Hi
lovelies! It gives me great pleasure
today to host Catherine Russell and her new book, “Exit Stage Left”! For other stops on her Goddess Fish
Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in
this post.
Be
sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $50 Amazon or Barnes
and Noble Gift Card!!! Also, come back
daily to interact with Catherine and to increase your chances of winning!
This
book is on SALE during the book tour for ONLY $0.99!!! See below for more details.
Thanks
for stopping by! Wishing you lots of
luck in this fabulous giveaway!
Exit Stage Left
by Catherine Russell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Dark Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Megan
O'Day seems to be navigating the unpredictable relationship with Geoffrey
Drake, her centuries-old vampire guardian angel, rather well. But then his past
suddenly rips him from her, forcing her to face the unknown future alone in the
gripping sequel to The Stage.
Still
bound to Geoffrey through the power of the Link despite his unexplained
absence, Megan's mind is flooded with his haunted memories. While she relives
the darkest moments of his previous life, she discovers his attachment to a
woman who bears a striking resemblance to her.
As
she questions Geoffrey's love for her, she strikes up a dangerous alliance with
Geoffrey's brother, Alexander, who is also a vampire. She hopes that he will
help her find a way to rescue Geoffrey: instead, he seems to be awakening new
emotions and desires within her.
As
the past and present collide, Megan struggles to fend off Alexander's dark
seduction. Is Geoffrey truly beyond the reach of her love forever? If not, what
must be sacrificed to bring them back together again?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT TWO:
I
began to hear a sound as they were speaking; a small child’s voice, whispering
to me. Her high pitched voice, singing a lullaby and I recognized the notes. It
was Greensleeves, the same one my mother had sang to me when I was a child.
Without thinking, I walked forward, ignoring them as they reached out for me.
“Megan,
stop!” I heard them say yet I went in. Suddenly the room was full of sunlight.
It was a child’s nursery, with light blue walls and soft white curtains at the
lovely double sided windows that opened on to a huge oak tree, whose branches
reached out to the window’s ledge. A small robin sat on the limb, singing. I
turned to see toys and stuffed animals around the wooden floor that was covered
with a multicolored throw rug. Shelf after shelf of books and nick knacks were
all around the walls. Then I saw her in the corner, slowly moving back and
forth in the rocking chair, holding a doll, gently stroking its hair. She
looked up and I saw eyes, one green and one blue. Her light brown hair was tied
up with a yellow ribbon, and she wore a pale blue dress with lace and bows. Her
legs had the familiar white tights that I remembered as well as black Mary
Jane’s on her little feet.
“Hello
there,” she said, smiling sweetly.
“Hello.
Who are you?” I asked walking toward her, still looking around, totally amazed
at what I was seeing, experiencing.
“Well,
I’m you of course.” She said, coyly. She jumped up and reached out for my hand.
She looked at the cute little tea set on the table next to her.
“Will
you join me for some tea with my dolly?” She asked in her little voice, so
sweet and innocent. There was something I was supposed to be doing, but what
was it? I couldn’t remember. Wasn’t there someone with me, right before I saw
her? No, I must’ve of imagined that. Where else would I want to be besides
here?
“Yes,
I’d love to. Would you like me to pour?” I said, sitting down and crossing me
legs as she sat in the little chair beside me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHARACTER INTERVIEW:
Character Interview: Geoffrey Drake;
Singer, songwriter, philanthropist, worldly scholar-
…oh yeah & Vampire too!
Goth Underground Magazine Interviewer:
Thank you very much Mr. Drake for joining us on tonight’s edition. It’s a great
pleasure to finally meet you.
Geoffrey: The pleasure’s all mine
Andre, thank you for having me. And please, call me Geoffrey. Mr. Drake was my
father and I’m definitely not him.
GU: All right, good to know Geoffrey.
(Small, soft chuckle) So, let’s just tackle the huge elephant in the room right
off the bat.
Geoffrey: And what would that elephant
be Andre?
GU: The fact that you’ve got a massive,
underground following of modern day goths throughout not only Seattle and the
Pacific Northwest, but across the cross, with the masses entertaining and
believing wholeheartedly that you’re…
Geoffrey: What Andre? A singer? A
philanthropist, who gives generously to local and national causes such as YWCA,
Nativity House? Fights for LGBTQ equal rights? Immigrants’ rights? I’m quivering
with anticipation of your answer.
