Book Spotlight: Sophie Avett of Twas the Darkest Night
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Twas the Darkest Night
Sophie Avett
A New Gotham Novel
A Sinister Stiches Spin-off
Genre: Erotic Gothic Paranormal Romance
Date of Publication: March 15, 2014
Cover Artist: Elaina, For the Muse Designs
Book Description:
Remember the story about the troll who lived under the bridge—yes, well, that twit didn't have to pay rent.
Owner and operator of Bits and Pieces, and resident expert on charms and glamours, Elsa Karr is a witch with a sour frown and a list of things to do as long as Thor’s hammer. Top of the list is saving her father's shop from ruin. If she isn't trying to claw her way out of debt, she's arguing with her cat, Fenris, or shoveling carts of cake into her gob. She's not interested in romance or the vampire who rents the flat above her shop. All she wants is a little peace and chocolate--fine, all right! All right! The vampire is kind of screw all cute. (Curse him.)
The disgraced son and heir of the Wingates House vampire clan and a mad-man to boot, Marshall Ansley spends most of his time working and dodging his mother's phone calls. Marshall is beyond family. He's beyond everyone, actually. Don’t be daft, he especially doesn't do…Christmas. But behold, the plague brings an original flavor of annoyance this year when his boss tasks him with acquiring the account of a recluse fey and her upcoming Gothic clothing boutique, Sinister Stitches. That is the ONLY reason he's bothering with his shrewish landlord. No, that's it. No…really. Fine, if you insist, the witch might be a tad bit...all right, she's adorable. (Damn her.)
Scrooge meets Scrooge. Dominant meets Dominant. Tempers…spark. In each other, they may unfold a tale that only comes to pass on the darkest of nights.
My characters
are either naked or dressed to kill. Given they’re all monsters stalking the
city of New Gotham’s twisted, cracked, and cobbled streets, the criminal
wardrobe is part of the job description. Rockabilly princesses, corpse brides,
leather queens…my city is full of them. Where do they get their menacing
threads?
There is a
boutique hiding out between the fractured, narrow store-fronts lining the foggy
docks. The shingles are ribbed and black. Washed, peeling paint and displays
offer views into wicked leather and lace studded glam. The mannequins are
ghoulish beauties stitched together from whatever was left from the last fool
to cross one of the sinister witches.
Push open its
shabby, frosted front door. Tiny white flakes of paint will pepper the wind
like spectral dust. The minute you set heel onto waxy polished oak floors and
step into the candelabra fire-light you know…
This is where
the magic happens.
Welcome
to Sinister Stitches
“…apparel
for a wicked fairy tale.”
A spicy
trinity of black magic sisters breathe star-dusted dreams to life with their
gothic apparel boutique. They are schooled in the old ways of “fabric-bending”
by the Needlewitches of old. With this knowledge, they’ve created an entire
line of clothing that all share the same basic design element: one-size fits
all. Each garment will magically tailor itself to its wearer once worn. There
might be some “twirling” required, but a vampire’s steady hand should turn
every wardrobe change into a stolen moment.
Care to take
a peek at what the Sinister Stitches has to offer?
Check out
some of the questionnaire Susan Royal’s
Erin from Not Long Ago was asked to
fill out when she wandered into Sinister Stitches.
THE WITCHES WHO STITCH
Please
provide the witches with your name: Erin (aka
Aaron/Lady Honor)
Please
provide the witches with the following:
Hair
Color: Reddish Brown
Hair
Length: [X] Short and Sassy, [ ] Medium and
Modern, [] Lush and Long
Eye
Color: Depends on what I’m wearing. Earth tones
make them green, Cool colors make them blue. They go icy when I’m angry and
dark when I’m sad.
