He’s been my best friend for eleven years, ever since I
witnessed his heroism in Afghanistan and nursed him back to health. The young
soldier grew into a man I could spend the rest of my life with. But I can never
let him know just how much I love him, because not even a hero who lived
through a war can survive my past.
Brian
She knows every little detail about me. There’s no one in
this world I love and care for more. After years of meeting up on my mercenary
missions to spend time together, she’s finally coming to see my home, my club,
and meeting my friends, who don’t even know she exists. Will I finally be able
to convince my secret lover to tear down her fortress so we can become so much
more than best friends?
KD Robichaux wanted to be a romance author since the first time she picked up her mom’s Sandra Brown books at the ripe old age of twelve. She went to college to become a writer, but then married and had babies. Putting her dream job on hold to raise her family as a stay at home mom, who read entirely too much, she created a blog where she could keep her family and friends up-to-date on all the hottest reads. From there, by word of mouth, her blog took off and she began using her hard-earned degree as a Senior Editor for Hot Tree Editing. When her kids started school, and with the encouragement from her many author friends, she finally sat down and started working on her first series, The Blogger Diaries, her very own real life romance.
Underlayes is a world created by T. A. Moorman (me) that includes pretty much every paranormal or supernatural creature you can think of, and NONE of them sparkle. What started out as a few books about three magical sister has begun to take on a world of its own. Though the first three books in the series are about the sisters and the royal families, the books following will involve much more than JUST them. Each book is written somewhat as a standalone, with opendings for future books. As with all series, you get the most from starting from the beginning. But, with these, you can follow along without having done so, especially the new YA being released at the end of this month, Not So Wicked, and the current WIP, In Her Dreams.
These paranormal books are definitely not all about romance. It's in there, but it's not what the entire book is about. While you may not run screaming in terror, these books were very much not made for the faint of heart. Be prepared for violence, blood, a bit of torture, and more than a few questionable circumstances. These beings are not human, and don't bother trying to pretend to be. Unless absolutely necessary, and even then they tend to grow short. None of the vampires are vegetarians, most of the werewolves are assholes, and the witches, well, that depends on which one you entangle with. And none of the females can be described as damsels in distress. Far from it.
So come on in and step into the dark mind of my imagination, where you never really know which twists and turns will happen until the end. Even I don't.
Don't forget to check out the #OctoberFrights group giveaway, which includes a free sample of Not So Wicked.
"...very similar to IAD (Immoratals After Dark) in the way of the different factions presented (werewolves, witches, vampires, etc)...for this book it worked well." Sarah Shannon
"This was a very fast paced read with an intriguing and interesting world. I loved all the different supernatural creatures. There was steam, action, suspense. I read this straight through in one sitting and can't wait to grab the next!" Amber Hall
"I loved this book so much! I am a Paranormal head and had been wanting to read this book for some time now. In this book you have everything you could want, Vampires, Werewolves, Fae, witches... everything!" Rae B Lake
Tialanna is fated to become the queen of all Underlayes
witches. She thinks the worst part of her life is the fact that she’s betrothed
to a complete stranger while in love with someone else. She’s in for a rude
awakening when she discovers who, and what, she truly is.
Tialanna is about to learn the truth behind several lies,
because not only does her life depend on it, but so does the fate of the family
she never even knew she had. But hey, life would probably just be boring if she
didn't have to deal with elemental witches, vampires, demons, sorcerers,
bindings, spells, lust and betrayal. Right?
***This book is intended for mature audiences only as it
includes both graphic violence and graphic sex***
“This is the first book I have read by this author and I
only have one word … WOW. Loved this book from the first page. It was a great
short read with lovable characters (Anya being my favorite). Looking forward to
reading more of the series.”
Anya has never been one for the spotlight, but her family
seems to now be front and center, and the talk of the town in Underlayes. In
the aftermath of her mother’s death, the discovery of said mother’s deceit, and
Anya's half-sister getting ready to challenge her own father for the witches’
throne, keeping a low profile may prove to be difficult. Add in the fact that
she’s pregnant, by her female mate, and it may turn out to be impossible.
Kierra has never been one for many words. So if she were
forced to explain how she impregnated Anya, it probably wouldn’t be easy for
her. Especially since the truth would mean revealing her origins; she’s not a
vampire, or even anything close to it. And living in a realm where her kind
isn’t allowed may cause a few ramifications. Plus, should the kid call her Mom,
or Dad?
Jump right back into the world of Underlayes where this
magical family takes dysfunction to brand new heights.
