CK: Hello folks! Today, please welcome author Delilah Hunt! She says she's a newbie writer, but I don't bloody believe it! Where did you submit your first story?
DH: I submitted the Vampire’s Pet to a couple of different publishers but got nothing but rejections until the wonderful folks at Changeling Press decided to take a chance on a newbie.
Blurb:
For centuries the vampire Mikhail has hunted the Loup Garou, werewolf shifters. Ever present by his side, his faithful she-wolf Kassia, an unassuming pet... until the day he stumbles upon her secret.
A Loup Garou trapped inside her she-wolf body, Kassia suddenly finds herself in human form, complete with the trappings of being a werewolf in heat. Will Mikhail, the powerful leader, cast her aside or keep her to fullfill their each and every desire?
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Excerpt:
She lay on the stone floor, writhing in agony, her entire body burning in flames, the scorching heat centering in her lower belly. Unsure what to do, Kassia rocked back and forth, trying desperately to make the unfamiliar ache go away.
Sadly, her problem did not end there. She now had to deal with the human body that she had long since relinquished all hope of ever regaining. Ironically enough, this had to happen when she had finally begun to feel at ease by the vampire Mikhail's side. Luckily, the first time the transformation had occurred, it had been around midday. She had awoken to an unusually cold feeling even though she had fallen asleep on the thick blanket Mikhail had provided for her in front of the sizzling fireplace.
Intending to check on him, a daily ritual of hers, Kassia proceeded to rise up on her hind legs, but found it was difficult. Something felt different. She'd looked down, expecting to see the ebony fur she'd grown accustomed to, finding nothing but smooth, mahogany skin in its place. Her heart jolted with excitement and joy. And then the fear had settled in.
Maintaining her position on the floor, she'd craned her neck to gaze up at the sleeping male on the imposing fourteenth century four-poster bed. "Mikhail," she'd said, her voice ragged, cracking from years of disuse. Her vocal cords had produced a repertoire of barks, whimpers and yelps.
Naturally, he hadn't heard or answered her call while he slumbered. She'd lain back on the blanket, worrying. What would become of her when he found out? Worse, what if Rowan found out about her, that his suspicions of her being more than a mere wolf had been correct all along? The vampire would more than likely rip her apart at the first chance he got. But what would Mikhail do?
"The Loup Garou have always been a mistake, unfit to live among the creatures of this planet," she'd overheard him saying in deep conversation with a visiting vampire. She was a Loup Garou, and therefore she was included in Mikhail's plan of extinction. It was that memory that had prompted her to find a way to hide her true nature from him.
So far it had been easy. Each day while Mikhail slept and in the afternoons when he was preoccupied, she would sneak away to the hidden part of the castle she'd discovered by trailing after him. Inside this damp neglected room she would practice the seamless transformation from wolf to human until it became second nature to her. Shifting.
And so she had, making sure to return to her wolf form before Mikhail became suspicious of her hours away. Today had been different, however. All day long she had been aware of Mikhail, his scent, his voice, his powerful presence. Walking by his side earlier today, she'd wagged her tail insistently, wanting him to acknowledge her female presence. That had been impossible and confusing.
She'd fallen behind him, unnoticed, seeking refuge in this cold dark room, switching to her human form. Within minutes, she'd known something was wrong. Her skin became warmer than usual; a delicious itch crept between her thighs, the kind that no amount of squeezing her legs together could alleviate. There was no way she could return to Mikhail like this, no way she could shift back into her wolf form with these sensations coursing through her blood.
Curled up and naked on the floor, she gazed in distress at the door being pushed open. Kassia froze, held trapped by the piercing cobalt-blue eyes, her eyes wide with disbelief and shock. It all became too much. Scrambling to her feet, she wobbled over to him, her balance unsteady. "Mikhail." She locked her arms around his muscular frame.
He held her at arm's length, his eyes studying, searching. "Wolf?"
Kassia nodded, her coarse raven curls bouncing. "Kassia. Not Wolf." She had waited years to say those words.
"What is the meaning of this?" He backed away from her, his fangs receding into his gums.
She wrapped her arms around her middle and lifted her chin. "I would have told you. I swear it." She would have... eventually.
His eyelids lowered dangerously, matching his carefully meted out words. "You mean that my brother was correct. That you are one of them?"
