(Day 13) Guest Post: Sharon Ashwood

Click on the image to check out all other available/upcoming giveaways/events.

Are you a paranormal romance junkie?  Well if you are, then you're going to love Sharon's Dark Forgotten series.  You'll also love that series if you enjoy a bit of world building. 

"Sharon Ashwood is a free-lance journalist, novelist, desk jockey and enthusiast for the weird and spooky. She has an English literature degree but works as a finance geek. Interests include growing her to-be-read pile and playing with the toy graveyard on her desk. As a vegetarian, she freely admits the whole vampire/werewolf lifestyle fantasy would never work out, so she writes paranormal romances instead.
 
Sharon lives in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness."

Bio courtesy of Sharon's website.

Connect with Sharon:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

---

Warrior queens

I would consider Ashe Carver, the heroine of my new release, Unchained, to be an alpha heroine.  Of course, that looks a bit different in a woman than a man, mostly because women don’t have the luxury of merely grunting and retreating to the cave once the rampaging buffalo is dead. If it’s the female alpha who has slain the mighty beast, she still has to skin it, cook it, feed the kids, and wash up.

In most ways, Ashe isn’t all that different from your typical PNR hero. She’s a monster-slayer, extremely physically fit, a maverick, and isn’t afraid to take what she wants. She sets a high standard for herself and others. She leads by example. She’d rather do than talk. She doesn’t flinch from life and death challenges. In short, she kicks ass.

But she’s also a mother, and that adds an entire dimension of responsibility. She can be boss of the world, but she’ll do it gently. Children need patience. As much as one would like to make things happen in a fast, orderly, tidy manner for the good of all, it doesn’t always happen that way. Of course mom knows what’s best, but they also know that binding and gagging the children is not a good long-term strategy.

And, since even (or especially) world-saving slayers find being a single mom a stretch, Ashe needs and wants her family around.  No lofty solitary brooding for her. She has a grandmother and a sister, co-workers and other parents to call on because you can’t work all day and chase vampires all night without a babysitter. The whole nonverbal-alpha-as-a-solitary-island routine falls flat in the face of parental scheduling. What about soccer?  What about the bake sale? What if they conflict with that night’s slayage? Whether they like it or not, women have to network to make things happen.

Nope, the alpha woman might be queen, but she’s also the caretaker. She has to pack lunches before she can sit around polishing her sword, but she’ll make those PBJ sandwiches with a glad heart because—male or female—those alphas are loyal and always put the good of others first.  

Here’s the book video that describes just what Ashe is up against:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbExjMvR8-0

Ashe stands ready to help you rid yourself of any monster infestations in your life ... check out her do-it-yourself monster removal advice.

As a little girl, I wanted to be Red Sonja or Boudicca, the warrior queen of England. What alpha females inspired you?  Leave a comment and I’ll give away a copy of one of my books (excerpts at www.SharonAshwood.com

---

 One lucky winner will receive a book of their choice courtesy of Sharon.
(Read my review: Ravenous | Unchained)

Giveaway Guidelines:

1. Open to everyone!
2. Leave a comment answering Sharon's question.  No answer, no entry
3. Provide your email address.
   
4. Giveaway ends 9/4.  Be sure to check back after that and see if you've won!  I will not be emailing winners after they are announced on the blog.  Winners will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.

Extra Entries:

• [+1] Tweeting about this giveaway.  Provide a link in your comment.

Being a blog follower is not required, yet is extremely appreciated!