(Click photo to be taken to Blog Tour Host, Dark Minds Book Tours)
Please welcome
Author Ashlynne Laynne onto the Road to Hell. Ashlynne is the author of The
Progeny and its upcoming sequel Blood Bonds.
Now, it’s time to
create a little hell and get to the good stuff by revealing all of Ashlynne’s wicked secrets while on
the Road to Hell. LOL Yeah, you wish!
;-D
Grab your
favorite drink, sink your teeth into something decadent, sit back, relax and
enjoy getting to know Ashlynne Laynne…
~~~
GRACEN: Tell me three things about yourself that we
cannot find on the internet or in your bio?
ASHLYNNE: I think
the readers would be interested to know that I consider myself a Gothic flower
child. I’m all for people doing their own thing, as long as it doesn’t hurt
themselves or those around them. The diverse mix of people in my life has
taught me to be tolerant and accepting of others and their unique qualities and
differences. I’m also afraid of clowns and have been since I saw Stephen King’s
It when I was a little kid. I think it’s safe to say that Pennywise made quite
an impression on me. The readers may not know that my only child has Autism.
GRACEN: What
hobbies and interests do you participate in when you’re not writing?
ASHLYNNE: I love
cooking and reading. I’m basically a homebody and prefer the quiet and serenity
of my home and familiar surroundings.
GRACEN: Do you
have any writing quirks or certain things you MUST have or do before beginning
the writing process?
ASHLYNNE: The
only thing some might consider a quirk is that I usually write the first three
or four chapters of a book, skip to write the end and then fill in the middle.
It’s easier for me to write if I have a stopping point in mind. Strangely
enough, I already know what the last paragraph of my series end will be.
GRACEN: If you
were plotting to take over the world, how would you do it?
ASHLYNNE:
Hmmm…this is indeed an intriguing question. Being that I’m no Stewie from
Family Guy, I don’t go around concocting plans to overtake the universe. I
suppose if I were going to plot to take over the world, I might just place some
subliminal messages into a few bestselling books and let the insanity spread.
GRACEN: If you
could make one statement that the entire planet would hear and remember, what
would it be?
ASHLYNNE: Be good
to yourself as well as others and remember that whatever you give out, the
universe returns to you, three fold.
GRACEN:
What genre do you
write and why that genre?
ASHLYNNE: I write
erotic paranormal romance with vampires and Wiccans. I’ve always loved horror
movies. My late grandmother took me to see Creepshow when I was young. It
scared the crap out of me but also spurred my love of the horror genre. Of all
the paranormal creatures, I have a soft spot in my heart for vampires. When I
began writing The Progeny, two years ago, I knew that Ascher would be different
and I wanted him to be. Sometimes I think it may have been better for me to
just make him a full-blooded vampire. It’s tough sometimes to blend the two
sides of him which often leaves my poor guy conflicted.
GRACEN: For those
who are not yet familiar with Ashlynne Laynne, can you please give us some
details about the book and/or series?
ASHLYNNE: At its core, The Progeny Series is simply a story
about a man and woman who fall in love, and the fact that he’s a half-blood
(half-human, half vampire) and she’s a Wiccan human are secondary factors. When
we meet Ascher, he’s grumpy. Frankly, who could blame him? He’s engaged to seal
to Ursula—a cold and careless vampire who wants nothing more than to get her
hands on a bloodstone— and he feels conflicted about his existence.
All of that changes
when he meets Shawnette McCutchin. She’s beautiful, intriguing and possesses
some of the most potent blood that he’s ever encountered. A war immediately
begins inside Ascher. He craves Shauna’s blood just as much as he craves her
body and the closer they get, the harder it is for him to control his urges.
After Ascher calls off the sealing to Ursula, the trouble begins. His family’s
peaceful period ends when Ursula’s darkling army attacks the Rousseaus.
