Tameri Etherton Interviews the Hero and Heroine of the Song of the Swords Series

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This is my second adventure on Get Lost in a Story and I’m thrilled to be back! I hope you don’t mind if a few characters from the Song of the Swords fantasy series crash the party. They promised to be good, but that’s always subjective with these two. ~Tameri


Tameri: For those that don’t know you, Taryn and Rhoane, can you tell us a little about yourselves?

Taryn: Well, I was raised on Earth without any knowledge of my true home world of Aelinae. When my guardian Brandt took me through the portal, I thought I’d lost my mind. But then I met Rhoane, and the others. I found out I had a family (some of whom are trying to kill me), and I learned I had this crazy power..

Tameri: We’ll get back to that power in a minute, but first, Rhoane, can you tell us a bit about you?

Rhoane: I am Eleri. Is there more you need to know?

Taryn: Tell them something interesting, like your favorite food.

Rhoane: Why do they wish to know my favorite food? Would they like to dine with us?

Taryn: Probably, but they aren’t actually here, so they can’t. It’s just a way for them to get to know you.

Rhoane: Then I shall tell them I enjoy pizza.

Taryn: I made him pizza once and now he asks for it all the time. Do you have any idea how long it takes to make pizza when you don’t have electricity? All day! But dang, it’s worth it. Now I really want pizza. Thanks a lot, Rhoane.

Rhoane: You are most welcome.

Tameri: Taryn, you don’t always get along with your family, but there has to be something cool about finding out you have siblings.

Taryn: Ha! Now that’s an understatement. I love my younger sisters. They’re intelligent, beautiful young ladies. And funny. They both have this sense of humor that I think most people don’t get. I wish I could hang out with them more, but there never seems to be enough time.

Tameri: Because you’re off saving the world, right?

Taryn: If only it were that easy. More like, I’m trying to not get myself killed.

Rhoane: There are many who wish Taryn harm. She makes it difficult to protect her.

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Tameri: She’s a mixed bag of trouble, isn’t she?

Rhoane: That is putting it mildly.

Tameri: Let’s lighten this up a bit. If the two of you had a day to do anything you wanted, what would you do?

Furious blushes creep across both their faces. I fan myself from the heat coming off them.

Tameri: Uh, never mind, *cough, cough*. New question. Cowboy hat, baseball cap, or tiara?

Taryn: Tiara. Since coming to Aelinae, I’ve garnered quite a collection.

Rhoane: What is a cowboy hat? What is baseball?

Taryn: Baby steps, Rhoane. You just learned about skiing and hockey.

Rhoane: And ice skating with metal blades.

Taryn: Yeah, and proper ice skating.

Tameri: What are you reading right now?

Rhoane: Prophecies.

Tameri: Beer, wine, or whisky?

Rhoane: Spiced grhom. It is delicious, have you tried any? (Hot Chocolate spiced with chiles)

Tameri: I have. Although, what we have here is nowhere near as good as yours.

Jillian:  I'd just like to chime in here––grhom is a version of our hot chocolate spiced with chiles.

Yum! When I lived in New Mexico it was a holiday season favorite!

Taryn: I’m partial to grhom, but love me a shot of dreem every now and then. It’s like whisky, but smoother.

Tameri: What’s your favorite word?

Taryn: Hope.

Rhoane: Honor.

Tameri: Least favorite word?

Rhoane: Betrayal.

Taryn: Hate.

Tameri: Favorite curse word?

Taryn: Can I say the F-word here?

Rhoane: Rykoto’s balls

Tameri: What’s something we might find surprising about you?

Rhoane: I am fascinated by showers. I tried Taryn’s in Paderau and want one in every palace across Aelinae.

Taryn: *giggling* I told you! Showers are awesome. Um, let’s see… I’m afraid of heights and I’m not real keen on boats, either.

Tameri: You’re afraid of heights? How does that work when you’re a darathi vorsi?

Taryn: I don’t think about it. I let the dragon take over and trust I won’t fall from the sky. Which, by the way, isn’t as easy a you’d think.

