Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Author D.N. Simmons

Hi all!

Please help me welcome D.N. Simmons to my blog today. D.N. is hosting their blog tour and I thought I'd join in the fun!


Knights of the Darkness Chronicles series.

About the Author:

D. N. Simmons lives in Chicago IL., with a rambunctious German Shepherd that's too big for his own good and mischievous kitten that she affectionately calls "Itty-bitty". Her hobbies include rollerblading, billiards, bowling, reading, watching television and going to the movies.

She has been nominated at Love Romances and More, winning honorable mention for best paranormal book of 2006. She has won "Author of the Month" at Warrior of Words. She was voted "New Voice of Today" at Romance Reviews and "Rising Star" at Love Romance and More.

To learn more, and have the opportunity to speak with the author personally, please visit the official website and forum at www.dnsimmons.com   D.N. is always interesting in meeting new and wonderful people.

Here's my interview with the Author:

What is your name? Do you use a pen name (if so, why?)? D.N. Simmons and It’s my “pen name”. Seemed like a lot of fun to use one.

Tell me a bit about yourself:

What type of genre do you write? Currently, urban-fantasy, but I look forward to writing for paranormal romance, horror, thriller and erotica as well.

What genre to you personally read? Paranormal romance, urban-fantasy, erotica, horror and on occasion, fantasy.

Tell me about your latest? My last completed book is Unholy Alliance, the final novel of my Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. I like to call it the ‘calm before the storm’. Just when my characters think they can relax and enjoy life… all hell and I do mean all hell breaks loose.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story? I love being entertained. I love the exhilaration I feel when a I finish reading a great book or seeing a great movie or TV episode. Being an avid reader, I had been looking for the perfect UF/PNR series for me and though I enjoyed many books, I hadn’t come across the one that fulfilled all of my desires. It was at that point that I decided I should put my love of writing to good use and create my idea of the perfect vampire/shifter series. 

I’ve been very fortunate that many others enjoy my series as well. :D

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way? Reading the Tattooed Rood when I was a teenager really opened my eyes to great story-telling. How an adventure can change a character completely. The way he started out in the beginning of the book was nowhere near who he was at the end. It was amazing.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp? I do. We are all sharing this world. Though we make look different, have different beliefs and sexual preferences, we are all still human and should care for one another.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career? The biggest one is getting the word out about my series. Once people know about it, they’ve enjoyed the series very much and I know “word-of-mouth” is  one of the best forms of advertising. :D

What has been your best moment as a writer? I received one email from a fan who told me my books made her want to be a better person. She understood the overall message within the story and she thought it was beautiful. The letter brought tears to my eyes and at the point, I was extremely proud to be an author.

Who is your author idol? Anne Rice, Kyle Horner and Lance Onstott and Stephen King.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters? There’s a little bit of me in all of my characters.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do? Oh, I have tons and tons of stories I can’t wait to tell. Being an author is my dream come true.

What does your workspace look like? I work on my desktop and my laptop. So my desktop area is a bit cluttered with ink cartridges, paper, the Sims video games and resource books. 

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit? Never.

What do you do when you’re not writing? I love the arts. So I love watching television, dancing, listening to music, reading, going to art museums and theatres.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer? Tell the story you want to read. You have to entertain yourself as an author before you think you can entertain anyone else. If you find fault with your story, correct it. 

Did you have a moment when you realized you were meant to be a writer? I don’t get writer’s block. The creativity simply flows from me with ease and I never find myself struggling to tell the story. Even when I was 11 year old, writing short stories, I never had an issue. I knew then that this was one of my, I dare say, gifts.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? Learn to take criticism and grow from it.

After this book, what is next? I’m working on a new horror novel now. I’ll keep you updated. :D








Trailer 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu3yBn5HoNM

Where can your book be found? The Guilty Innocent can be found at:


B&N Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-guilty-innocent-dn-simmons/1112046040?ean=2940012243102





The Guilty Innocent
Knights of the Darkness Chronicles Book Two
D.N. Simmons

Genre: Urban-fantasy
subgenres: Horror, Paranormal Romance, GLBT, Multicultural, Mystery/Thriller.