GU: Yes, well all those things of course,
definitely. However, the word is that…that you’re a …
G:
Yes? Say it Andre, get on with it. What is it that the masses demand to know?
You need to say it for it to become real.
GU: That you’re a vampire.
G:
Oh, that old rumor. It haunts me like a plague, never dying out, I thought you
were going to say something new perhaps.
GU: So you’ve been accused of this before?
Of being a vampire?
G:
You use the word “accused” like it’s a bad thing. What would be so bad about
that anyway? Living forever, never aging, never get sick…
GU: So, are you confirming it then? That you
are in fact a vampire?
G:
Slick Andre, no I never said that. Now don’t put words in my mouth. Others have
tried that trick and I eat them and spit them back out…the words that is, not
the actual people.
GU: Your music, your lyrics all have heavy
references to the occult, the darkness within individuals. Plus your
appearances are only at night or twilight hours at best. Even this interview,
really. Its 8:30 at night and the sun is setting. It does tend to point in that
direction.
G:
So you’re saying someone who does interviews at times other than day shift
norm, or gives and supports charities, or loves dark music, must be a vampire,
is that what you’re saying Andre?
GU: Well while we’re at it, you’re pale as
any ghost I’ve seen plus have women flocking to you without saying a word.
G:
Again, that’s a bad thing? Besides, loads of people in the Pacific Northwest
are pale. Haven’t you noticed that it rains here…a lot? As I would like to live
skin cancer free, I do tend to avoid it at any costs. And as far as the women
go, am I supposed to say no to that? How would you like me to stop that? Please
if you have a plan, do share, as I’m sure the entire world would love to know
how to stop screaming, adoring and loyal fans from flocking to us each night.
GU: So you’re denying you’re a vampire, is
that correct?
G:
Is that what you want me to say Andre? And I’m not one for labels as it is.
GU: It’s not a label, it’s a fact.
G:
A fact that’s unproven. Besides…we’re all friends here. And friends don’t sling
mud at one another on stage.
GU: So all this, this persona, is a stage
act?
G:
Is that what you think?
GU: I think you’re a vampire, no doubt.
G: Really?
Well, in that case, I’ll play along. This should be fun. Let’s say I am, a
creepy creature of the night, all fangs and grizzly deformed.
GU: What century are your vampires from? In
the current media, they’re erotic, sexy, and downright irresistible, some even
sparkle in the day light, like diamond-encrusted skin.
G:
Sounds quite painful actually.
GU: And you’d drink my blood, human blood,
thirsting after everyone around you…right?
G:
Well if I was a vampire…are you offering a meal? Just kidding…possibly. (Slight
giggle under his breath)
GU: And how would you get the blood? Kill
someone I assume.
G:
Don’t you know not to “assume” anything? It makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me”.
You do realize there are other options besides killing a person for their
blood, right? All hypothetical of course.
GU: Like what? A dealer?
G:
See, now you’re asking the right questions, good job Andre. Just remember, this
is all make-believe, fantasy in your words, not mine.
GU: You tell me Geoffrey Drake, Mystery Man
of Seattle’s Underground music scene, are you for real…or just a stage act? A
flash in the pan? Here one day…gone the next in a puff of smoke?
G:
Andre, dear man, don’t you know…All of life is an illusion. One makes their own
illusions become their reality.
GU: You’re saying…it’s all real? That you’re
real? That’s it, isn’t it?