Skin
Tone: [ ] Ghoulish, [ ] Snow White, [ ]
Cina-baby, [ ] Mochalicious, [ ] Dark Chocolate,
[X] Other: Fair, blush easily
Please
provide the witches with your measurements and body-type.
a.) Height:
5’7”
b.) Body
Type: [ ] Skeletal, [ ] Lean and Tender, [] Lean and Tough,
[X] Boyish and athletic (lucky for me. It
allowed me to become Sir Griffin’s squire)
Do
you have any extra extremities? Place an “X” to all that apply.
[ ] Horns or
[ ] Halo
[ ] 20 ft. of
Hair or More
[ ] Gills and
Fins or [ ] Hooves
[ ] Wings
(Span: )
[ ] Tail (How
many: )
How
many heads do you have?
Only one, that is until I lose it over Sir
Griffin.
Do
you have arms and legs? If so, how many?
The usual two and two.
How
dead are you? [X] Living, [ ] Undead, [ ]
Astral Form
What
are you? (Species/Breed)
Human
What
is the occasion? (Ideas
include: Wedding, Funeral, Sabbath, etc. Oh, and seduction is a valid occasion.
The more details, the better.)
I want a gorgeous dress suitable for
dancing in Sir Griffin’s arms. Just once and I’ll die happy. I want him to look
into my eyes and see me as I really am. (Something besides an awkward squire who
has two left feet and cannot even ride a horse.)
What’s
the occasion setting? (Beach, haunted castle, grand ball, etc.)
The Masquerade Ball held at the end of the
tournament at Lord John and Lady Isobeil’s castle.
Will
you be running for your life at some point in the evening?
(Helps with shoe selection.)
It’s entirely possible. At some point in
the evening, Lady Honor will need to disappear to let Aaron return in her place.
Will
you be set on fire? Better yet, will you be setting other people on fire?
I’d like to set Lady Mierla on fire. I’ve
seen the way she looks at Sir Griffin. She might as well forget about it if I
have anything to do with it. Come to think of it, though, she did seem pretty
steamed when she saw me dancing with him. Pretty sure I saw fire shooting out
her nose.
Will
you be grave-robbing? (Dirt is a dressmaker’s tedium.)
As a squire, who knows what I’ll be
required to do.
Is
your neck a dinner plate?
When Lady Isobeil figures out I’m from the
future, she may consider serving me up.
Do
you hope to be naked at some point in the evening?
(All right, dirty birds. Such questions
are actually intended toward the weres and shifters in regards to their
transformations.)
Not likely (*heavy sighs here*)
Describe
your last brush with Death in two sentences.
Being struck by lightning, jerked through
time and landing in the middle of a cottage with a smoking fire and dirt floors
was pretty harrowing. My heart nearly stopped beating.
Do
you need a secret compartment for weapons, wands, tampons, etc.?
If I’d have had a place to hide to
artifact, it would have come in handy.
What
are your three favorite colors?
Blue, green or silver like Sir Griffin’s
eyes.
What
two colors rattle your kettle?
Gray or tan…too plain.
Please
pick a style that you feel embodies you the best. If none apply, feel free to
surprise us by providing your own brilliant description in the “other” slot.
[ ]
Rockabilly Starlet: This
is for the spoonfuls of sugar. The good-natured and naughty girl next door
types. Candy is the business and fairy tales are ultimate. More often than not,
her head is in the clouds and her nose in the book. Our dreamers.
[ ]
Leather Queen: This
is for the warrior princesses. The type of girls who give boys a run for their
money and wear tight jeans just watch the little vampires come undone. Hands
for fighting and these heels for ass-kickings. Our protectors.
[ ]
Medieval Mistress: This is for the no-nonsense girls. The ones
who know better because they’re ten steps ahead. They’re schemers—they might be
shy, or they might not be. More importantly, they’re selective. Our wisdom.
[ ]
Gothic Dame: This for the mysteries.
The ones no one can quite make heads or tails out off. She’s a mixture, a
melting pot of sugar and sinister. She might be Rockabilly Starlet one day, or
a Medieval Mistress other days. Our sisters.
