It is my pleasure to have a guest post from author Ally Shields.
From Fact to Fiction
by Ally Shields
I've always loved books, intrigued by wonderful tales from
all over the world, including authors like Sir Walter Scott, Agatha Christie,
Elizabeth Peters, and Isak Dinesen. Eventually I discovered fantasy worlds,
with Tolkien's Lord of the Rings at the epitome, and that opened a whole new
avenue of adventures.
I reached a point in life where I packed my bags, climbed on
a plane, and visited some of the real wonders of this world, including those in
my own country. For several years, my
passport and/or travel bags were in use every vacation or extended weekend I
could manage. I had a fantastic time and visited some regions and countries
that aren't readily accessible in the current world situation. I carry the
richness of those trips in my head, my heart, and in thousands of photos.
Literally. In stacks of photo albums. That doesn't include the box of filled
thumb drives or the multiple folders of brochures, maps, ticket stubs, and
keepsakes.
When I began writing fiction, the advice I heard most often was
"write what you know." Instead, I naturally gravitated toward fantasy
and loved creating magical worlds in my imagination. But I also found a
satisfying outlet for past experiences, a way to relive some of my favorite trips.
It's no accident that the Black Forest of Germany, the rolling hills of Tuscany
or the Egyptian Museum of Cairo, Egypt, have found their way into my stories,
along with the intriguing city of New Orleans, the Smithsonian Museum in
Washington, DC., and several caves, castles, and parts of other locations not
identified by name. Much of the research involved refreshing and verifying what
was already in my own head…and the basement storage boxes.
If you've read any of my books, you've taken both real and
fantasy journeys with me. I hope I've created the right descriptions and
atmosphere to make the magic of each come alive.
My real travels aren't over…if I can tear myself away from my
characters that long. I have a long list of places to visit or re-visit. I bet
you do too. What's at the top of your list?
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by Ally Shields
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GENRE: Paranormal romance (sweet/sensual)/urban fantasy
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BLURB:
Cross Keys (Elvenrude Book 1)
When a common elf—forbidden portal travel to the human world—is spotted in New Orleans, Kameo Ryndel is ordered by the king to bring him home. Before she can intervene, he's shot and his body inexplicably stolen. Even more puzzling is Seth Lormarc's appearance at the scene. Although he's an Elite elf from a rival guild and the sexy, arrogant heir to the centuries-old feud between their families, she'd reluctant to believe he's a murderer.
As their paths continue to cross and a deadly plot unfolds, they struggle to set aside the past, deny the growing attraction between them, and root out a conspiracy hidden deep inside Elvenrude…a conspiracy threatening their entire way of life.
Cross Keys #1 Official
Trailer
Cross Keys: Revelation (Elvenrude Book 2)
Kam and Seth's romance hasn't been smooth over the past six months. She's been on too many CIA missions; he's had to shoulder more of his clan's duties. Then invisible assailants attack an elven guild worker, and Kam and Seth pull together to track down the intruders. The CIA interrupts again, and she and Seth part on angry words.
Returning from the short CIA mission, Kam is kidnapped by the mysterious intruders and taken to a place she never knew existed—beyond the Louisiana bayou. When she learns a terrible secret and the intruders' deadly plans, she's desperate to get home and warn Seth.
He's searching day and night, not sure whether she's dead or alive…but knowing he has to have her back.
Cross Keys: Revelation book
trailer
Cross Keys: Unity (Elvenrude Book 3)
Despite unrest in their Elven homeland, Kam and Seth have scheduled their long-awaited promise ceremony for the night of the Winter Solstice. But once again fate intervenes in the form of an elf captured by human authorities, an escalation of the local rebellion, and a widespread theft of ancient human artifacts that forces the Elven king to break an oath thousands of years old.
When a spirit woman predicts a world-ending catastrophe, Kam and Seth set out on a worldwide hunt to stop an old enemy, while back in Elvenrude, Rhyden (Seth's cousin) and Esty (Kam's sister) have issues of their own. If any of them fail, there may be nothing left…and tomorrow might not come.
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EXCERPT
Excerpt Two
from Cross Keys: Revelation (Elvenrude Book 2):
Seth
Lormarc stood on the riverbank above Jackson Square and looked out over the
shadowed waters. He checked his phone screen and gave an impatient sigh. Late
again. Where was she this time? The night breeze coming off the river cooled
his skin from the sweltering heat of New Orleans. It did nothing for his
growing restlessness.
He
heard soft steps behind him and turned with a sharp sense of relief. Kam walked
toward him, a dark, graceful shadow in her black clothes and long, black hair.
She hadn’t taken the time to change. She tipped her head, the moonlight
illuminated her face, and the look in her vivid blue eyes made his breath
catch.
“I’m
sorry.” Her voice was soft. She reached up and brushed her lips against his.
“It took longer than I anticipated.”
Resisting
the temptation to sweep her into his arms and forget everything else, he asked,
“Where were you this time?”
“Mexico.
Drug cartel was moving drugs and guns into the wrong hands.” “Let me guess. You
ran into a problem.”
“Just
a small one.”
She
looked so tired he finally put an arm around her waist and kissed her. “You
take too many chances. I worry that one day you won’t come back.”
“I’ll
always come back.” Her voice was light, dismissive of the risks involved in her
CIA activities.
“Will
you?”
“I
was never in real danger. It was someone else who needed rescuing.” She stepped
back, as if finally sensing his mood, and looked at him. “Are you angry with
me?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Ally Shields grew up in the
Midwest along the Mississippi River, still considers herself "a river
rat," and currently resides near Des Moines. After a career in law and
juvenile justice, she turned to full-time fiction writing in 2009. Her first
urban fantasy, Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1) was published in 2012,
and she currently has ten published novels. She loves to travel in the US and
abroad and incorporates many of those settings into her books. Ms. Shields
welcomes reader contact through her website and can frequently be found on
Twitter.
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