"OMG this book was spectacular I had no idea where this book would lead but man did it deliver. So many surprises came in this book." Deja of the GothicMoms Review Team
"This author has tapped into an amazing world with this series. These characters are so engaging, and we get to experience so much more with this story. Instead of just one character is the focus we have multiple. You'll love it I'm sure." Seraphia
Jelissa has been a resident of
the Abbey for as long as she has been alive. She has also never known what she
is, besides being part witch. At the age of twenty-five, she will learn just
what types of blood run through her veins. She will also find out much
more—that she is also the long-lost princess almost no one even knew existed.
Tialanna secreted her only child
away for her own protection. Before she can tell Jelissa the truth, Jelissa is
kidnapped. All Tialanna’s greatest fears unfold before her very eyes, and her
past comes back to haunt her in more ways than one.
As most do when they come of age,
Jelissa will learn the hard way that adult life isn't all it’s cracked up to
be. And Tialanna learns the hard way that if you don’t learn from your past, it
will come back and bite you on the ass.
Caught in a realm they know
next to nothing about, in a time where they're hated for not what they are but
how they look, these supernatural teens may find it harder to curve their
bloodlust than they thought.
Satori, an
adept Chaos Magician, casts a spell to try and win back his lost love, Star.
Lilith, mother of demons, has other ideas. Summoned by Satori's magic, she
makes it her mission to manipulate and separate the doomed lovers.
Satori
knows he and Star are meant to be together. He battles demons, travels worlds
and even transcends death for her but, however much she begs, he can't grant
her the freedom she craves.
The
Starblood Trilogy is a tale of sorcery, demonology, murder, sexual obsession
and Gothic subculture. In the words of Jef Rouner (Houston Press) “You don't
read [Carmilla Voiez's] books. You survive them.” and Starblood may be the most
brutal female-centred horror of them all. Winner of numerous indie awards, The
Starblood Trilogy is being adapted into a series of graphic novels with art by
Anna Dmitrieva.
"Carmilla Voiez is more
of a singer than a writer. She tells her compelling story in a hypnotic,
distinctive voice that brings her eerie world vividly to life." Graham
Masterton.
About
the villain -
Lilith, my female antagonist, is
definitely a villain, although some have claimed she’s a feminist hero. She is
a survivor of assault, but her extreme strength and power have warped her
perspective of fairness and cruelty. While her end goal is not evil, her acts
certainly are. Lilith frequently inverts the sexual stereotypes, and can do so
because she is a supernatural creature.
An
interview with Lilith -
Carmilla –
Thank you for joining me today, Lilith. I hope your journey from Binah was
pleasant. My first question, if you’ll forgive my impertinence goddess, is why,
when you are all powerful you chose to meddle in the affairs of the two humans
– Star and Satori?
Lilith –
I’m delighted to be here, and thank you for the delicious cup of coffee. It
will be a shame when the Earth’s reserves of coffee beans run out. If you want
to know about Star and Satori the first thing you need to understand is that
eternity can bore a person after a while. Distractions keep us young. It’s
unlikely I would have met the couple had it not been for the lonely soul,
Freya, who was determined to engage my services. That said Fate has a way of
bringing people together and even without the young sorceress’s summoning
perhaps I would have arrived by some other route. Satori annoyed me. I must be honest
and admit most human males do. I have not had positive experiences with many of
them. But something stayed my hand and instead of crushing the vermin I watched
him instead. In retrospect, I believe a greater power was at work. Satori had a
role in events to come, but at the time I didn’t understand my decision, and
wondered whether I was simply being fickle. In many ways Star and Satori
reminded me of the first humans I met – Adam and Eve. Satori was just as
determined to assert his dominance and will over his mate as Adam had been.
Part of me wanted to free Star from the start, but another part wanted to
punish her for being weak.
Carmilla –
Do you still believe Star is weak?
Lilith –
Her metal is strengthened at times of extreme pressure, as it was when I
tortured her, but she wasn’t strong enough to survive, was she?
Carmilla –
You mentioned Freya. Can you tell me more about your relationship with her?
Lilith –
Freya is a classic case of the imprisoned maiden gone bad. She fascinates me.
Her obsession with her brother rivaled Samael’s obsession with me. All these
humans seem to think about is sex, don’t you agree? Look at them all – Star,
Satori, Freya, Paul and Raven – the were all driven by their desire to get off with
each other. I barely had to manipulate them at all. They would have been
perfectly capable of destroying themselves without my intervention.