[X]
Other: Stand by your man girl: She doesn’t stand by waiting to be
rescued. She fights back to back with her man and holds her own. She can be
dainty and feminine or she can be a tigress. Whatever the occasion calls for...
Who
is your favorite fairy tale villain?
Snow White’s step-mother
If
you could be any fairy tale princess, who would it be?
Whichever one was the best with a sword.
Now,
tell us the twit you hate most.
Lady Mierla. Perfect hair, flawless skin
and china blue eyes. She avoids getting dirty and I’m pretty sure she never
sweats.
Anything
else you’d like to add…
I want the kind of gown that will make it
impossible for Sir Griffin to keep his eyes anywhere but on me.
After
many barrels of chocolate, a dash of magic and furious sewing…
Sinister
Stitches’ Medieval Mistress,
Astrid
Dweyer presents Erin’s Completed Dress
“Maid
Marian”
There
is a vampire draped in waves of midnight blue velvet—it’s the kind of gown
Morgan le Fay had probably died in. Sapphie velvet panels framing the
burgundy-red satin overlay, it’s trimmed with stain roses, but nothing draws the
eyes like the oil-black braid wound at her feet like a fat Asian dragon:
Merry met, Erin. Name’s Astrid. We’re both busy women, so let’s talk about what
our little shop of scissorhands has crafted especially for you...
Spun from
Neverwinter spider silk and Avalon Georgette imported straight from The Veil,
this dress is a supple medieval wonder. It’s sweet, billowing sleeves are
fitted above the elbow, which should camouflage your wound nicely, and the gown
has been fitted with a zipper—much to my sister’s absolute horror—for quick and
painless wardrobe changes.
And no, I
didn’t put the zipper in the back of the dress. I want to know who the hell
came up with that? Who woke up and decided that unless you have a third arm
growing up from the crack of your ass, putting on a dress was going to be an
ordeal? Who did that? If you figure it out, hold them down for them—I’ll be
spot on shortly.
In any case,
the zipped is located on the side and was fashioned from pixie teeth. Very
sharp, very strong—don’t rush it.
You’ll note
your sweeping crimson head piece can be removed and unfolded into a red sash.
It’ll do nicely for an evening chill. Or if you should need to...cover
something up? Oh, you know...a bullet wound, a hickey—the world is full of
possibilities.
There will be
plenty of storage for an artifact in a special pair of mermaid-scale garter
betls my sister, Gillian, has fashioned for you (some point after I convinced
her to quite moaning about the blasphemy of a zipper.) Granted the trinket no
larger than a skull—it just fit just nicely. Anything bigger and the Void
pocket stitched to the garter belt will collapse.
Now, you
mention this Sir Griffin a lot...
I assume,
he’s of importance—so, let’s make sure he can’t keep his eyes off you. Hence,
the special blend of fabrics used to create this particular piece. It’s the
right kind of naughty illusion sheer—somewhere for the eye to wander...devour.
Just like
that, once you drop the skirt—the sex and intrigue is gone. And all that is
left is a stunning young woman with courage and tiger’s smile.
IMPORTANT
BULLETINS from THE PIXES:
Fancy
a tour of New Gotham? Check out New Gotham’s
Survival Guide! It might save your life! (Link: http://sophieavett.weebly.com/new-gotham-bonus-content.html)
For
more information about Sophie Avett’s New Gotham novels and Sinister Stitches
series and
recent release, ‘Twas the Darkest Night, please check out her website: http://www.sophieavett.weebly.com
For
more information about Susan Royal’s and Erin’s adventures in Not Long Ago,
please check out her publisher’s website: http://www.susanroyal.moonfruit.com
Twas the Darkest Night
A New Gotham Novel
A Sinister Stiches Spin-off
Sophie Avett
Genre: Erotic Gothic Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Skeleton Key Publishing
Date of Publication: March 15, 2014
Number of pages: est. 355 pages
Word Count: est. 160, 000
Cover Artist: Elaina, For the Muse Designs
Book
Description:
Remember the story about the troll who lived under the bridge—yes, well, that twit didn't have to pay rent.