Tameri: A super hero afraid of heights. That’s brilliant.

Taryn: I’m NOT a super hero. Just a girl with enhanced power.

Tameri: Right. What was I thinking? What’s the coolest thing about having all that power?

Taryn: It’s really not as great as you think. Yes, I can fly and create something of nothing, but ShantiMari can also destroy just as easily. I try not to use it if I can. I prefer the strength of my sword.

Tameri: Anything else you want us to know?

Rhoane: Do not get comfortable. Everything that has happened so far, it is only going to get more, shall we say, interesting.

Tameri: Ohh, intriguing! Thanks again for coming today, Taryn and Rhoane. I hope the readers had fun getting to know you a little better.

About Book Two: THE TEMPLE OF ARDYN

It’s hard to save a world when your family is out to kill you…

Taryn banished the phantom, but someone, or something, is invading her thoughts. To escape the torture and bring balance to Aelinae, Taryn must do the one thing she fears most—unlock her Dark powers.

Rhoane swore an oath to protect Taryn, forsaking all others to keep her from harm, yet her independent spirit and lack of trust almost cost her life. Now, he’ll do what it takes to save the woman he loves from the Blackness growing inside her.

But there’s evil in this world, and it’s just as desperate for them to fail.

This is the second book in the Song of the Swords epic fantasy series about honor, family, and love—of what it takes to become someone you never thought you’d be and to find the strength to face your inner demons.

Get to Know the Author of the Song of Swords mSeries: 

Rocker of sparkly tiaras, friend of dragons, and lover of all things sexy, Tameri Etherton leaves a trail of glitter in her wake as she creates and conquers new worlds and the villains who inhabit them. When not masquerading as a mom and writer, rumor has it she travels to far off places, drinking tea and finding inspiration for her kickass heroines—and the rogues who steal their hearts—with her own Prince Charming by her side.

THE TEMPLE OF ARDYN Excerpt:

     Taryn shook her head and flexed her fingers, testing her flailing energy.
     “I want what everyone wants from you. Your power.”
     A blur of silver studded with sapphires plunged deep into her midsection, ripping skin and muscle. Taryn staggered to her feet, jerking the blade free. The pain drained what little strength she had left, but she kept moving forward, away from Marissa. Her sister sat on the sofa, laughing and calling taunts to her as she stumbled, disoriented.
     Rhoane, help me.
     Blood seeped from the wound, over her hand, to drip onto the thick carpets.
     Hayden.
     Her boots thudded on tile and she lunged for the door, her vision narrowing as she fumbled with the doorknob, her hands slick.
     Baehlon. Faelara.
     Finally, she managed to grasp it enough to yank open. Marissa’s laughter burrowed like a worm into her mind; confusion muddled her thoughts. Why, Marissa? But no answer came to her.
     Brandt, I need you. Please.
     She stumbled into the empty hallway, blinking at her surroundings.
     Sabina. Please hurry.
     The light from the wall sconces hurt her eyes and she turned away from the glare. Her rooms were at the far end of the palace, away from Marissa. She focused on setting one foot in front of the other, making slow progress. Stars teased the outer edges of her sight.
Kaida.
     The sound of footsteps approaching spurred Taryn to move faster. Marissa was coming to finish what she’d started. She had to get away from her sister.
     The last of her strength gave way and she collapsed, a discordant ringing in her ears the final thing she heard.

Question for Commenters: 

If you had a dragon of your very own, what would you name him/her? Commenters who leave their contact info will be included in the raffle for a print or ebook version of THE STONES OF KALDAAR, book one of Tameri Etherton's fabulous new fantasy series.

Contact Tameri:  Twitter: @TameriEtherton  Facebook: TameriEthertonAuthor
Website: A Cup of Tea and Sorcery

Get Lost in The Stones of Kaldaar with Tameri Etherton

Some say she’s the one of prophecy, that she’ll bring balance to the world. Others say she’s the destroyer, meant to bring an end to Aelinae. They’re both right.

