WELCOME TO THE BLOG, LINDA! :)
Linda Robertson is the mother of four wonderful boys, owns three electric guitars, and is followed around by a big dog named after Bela Lugosi. Once upon a time she was a lead guitarist in a heavy metal cover band and has worked as a graphic artist. She still composes and creates art, when time permits. Linda currently writes and rocks in northeast Ohio. Visit her at AuthorLindaRobertson.com and @authorLinda
Where to Find Linda:
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The_Book_Queen: Hi Linda! Can you tell us a
little bit about yourself?
L: Well, I was born
and raised in the lower portion of Northeast Ohio and I bought my childhood
home, so my boys are tromping in the same woods that I tromped in as a kid. I
have four boys—two still at home, plus my fella has his son there. I’m
surrounded by males, except when my mom is visiting. I play electric guitar in
a band called Hagatha’s Bluff (or “the Hags”). We play originals and cover
tunes from the 70’s through today, mostly hard rock.
TBQ: What made you decide to start writing? Why romance?
L: I have always loved to write down stories. I think it started young for me because my mom was an avid reader and I tried to write stories for her. She read a lot of Harlequin romances, so that was what I tried to provide for her—what I thought a romance was. The result, she still has a book I wrote when I was 8, was a phonetic-spelling laden mess, but otherwise wasn’t too bad for a kid. I wouldn’t exactly say that my books are romances, though there is romance in them. As with most Urban Fantasy, the ‘how will hero and heroine get together’ question is not the main emphasis of the plot, but a sub-plot. (For me, sometimes the lines between PNR and UF blur. Either way, I enjoy both genres.)
TBQ: Your newest release, Shattered Circle, is the
sixth in your Persephone Alcmedi series. Can you tell us a little bit about
this book, and why readers are going to love it?
L: Shattered Circle is like the 'Empire Strikes Back' of the series. Bad things happen. The
Shabbubitu cause chaos in the haven. You find out more about who and what
Creepy is. Johnny has to step further into his role as Domn Lup while Menessos
and Goliath have a break up. And of course, trouble finds Persephone no matter
where she goes....
TBQ: I haven't read this series yet (though it's on my list
now!); if I picked up SC without reading the previous books,
would I be lost? I'm notorious for doing this with series all the time, and I
always regret it. (But do I learn? Noooo...) :)
L: YES! You would be lost. The series is plotted very tightly. Vicious Circle opens in the last week of October. Shattered Circle ends with Thanksgiving. Where one book ends, the next picks up directly. (Noted--no book jumping on this series, I promise! :D)
TBQ: Are there other genres you would like to write about?
L: I’m working on a collaboration that is more mainstream now, as well as another unrelated Urban Fantasy. I’d like to dig into a western someday.
TBQ: I know we all hate this question, author and reader alike.
:) But I have to ask: What are a few of your favorite books and/or authors?
L: Jennifer Roberson’s SWORD DANCER series, and Ellen Kushner’s THE FALL OF THE KINGS are favorites, as well as Steven Brust’s JHEREG series.
TBQ: We've all fallen for a hero (or two, or three, or....ahem). Tell us one hero that you've fallen for—who
is he and what drew you to him?
L: I get attached to movie heroes way more
than book heroes—but then I don’t read much romance, more UF so that may be a
reason as well. I really, really dig Dwayne Johnson’s Scorpion King and Hugh
Jackman’s Van Helsing. I was into Tanis Half-elven in the Dragonlance books. (I have to completely agree with Johnson and Jackman's characters...If only they'd come to life!)
TBQ: What's next-- Can you tell us a little bit about your
upcoming releases or WIP?
L: I’m putting the final touches on a
non-related urban fantasy about angels and demons in San Francisco, AND I’m
working on a secret sneaky collaboration with only a touch of fantasy. Then
it’s back to the Persephone books for me. (Sounds like a lot of great things to come!)
SPEED ROUND:
A day on a secluded island OR a day at the spa?
Island. I’ve never been to a spa. (Confession: Neither have I.)
Reading a spicy romance novel OR a sweet
“my-heart-skips-a-beat” one?
Spicy.
Which would you rather have an affair with: a sexy
highlander OR a devilishly handsome English lord?
Now that’s tough…hmmm…I’m going to say the
sexy highlander. Something about highlander says “untamed” to me, while English
Lord says “restrained.” (Gotta love trying to tame a sexy man!)
Hot summer days OR cold winter nights?
Gimme summer anytime! I dream of moving
somewhere where it is warm all the time…
Where would your dream house be: in the city, where all the
action is OR nestled in the mountain where you can enjoy the quiet and the
wilderness?
(Laughing because of her answer to previous
question) On a secluded stretch of warm-weather beach. The water is in constant
motion, yet it’s tranquil in its predictability. If I had to pick between the
city or the mountain, though, I’d say mountain for the seclusion and nature.