This series is about a family of which we’ve never seen
before. They share a common mortal and immortal bloodline but loyalty is the
thread that holds this clan together. Once you become a part of this family,
the others will risk their lives to protect you. We see examples of this
throughout the journey.
GRACEN: Do you have any new stories in the works and
can you tell us a bit about it/them?
ASHLYNNE: I’m extremely busy right now. I just re-released
The Progeny last month and its sequel Blood Bonds is set to release in the
coming weeks. I’m also working on books three and four of the Progeny Series,
book one of my upcoming Rocker Series, and an untitled novella WIP.
GRACEN: If you
could describe your writing with one word or brief phrase, what would it be?
Please delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you
want readers to take with them when they’ve finished reading your story.
ASHLYNNE: If I
had to choose one word, it would be “emotional.” I love writing love scenes for
my characters and I’m always focusing on the emotional side of the action—what
is he feeling, what is she feeling. My philosophy is you haven’t given a scene
everything you have until you leave it feeling like a piece of you is missing.
GRACEN: What, in
your opinion, makes your story unique and what makes it stand out from other
stories in your genre? Think of this as a pitch to convince readers to pick up
your books.
ASHLYNNE: The
Progeny series is unique because it focuses on a love between a half-blooded
vampire and Wiccan human. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen that before. But more
than that, Ascher is unique in his own right. He has the characteristics of two
very different beings.
GRACEN: What’s
the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
ASHLYNNE: I
researched the gestation period of mice for a chapter in The Progeny.
GRACEN: Of all
your books, which character did you have the most fun creating and why?
ASHLYNNE: I
rather love my villain Ursula. I write her to be hated but the there is a
vulnerable side to her. At the end of the day, I truly believe that she just
wants to be loved and seems to have the hardest time achieving this simple goal.
GRACEN: If you
had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would
it be and why?
ASHLYNNE: I’d
love to meet Ascher, of course. He is after all the one I dreamed of in the
beginning.
GRACEN: Which of
your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?
ASHLYNNE: I’d
never want to meet those damned darklings. They’re wicked and bred to kill and
destroy...not exactly my idea of friend material. I think they’re better left
within the confines of my imagination and book pages.
GRACEN: If you were interviewing yourself, what is
the one question you would ask yourself and please give us the answer to that
question?
ASHLYNNE: Have
you completely lost your mind for writing about vampires and witches? My answer
would be, “Hell yeah!”
GRACEN: Thanks so much for joining us, Ashlynne! It’s been a treat getting to know you
better!
I love hearing
from readers and they can connect with me in several different places online:
Website: ashlynnelaynne.com
Here are my buy links:
BLURB:
“No fate other
than the one I choose.”
The timeless
creed, and tattoo, bore by the Rousseau’s— a vampire clan with the purest
bloodline of any vampire family. Out of this clandestine group came one who was
different, yet the same: Ascher-a half-bloodling— half- human, half vampire.
Ascher questions the purpose for his existence
and which world he truly belongs to: the human world or the vampire world. Two months from sealing to Ursula— a
prearranged union to a woman he abhors — he’s at his wit’s end. He knows if he
calls off the sealing, the Romanian clan will strike with deadly force, but he
cannot see eternity with a cold empty shell of a woman like Ursula.
Just when he thought life was complicated enough,
he meets Shauna— a beautiful, bi-racial human Wiccan — and immediately develops
an unshakable attraction to her. She makes him feel alive and vital despite his
origins and Ascher makes a decision that turns his immortal world upside down.
EXCERPT: (I call
this excerpt, ‘Close, but still no dice.’)
Shauna sat at the
vanity in Ascher’s room. Brushing her hair seemed pointless and painful—everything
reminded her of her sister. The very brush she raked through her head was a
gift from Katy. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Katy was in pain. She
dreamed of her in the dark, scared, holding on to what was left of her sanity.
“She was going to
be Valedictorian.”
“Was? Why are you
talking about her like she’s already dead?”