Publisher: Rushmore Publishing

ISBN: 978-0615688381
ASIN: B004EPYUTY

Number of pages: 271
Word Count: 106415


Book Description:

The Guilty Innocent is the second novel in the edgy, action-packed, sexually-charged, Knights of the Darkness Chronicles.

In this installment, Darian, the gorgeous, charismatic and charming master vampire of Chicago is framed for a crime he didn't commit, but why? His lover, Xavier, Natasha and a few others must travel halfway across the world to find out who and why before time runs out and all hell breaks loose!

Original, sexy and gritty, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget!


Excerpts The Guilty Innocent: Knights of the Darkness Chronicles (Book Two)

Excerpt 1:
--------------------------------
Darian released the little green button and settled comfortably into his
chair. When he heard the door open then close, he knew it was Annette. He
could smell the blood underneath her skin and feel her pulse beating fast
making her body heat rise. Ah yes, Darian loved the heat. Slowly, he
turned his chair around to face her. He thought she was beautiful indeed.
He could not understand why he had not met her personally before. He would
have to have a small talk with Xavier.
He entrusted all of the hiring of the staff to Xavier. He knew Xavier
would have the right eye for such beauty. He was sure that Xavier had
already bedded Miss Balfour. If he had not, then it was his loss and
Darian’s gain. It was one of the aspects of their relationship Darian
enjoyed most of all. They had to have an open sexual relationship. He
would not have it any other way. Sex was one of Darian’s favorite
pastimes. He enjoyed the feeling of hot, sweaty bodies beneath him or
behind him. Enjoyed the sensation of heat and ecstasy as it increased
until it spilled over their bodies in that one final moment when time
would freeze.
He gazed at her caramel colored skin, admiring the smoothness of it. He
wanted to feel that smoothness with his fingertips. He liked her permed,
straight hair, how it framed her slender oval shaped face. Her lips
attracted him as well; he loved how full and luscious they were.
He was a lover of both men and women and cherished all of the individual
qualities each offered. His mind raced to what he wanted to do with her
before the night was out. A wicked smile spread across his lips, exposing
his dimples, making him look both innocent and guilty.
He looked at her entire appearance, mentally calculating the quickest way
to remove her clothing based on hooks, zippers, snaps, etc. She was
dressed in a leopard print bra top and a black satin skirt with a leopard
print hem and was wearing a pair of black heels. Darian admired the way
the outfit enveloped her. It was no doubt an outfit designed for the game
of seduction. And his club was the perfect place to wear such an ensemble.
Desires Unleashed was exactly what the name stated, and that was what
Darian wanted. Whether you had a lust for sex or blood, you could sate
your hunger there.
“Miss Balfour, I’ve called you into my office tonight because I have some
good news. You see, I’ve been going through my employee records and
reviewing some of my best staff.”
He looked in her direction and smiled. He rose from his chair and glided
around the desk. All of his movements were as smooth as satin. His body
never looked clumsy, never once. He leaned against the corner of his desk
in front of Annette. He held her open file in his hand as he looked down
at her over the edge of the file and smiled. His eyes sparkled as his
smile warmed her. He slid halfway onto the corner of his desk and
pretended to look over her information. He had already memorized her file
before she came into his office, but now, he was keeping up appearances.
“It says here that you’ve never been late and only absent one time since
you started working here.”
He paused and leaned in closer to her.
“Most impressive,” he whispered seductively.
His forest-green eyes peered into the chocolate brown of hers. She felt
his aura pelting her, making a heat rise from between her legs. She fought
the urge to squirm in her seat. She could smell his cologne, as if he
needed any. She was willing to bet he was just as good in bed as he looked
and that was saying a lot. She found herself imagining what his strong
hands would feel like caressing her skin. She wanted to feel the heat of
his mouth on her, and the weight of his body against hers. She had the
desire to press her hand to her chest, and, in an exaggerated southern
belle accent, say ‘Why sir, I’m just a southern belle and we southern gals
don’t do things like- ooooohh, Oh My!’ She mentally shook her head. She
wanted to focus on what he was saying to her, even though it was proving
to be more difficult with each passing second.
“Did you hear what I said?” Darian asked, humor hidden in his smile.
He knew damn well she had not heard a word he’d said; it was just how he
planned it. She didn’t need to hear what he was saying. She only needed to
know that he was paying her attention, that she had his favor for the
evening. She should be so blessed.
“Oh, yeah ... Um ...,”
She took a deep breath and let it out. This was bad.
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t catch the ... Um … last thing you said.”
She was hoping he would not think badly of her. Nothing was worse than
being condemned as an airhead. Well, there were worse things, but at this
point airhead was the one she was worried about. He had obviously called
her into his luxurious office for a reason. From the rumors she heard
circulating around the club, no one got to see the owner’s office unless
they were getting fired or a special promotion. She was hoping it was the
latter.
Darian’s chuckle vibrated deep in his throat. He decided to cut to the chase.
-------------------------------------------

