Monday, May 2, 2011

Haunting Desire by Erin Quinn review, interview and giveaway!

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Erin Quinn's latest release Haunting Desire from her publisher to read and review. This book is the third book in  the" Mists of Ireland" series. I read the first one thru Romcon 's Readers Crown published authors contest. I had never heard of her before i received the book in the mail and read it. Needless to say i loved it. This series combines paranormal romance with time travel and some science fiction. The first book was Haunting Desire and then came Haunting Warrior and now we have Haunting Desire. How about a a little blurb.

A woman lost in a nightmare


Shealy O’Leary thought the ancient Book of Fennore a myth until she and her father are sucked into the past—and into the cursed no-man’s land called Fennore. There Shealy learns that she has a rare power that their enemy seeks. Aided by the dangerous and compelling warrior, Tiarnan, Shealy must find her father and learn how to wield her gift to save those she loves or die in this waking nightmare...

A man desperate to regain his honor

After failing both his land and people, Tiarnan was damned to spend eternity in the black heart of Fennore. His only hope comes in the shape of a beautiful, frightened woman from the future. For she possesses a gift she is unaware of. A gift with the power to save ...or destroy them all.

A desire that drives their destiny

Together, Shealy and Tiarnan begin their perilous quest—a mission that draws them closer and closer together. And as the odds against them mount, so does their passion. The intensity of their bond electrifies the couple, their love powering Shealy’s gift and Tiarnan’s strength. But their newfound connection threatens to ruin them both—and bring to life a long ago prophecy of devastation and betrayal...

I have to say out of the 3 this one just might be my favorite. I loved Tiarnan in the last book Haunting Warrior. I couldn't wait until this book came out to get his story. I was not disappointed and Shealy,you just feel for her. Both are so tore up with guilt on the inside you just want to make it better you know? Tiarnan and his brother Liam ( love him too) get sucked into the evil book of Fenmore, trapped there forever perhaps with all the scary things inside it. Shealy's tradegy began as a kid when a car accident on the Isle of Fennmore in Ireland kills her pregnant mom and herself almost as well. Her dad moves them away to the states so surgeons can repair all the damage from the accident. Now Shealy wants to go back find answers as to why her mother's body was never found and what else happened the day of the accident. Her dad doesn't want her to go and then suddenly a portal of sorts opens up and Shealy and her dad are sucked into what turns out to be Fennmore and she finds herself with Tiarnan and Liam and her dad gone. Tiarnan and Shealy are drawn together but there are things going on she doesn't understand in this world and the possibility she may have powers to save everyone stuck in the book or destroy everyone. There are so many twists and turns in this book you can't possibly be bored. You can't guess what's going to happen next. Although Tiarnan and Shealy's fate gets decided at the end of this book you get introduced to the what and who the next book in the series will be about. I've never read another series like this one and i can't even begin to figure out how Erin does it. If you haven't guessed it yet i give Haunting Desire 5 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars. For me this is one of those books I'll re read over and over.

Erin Quinn was gracious enough to allow me to ask her a 10 questions. She will also be around to answer any questions you might have for her.

Welcome Erin. First please tell us a little about your new release Haunting Desire.


Haunting Desire is a story of redemption. For Tiarnan, who readers first met in Haunting Warrior, redemption seems to be something he'll never have. He feels he's failed his family, his people and himself. Now he is just trying stay alive....until he meets Shealy O'Leary, a woman from the future who shows him that failure is only a stepping stone to having everything he ever wanted.



1. The Mists of Ireland series is a complicated series of books. There is so much interweaving of characters. I don't know how you did it but i loved the result. Where do you find inspiration for your books. ie. Where do the ideas come from.

I have always been fascinated with the paranormal and so I would have to say my inspiration came from my own interest in it. I love the idea that time is both fluid and circular. It intrigues me to think that the past is not set in stone, that life doesn't end at death, and that history doesn't just repeat itself--it lives and breathes. :)

2. What did you do before you became a writer?
The same thing I do now. Work. I've always had a full time job, which keeps me very busy. Currently I work for Intel (ba ba ba buummmm, blue men and sponsors of tomorrow)

3. The setting and idea for this series to me a non writer and semi-professional reader lol seems really complicated. How do you lay it all out so to speak and connect the dots?
It is complicated and some days I find myself tied in knots and wonder how I got there. I keep notes, of course. But honestly, by the time I finish a book I've read it so many times that alot of it just sticks in that pathetic thing I call a brain, ha ha.

