(Day 9) Guest Post: Anita Clenney

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Hello everyone! Today I'd like to introduce you all to a new, debuting author.  Anita Clenney is writing an upcoming modern day Highlander series.  To say that I am excited for another Highlander series is an understatement.  Please give Anita a warm welcome, and be sure to follow her on Twitter so you don't miss any updates about her books!


"My name is Anita Clenney and I write Paranormal Romance and Romantic Suspense. I’ve worked in a pickle factory (picture Lucy and Ethel, hair nets and all--lasted half a day), a preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, been a Secretary, Executive Assistant, and a Realtor, and through it all, I’ve been in love. Sometimes it was wonderful, sometimes it hurt so bad I could hardly breathe. Then I found Mr. Right, and the two of us multiplied into a family of four. We live in Virginia, not far from Washington, DC, where we are slaves to a white Boxer named Lily, who thinks we live and breathe to buy new stuff for her to chew up. My husband is a Network Architect, and it’s a good thing because technology doesn’t like me. My twelve-year-old son plans to be a famous hockey or football player, and my nine-year-old daughter will probably figure out a way to rule the world.
 

With scenes rolling nonstop in my head and my feet rarely on the ground, I should have realized that I was born to write much earlier in life, but alas, no. Not until I was on the wrong side of 40 did I hear the keyboard calling me. But then I tend to do things backwards.
 

When I decided to wrestle the stories in my imagination and dreams onto the page, my husband and kids encouraged me all the way. Even when I was in the middle of a heated battle with warriors and demons and forgot that people in the real world had to eat dinner and that dishes didn’t wash themselves, still my family supported me. Finally it paid off. After three years, eleven months and twenty-two days, I got THE CALL from my wonderful agent Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency, who is really Wonder Woman in disguise. A publisher wanted to buy my story. MY STORY!!! Not just one, but three of them. A new journey begins and I hope you’ll join me for the ride."

Bio courtesy of Anita Clenney's website.

Connect with Anita:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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Romeo or Rambo – What lights your fire?

Thanks for having me here, Tori!

Let’s talk men. Without them, romance novels would be just…novels. Nothing wrong with that, but I write romance and I love to read romance, so I need men. What do I look for in a man? What makes a sizzling, heart-stopping hero? What about you? Are you a Romeo kind of girl, or does Rambo do it for you?

I write paranormal romance, and most paranormal heroes tend to be Alpha males. The paranormal world is fraught with danger. There’s always a threat, and it’s usually big and bad, so it takes a big, bad man, who can think fast and move even faster to survive this world. He may be a warrior or a vampire, but he’s used to having his orders obeyed. He’s tough and he knows it.

But we can’t forget his heart. After all, this is a romance. If he’s nothing but a big, bad fighting machine, well that’s no fun. He might as well be a robot. We want flesh and blood, and throw in some flaws to make it interesting, and if he’s wounded, even better. Our alpha males aren’t machines and they aren’t insensitive, but they’ve managed to put a lid on their emotions…at least they think they have. Until they meet the heroine, who is going to be the one female on the planet to strip away that tough exterior and get to the heart inside.

Take the hero of my debut novel, Awaken the Warrior, due out May 2011. Faelan is a Scottish warrior who’s as big and bad as they come. The heroine says it best. “Faelan makes Romeo look like a girl. Heck, he makes Rambo look like a girl.” Born in the nineteenth century, Faelan is part of a secret clan of warriors commanded by Michael the Archangel. Faelan has been trained to fight demons disguised among us, bent on destroying the world, and he does it well. So well that his brothers and the other warriors have christened him The Mighty Faelan. The demon in this story really has it in for Faelan. He hatches a devious plot to destroy the world and make Faelan watch. Faelan is betrayed and put in the time vault that was to hold the demon until Judgment, but along comes the heroine and wakes him up. And it’s a rude awakening. Faelan is glad to be out of the time vault, but not so glad to see what’s become of the world. Especially with women. With no money, no sword and no horse, he’s forced to accept the help of this feisty, modern woman.

Faelan and Bree butt heads continually, because he’s used to men being tough and women being…well homebodies, peacemakers and nurturers. She’s used to doing everything for herself and is drawn to danger. He quickly learns that women have changed from his time. They’re not only nurturers, some are warriors. Gasp. “What next?” he thinks. “Will they send children into battle?” But eventually Bree works her magic on him and he faces his personal demons, his need to protect because he feels it’s his duty. Shaking off blame for things in the past that weren’t his fault. He realizes that it’s okay to make mistakes, to open up and admit he needs help, even from a woman. He even learns to respect the fact that she’s attempted to rescue him from the demon’s lair. Him. A warrior. Nevermind that he didn’t actually need rescuing, and he’s forced to then rescue her from her botched attempt. With Bree’s influence, we eventually see a much softer side of Faelan wrapped up in all that toughness, as he comes to terms with who he is, what he’s lost and what he’s gained. And that makes him a perfect paranormal romance hero. Soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside.

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Upcoming books by Anita: 

BOOK 1: Awaken The Warrior
Coming May 2011 from Sourcebooks Casablanca.

Mis-adventurous historian Bree Kirkland discovers a one hundred fifty year old warrior buried in a crypt behind her house. But Faelan, the warrior, isn’t dead. When this chauvinistic Scottish Warrior awakes, he has no choice but accept the help of this modern-day woman who’s rescued him, but she’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him. If he’s not careful, she’ll uncover every secret his clan has bled and died to protect.

BOOK 2: The Secret Child
Coming soon from Sourcebooks Casablanca.

When the powerful demon that left Amanda for dead discovers her empty grave, he comes seeking retribution. Knowing she can’t fight the demon alone, Amanda returns to her clan and the Scottish Warrior who betrayed her…the only man she’s ever loved.

BOOK 3: His Brother's Keeper
Coming soon from Sourcebooks Casablanca.

The only weapon that can kill the demon who’s trying to destroy the world is Tavis Connor’s brother’s talisman, but his brother has been captured and Tavis doesn’t know if he’s alive or dead. The Scottish Warrior risks his life to find his brother and finish the quest.

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Anita is offering a $40 Borders gift card to one winner.

Giveaway Guidelines:

1. Open to US only.
   
2. Fill out the form below.
   
3. 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.

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