Larissa's Testing Blog

Author Guest Blog & eBook Giveaway w/ Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy!

Hello dear readers!

Please help me welcome author, Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy to the blog tonight!

Don’t forget to check out her Giveaway at the end of her post!

Enjoy!

When I started to write Love Tattoo, I had just a few images in my mind. One was the notion that long distance over the road truck driving would be an excellent occupation for a vampire, an idea that occurred to me very late one night when I noticed that most of the other vehicles on the road were big rigs. Since most rigs have their own sleeper compartments, it seemed ideal – a vamp could pull over to sleep away the daylight hours anywhere.

Since I write romance, I knew that a vampire character would be nothing without a love interest and before long, the muse handed me a smart mouthed, sassy, but often sweet Texas gal named Cara Riley. Cara hails from the little town of Rusk in the East Texas piney woods, a place that I like enough to return again and again. There’s also an old personal and partially family connection to that part of the Lone Star State. As Cara began to develop in my head, the idea of just who this vampire would be began to swirl from vague thoughts into one man, Will Brennan.

Before long, I wrote that first scene where they meet at a lonely rest area along I-40 and Will seemed to spring from my imagination into creation. Will is Irish, a major part of my own heritage and something that I like in a male hero. He’s dark as both night and sin, perfect for a vampire but he’s sweet too. He exudes charm and sensuality while quoting Shakespeare and the occasional other poet and when he hears Cara – did I mention she’s a singer by trade – singing, she captures both his attention and his heart. When it came to setting, Memphis came to mind because I adore Memphis. It’s one of my favorite cities on earth because it has a unique personality. Memphis is also a place here a lot happens at night, again ideal for a vampire and his companion. I couldn’t think of a better location to prowl and play than Memphis so that’s where Will lives and that’s where they go to get better acquainted.

When I finished Love Tattoo, submitted it, received a contract, and went through edits, I thought that the story was complete, a sweet and sensual tale about two people falling in love and dealing with the paranormal element. I was wrong. Just after we completed the final edits, my Evernight Publishing editor, Caitlin Ray, suggested that there might be other tales for Cara to tell. At first I thought “no way” but it didn’t take long for me to spin another story about this couple that continues their story and then a third.

Love Scars is set to debut sometime in June and in it, Cara realizes that the path of true love never runs as smooth as anyone expects. To find and keep a happy ending, she and Will must fight against an evil presence from his past and to triumph, Cara must win but at the cost of at least one life. Who lives and who dies becomes up to Cara. After I finished it – and I can’t really say why in case I give away major spoilers for both Love Scars and the tentatively titled Love Knots – I knew that they must resolve an issue that arose near the end of Love Scars so I began a third volume with Will and Cara. I haven’t submitted it yet but I believe it will join the first two books as a continuation of their unique story. My books, both those out and those upcoming in both the near and distant future (nine so far), are available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and through the publishers websites.

Love Tattoo available at:

Amazon | Evernight Publishing | Barnes & Noble

Visit me at:

My Website

Giveaway button

I will giveaway an ebook of Love Tattoo to one of the readers who leave comments to tell me either why they read the book or why they want to read it.

If they already own Love Tattoo, I will happily give them Love Scars instead as long as they’re willing to wait until it’s released.