I’m definitely not a big-city girl.
If you could live in any time period, past or future, which
one would it be?
Okay this one is tough too. If I could live
in Star Trek’s 23rd century, let me at it!!! If not…I’m pretty happy
where I’m at…you know, with electricity, flushing toilets and all. J I think I’m too
non-frilly-girly to fit into any time period where girls in pants wasn’t quite
accepted.
Cover Lover OR Blurb Fan?
Cover Lover.
Steamy Novella OR Sweet Novel? (aka, Quickie or Slow Build
Up?)
Steamy novella.
And finally, tell us 3 unique/wacky/fun things about
yourself:
1.)
I bartend two
nights a week at a VFW—I’ve learned that by and large, old vets and their wives
are pretty cool people. (That would be interesting--hear any great old war stories from the regulars?)
2.)
I’ve played
piano since I was 8, got my first guitar at 15, was playing lead in a local
band by 16, and at 17 our band was made the house band for a local bar—meaning
we played there at least once a week, and that we by default got to open for
larger name acts. (Wow!)
3.)
I am totally
geeking out over the “Game of Thrones” TV series. (I've never seen it, but I want to!)
The_Book_Queen: Thanks so much for stopping by, Linda , and please know that
you are welcome back anytime! Do you have any questions for our
readers—something to spark a good discussion? :)
Linda: It’s been my pleasure! I recently
interviewed my three main characters, individually, as guest blogs that are to
be featured in part of my blog tour. Though I created these “people” and have
“lived” with them for six years…I found the interviews (which I’d never done
before) to be quite revealing. I’ve always pretended they interacted with each
other, you know? The way they interacted with me was…not what I
anticipated. They all three seem vivid to me in new ways. What do you think of author
character interviews? Do you read/enjoy them? Have you ever read one and
thought ‘I really want to read more about that character’? If you write, have
you ever done them, and if so, how did the exercise work for you?
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Shattered Circle by Linda Robertson
Publisher: Pocket Books (January 29, 2013)
Series: Persephone Alcmedi, 6
Genre: Paranormal Romance
After her werewolf boyfriend, Johnny, tried to kill her, Persephone Alcmedi finds herself in the comforting arms of powerful vampire Menessos. She’s trying to sort out her feelings for the two men, but not even Seph is above the confusion of tangled emotions. All Johnny wants to do is mend their relationship and reveal the life-altering news he’s recently received, but his new responsibilities as the werewolf king take up most of his time.
Does this mean Menessos can finally make his move?
Meanwhile, unknown to Seph, her beloved foster daughter, Beverley, has been playing with a magical artifact and making dubious friends on the other side. When Beverley disappears, Seph must seek help from a supernatural being so potent that even Menessos fears him...and such aid always comes with a very steep price.
Where to Buy*:
More Info:
Shattered Circle by Linda Robertson
Excerpt
Liyliy, a vampire-harpy, had tried to kill me a few hours
ago, and the struggle left me exhausted and sore. That was the reason I was
still abed at nearly two in the afternoon. When my satellite phone blared the
opening riffs of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Bark at the Moon,” it startled me, instantly
reminding me about all the sore muscles I had.
Mid-reach, I stopped. That was Johnny’s ringtone.
He had tried to kill me, too.
My hand shook as my finger jabbed the Answer button.
“Hello?”
“Red . . . I’m so sorry.” Johnny’s voice was barely
audible.
I sat up and deliberated whether to play deaf and repeat
my “hello” as if I hadn’t heard him. I considered being a jerk and hanging up.
I even contemplated ripping him a new one.
Instead, I remained silent.
Two days before, minutes after I’d performed the
forced-change spell on him and his loyal pack mates, Johnny had attacked me.
He’d always retained his manmind while transformed, but that last time he
didn’t—he’d been pure animal. The only reason I was still among the living was
because I’d pumped ley line energy into him like a human Taser.
“Red?”
He’d frightened me to my core. The unshakeable faith I’d
had in him had been shattered by an emotional earthquake. Damage was done. My
fear felt like betrayal.
But . . .
Could going through the
forced-change spell repeatedly have an undesired effect?
No. I was sure the whole terrible incident could be
pinned on the fact that my mother, Eris, had revoked the tattooed bindings
she’d placed upon Johnny eight years ago. He suddenly had access to all the
power and potential she’d locked away from him. That was surely a disorienting,
difficult situation.
I’d helped him dig up the clues, helped him achieve that
goal. Hell, I’d even been a part of the reversal spell. So some responsibility
for the consequences was mine to bear.
“Persephone?”
He rarely used my full given name; he usually called me
Red, as in Little Red Riding Hood to his Big Bad Wolf. Or Seph like nearly
everyone else. I had to respond.