Excerpt 2:
-----------------------------------------
Warren could smell the blood in the air; it made his stomach growl and
churn with hunger. He immediately regretted not taking his partner’s
advice and grabbing a whole lot of something to eat along the way. The
scent of the blood was so enticing, he felt his mouth water. Swallowing
hard, he reached into his pocket, pulling out his badge and ID, and handed
them to the uniformed officer protecting the crime scene from intruders
and the media. Warren surveyed the crime scene as the officer verified his
identification before handing it back. The body had been dumped on the
shoulder of 95th Street. There was a small patch of wild grass that had
grown four feet high and beyond that, huge patches of gravel and dirt.
He stepped under the yellow and black police tape that blocked off the
crime scene. He could see the M.E. forensics expert taking pictures of the
body from all angles. As he walked closer, he realized right away why
forensic specialists were walking around the area and taking so many
pictures. The crime scene was a horrific sight. The body had been
dismembered; mutilated chunks of bloody flesh had been carelessly strewn
about the area. A uniformed officer rushed past him to puke on the curb
next to a squad car, using the car’s hood for balance as his stomach
heaved its contents onto the pavement.
Warren looked closely at the gruesome display of mutilated flesh. His
senses picked up a slight scent of a shifter from the scattered body parts
but it was highly overshadowed by the smell of blood. He hoped whomever
the pieces of flesh had belonged to was murdered somewhere around the
location and not somewhere else like the last victim. The sooner he could
catch this bastard, the better. At least, now he knew for certain that a
shifter was involved. He just wished he had a more defined scent to work
with.
Well, at least one thing could be ruled out. Xander’s theory of foul play
from the human race was out of the question from this standpoint. This was
the work of a supernatural and it was the last thing the supernatural race
needed. More drama. More ammunition for the humans to throw at them about
how they should all be rounded up and destroyed.
He watched as blood dried to a dark red tint on the exposed ligaments and
muscles. Ragged pieces of skin clung to the chunks of flesh. He counted
five pieces of the body, ranging from small to medium. The largest chunk
of flesh was what remained of the torso. He stepped closer to examine the
bite marks where the wolf had torn through the skin, bone and muscle.
Looking inside the cavity, he could see that the ribs had been splintered.
Little particles of white bone sprinkled the remaining intestines still
attached to the shredded abdomen. There was no blood splattered around the
area, just small puddles that had drained from the pieces of the corpse.
He fought the urge to kneel on all fours and plunge his face deep into the
feast at hand. He licked his lips and swallowed the saliva that had
gathered in his mouth as his stomach growled loudly, anticipating its next
meal. He heard footsteps coming closer and looked up to see his partner
approaching.
“I can hear your hungry ass from over there. Didn’t I tell you to eat
something before you brought your ass out here?” Matthew stated forcefully
as he approached Warren.
Kneeling beside him, he inspected a bloody chunk of the corpse by lifting
a piece of the torn muscle with his examining pen.
Warren gave him a rueful smile. He looked at Matthew’s attire, a black
sweatshirt with the faded letters of Rosenthall-Krest University on the
front and a pair of faded and obviously worn blue jeans. His boots were
the newest thing he had on. They still had that new store-bought shine to
them.
“You did, but I didn’t think I’d have enough time to stop,” Warren lied.
“You had time. At least enough time to pull into a Burger Town or
something and grab a dozen breakfast sandwiches. Anything would have been
better than having you drooling over the body.” He took another look at
the scene. “Or what’s left of a body. We can’t even tell if this was a man
or woman, young or old. I guess it matters little. As it stands now, this
is a John or Jane doe. Shit, I’m not even sure if it’s human!”
“It’s human, Matt. Has Galen found anything more about the body from
yesterday? Has it been identified?” Warren asked.