Carmilla –
The boys you killed in the woods, did you suspect their motives when they
offered you a lift, and if so why did you go with them?
Lilith –
Really, Carmilla, victim-blaming? That’s beneath you, don’t you think? If I
hadn’t gone with them they would have found someone else, someone less able to
defend themselves. I am a survivor, and yes my trauma has no doubt increased my
rage. Who wouldn’t be angry after having their agency taken from them? I
suspected the boys’ motives. I knew I had the strength to survive their
intentions and I took the opportunity to teach them a lesson; just like I did
with that sleaze-bag who pursued me through the abandoned industrial estate. I
hope the lesson is heard far and wide – Men beware. If you are looking for a
victim you may well get more than you bargained for. Women’s rage is a powerful
force.
Carmilla –
That’s very relevant to what’s happening today – with the Kavanaugh protests.
Have you been following the news?
Lilith –
It has been relevant from day one. Yes, I’ve watched those pathetic men with
their hair pieces, smiles as fake as their tans, and hands forever down their
pants or grabbing some poor woman’s, what do they call it, pussy. It’s because
they are afraid of women. They are so desperate to keep their power that they
will crush, in any way they can, all resistance. Fear of sexual assault, and
the shame it inspires, is an effective weapon for them. But if the women shed
their shame and overcome their fear, they can change the world. I’d like to say
that’s what’s happening now, but waves like this rise and fall. Time will tell
whether women are ready to say “no more” and overthrow their oppressors.
Carmilla –
Thank you, Lilith. Is there anything else you want to say before you head home?
I know you have lots of new souls to make bodies for.
Lilith –
I’ll repeat what I told Star, when I thought the truth might save her. Every
day I make flesh for new spirits, some are male and some are female. The
spirits within both are infinite until I make that arbitrary choice as to how
to shape their flesh. Each is limited by their new shell. Their bodies separate
them from each other, organising the spirits into logical patterns which
conform, with varying success, to the rules which cage them. Rules such as you
can no longer fly; you can no longer expand into your environment; you can no
longer merge completely and seamlessly with another; one day you will die and
your spirit will return to the source. These are the rules of being bound into
flesh and they are the same for male and female forms. Everything you have been
taught since you were pushed from your screaming mother, other than these rules,
is bullshit. These new limits humans have imposed upon themselves, and each
other, are not real. They hold no profound truth about yourself or the human
condition. You are neither inferior nor superior to the billions of other
spirits caged in flesh that roam the earth.
Author
bio -
Carmilla Voiez is a proudly bisexual and mildly autistic introvert who
finds writing much easier than verbal communication. A life long Goth, living
with two kids, two cats and a poet by the sea. She is passionate about horror,
the alt scene, intersectional feminism, art, nature and animals. When not
writing, she gets paid to hang out in a stately home and entertain tourists.
Carmilla grew up on a varied diet of horror. Her earliest influences
as a teenage reader were Graham Masterton, Brian Lumley and Clive Barker mixed
with the romance of Hammer Horror and the visceral violence of the first wave
of video nasties. Fascinated by the Goth aesthetic and enchanted by threnodies
of eighties Goth and post-punk music she evolved into the creature of darkness
we find today.
Her books are both extraordinarily personal and universally
challenging. As Jef Withonef of Houston Press once said - "You do not read
her books, you survive them."
Carmilla has self published "The Starblood Trilogy",
"Starblood the graphic novel", “Psychonaut the graphic novel”,
"The Ballerina and the Revolutionary", a short story collection
"Broken Mirror and Other Morbid Tales" and "The Erotic Tales of
Carmilla Voiez". Stitched Smile released the FSG anthology "Slice
Girls" late 2016, “Zombie Punks Fuck Off”, is being released by Clash
Books and Weird Punk Books this month (October 2018) and includes Carmilla’s
short story set in London, “Eat the Rich”, and “Another Beautiful Nightmare” is
out February 2019 and includes her short story “Demons are a Girl’s Best
Friend.”
She is currently writing the fourth book in the Starblood series,
“Ribbons”. In exciting news,
Vamptasy Publishing have picked up
the entire series, so each of the stories will be released individually for
Kindle. The final date for buying the trilogy as one volume for Kindle will be
November 1st. Starblood will be released in December. The trilogy
will still be available in one volume as a paperback after this date.
Carmilla also edits
for self-publishing authors and is releasing a series of articles entitled “A
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Novel” on her blog at www.carmillavoiez.com