4. Who have been your mentors in writing?
Mentors? Diane Dunaway who is the conference coordinator for the SDSU Writers Conference. Also Jennifer Ashley, multi-published, bestselling author. But also I have many talented friends who are writers and we keep each other going (Kathryne Kennedy, Lynn Coulter, Calista Fox). And then, of course, there are MY favorite authors who I don't know personally but whose books I love. Every time I read a wonderful book, I am inspired to try harder and write a better book.

5. What do you do while waiting for your muse to arrive when trying to write? Do you have a favorite form of procrastination?

Alas, I am never able to wait for my muse. It had better get its butt in gear and be ready when I have time. I as said, I work full time, have a family and I write--which is like having a second full time job. Research sometimes leads me astray and I'll get so involved in it that I don't make progress on the books, but I wouldn't necessarily call that procrastination. I suppose Facebook is a great distractor for me. Oh, and I do like to sleep occasionally. Darn it. LOL.


6. You write paranormal. Is this genre something that you love to write or do you think you'd like to try something else sometime in the future?
I do love the paranormal and I love being able to use my imagination and create worlds and scenarios that exist outside the lines.


7. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Honestly, since I was a kid. I remember writing something in first grade and my teacher accused me of copying it from a book. My parents had to come and tell my teacher that I had, in fact, created the description on my own. From that moment on, I understood the power of words and acknowledged my own personal love affair with them.

8. Is there anything particularly challenging in your writing?
Time. I never have enough of it.

9.What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing your writing to life?
I think every writer worries that they're not good enough. I try to keep that voice from whispering in my ear, but it does. I'm always afraid that my book will be released and readers will hate it. It takes about a week or two of readers telling me they loved it before I start to breathe normally and accept that maybe it's a good book.

10. Haunting Desire is the 3rd book in "The Mists of Ireland series". How many books are going to be in this series and what's up next for you?
Next up is Haunting Embrace, which is the last book in this series and ties it all up (I hope). I just finished it and it's now with my publisher being reviewed. After that I'm going to something entirely new and I'm really excited about it. Not ready to detail it, but I'm loving the story.

Thanks Erin. It's been a pleasure having you on my blog today.

If anyone has questions for Erin Feel free to post them in comments and she will be around to answer them. Erin has also giving away a (print or Kindle) copy of either Haunting Beauty or Haunting Warrior (winners choice) the first 2 books in the "Mist of Ireland" series. To enter answer this question for Erin and please follow this blog. Giveaway ends Friday May 6th. Open internationally.

Have you ever had a paranormal experience? (ghosts, ufos, time travel (ha ha)? If so, tell us about it. If no, what do you like about reading paranormal books?" REMEMBER TO LEAVE A EMAIL ADDRESS SO YOU CAN BE REACHED IF YOU WIN! leave it like this Name AT yahoo dot com. Thanks

You can find Erin on Facebook Erin Quinn
Twitter Erin Quinn
or her website http://www.erinquinnbooks.com/Books.htm



14 comments:

  1. Oh...this series sounds like my cup of tea. Paranormal and Ireland...together! Great blog. I really enjoyed reading the review and the interview with the author. The only question that came to mind was....How is the name Tiarnan pronounced? I have never heard or read that name before.

    I have never had a paranormal experience but my father has as well as my grandfather. I did have a haunting dream of my deceased grandparents watching over me from a hill. They smiled, waved, and turned to walk away together. It was very comforting. I later found out that my uncle (their son) had a similar dream on the same night.
    ~Amanda

    RNACLARK at msn dot com

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  2. Hi Amanda, what a cool story! I've read many accounts of the paranormal that are like yours--dreams of loved ones that are echoed throughout their family. It's so interesting.