“I’m so afraid
that my sister is gone. There’s no
way to know what those maniacs have done to her!”
“Shauna, Katy has
a support system waiting for her when she gets home. Tristan and I will treat
her. With love and support, she’ll heal. I believe in that. She needs you to
believe in it, too. ” Ascher reached for her.
She refused to let
him hold her, stepping away from the comfort of his embrace. She didn’t want
it. “No! I’m tired of this pain,” she blurted out. “I just want it to stop!
Everything is just so screwed up right now,” she cried with rage. “I’m poison,
bad for everyone who loves me. Stay away from me!”
“Calm down. This
isn’t good for you.”
“Good for me? I don’t even know what’s good for me,
anymore. So how can you pretend to
know?”
Ascher disappeared
from her sight, reappearing closer to her, hugging her to him.
She fought against
his embrace, sorrow’s river streaming down her face.
“This isn’t your fault, Shauna.”
Her body tensed
against his warm touch. “I just want to be numb. Feel nothing for a little
while,” she whispered. “Know what I mean?”
“That isn’t you. You face things head on.
You’re so strong.”
“I don’t feel very
strong.” Her eyes shifted away from his face. “Look at this. You’ve fixed this
room to suit me, but this isn’t my home. I don’t have one. My parents hate me
so much that my sister has to lie to see me. I can’t go to my apartment because
it’s not safe. Gypsy’s dead. Katy might be dead. I don’t belong here and I
don’t even know where I belong
anymore.” She sobbed, while pounding her fists onto his chest.
“You’re hurting.
That’s the thing about having a heart. It breaks and yearns for things.” His
eyes caught hers, love pouring from them, stunning her with their sincerity.
“What does your heart yearn for, Ascher?”
He didn’t
immediately answer her.
* * *
*
Ascher held her
even tighter, gripping her with the need to protect her from harm. She brought
the warrior out of him, that fierceness he’d witnessed in his brothers but
never thought he’d ever possess. His hold now mimicked his desire to shield
her, shelter her, but mostly the overwhelming need to possess her, completely.
“You’ve never been more wrong, about anything, in your life,” he murmured, his
eyes sweeping hers. “This is exactly
where you belong, with me and my family—the ones who care about you. I can’t
tell you I know how it will all turn out, but I will tell you this. I’ll be
there for you as little or as much as you need me to be, if you want to talk
about Katy, or anything else. All you have to do is talk, because I’m always
listening.”
Ascher pulled her
to him with possessive arms, an aching in his lips, hungering for the touch of
hers. This was what his heart yearned
for. His gaze scorched her, smoldering intention into her.
Shauna froze, her
gaze fixed on his pale stare.
He guided her back
towards the bed, her feet stepping with his, their hearts beating eerily in
sync.
Shauna fell back
against the bed, while his arms directed her to the center. She continued
staring, her gaze unmoving, her lips an equal participant in the passion
playing out between them. Ten seconds was all he needed to undress them,
leaving their bodies heated and grinding against one another.
The crimson blazed
in front of his vision. He wanted her and was ready to cement their love, to
make her his.
Trepidation was a
thing of the past. She knew what he was and somehow, she still wanted him. He dropped
his head onto the pillow, concealing his blood red gaze.
His voice was rough
and husky—he’d never imagined such a sound could come from his lips. “I know
you say this is what you want, but
are you sure? I want you to be so sure about this. Once I’ve made love to you,
I can’t take it back. I want you. I swear to you there is nothing else I want
more. I don’t want you, if you’ll
regret this tomorrow. I couldn’t live with myself, if you ever regretted this.”
“I’ll never want
anyone more. The sky could crash down around me and I wouldn’t care, as long as
your arms were the last things I felt before I died.” She tightened her arms
around his neck. “I’m not disillusioned about what I’m doing and I can deal
with the consequences of my actions. I want you, more than I want to live or
breathe.”
He grazed her neck
with his tongue, picking up traces of her delectable essence. His lips deluged
her soft skin with careful kisses, his finger exploring her with a gentle
urgency.
