Kinky Vanilla Romance is pleased to share The Incubus Saga: Incubus and Changeling by Amanda Meuwissen, a Paranormal Erotic (M/M) Romance series available now from BigWorldNetwork.com.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Amanda will be awarding a digital copy of both Incubus and Changeling to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Remember, the more stops you visit, the more chances you earn to win.
The Incubus Saga by Amanda Meuwissen
On the other side of the Veil, dark and light fae exist outside the knowledge of most humans. Nathan Grier was born human, but his twin brother Jim is a changeling. On the run since they were children, time for both of them is running out. Turning to fae hunter Sasha Kelly for help, Nathan must soon face his growing feelings for the other man while trying to save himself and his brother from a fate worse than death.
Fae hunter and incubus, Sasha Kelly, is prophesized to save Nathan, but while Nathan has embraced his feelings for the other man, he fears their time together will be cut short—either from his impending fate…or Jim’s.
EXCERPT
Incubus
“Ha,” Nathan laughed. “Right.”
“No tricks,” Sasha said, moving in that much closer so he was practically speaking against Nathan’s lips. “Just…”
Nathan didn’t realize his eyes were shut until Sasha's lips were on him. Half of him thought he had to be dreaming and that when he opened his eyes he would be alone. His senses told him differently.
Sasha’s lips were as soft as Nathan’s were chapped, and pliant, and giving. They enveloped Nathan like no lips ever had. A flicker of what Nathan had felt when Sasha shared the feeding experience with him stirred in Nathan's stomach, like an echo, and he found himself leaning in. Sasha was so warm. Even without his jacket, he radiated heat and that glorious smell of leather.
That's when it finally struck Nathan. Fae didn't have a scent—not any that Nathan had ever met before—but Sasha did. And it was intoxicating.
Sasha’s lips were moving against his, and Nathan was moving his too, and their mouths were open just enough that the smallest tilt of Sasha’s head pushed the kiss deep enough to touch tongues. Nathan shivered, and shivered again when he felt Sasha’s hand at the curve of his face and neck—gentle, guiding.
The kiss was lasting too long already. Nathan had to think quickly. He readied himself as much as he could and pulled away, smiling. “See,” he said, and his voice didn’t waver in the slightest. “Nothing. Sorry, man.”
MY RAMBLES
Changelings. Dark fae. Light fae. It was all news to me. This was my first time dipping my toes in the pool of M/M paranormal erotic romance. I was introduced to Nathan and Jim Grier in Incubus. In one of the most unique plot twists I've read recently, Nathan is born human and his twin brother Jim is a changeling.
What I enjoyed most about Incubus was the world-building. It is a complex set-up, but laid out in way that was easy for me to follow. [sighs in appreciation] Jim, Nathan, and Sasha each have their own unique issues and approaches to handling them. The secondary characters are well-written and engaging. The story is full of suspense, romance, and adventure so I think that it has appeal across genres. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook episodes on the Big Network website.
I couldn't wait to dive into The Incubus Saga #2, Changeling. Drop by tomorrow and check out my review of the book.
NOTE: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
How much of a story did you have in mind before you started writing Incubus?
When I initially started writing Incubus in 2007, very little, just the idea of a short novella at most with an incubus love story. As I wrote more, the story progressed into something much bigger. When I went back starting in 2011 to transform the original version of the story into something I was really proud to make into a novel series, I had all of the groundwork ready for me, but have definitely cut and changed a lot.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) of Changeling to write and why?
The cave scenes near the end. I have a particular love for ‘good guy goes evil’ moments, and Nathan having to face his brother and lover as evil versions of themselves was a real treat to write.
What about your characters surprised you while writing The Incubus Saga?
A character that is introduced who was always planned to be killed off, actually revealed to me that he has to be killed off sooner in book 3 than originally intended, which surprised me at first, and then made me go…no, this makes sense, I always felt something was off there. I love when characters do that.
You are a narrator for several BigWorldNetwork.com series, including Incubus. How has that experience influenced your writing?
More than I thought it would. I have experience as an on-air radio personality, theater background, etc., but it was still very weird at first reading my own and others’ work out loud, especially when it gets to steamier bits. Now, it’s old hat. I narrate for The Vlishgnath Chronicles and other related works by Daniel Mitchell, which is a very male-heavy cast, like my own work, and it’s always fun to figure out how different characters should sound. But where narrating influences my writing is when I’m recording something and I realize it sounds off when read out loud, so I’ve made several last minute edits while doing audio.
How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
Ever? That would have been The Collector at a small Minnesota convention aptly named MiniCon, which we frequent every year. The buyer was another vendor, but she was a dear. I got a photo with her, and got to hear what she thought of the book at the con the following year, when she then purchased Incubus. We went out to dinner that night with others representing BWN, including CEO Jim McGovern, Creative Director Mario Hernandez, fellow author, editor, and narrator Meagan Hedin, and my husband.
What’s your biggest challenge as a writer? How did you overcome it, or how are you working to overcome it?
Killing my babies/darlings, especially with The Incubus Saga, since it was something I initially wrote years ago that was much longer than the final product. It has required SO much editing and paring down, and yet I know I could do even better to improve the pacing. I look forward to my first book after The Incubus Saga, so I can put into practice keeping things more minimalistic with plot and progress, which working on editing Incubus has really pushed me toward.
Do you have an ideal reader in mind when you write? If so, please describe that reader.
Myself. :-) I love reading my own work, and sometimes go on binges where I go back and read all my old fanfiction. I wrote those stories, and continue to write original work now, because I felt something was missing in what I wanted to read from others, so my goal is always to please myself. When I come across readers who get excited about the same things for the same reasons, and somehow seem to love my work as much as me…that’s the best feeling in the world.
What is on your “keeper shelf” of books?
Everything published by BWN, but then I’m bias. :-) Otherwise, The Dark is Rising series, the Night Watch series, Anne Rice’s original 5 books in the Vampire Chronicles, Fight Club and Invisible Monsters, The Rainbow Trilogy, and Good Omens.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
While I did create my own major at college centered around creative writing, I was also and am first and foremost an Asian Studies major, which is how I met my husband. I speak Japanese (though no longer fluently or as well as my husband) and have studied in both China and Japan.
What project are you working on now?
Finishing the last arc of the final book in The Incubus Saga: Sidhe. Hard to believe it’s so close to being complete. After that I’m excited to work on my YA GLBT vampire novel, tentatively titled right now Life as a Teenage Vampire.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda also serves as COO and Managing Editor for BigWorldNetwork.com. She oversees editing and series selection, as well as being involved in marketing and promotion, and is featured as a narrator for several BWN series.
Amanda lives in Minneapolis, MN, with her husband, John, and their cats, Helga and Sasha (no connection to the incubus of the same name).
Website: https://bigworldnetwork.com/site/series/incubus
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6831429.Amanda_Meuwissen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheIncubusSaga
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissSuperCube
Buy Links for Incubus:
https://bigworldnetwork.com/site/store/incubus/
http://www.amazon.com/Incubus-The-Saga-Volume/dp/0615828604
Buy Links for Changeling:
https://bigworldnetwork.com/site/store/changeling/
http://www.amazon.com/Changeling-Incubus-Saga-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00KUIT7CE
GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for being the final stop along my blog tour, and for the thoughtful and honest review of Incubus! I'm excited to stop back and see what you thought of Changeling as well. The interview was also a blast, and it's always wonderful to hear that the audio portion was enjoyed. It's something I've really grown to love doing. I hope some of your readers take the time to check these books out, as well as the final installment planned for next year. Thanks so much again!
ReplyDelete