really “done” or not.

Clover’s GOTTA ASK: What three things are, at this moment, in your heroine’s satchel?

C.A.’S GOTTA ANSWER: A dagger, a piece of dried meat and magically infused kindling.

Contact: ca@caszarek.com

Website: http://www.caszarek.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caszarek

Twitter: @caszarek

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5815085.C_A_Szarek

Blogs: http://caszarekwriter.blogspot.com/

WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR YOU?

Collision Force (Crossing Force Book 1) from Total-E-Bound Publishing:

Pre-Order May 20, 2013
Pre-Release June 3, 2013
General Release July 1,2013

Ebook and Print!

Badboy, married to his job FBI agent Cole Lucas always gets his man. So when the unthinkable happens and one gets away, Cole grits his teeth and hunts human trafficker Carlo Maldonado all the way to Antioch, Texas, where he collides with Detective Andi MacLaren.

Cole doesn’t do small towns and he doesn’t get involved with women he works with, but Andi tempts him in ways he doesn’t want to acknowledge.

Two murders, her partner shot and leading the investigation on her own, the last thing Andi needs is a cocky FBI agent that sees her as no more than a tagalong.

Widow and single mother Andi is used to being on her own. When Cole gets stuck without a place to stay, crashing on her couch puts them in dangerous territory.

Attraction and passion bring Andi to a place she left behind when her husband died.

Her three-year-old son quickly wiggles his way into Cole’s heart, and he starts contemplating things—family, love—that he’d never planned for himself.

Can being forced to work together make them stronger or will their differences jeopardize their case and their hearts?