Her opening was
tight and only allowed the tip of his finger to enter.
Shauna moaned, her
neck craning back, exposing the constant thump of her carotid.
The craving
sparked in him, his fangs paining beneath his gums. He wanted another taste of
her. No. You can’t bite her again. Get
control of yourself.
“Do it,” she
moaned.
“What?”
“If it pleases you,
then do it.” She brought her neck back to his mouth. “Bite me, Ascher. I want
you to.”
“No.”
Shauna smoothed her
hands along his stomach, his chest—stopping before they reached his shaft. She
seemed unsure.
After his curt
reaction to her exploring his body, the night before the blow up, he didn’t
blame her. Now, he wanted her to touch him, feel him and discover every part of
his anxious body. He grabbed her hand, placing it on his steel stiff shaft. Her
soft hand felt good—too good, as it stroked, played with, and explored every
inch of him.
The fire in his
throat blazed, causing his thirst and desire to ignite. He wouldn’t be able to
keep control much longer.
Her lips found his
neck, sucking, licking and kissing, while her hands stroked him with a steady,
unchallenged rhythm. Her mouth and hands mocked his control, making him
vulnerable, his body feverish with yearning.
“Do it,” she
whispered, again. “I want you to.”
“Shauna,” he
groaned, his face pressing in the pillow. “I shouldn’t---”
“Don’t hold back,
you won’t hurt me. Bite me. Come on, Ascher—do it.”
Insane amounts of
pleasure coursed his body, bringing countless sensations—fire, thirst and the
yearning to be inside her.
Another flick of
her tongue across his neck, in just the right spot, was all it took. Fangs
sprang from his gums, their intentions obvious. His body reacted with a climax
that bubbled up and burst from him, bringing release, but taking his control.
It was too much
pleasure for his body to endure. He finally experienced the implausible feeling
of a climax given to him by the woman he loved.
It was a first for
him.
He searched along
her neck with his mouth for the spot, the precise place that the flow was
heaviest. He found it and sank his fangs into her. A deep and satisfied moan
escaped her lips as her eyes rolled.
Ascher continued to
rub, play with, and manipulate her clit with his fingers. The warm, delicious
blood, flooding his mouth, quenched his thirst but fueled his hunger for her
body. He was drowning, deluged by pleasure, his arms filling with her exquisite
figure. This feeling was like none he’d ever experienced. Her body bucked
against his fingers but the tightness remained insistent in preserving her
virginity. Her breathing was shallow, hurried, the moans deepening in
intensity.
This time, it was
easier to disengage his fangs.
Pressing against
her virgin barrier made him stiffen. She was so wet and his climax did nothing
to quell his desire for her. Ascher wanted more and he had so much more to give,
as much as she needed. Engaging her in a deeper kiss, he slipped his tongue
into her mouth, stroking her tongue with his. It was the first time he’d kissed
her this way.
Her response was
immediate, as she pulled him closer.
With demanding
arms, Ascher lifted her hips up to him, preparing for their first time. Tingles
joined the burn coursing inside him. He swept her neck with his mouth, his
tongue sliding along her carotid, the sensations relaxing her rigid body.
He froze.
“What’s wrong?”
she questioned without opening her eyes. “Why are you stopping? Don’t stop—you
can't stop. We’re so close!”
A hurried knock
came on his door. The banging threw him into full panic mode.
Ascher's body
tensed.
She startled. “What’s
wrong?”
“I’m not sure.” He
pulled the sheet around her. “Cover yourself.”
The door flew open
as Quinn flitted into the room, his face horrified and his eyes reflecting
half-red and half-pale blue.
“Ascher, you have
to come quick. It’s Tristan. He’s taken a turn for the worse.”
“Dammit!” Rage spewed
through his clenched teeth.
Ascher swore and
seethed as he grabbed his clothing and flew out of the room with his brother.
