I am so excited to have Jennifer on the blog again and to be talking about the Winged Slayer Hunters. I fell in love with these guys a few years back (Key is my favorite :D, but don’t tell Phoenix). So when I heard that Jennifer was returning to the world the Winged Slayer Hunters to say I was excited would be a little but like saying a firework is just a sparkler. I was super excited. If you have not started this series I would highly recommend. But enough about me. Let me introduce you to Jennifer.
Jennifer, can you please share with us a little about yourself
Hi Kelly! Thank you for having me back on Books-n-Kisses. So about me, I write under two names: Jennifer Apodaca, which is my real name and Jennifer Lyon is the name I took when I started writing paranormal romance. It can be confusing to remember which Jennifer I’m supposed to be, LOL! I originally published in mystery and soon transitioned to romance although there’s usually some mystery or suspense in my books. Writing is my passion, and when I’m not doing that, I enjoy baking, hanging out with family and friends, wine, chocolate and often, I’m thinking about the next book I want to write.
Learn more about Jennifer here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Have you always wanted to be an author?
Pretty much, although it took years for me to get the courage to try it, and more years to publish.
Can you share with us your typical writing day. Is there anything you have to have while writing?
Depends on where I am in the book. The beginning is always slow as I’m getting to know the characters, then the pace picks up the book moves along. I usually get up early, 5:30ish (unless I’m at the end then it can be 4:30), make coffee, checked email and handle anything pressing. Then I write or plot for a while until my husband gets up. I stop to clean up and dress, eat and exercise, then back to it. I generally write the rest of the day until four or five, then have a glass of wine and cook dinner with my husband. After that, I usually have an hour or two of more emails, social media, etc. But if I’m up against a deadline, I’ll ignore all that and write until 9 or so at which point I’m brain dead until the next morning when it starts all over again.
Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
I get to do what I love every day! That and the fans are the most rewarding part. The challenge is that I wish I wrote faster, and juggling real life with the demands of my career.
Can you please tell us about your latest book?
I’m happy to! CAGED MAGIC is the book I’ve promised readers for a few years, and I’m so pleased to finally deliver it. Linc and Risa desperately need each other to battle back a dark curse and to find Risa’s missing goddaughter. What begins as a deal between two people who need each other grows into a love so powerful, Linc gambles everything—his heart, soul and life—to save Risa from a demon. This story was hard to write, but I fell in love with the Linc and Risa’s fierce ability to fight for what they love, their sheer loyalty, and am pleased to have given them the happy ending they deserve.
How did you come with the idea for this story?
Linc appeared in earlier books, and I always knew his handsomeness and charm were hiding a torturous past. And I knew his heroine had to be very special and unique. The idea for the plot of a demon spawning on Las Vegas Boulevard, well my husband has asked me that same question: Where do you come up with this stuff? I don’t know exactly. At some point, I thought – wouldn’t it be cool if someone who appeared to be human spawned into a demon right in front of a witch? And Oh! What if it’s right there in the middle of Vegas, the city of sin? That would be a huge challenge to the Wing Slayer Hunters and their witches. And then…a story was born.
Can you share with us your current work in progress?
Well at the moment I’m promoting this book, and EXPOSING THE HEIRIESS, book three in my Once A Marine series written as Jennifer Apodaca. That book releases August 4th, so it’s a bit wild around here. But next up I’m beginning a new contemporary series that I am excited about, and then after that, it’s Primal Magic, Eli’s story in the Wing Slayer Series.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
I have so many! My early loves were Jude Deverux, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, Diana Gabaldon…I could go on forever!
Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?
I imagine so. If nothing else, they inspired me to go after my dream – both in writing and in never settling for less than I’m worth in my life. For that, I am very grateful. But when I’m writing, I’m focusing on the story in my head and not much else. The lovely thing about writing is the premise of a book might be similar to others, but it’s the writer’s voice that makes it unique.
Open your book to a random page and please reads us a few lines.
Here’s a few lines between Linc and Risa:
“But there’s a price.”
She jerked her gaze up. “What?”
He lifted her hand to his mouth, his warm lips sliding over her knuckles. “You’ll let me kiss you first. A deep, owning kiss.”
Her heart started to pound. “You want to kiss me?”
“I want to kiss you so hard you’ll go to sleep and wake up with the taste of me. No one else, Risa. Me.”
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Oh! I can’t even remember all the books I’ve preordered lately. My one-click finger has been twitchy. Off the top of my head: SERVICING THE TARGET (Masters of the Shadowlands series) by Cherise Sinclair. WICKED EDGE (Realm Enforcers series) by Rebecca Zanetti, and BEGGING FOR IT by Lilah Pace are a few.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for having me here today! I’m absolutely thrilled to bring lovers of paranormal romance CAGED MAGIC. While it’s the fifth book in the Wing Slayer Hunter series, it can also be read as a standalone.
Order here: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | GooglePlay | Kobo
Risa Faden is a witch whose ultra-powerful shield magic is slowly breaking her mind. But when her beloved goddaughter is snatched by a demon, she’ll risk anything to rescue the baby—including lying to the handsome, intriguing stranger who has the power to help her keep her sanity, save the child…and steal her heart.
Linc Dillinger is a Wing Slayer Hunter whose sexy, rich, bad-boy charm hides a treacherous betrayal that left him emotionally scarred. As a result he risks his life to protect innocents, but is incapable of love—until he meets a beautiful witch who can save his cursed soul. Risa’s fierce courage and loyalty reaches past his barriers and he begins to believe she has the magic to free his caged heart.
But Risa’s lie explodes into dark danger that forces Linc into a hellish high-stakes gamble: He must either win the witch he loves and her godchild…or endure a loss that will destroy them all.
Make sure to check out Kelly’s review HERE
About the Author
Jennifer Lyon, who also writes as Jennifer Apodaca, lives in Southern California where she continually plots ways to convince her husband that they should get a dog. After all, they met at the dog pound, fell in love, married and had three wonderful sons. So far, however, she has failed in her doggy endeavor. She consoles herself by pouring her passion into writing books. To date, Jen has published more than fifteen books and novellas, including a fun and sexy mystery series and a variety of contemporary romances under the name Jennifer Apodaca. As Jennifer Lyon she created a dark, sizzling paranormal series, and The Plus Once Chronicles, an emotionally sensual adult contemporary series. Jen’s won numerous awards and had her books translated into multiple languages, but she still hasn’t come up with a way to persuade her husband that they need a dog.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
GIVEAWAY TIME
There are 3 tour wide giveaways!
Open to US, CAN, UK
(1) grand prize $50.00 electronic gift card (Amazon or B&N)
(2) runner up winners of one $25.00 electronic gift card each (Amazon or B&N)