Owner and operator of Bits and Pieces, and resident expert on charms and glamours, Elsa Karr is a witch with a sour frown and a list of things to do as long as Thor’s hammer. Top of the list is saving her father's shop from ruin. If she isn't trying to claw her way out of debt, she's arguing with her cat, Fenris, or shoveling carts of cake into her gob. She's not interested in romance or the vampire who rents the flat above her shop. All she wants is a little peace and chocolate--fine, all right! All right! The vampire is kind of screw all cute. (Curse him.)
The disgraced son and heir of the Wingates House vampire clan and a mad-man to boot, Marshall Ansley spends most of his time working and dodging his mother's phone calls. Marshall is beyond family. He's beyond everyone, actually. Don’t be daft, he especially doesn't do…Christmas. But behold, the plague brings an original flavor of annoyance this year when his boss tasks him with acquiring the account of a recluse fey and her upcoming Gothic clothing boutique, Sinister Stitches. That is the ONLY reason he's bothering with his shrewish landlord. No, that's it. No…really. Fine, if you insist, the witch might be a tad bit...all right, she's adorable. (Damn her.)
Scrooge meets Scrooge. Dominant meets Dominant. Tempers…spark. In each other, they may unfold a tale that only comes to pass on the darkest of nights.
About the Author:
Sophie Avett is kind of a nerd. Like not even one of the cute, hip ones everyone brags about nowadays. More like the socially awkward hippie who eats way too much bread and dreams about being a dragon from behind towers of mythology books. Um...yeah. Picture old, tattered paperbacks and comic books--mostly Batman and Wonder Woman--dwarfing a tiny desk, with just barely enough room for the troll who writes there and the 70 pound hell-hound that insists of laying it's wet nose on top of her bare foot.
Granted not the most exciting existence, but she tries to make up for it by writing romances populated with her own peculiar ilk of paranormal beasties. Trolls, wyverns, the obscure Nordic brownie--she likes to keep things interesting. And bloody. (And mostly naked--but, we'll keep that bit between us.)
Sophie Avett loves to hear from her readers. (Hi, mom.) So if there's something on your mind, feel free to leave a message after the scream.
(Mom, seriously…you can just call me.)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SophieAvett
Post-Its, the Blog: http://sophieavett.weebly.com/post-its-the-blog.html
Brimstone Pub, the Blog: http://thebrimstonepub.com/
Take
a trip to New Gotham!
A
paid vacation to New Gotham is an expensive affair. So, the ravens have decided
to cover the cost of travel and fashion this delightful "Carriage
Charm."
"Naked
wizards and scheming vampires? Where do I sign?!" all the witches scream
and random sparks of black magic crackle across the ceiling.
We're
getting to that, dearies...
An
Appointment for Tea with Mrs. Potts the Storymaven (aka Fairy Godmother) will
require the use of the earrings the pixies have fashioned out of raven skulls,
AKA, "Raven Ear-wings."
The
baubles should land the winners in New Gotham's clock-tower square. It could be that they do nothing at all. Or
you might end up in oblivion. Good luck with that. The crickets will read about
it in the papers, no doubt.
“What
do I have to do?” everyone screams and waves their good silver stakes in the
air. (Good girls.)
How
to Win the Vacation of a Lifetime...
You
have to fill out information in the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of the tour
stops
Win
a Dress from Sinister Stitches!
Sophie
Avett's ravens have partnered with the Witches-Who-Stitch to offer a special
prize. It’s a dress featured in Sophie’s upcoming release, ‘Twas the Darkest
Night. The sinister witches made it special for Elsa but after many carts of
cake offered to the trinity in sacrifice, they have agreed to stitch an exact replica
for one lucky witch.
“What
do I have to do?!” everyone screams and fails theirs arms like deranged
daisies. (Just go with it.)
How
to Win a Dress...