Desires Unleashed
Knights of the Darkness Chronicles Book One
D.N. Simmons

Publisher:    Rushmore Publishing

ISBN-13:   978-0615678641
ASIN:   B004DCB6P4

pages:   294
Wordcount: 121436

Genre:   Urban-Fantasy/Dark Urban Fantasy w/Paranormal Romance elements.

Content warning: Multicultural and mixed genre such as gay/bisexual/straight pairings/sex scenes.Graphic language and violence. Strong sexual themes.

Book Trailer:
http://youtu.be/Mu3yBn5HoNM

Amazon

Book Description:

Desires Unleashed is the first novel in the riveting, highly-addictive and sexually charged Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. Experience the heart-pounding thrill of the chase in this electrifying page-turner as you uncover the mystery behind the series of gruesome killings that have been terrorizing the citizens of Chicago.

When a grisly decapitated corpse pops up on a Chicago Street, drained of blood, the highly-trained, government-funded special police force assigned two of their best detectives to the case. S.U.I.T. Detectives Warren Davis and Matthew Eric delve deep into their investigation to discover just who or what is leaving mutilated bodies in public places. They soon realize that the killer or killers is one step ahead of them and if they are going to stop the menace before another innocent human is viciously attack, they are going to need help.

Natasha Hemingway liked her life just the way it was... normal and supernatural free. The vampires and shape-shifters were just where she wanted them to be--far away from her. All was going well until an unfortunate accident landed her in the hospital. It was then that she discovered she had an ability that could help her save countless lives.

All of a sudden, she finds herself thrust into the dangerous and alluring world of the supernatural and into the arms of two very sexy and deadly vampires.

Original, gritty and sprinkled with just the right amount of humor and wit, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget. You don't want to miss out on this amazing series!