G:
I leave you with this: May your stage become reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLAYLIST:
1. “Good
Day to Die”
by Godsmack: The Oracle Deluxe Edition
2. “E.T.” by
Katy Perry: Teenage Dream
3. “Toccata” by
David Garrett: Rock Symphonies
4. “Time” by
Criss Angel: MindFreak
5. “Cadence
of Her Last Breath”
by Nightwish: Dark Passion Play
6. “Drumming
Song”
by Florence + the Machine: Lungs
7. “Haunted” by
Evanescence: Fallen
8. “Taking
Over Me”
by Evanescence: Fallen
9. “Ethereal” by
Criss Angel: MindFreak
10. “Wrait” by
Criss Angel: MindFreak
11. “Cosmic
Love”
by Florence + The Machine: Lungs
12. “The
Revenants”
by Midnight Syndicate: The Dead Matter
13. “Awake” by
Godsmack: Awake
14. “Switchback” by
Celldweller: Celldweller
15. “Serenity” by
Godsmack: Faceless
16. “Vivaldi
vs Vertigo”
by David Garrett: Rock Symphonies
17. “Dogs
Day Are Over”
by Florence + the Machine: Lungs
18. “I
Believe You”
by Celldweller: Celldweller
19. “Kings
and Queens”
by 30 Seconds to Mars: This is War
20. “Broken
Open”
by Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment
21. “Iris” by
The Goo Goo Dolls: Dizzy up the Girl
22. “Devil
Inside”
by INXS: The Best of INXS
23. “Uninvited” by
Alanis Morrissette: The Collection
24. “Sleepwalker” by
Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment
25. “The
Howling”
by Within Temptation: The Heart of Everything
26. “The
Only Exception”
by Paramore: Brand New Eyes
27. “Say
You’ll Haunt Me”
by Stone Sour: Audio Secrecy Special Edition
28. “Dying” by
Stone Sour: Audio Secrecy Special Edition
29. “Paralyzed” by
Criss Angel: MindFreak
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR BIO:
Catherine Russell was
born in Tacoma, Washington and raised in a small town just south, South Hill,
Puyallup. At the time South Hill was a heavily wooded area and far off the
beaten path. Growing up she had the forests as her fantasy world along with the
wild animals. She lived with her parents and an older sister. There are a few
similarities from her own childhood that have carried over in to her first
novel, “The Stage”. As a child, she did have a small dog named Toto, whom she
would quite frequently roam the woods with. Her childhood home still stands,
and is still nestled in the woods even though South Hill has undergone an
extreme makeover since she lived there. She enjoyed hours of day dreaming and
playing in the woods, which in turn fed her fantasy world of make believe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Website:
Website:
Email:
darkness6601@yahoo.com
Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:
Goodreads Author Page:
Goodreads Book Page:
Amazon Author Page:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOOK BUY LINKS & BOOK SALE INFO:
**Exit Stage Left is on SALE during the book tour for ONLY
$0.99!!!**
Amazon Kindle:
Barnes and Noble:
Kobo:
Google Play:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFO:
Catherine will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N
GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.
**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a
purchase made I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just
helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**
This contest is sponsored
by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish
Promotions. Prizes are given away by the
sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish
Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.
Catherine ~ It is so great to have you here! Congrats on your new book and good luck on the book tour! :)
ReplyDeleteGood morning Ally! And yes, thank you so much for hosting the next stop on the Exit Stage Left Blog tour. It's been quite the adventure already.
DeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteAlso a great shout-out Thank you to my publisher, Barking Rain Press & Goddess Fish Promotions for this excellent opportunity and experience.
DeleteGood morning James and nice to see you here. Thanks so much for dropping in and I truly hope you enjoyed Geoffrey's interview, as I had great fun creating it. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rita, I think so too but I'm just a bit biased! Thanks so much for dropping by. Good luck in the drawing!
DeleteDo you have any ideas for a follow up book? Congrats on the books release. Bernie Wallace BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon Bernie, Actually the Chronicles is a set of 3 books, with the 3rd, Enter Stage Right is my WIP right now. Though I do have another stand-alone book, that is peculating on the side as well. Have a good day!
DeleteGreat post, awesome playlist - thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the playlist. I love music and it's truly my muse for writing. This list in particular is much more dark than Book 1, The Stage, playlists' due to the emotional roller-coaster ride for Megan. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWho is your favorite character in your book. Congrats on the release. Bernie Wallace BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie! Nice to see you here too! Favorite character, that's like asking a Mother who her favorite child is, basically impossible. Their all very dear to my heart & loved creating them all. I'll go with the most fun to create was definitely Geoffrey Drake.I can see him in my minds' eye very clearly, more so than Megan even. I loved working his background. However, in Book 3, Enter Stage Right, I'm digging in to Megan's ancestor's and past and it's fascinating. Glad you stopped by.
DeleteThanks so much and I tend to think so too! Glad you dropped in!
ReplyDelete