You
have to sign up via the Rafflecopter form that will be posted at the bottom of
each and every Sinister Stitches Tour Stop
At
the end of Sophie Avett’s Bewitching Book Tours campaign (March 17 to March 31
2014) the ravens will announce a winner and gather that witch's measurements
via email.
Well?
What
are you waiting for?
Every
girl needs a dress for a wicked fairy tale.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 17 Guest blog
Erotica by Cori Vidae
March 17 Spotlight
Book Liaison
March 17 spotlight
Sapphyria's Steamy Book Reviews
March 18 Character Interview
Bitten By Love Love Reviews
March 18 Spotlight
Behind Closed Doors
March 18 Guest blog
The Snarkology
March 19 Interview
Eclipse Reviews
March 19 guest post
Books & Tales:
March 19 Spotlight and review
Penny For Them...
March 20 Spotlight
Author Karen Swart
March 20 Interview
Words Without Limits
March 21 Guest blog
Magic and Mayhem
March 21 Interview
The Simple Things in Life
March 24 Guest blog (all week feature)
Kay Dee Royal
March 24 Interview
Darkest Cravings - Adult Blog
March 25 Guest blog
Erotica For All
March 25 Interview
All I Want and More
March 26 Guest blog
Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust
March 26 Interview
Butterfly-o-Meter Books
March 27 Spotlight
Shut Up & Read
March 27 Spotlight and review
The Book Review
March 28 Guest blog and review
Romantic Reads and Such
March 28 Guest blog
Aly's Miscellany
March 31 Spotlight
Share My Destiny
March 31 review
Nicky Peacock Author
Excerpt:
“Pardon the interruption, Ms. Karr, but are you ready for dinner?”
She forced her hand to her side and tossed a flat frown over her shoulder. “Indeed, vampire.”
Leaning against the door frame, Marshall was the picture of bloody elegance. Black slacks with a matching vest. A deep wine shirt. He’d left the top buttons undone. It was rich simplicity, and he wore it sickeningly well. Damp, disheveled locks drifted over his eyes as he peered at the blue marble on the coffee table with interest. She breathed in deeply, thoroughly appreciating the combination of his sandalwood body wash and amber cologne. His mouth quirked and she swallowed twice before she could speak. “Huldra, I—”
“And then be done with it, Elsa.” Ingrid reminded her firmly, but added in her signature sultry burst of frost. “Otherwise, enjoy. For both of us.”
Marshall lifted his eyebrows slightly and Elsa flushed and snatched up the speaker. She tapped the orb and it died into a mundane glass marble. “Ignore her. Besides, I’m ready.” She levered herself out of the chair and tossed the ball back in her bag. It clanked and rattled, circling until it dropped deep into the depths of the magical pocket.
He reached out for her hand. “Come here.”
She draped a black fur stole over her forearm and eyed his palm with suspicion. “Why?”
“I mean you no harm,” he promised.
Time stilled between them. She searched his expression and found nothing but the steely shrewd regard of a predator. Her feet felt heavy, leavened. She did not come to any man’s beck and call. Never. Never again. She offered her hand, but did not budge an inch. If he wanted her cooperation, he would appeal to her on her terms.
Marshall did not hesitate to take the distance between them, coming to stand so close, so quickly she back-stepped and the back of her shins bumped the chair. Snowy blue eyes were almost black in the shadows. His cool slender finger closed around her wrist and he hauled her against the solid wall of his chest, his embrace sealing around her like a coffin.
“Stubborn little witch.” He yanked and something popped. She hardly noticed. She was gone. Yearning for the individuals folds of the thin skin stretched across his bottom lip, wondering whether each individual wrinkle was a crevice of flavor. What would he taste like? Her tongue snaked out to tease the line of her mouth and she found it a poor substitute for his.