Desires Unleashed Excerpts

Excerpt 1:
--------------------------------
Darian released the little green button and settled comfortably into his
chair. When he heard the door open then close, he knew it was Annette. He
could smell the blood underneath her skin and feel her pulse beating fast
making her body heat rise. Ah yes, Darian loved the heat. Slowly, he
turned his chair around to face her. He thought she was beautiful indeed.
He could not understand why he had not met her personally before. He would
have to have a small talk with Xavier.
He entrusted all of the hiring of the staff to Xavier. He knew Xavier
would have the right eye for such beauty. He was sure that Xavier had
already bedded Miss Balfour. If he had not, then it was his loss and
Darian’s gain. It was one of the aspects of their relationship Darian
enjoyed most of all. They had to have an open sexual relationship. He
would not have it any other way. Sex was one of Darian’s favorite
pastimes. He enjoyed the feeling of hot, sweaty bodies beneath him or
behind him. Enjoyed the sensation of heat and ecstasy as it increased
until it spilled over their bodies in that one final moment when time
would freeze.
He gazed at her caramel colored skin, admiring the smoothness of it. He
wanted to feel that smoothness with his fingertips. He liked her permed,
straight hair, how it framed her slender oval shaped face. Her lips
attracted him as well; he loved how full and luscious they were.
He was a lover of both men and women and cherished all of the individual
qualities each offered. His mind raced to what he wanted to do with her
before the night was out. A wicked smile spread across his lips, exposing
his dimples, making him look both innocent and guilty.
He looked at her entire appearance, mentally calculating the quickest way
to remove her clothing based on hooks, zippers, snaps, etc. She was
dressed in a leopard print bra top and a black satin skirt with a leopard
print hem and was wearing a pair of black heels. Darian admired the way
the outfit enveloped her. It was no doubt an outfit designed for the game
of seduction. And his club was the perfect place to wear such an ensemble.
Desires Unleashed was exactly what the name stated, and that was what
Darian wanted. Whether you had a lust for sex or blood, you could sate
your hunger there.
“Miss Balfour, I’ve called you into my office tonight because I have some
good news. You see, I’ve been going through my employee records and
reviewing some of my best staff.”
He looked in her direction and smiled. He rose from his chair and glided
around the desk. All of his movements were as smooth as satin. His body
never looked clumsy, never once. He leaned against the corner of his desk
in front of Annette. He held her open file in his hand as he looked down
at her over the edge of the file and smiled. His eyes sparkled as his
smile warmed her. He slid halfway onto the corner of his desk and
pretended to look over her information. He had already memorized her file
before she came into his office, but now, he was keeping up appearances.
“It says here that you’ve never been late and only absent one time since
you started working here.”
He paused and leaned in closer to her.
“Most impressive,” he whispered seductively.
His forest-green eyes peered into the chocolate brown of hers. She felt
his aura pelting her, making a heat rise from between her legs. She fought
the urge to squirm in her seat. She could smell his cologne, as if he
needed any. She was willing to bet he was just as good in bed as he looked
and that was saying a lot. She found herself imagining what his strong
hands would feel like caressing her skin. She wanted to feel the heat of
his mouth on her, and the weight of his body against hers. She had the
desire to press her hand to her chest, and, in an exaggerated southern
belle accent, say ‘Why sir, I’m just a southern belle and we southern gals
don’t do things like- ooooohh, Oh My!’ She mentally shook her head. She
wanted to focus on what he was saying to her, even though it was proving
to be more difficult with each passing second.
“Did you hear what I said?” Darian asked, humor hidden in his smile.
He knew damn well she had not heard a word he’d said; it was just how he
planned it. She didn’t need to hear what he was saying. She only needed to
know that he was paying her attention, that she had his favor for the
evening. She should be so blessed.
“Oh, yeah ... Um ...,”
She took a deep breath and let it out. This was bad.
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t catch the ... Um … last thing you said.”
She was hoping he would not think badly of her. Nothing was worse than
being condemned as an airhead. Well, there were worse things, but at this
point airhead was the one she was worried about. He had obviously called
her into his luxurious office for a reason. From the rumors she heard
circulating around the club, no one got to see the owner’s office unless
they were getting fired or a special promotion. She was hoping it was the
latter.
Darian’s chuckle vibrated deep in his throat. He decided to cut to the chase.
-------------------------------------------

