A Demon Does It Better
Linda Wisdom
Sourcebooks
An excerpt from Linda's latest in her hexy demon series:
Cleo sneezed as Lili stepped inside the Shop of Scents.
“My allergies,” she complained.
“Then don’t breathe.” The witch had no sympathy as she examined the
many-colored bottles, some labeled, others a mystery.
“You wish something special?” The silver-haired woman at the counter
greeted her with a broad smile. “Fragrance to tempt your lover? Something to
give you luck perhaps?” Her pale eyes peered at her closely. “Ah, you are the
healer. Something soothing, then?”
Lili picked up a bottle and pulled the stopper out. She smelled
spring flowers and fresh greenery. Another bottle yielded a winter of sharp ice
while the third had her thinking of an ancient bazaar of spices and heat.
“You have not been here in many years,” the crone named Sameka said.
“You chose a scent that was light and carefree.” She gestured toward a delicate
pink glass bottle. “No longer is it you. You require a fragrance that holds a
hint of darkness and mystery.” She held up a finger. “Wait here.” She moved
with the ease of someone much younger—Lili gauged her years to be past nine
hundred. She parted the amethyst silk curtains and disappeared into the back of
the shop. She returned a moment later carrying a gilt-trimmed bottle that
looked as if it had been owned by royalty. She set it on the counter and
carefully eased the stopper out.
Lili didn’t need to lift the bottle to inhale the contents. They
lifted their way to her. Images of silk, moans in a dark night, and a
sensuality that warmed her bones were only parts of what she sensed in the
perfume oil. She feared to ask the price. She only had to look at the
shopkeeper to know it was very old and very rare.
“This is truly what you are now, and even more so as each day
passes,” the old woman told her with a knowing smile.
“Huh. She must see something we don’t,” Cleo muttered.
“Quiet, you.” She wanted to try it on her skin. There were no
worries it wouldn’t smell right with her personal chemistry. Sameka never
forgot a customer or what suited them.
“Try it.” The male voice near her ear was as intoxicating as the
perfume.
She looked up to see her mystery man standing next to her. Dark
hair, eyes that rivaled a cobalt ring she had, and so good-looking her senses
immediately kicked into overdrive.
He picked up the bottle and carefully tipped it against his
fingertip. Turning toward her, he gently traced a path down her throat, then
repeated the touch on each wrist. The oil turned to liquid heat, creating
thoughts of wearing the perfume and nothing else.
Lili couldn’t keep her eyes off his hands. Strong, capable, yet
gentle. She was positive they would feel the same everywhere else on her.
Get
your mind back where it belongs!
Easier said than done.
He lifted her hand, palm up, and bent down to sniff her wrist. His
breath drifted over the surface. When he lifted his head, his eyes blazed a
vivid blue.
“She’s right,” he murmured. “This is meant for you.”
“Oh my,” Cleo said in a hushed whisper.
Lili silently repeated the words, not even realizing that little
stunned the jaded cat. For a moment she forgot they had an avid audience.
“I shall wrap it up.” The crone swept the bottle away and soon had
it nestled in a velvet covered box.
The witch didn’t wince at the high price.
“Who are you?” she asked the man.
“Someone who knows what scent a woman should wear,” the crone
cackled.
He lifted Lili’s hand and pressed a light kiss in the center of her
palm. She felt the burn of his lips all the way to her core.
Linda's backstory:
Linda Wisdom was born and raised in Huntington Beach, California. She majored in Journalism in college then switched her major to Fashion Merchandising when she was told there was no future for her in fiction writing. She held a variety of positions ranging from retail sales to executive secretary in advertising and working for a personnel agency.
Her career began when she sold her first two novels to Silhouette Romance on her wedding anniversary in 1979. Since then she has sold more than eighty novels and one novella to six publishers. Her books have appeared on various romance and mass market bestseller lists and nominated and winning a number of Romantic Times awards and two-time Romance Writers of America Rita Award finalist.
She lives with her husband, Barney, spoiled white mini Schnauzer, Katie, a white mini Schnauzer/poodle mix, Syd, an equally spoiled parrot and Florence, her tortoise with attitude in Southern California.
A number of Linda’s backlist books, including her Hex paranormal series, has been optioned for film and television.
Interview with a very hexy writer.
Jillian: What’s your favorite “love” word?
Linda: Adore. There’s something romantic about the word.
Jillian: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Linda: The Nightingale. A very sad story with the Chinese emperor wanting to keep the bird basically a prisoner but it always stuck with me.
Jillian: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?
Linda: I listened to a variety of songs. Season of the Witch and lots of Celtic music.
Jillian: What sound or noise do you love?
Linda: My dogs with their happy sounds
Jillian: Describe your favorite kind of hero to read/write?
Linda: A man who’s totally fearless, a wild streak and looks for a woman who can handle him.
Jillian: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Linda: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Jillian: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?
Linda: They need to remember that a book a day keeps the frownies away.
Jillian: Which of your characters would you most/least like to invite to dinner, and why?
Linda: Most? Jazz. What fun would she be? Least? Foulshadow from 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover and easy to guess why!
Linda has some exciting publishing news!
Jillian: I understand you have some exciting news for your fans involving new releases, please share with us!
Linda: I do! Other than A Demon Does It Better out now I have my backlist books coming out in digital form. I have some up already and more coming. They can be found at Amazon, BN and Smashwords plus at www.joyridebooks.com I enjoyed writing these books and it’s wonderful to see them have a new life. We’re still putting up the new covers.
Linda has a question she'd like to ask our readers: Would you be willing to live in a magickal world for the day and if so, why? I’ll be giving away a signed copy of A Demon Does It Better along with some witchy goodies.
To follow, friend, and like Linda and her hexy demons:
www.lindawisdom.com,
www.facebook.com/lindawisdom,
www.twitter.com/lindawisdom, http://linda-wisdom.blogspot.com, www.joyridebooks.com