CK: Mikhail is so damn sexy! * sigh * Vampire’s Pet! I read this book and I loved it! Can't see why anyone would reject it. The excerpt totally grabbed me! Please tell us how you came up with the idea for this intriguing story! Oh, and I need to say, looks like those publishers will regret not taking a chance on you. Just look at you now. You've made the top 10 over at All Romance Ebooks with Tempting Mr. Parker. I'm sure Vampire's Pet will follow. That's right, shout it from the rooftops!!!
DH: To be honest, most of my stories really just pop into my head from out of nowhere. No back story to it at all. Once I have the idea, I just let the characters take over and see what develops.
CK: What are your future goals?
DH: To write many more erotic I/R stories. I would like to focus more on contemporaries however as that is where my heart lies. Hopefully one day I will be able to write for a bigger publisher such as Harlequin in their Blaze line.
CK: Not hopefully, I know for a fact you will achieve that goal of writing for the big dogs of publishing. Now, what are your hobbies?
DH: Reading, which is basically the obvious answer for a writer. I also enjoy baking and taking long walks. I love to plot while walking because it’s so relaxing.
CK: How do you unwind?
DH: With a cup of hot chocolate. I wouldn’t say I get to unwind because I have a four year old and two year old son who are with me 24/7. I just try to make the best of it, even if they nap for only ten minutes.
CK: Do you mold your characters strictly from imagination or from those you cross paths with in every day life?
DH: I would say strictly from imagination. I try to stay focused on the characters and give them their own voice outside of the people I know.
CK: Do you allow your muse to take total control, or do you create an outline before writing?
DH: Totally allow the muse to take control. I always start my stories with just a basic idea and let the muse do her work from there on out.
CK: What methods of research do you utilize? I know, I know! The internet is available, but do you scour the library as well? LOL
DH: Nope. I use google and yahoo search engines. That’s it.
CK: Inquiring minds what to know, where can you be found on the internet?
DH: I am a complete Facebook addict every signing up a few months ago. I also love to visit Absolute Write water cooler and Romantic times forum. When I’m not there I’m updating my blog.
http://delilahhunt.wordpress.com/
CK: What advice would you like to pass on to aspiring authors?
DH: Do not ever give up. I know it’s easier said than done, but not once did I ever think I would become published. For me it felt like the odds were the same as winning the lottery and yet here I am a published author. So, please be patient and just keep writing and perfecting your craft. It will happen sooner or later.
CK: Oh so true! Delilah, thank you so much for sharing. Here's to all your successes! Hey folks, be sure to check out Delilah's newest release, Hell's Angel over at Changeling Press.
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Excerpt:
Thrown out of Heaven for a crime he didn't commit, Callum, a fallen angel turned demon, wants revenge. When an angelic beauty falls to the floors of Hell, the captain of Lucifer's army is torn between his need for vengeance and his lust for the bronze-skinned angel.
Forgoing her life in the heavens, Amara descends into the underworld in search of the demon who has captivated her thoughts. Instead of the warm welcome she anticipated, Amara finds herself a prisoner willing to risk it all for the love of a hardened demon.
Blurb:
Amara dipped her finger inside the crystalline bowl. A vivid display of copper and orange vapors swirled above the purified water. She pulled her finger back, her eyes widening in horror and curiosity at the forbidden underworld. Hell. Her wings fluttered and a mysterious tide of emotions welled inside her chest. Oh, but how she would love to be permitted to deliver a missive to the fiery underworld. She was a messenger angel, and so far the only messages she had been instructed to deliver were those from the Keepers of the Gate to the Guardian Angels, informing them when a new soul was due to arrive at Heaven's entrance.
Amara stifled a gasp when the vapors began to move, shifting into images. Her eyes skimmed the depiction, looking past the harried and tortured souls she could see twisting in their own agony. A demon turned the corner, stepping over one of the souls with his long legs. Her gaze settled and softened on him. Callum, the fierce captain of Lucifer's army. While Lucifer sat upon his throne ruling over the Underworld, it was Callum's duty to maintain order and prevent the countless number of souls from escaping their eternal damnation.
She leaned closer to the bowl and peered downward, memorizing every single detail about him. He wore black armor with spiked metal spaulders above his shoulders. The same armor protected his legs, and metallic boots wrapped his calves. His horns, thick and massive, curled off to the sides of his blond head.
If her best friend Reina knew she'd been sneaking peeks inside the forbidden realm, the eldest of the messenger angels would deny all access to her quarters. Amara's excuses of merely wishing to spend time with Reina would no longer cut it. Glancing backward, Amara checked to make sure the telltale sign of a portal was not being opened, signaling Reina's return. No traces of silver threads looping in the air. Good.