Everything Taryn knew was a lie. Her life on Earth, the man she thought was her grandfather, even her age, were all fabrications meant to protect her, to keep her hidden until she could return to her home world. Once on Aelinae, Taryn realizes she has more to fear than the creeping darkness that threatens to suffocate her.

Unwilling to become a pawn in the machinations of her scheming family and the world she now calls home, Taryn sets out to learn about her mysterious powers. Reluctantly, she accepts the help of Rhoane, a man who promises to protect her, but whom she's not sure she can trust.

As tensions mount and her loved ones are threatened, Taryn must confront an ancient enemy and stop a sinister plan to bring back a banished god.

On Aelinae they say there can be no Light without Dark and no darkness without light. If Taryn fails, there will be only Blackness. Absolute. Binding. Without end.

Failure is simply not an option.  

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An Excerpt from The Stones of Kaldaar:

Even as she said the words, a memory drifted in her thoughts. She saw Rhoane as he was, young and handsome, with brown curls falling over his face as if he were bending over something. Fear edged his eyes. He whispered words in his mystical language and then kissed the pendant before placing it around her neck.

“You! You gave it to me.” She rubbed her forehead, trying to recall the details. “It was here, I think. In the cavern? Brandt was there.” She paused, letting the memory unfold. “And Nadra. We were in a hurry. You,” she met his eyes and saw in them the same lingering fear, “you were worried about us. About me.” It was as if the fragments of memory that haunted her as a child coalesced into coherence at last. “I remember you.”

Rhoane raised a hand toward her, but stopped midair before dropping it to his side. “Darennsai.” The word was nothing more than a whisper. “You were so young.”

Rocker of sparkly tiaras, friend of dragons, and lover of all things sexy, Tameri Etherton leaves a trail of glitter in her wake as she creates and conquers new worlds and the villains who inhabit them. When not masquerading as a mom and writer, rumor has it she travels to far off places, drinking tea and finding inspiration for her kickass heroines—and the rogues who steal their hearts—with her own Prince Charming by her side.

Jillian: How often to you get lost in a story?
Tameri: Everytime the story is so good that I don’t want to return to ‘the real world’. I’ve been known to ignore laundry, cooking, even my family when I get well and truly lost in a story. I have no regrets!

Jillian: What’s your favorite “love” word? 

Tameri: Hmmm, intriguing question. There are so many love words, but two that come to mind are ‘adore’ and ‘cherish’. Similar, yet different words that evoke a sense of fullness in my heart. My favorite word of all time is ‘hope’. Without hope, there is nothing.

Jillian: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

Tameri: The one that ends with a happily ever after.

Jillian: What turns you off like nothing else? 

Tameri: Hate. The world is too precious to waste on something so ugly and useless.

Jillian: Describe your favorite kind of hero to read/write? 

Tameri: I adore a good strong hero. Not necessarily an Alpha who rushes in to fix everything, but an intelligent and perhaps a bit aloof guy who will sit back and take stock of the situation before annihilating his enemy.

Jillian: What was the first story you remember writing? 

Tameri: It was this insane epic poem about these children who lived in a forest. I can’t find it now, but I remember thinking at the time that it was brilliant. I was 8. Everything at 8 is brilliant, right?

Jillian: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? 

Tameri: Tea! Usually black, but I like cream and honey with Earl Grey (and some madeleines). Loose leaf preferably, but right now I’m mad about Harney and Son’s Hot Cinnamon Spice. It’s so good.

Jillian: What color would you make the sky if it wasn’t going to be blue anymore and why?

Tameri: Pink and sparkly! 

Jillian: …with dragons, maybe? :)

Tameri has a question for readers: If you could have an animal companion, mythical or real, what would it be? She also has a great giveaway! A $10 Starbucks card or a print copy of her fantasy (winner’s choice), and an item of swag to mail to the winner. Leave email contact information with your comment to be included in the raffle.

Contact Tameri: E-mail:  TameriEtherton@gmail.com  Website: www.TameriEtherton.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TameriEtherton  

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

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.