Marshall showed her the writing on the small tag he’d apparently pulled from her dress. “Twirl to activate skirt,” his voice rolled over the words in a deep murmur. It vibrated it in his chest and her naked shoulders tensed as she stifled a shudder. He took a step back and guided her around. Slowly. So very slowly. He studied from hooded eyes. He savored. Without reserve or shame.
One time around. Then two. Then a third. Every time their eyes would meet, her skin grew warmer as desire deepened the snowy depths into a profound sapphire blue. Her knees were weak, but as he drew her around faster and faster it didn’t seem to matter. Nothing seemed to matter. He became her only point of focus in a world quickly blurring beyond what she knew. Beyond what she could readily understand.
Magic. It crackled to life, sparking across the textile and thread. Energy tickled her naked thighs and the limp silky material puffed and inflated into a billowing bell of smoky black tulle. “What …” Unfamiliar excitement danced in Elsa’s veins and she reveled in the fabric twirling about her. Wispy and light. Akin to smoke and shadows, the bottom hemmed by a ring of gray fog.
Marshall finally drew her to a stop and she mopped her hair back out of her face, breathless. He didn’t immediately close the distance between them again, and Elsa couldn’t control her legs as they carried until the hem of her large skirt covered his slick black dress shoes. They stood enthralled in the moonlight. Pale light beating down them like a blessing.
“Beautiful,” he whispered and backed away toward the door, drawing her along with him.
Tethered to him by their entwined fingers, Elsa couldn’t help but feel like somehow, someway, Marshall had finally caught her.
*****Giveaway*****
The first five people to comment on one of Sophie Avett’s Bewitching Book Tour Stops will automatically win a free e-book copy of ‘Twas the Darkest Night. Available formats include: mobi, pdf, epub, and prc. Interested parties should leave their email address and which format they would prefer at the end of their comment.
The ravens will keep tally and submit prizes! (If your e-reader format is not listed, contact the ravens directly via the contact form and the ravens will fashion a book especially for you!) Likewise, any winner of Sophie Avett’s contests will also receive a free e-book copy of ‘Twas the Darkest Night.
Giveaways- 1 Carriage Charm
1 set of Raven earrings
1 Sinister Stitches Dress
Take a trip to New Gotham! A paid vacation to New Gotham is an expensive affair. So, the ravens have decided to cover the cost of travel and fashion this delightful "Carriage Charm." "Naked wizards and scheming vampires?
Where do I sign?!" all the witches scream and random sparks of black magic crackle across the ceiling. We're getting to that, dearies... An Appointment for Tea with Mrs. Potts the Storymaven (aka Fairy Godmother) will require the use of the earrings the pixies have fashioned out of raven skulls, AKA, "Raven Ear-wings." The baubles should land the winners in New Gotham's clock-tower square. It could be that they do nothing at all. Or you might end up in oblivion. Good luck with that. The crickets will read about it in the papers, no doubt.
“What do I have to do?” everyone screams and waves their good silver stakes in the air. (Good girls.)
How to Win the Vacation of a Lifetime... You have to fill out information in the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of the tour stops Win a Dress from Sinister Stitches! Sophie Avett's ravens have partnered with the Witches-Who-Stitch to offer a special prize.
It’s a dress featured in Sophie’s upcoming release, ‘Twas the Darkest Night. The sinister witches made it special for Elsa but after many carts of cake offered to the trinity in sacrifice, they have agreed to stitch an exact replica for one lucky witch.
“What do I have to do?!” everyone screams and fails theirs arms like deranged daisies. (Just go with it.)
How to Win a Dress... You have to sign up via the Rafflecopter form that will be posted at the bottom of each and every Sinister Stitches Tour Stop At the end of Sophie Avett’s Bewitching Book Tours campaign (March 17 to March 31 2014) the ravens will announce a winner and gather that witch's measurements via email.
Well?
What are you waiting for? Every girl needs a dress for a wicked fairy tale.
The Simple Life, thank you so much for hosting me! Everything looks wonderful. :)
ReplyDeleteYour Welcome, thanks for stopping by :-)
ReplyDelete