She returned her focus to Callum, knowing this was the closest she would ever get to the demon. What a sorry sight she made. A two hundred-year-old angel who had never traveled beyond the boundaries of the Pearly Gates captivated by the captain of the army that had once attempted to conquer Heaven.
"You're still here? I thought for sure you would have returned to your garden."
Flushing with guilt, Amara jumped away from the bowl and snapped her head to the side. Specks of silver shimmered around the auburn-haired angel. "I'm sorry, Reina. I lost track of the time." She raised her head, centering her eyes on the large bookshelf in the corner of the room. "Your books are all so fascinating."
Reina arched her eyebrow. "Only the books, Amara? Have you been using the vessel?"
"No!" Amara closed her eyes and struggled to breathe. Her tongue became heavy, and her nostrils flared, attempting to take in air. "I stole one glance." She wheezed. Her breathing returned to normal and the weight on her tongue lifted. "I was curious, Reina. Forgive me."
A shadow fell over Reina's face. "You didn't have to lie. We both know the painful consequences of doing so. I've known all along that you've been sneaking glances into Hell. Is it the demon Callum who has piqued your curiosity?"
She lowered her head a notch. "It is. I can't stop thinking about him, and I don't know how to control this feeling. Some days it's as if these emotions threaten to consume me. I wish to touch him, Reina. To look into his eyes and know that he can see into mine."
"It's called desire." Reina lounged on her green velvet chaise. "It will pass, and if it doesn't you will learn to live with it. There is nothing to be done about this feeling, Amara. The demons and every other being are free to act upon their desires. We are forbidden. Worse, to act upon such desires with a Hell-bound demon is an abomination. Take your mind from him. Callum would taint you in ways you're much too innocent to comprehend."
Amara nodded, thankful Reina had not admonished her by threatening to take the matter to the elders. "I'll try not to dwell on him. I know it is an impossible situation. An angel -- a mere messenger one, at that -- would be of no use to Lucifer's warrior. I'll take your advice."
Reina's face brightened and she patted Amara's shoulder. "You'll be saved a ton of heartache in the end."
Spreading her wings, Amara waved goodbye to her friend. She flew over the misty clouds that surrounded the realm. Soaring through the marble pillars separating her garden from that of the other angels, Amara allowed the reckless thoughts of Callum to float through her mind. Five months had passed since she'd first set sight on the mysterious demon. She'd seen him by accident after taking a look inside Reina's mysterious bowl. For days she'd spent every free minute scouring the ancient texts and tomes, seeking information about the demon. The only thing she'd found was a hand-drawn portrait of him in his heavenly glory, his large white wings outlined with silver. She knew he no longer possessed those angelic features; instead he had black wings curved upward at the tip, sharp as barbed wire.
Her knowledge of him and his time in the heavens was limited. The one thing she knew for sure was that he was one of the first angels created by the Decider of Chaos. He'd been an archangel, the highest order of angels in the heavens, revered for the single-minded focus on vanquishing all that stood in the way of the righteous path of the Decider.
"Amara!"
She pivoted toward the voice of her friend Sierra, frowning at the anxious look on the angel's face. "What's wrong?"
"Can you deliver a message for me to the Realm of the Fae?"
She nodded, thrilled at the chance of seeing outside Heaven. "Did you bring a portal with you?"
Sierra reached into her pouch, withdrawing a woven envelope. "Here." She handed the silver threads to Amara. "And do hurry, Amara. I was supposed to have delivered this in the morning."
Amara waved off the angel and then flicked the threads into the air. Her heart skipped a beat. The Realm of Fae was situated directly above the Hell dimension. She shook her head, pushing away the traitorous thoughts meandering through her mind. Deliver the message and return.
Stepping through the portal, Amara silently spoke the name of her destination. She arrived there immediately, delivering the envelope into the hands of a waiting faerie. She returned inside the gaping portal, and in a split-second decision, Amara whispered the one word, the only word forbidden in her travels. Hell.
The portal seemed to come to life, quaking all around her. She was lifted into the air and spun upside down, tumbling into an abyss. It was as if someone had snapped her wings in two and thrown her from the heavens. Her stomach plummeted, and a thick wave of fear rose inside her throat. Fire blazed around her and the pungent stench of sulfur invaded her nostrils. Amara kept falling until she landed with a hard thud on her side, her face hitting the soot-covered ground.
Groaning in pain, Amara tried to sit up, but found there was no need to. A rough hand dragged her off the dirt. "Inform the captain of our visitor."
CK: Definitely getting this one too.
