Welcome Christine Ashworth, Author of Demon Soul

My guest this week is Christine Ashworth.  Let’s get to know her better.

RW: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

CA: Rochelle, thanks so much for having me here! I came to writing late, intimidated by my family of storytellers and published, prolific writers. Now, however, it’s my joy to write about strong, sexy men who are sure about everything, and hit them with a strong, sexy woman who makes them doubt. Plus, demons, faeries, and witches – what’s not to enjoy?

RW: How long have you been writing?

CA: I wrote my first short story in grade school, and followed that up with a play that we performed in sixth grade. I had some living to do though, so put aside my pencil for quite awhile. I’ve been writing with an eye to publication for ten years now.

RW: What is/are your favorite genre/s?

CA: I read everything. No, seriously everything! John Connolley has a book of short stories out called Nocturnes – it has the same flavor that H.P. Lovecraft’s stories do, deliciously shivery. I also read YA, women’s lit, historical romance, well – ALL romance across genres – if it’s a good story, I’ll read it. Mysteries, cookbooks, history books and even litRAHchure. Right now I’m swept away by the huge fantasy series The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan.

RW: Who are your favorite authors?

CA: Tolkien. Stephanie Laurens for historical romance. Nora Roberts. Marcus Aurelius. Goethe (his Italian Journeys are eye-opening.) Rosamund Pilcher. Sherrilyn Kenyon. Christine Feehan. Walt Whitman. Herman Hesse. Lovecraft. Elizabeth David. Martha Grimes. Jan Karon. Robin McKinley. Joss Whedon is a God. Not sure yet if Jordan will become a favorite author – but he kept me awake until 2:30am this morning, so…maybe!

RW: When do you get your best writing done?

CA: When I can let go of my inner Judge and just write. I am amazed sometimes at how things flow. I guess you could say when I’m tucked into my corner at Coffee Bean, with my music in my ears and a hot cup of coffee at hand, I’m at my most creative. Oh, and I have to have the internet turned off.

RW: What is a typical day like for you?

CA: I get up, shower, make myself coffee, hit the computer and clear out all my emails. Then it’s Twitter to see what’s going on, and drop by Facebook and do the same. Finally I’ll make the hubby and myself breakfast then get myself off to either Coffee Bean or Starbucks, depending on who I’m meeting for some serious writing sprints. Exercise is either before breakfast (a brisk 2 mile walk or a half-hour yoga DVD) or I head to my local gym for a “live” yoga class. When I’m really lucky, I’ll get a walk in with Kat Jameson, a writer in the same small town I live in and we’ll chatter about writing the entire time.

RW: What else have you published?

CA: I have an essay in Scott Cunningham’s Book of Shadows (Appendix III), published by Llewellyn Worldwide in October of 2009.

RW: If you went to “that God-forsaken rock the Moon,” what one special thing would you take?

CA: I would die without music. So I’d take the biggest iPod filled with as much music as possible, that also had a solar battery charger attached.

RW: Tell us about your current book.

CA: DEMON SOUL is the story of Gabriel Caine, one of the Caine brothers, who are tribreds – demon, human and Fae blood runs through their veins and has for a dozen generations. Each Caine has his own way of dealing with their blood and the gifts and traps that come with it. Gabriel has suffered from the demon blood inside him, and when his soul is stolen by a bitch-vamp, he’s got to get it back or he’ll become the demon he fears.

Tag Line

…to retrieve his soul, she’ll become fire…

RW: How can we reach you?

Website and Blog: http://christine-ashworth.com

E-Mail: Christineash@sbcglobal.net

Twitter: @CCAshworth

Buy Links:

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Demon-Soul-Christine-Ashworth/dp/0984180591

All Romance eBooks:  http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-demonsoul-532766-140.html

Crescent Moon Press: http://www.crescentmoonpress.com/books/DemonSoul.html

Blurb: Gabriel Caine stands on the edge of the abyss. A vampire has stolen his soul and if he doesn’t get it back soon, his next step will be into Hell.

Rose Walters has been sent back from the dead to complete one task- save Gabriel Caine. She’s drawn to Gabriel on the most basic level, but restoring his soul may cost Rose her life.

Rose has touched the whole of Gabriel, making him yearn for a love he believes he can never have. Her willingness to put her human life on the line for him forces him to bring all three parts of himself – demon, human, and Fae bloodlines, and the strengths of each – into harmony, and into the fight that will decide their fate.

DEMON SOUL Excerpt:

Gabriel approached Rose with caution. This time he got a better look at her demon form, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing—she was beautiful, eerie, flame licking along her arms, forming between her hands, flickering in her summer-sky blue eyes. Fire danced along the strands of her coppery curls. Her skin had taken on fur, an orangey hue with golden spots. He could see the horns protruding from her forehead, the ears elongated and pointy. Behind her, tiny wings, useless in flight, fluttered between her shoulder blades.

His own demon uncurled inside him. It fought to be freed, violently attracted to this transformed Rose. He shook his head fiercely and his demon subsided, pouting, though he knew his eyes still whirled green.

"Rose? It's me, Gabriel. How can you…it is you?" His voice held his demon, a growl that would not be denied.

She glanced at him over her shoulder. Her eyes took a bit to focus, and it seemed to him she'd grown taller. "It's me. I've got a fire demon's powers, and look at me! I know you’ve seen me before, but look. Look at what I can do." Her smile was quick and endearing as she rolled a ball of fire.

Before she could launch it, Gabriel caught her arm. Amazed at how hot she felt. "No." He growled the command even as his inner demon struggled again to be free.

"Why not?" A frown gathered between her eyes and she tossed the fireball from hand to hand. "We don't like that place. We can get rid of it. Easy. Just, poof!"

"There are people to save in there, Rose," he said. Sweat beaded on his face and he wondered how much longer he could hang onto her.

She tilted her head. "Then let's go in and save them. The demons are gone. Come on, Gabriel, let's go be big bad demons together."

Her hands squashed the fireball and she streaked to the open door of the club, as fast as any fire. Gabriel roared a challenge. She turned to him and grinned, did a little dance in the doorway. "Come on!"

Gabriel changed into his demon, his heart in his throat. He caught sight of Danny's eye on him. Focusing, he took the time to tell him the plan. "We go to save the weres." He moved to the back door of Twisted.

The place stank of vampire. Gabriel grumbled low in his throat as he followed Rose's scent of smoke and sunshine down the stairs, traceable among the heavier scent of vampire that clogged at the back of his throat. As a human, he had a difficult time with the stairwell. As a demon, he hated it—too enclosed, the steps too small for his feet, yet he followed her.

Found her. With her demon strength she broke open the locks. All the doors stood open on the floor, but only three of them had held prisoners. She stood now in front of one of the doors, her head cocked to one side, little flames licking along the edges of her hair. "It's okay," he heard her say. "You can come out. We're the good guys."