“I’m here.”
“Then say something.”
Pushing back the covers, I stood and began to pace. “I
don’t know what to say.”
He paused. “Can you forgive me?”
I wasn’t sure.
Part of me said I couldn’t allow his attack to be a
personal issue because of the fateful trio that Johnny, Menessos, and I forged
by binding ourselves magically. The other part argued that no matter the circumstances,
attempted murder was very damn personal.
It all happened because Johnny had surrendered to his
destiny. His unique ability to transform at will made him the Domn Lup—king of
the wærewolves. It was a position with power, prestige, and perks such as a
Maserati Quattroporte. Johnny knew his royal place was unavoidable, but he’d
fought it and hid from it a long time. He’d finally pushed forward because it
was beneficial to our triple union, but kinghood was costing him his dream of
being a rock star.
It had been my fear that he’d lose who he was in the
course of this alliance of ours. More than ever, it seemed this fear was being
borne out.
On the other corner of our triangle was Menessos. He now
bore two witches marks—mine, of course. That made him my servant. When
Heldridge, his former right-hand man, learned of my authority over Menessos, he
tattled to the highest vampire authority, the Excelsior. To protect us against
the personal grudge of the truthseeing vampire-harpies sent by VEIN to make formal
inquiry, Menessos had allied himself at great personal expense with someone
dangerous—a “nameless” guy I had aptly dubbed Creepy.
The secrets he’d wanted to hide from VEIN—secrets even I
didn’t know—were apparently safe, but our little who-marked-whom secret was
out. Menessos lost his haven and his status as Northeastern Quarterlord. Johnny
had accepted great power and lost a lifelong dream. Menessos had lost great
power and accepted serious personal risk. It didn’t seem fair.
And what about me?
In the last several weeks I’d learned that I was the
longprophesied Lustrata, the Witches’ Messiah, She Who Walks Between Worlds,
She Who Will Bring Balance, blah blah blah. As this news spread throughout the
nonhuman communities, some scoffed and some believed. I was fine with the
scoffers; it was the believers who were dangerous. They wanted to know if I
truly possessed the power that accompanied those titles. Yeah, I was a magnet
for nasties who either a) wanted me dead to be sure I didn’t have that power, or
b) wanted to try to force me to wield power for their gain.
I guess I’d accepted the endless complications of my
status and was well on my way to losing all scraps of naïveté.
At that thought, I stopped pacing. As I stared into the
nothingness of a darkened corner, it felt like my innocence had slipped from my
grasp and I was watching it skitter across the floor, waiting for it to come to
a stop so I could reclaim it.
I wasn’t sure it was worth the effort to look for it. Or
perhaps it would be impossible to find if I made the effort. Maybe it had
rolled into some crack, never to be seen again.
I heard Johnny breathing through the phone.
It wasn’t Johnny who had rescued me last night.
When I defeated Liyliy, Menessos had been there to bring
me to the haven. Sure, Menessos had a hand in creating the monster she now was.
And it was he who had imprisoned her, creating her need for revenge. But it was
me and my marks upon him that had brought her to Cleveland. When she pursued me
from the haven—according to the Offerling I’d spoken to—Menessos had sent
everyone out to search for me.
Had Johnny even known I was
missing?
It was shitty of me to compare the two men in my life,
but I couldn’t help myself. Though Menessos had drunk my blood numerous times,
he hadn’t tried to kill me.
Yes he did! He nearly killed you
not long after you first met.
We were strangers then, I argued with myself. Now, we know each other well.
Better, perhaps, than you should. .
. .
Defiantly, I ignored my conscience’s scolding. I will not regret what I did last
night. During the predawn
hours, reeling from my encounter, I’d kissed Menessos.
Fine, but clearly you were able to
forgive him.
That was true. Considering this, I felt hope. I sighed
heavily into the phone. My whispered answer was, “In time.”
“There’s so much I need to tell you.” Johnny’s voice was
raw, and the rev of an engine punctuated his words. I wondered where he was
going. And I wondered if I should tell him about kissing the vampire.
It hadn’t been a peck.
When our lips had touched, I felt the promise and power
of a more intimate union. He’d definitely felt it. It wasn’t only the power of
the marks between us that had been kindled.
“I don’t know where to begin,” Johnny said.
His voice drew me out from my memory of a passionate
moment with another man. Guilt swelled around my heart . . . but not remorse. What am I going to do?
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Don't forget about Linda's question for you!
What do you think of author
character interviews? Do you read/enjoy
them? Have you ever read one and
thought ‘I really want to read more
about that character’? If you
write, have you ever done
them, and if so, how did the
exercise work for you?
Be sure to follow the rest of the tour!
Enjoy!
Until Next Time,
*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!
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