    Tiarnan is pronounced Teer-nahn and means lordly or little lord. (his father was a tribal king). :)

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  3. Hi Erin!

    Just dropping by to say "hi!" Your books are so different from others. They have a sophistication and intelligence that you don't normally get from reading historical fiction or paranormal books. I also really love the "ghost" element in them.

    I believe in a person's ancestors coming and leading you down the right paths of life. Sometimes they show themselves as ghosts or spirits. And, yes, I've seen a few in my life time.

    No need to enter me in the drawing. I have all of Erin's books! :)

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  4. Hi Erin,
    Thanks for coming to talk to us. Yes, I've had a couple of paranormal experiences. Wish I could say it was time-travel LOL. twice I've looked up at the mirrow and swore I saw my grandmother just standing there watching me, but she passed when I was 11. And when I turned around, nobody was there. It made me feel very comforted at the time.
    We also all feel we have a ghost in the building at work. We hear footsteps at night when no one is awake, and a few times we have heard noise in the kitchen when no one was in there, and found pots knocked off of the hooks. We just figure it's the old owner who passed in the building while living there as a patient, and he's keeping an eye on his place.

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  5. Hi Erin!
    Thanks for stopping by. Your book sound good, and since I love book with Ireland setting or theme, I will put it in my wishlist :)

    I have some paranormal experience. I can't see ghost, but I can feel their presence. Sometimes deep in midnight, there are strange sound, like my chair suddenly creaked, and after I shout "shut up", the sound stop. Creepy, eh? :P
    And then I have more creepy experience, when I sleep, there something hit me in my back. I'm so scared and prayed to God, after while the hit are stop. I 'm glad I can't see them.
    One more, I admit I have see UFO when I'm child. :P (and people not believe me, since I'm child)

    Paranormal books is my favorite, while I have some creepy experience, I can't stop to read this genre.
    Thanks for the giveaway
    Ren

    sawamura_foxman AT yahoo DOT com

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  6. Hi Erin,
    I personally have not had a paranormal experience, dang it, still waiting, lol. Anyway I love to read paranormal novels, I enjoy all the twists that the stories have. Thanks for answering all of Lisa's questions, this makes it easier to connect to you as an author. Keep writing and I will keep enjoying all of them.
    Barbara

    bjbutch at hotmail dot com

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  7. Hi Molly--thanks so much for stopping by and saying hi. I agree with you about ancestors guiding us--even when we don't know that's who is doing it. :)

    Betty--I think Colleen (in my Mists of Ireland Series) is a character like your grandmother--and like mine, if truth be told. I haven't seen my grandmother since she passed, but while she was alive she was very much the little spitfire that Colleen is. If you read my Erin Grady books, you'll meet her in the character of Rosie too.

    Ren--yikes! I'd be scared to death if I felt something hitting me in the night! You are very brave!

    Barbara--thanks so much for stopping by! I'm still waiting for my time travel experience--dang it--but I don't think I'd like ghosts waking me up in the night!

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  8. Sounds like a great series. Hope I win. Can't remember ever having a paranormal experience though.
    dkmtheriot@yahoo.com

    Wanted to invite everyone over to my blog for my first give away this week!
    http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com

    Thanks.

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  9. I NEED to read this series! It sounds so good.

    I grew up in an old house that was haunted, or at least had a presence. Sometimes I would sense someone nearby and when I looked there would be a shadow (often where it was not possible for a shadow to be). I rarely felt alone in the house, even if my parents were out. When I was a teenager something woke me up and told me to go downstairs, and when I did I realized our chimney had caught fire - my father was able to put it out before it became serious.

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  10. Hi Erin,

    I love your books. Looking forward to Haunting Desire.

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  11. Kai you need to leave a email addy if you want to be entered. thank you

    Lisa
    Modokker

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  12. I've never had a paranormal experience. Perhaps that's why I find it so fascinating to read about them in books.

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  13. I just realized I never left an email address. Yeah..I'm getting old and a bit forgettful :) Actually, since I work with elderly people with dementia, I usually say it rubs off on ya LOL

    bessieinthewell at yahoo dot com

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  14. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who stopped by. I loved reading your comments.

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