Excerpt 2:
-----------------------------------------
Warren could smell the blood in the air; it made his stomach growl and
churn with hunger. He immediately regretted not taking his partner’s
advice and grabbing a whole lot of something to eat along the way. The
scent of the blood was so enticing, he felt his mouth water. Swallowing
hard, he reached into his pocket, pulling out his badge and ID, and handed
them to the uniformed officer protecting the crime scene from intruders
and the media. Warren surveyed the crime scene as the officer verified his
identification before handing it back. The body had been dumped on the
shoulder of 95th Street. There was a small patch of wild grass that had
grown four feet high and beyond that, huge patches of gravel and dirt.
He stepped under the yellow and black police tape that blocked off the
crime scene. He could see the M.E. forensics expert taking pictures of the
body from all angles. As he walked closer, he realized right away why
forensic specialists were walking around the area and taking so many
pictures. The crime scene was a horrific sight. The body had been
dismembered; mutilated chunks of bloody flesh had been carelessly strewn
about the area. A uniformed officer rushed past him to puke on the curb
next to a squad car, using the car’s hood for balance as his stomach
heaved its contents onto the pavement.
Warren looked closely at the gruesome display of mutilated flesh. His
senses picked up a slight scent of a shifter from the scattered body parts
but it was highly overshadowed by the smell of blood. He hoped whomever
the pieces of flesh had belonged to was murdered somewhere around the
location and not somewhere else like the last victim. The sooner he could
catch this bastard, the better. At least, now he knew for certain that a
shifter was involved. He just wished he had a more defined scent to work
with.
Well, at least one thing could be ruled out. Xander’s theory of foul play
from the human race was out of the question from this standpoint. This was
the work of a supernatural and it was the last thing the supernatural race
needed. More drama. More ammunition for the humans to throw at them about
how they should all be rounded up and destroyed.
He watched as blood dried to a dark red tint on the exposed ligaments and
muscles. Ragged pieces of skin clung to the chunks of flesh. He counted
five pieces of the body, ranging from small to medium. The largest chunk
of flesh was what remained of the torso. He stepped closer to examine the
bite marks where the wolf had torn through the skin, bone and muscle.
Looking inside the cavity, he could see that the ribs had been splintered.
Little particles of white bone sprinkled the remaining intestines still
attached to the shredded abdomen. There was no blood splattered around the
area, just small puddles that had drained from the pieces of the corpse.
He fought the urge to kneel on all fours and plunge his face deep into the
feast at hand. He licked his lips and swallowed the saliva that had
gathered in his mouth as his stomach growled loudly, anticipating its next
meal. He heard footsteps coming closer and looked up to see his partner
approaching.
“I can hear your hungry ass from over there. Didn’t I tell you to eat
something before you brought your ass out here?” Matthew stated forcefully
as he approached Warren.
Kneeling beside him, he inspected a bloody chunk of the corpse by lifting
a piece of the torn muscle with his examining pen.
Warren gave him a rueful smile. He looked at Matthew’s attire, a black
sweatshirt with the faded letters of Rosenthall-Krest University on the
front and a pair of faded and obviously worn blue jeans. His boots were
the newest thing he had on. They still had that new store-bought shine to
them.
“You did, but I didn’t think I’d have enough time to stop,” Warren lied.
“You had time. At least enough time to pull into a Burger Town or
something and grab a dozen breakfast sandwiches. Anything would have been
better than having you drooling over the body.” He took another look at
the scene. “Or what’s left of a body. We can’t even tell if this was a man
or woman, young or old. I guess it matters little. As it stands now, this
is a John or Jane doe. Shit, I’m not even sure if it’s human!”
“It’s human, Matt. Has Galen found anything more about the body from
yesterday? Has it been identified?” Warren asked.

Desires Unleashed Reviews:

"In a time when vampire books have become commonplace, DN Simmons has
given her readers a unique voice among the genre. She mixes high drama
with sexually charged sparks, sure to please new and old fans alike. I
highly recommend her Knights of Darkness Chronicles as this author's style
will draw you into her wonderful fantasy world." -  #1 Best Selling Author
GA Hauser

"For those of you who love moresomes, this book will hit the spot, with
supernatural hotness thrown in. Weres and vampires are treated with such
casualness that they seem all the more real! Lots of strong males and
fiesty females!" - J.C. Owens, author of "Gaven"

"Desires Unleashed: Knights of the Darkness Chronicles Book One is a
bloody good read!" - Raven Hart, author of the Savannah Vampire Chronicles

"This author's work is award-winning material, and D. N. Simmons has
stepped into the paranormal arena with such greats as, Christine Feehan
and Sherrilyn Kenyon" --ParaNormal Romance Review

"Simmons has written the vampire hit novel of the year! With so many
middle of the road paranormal books being published, Simmons took up the
torch and blazed a whole new avenue for the readers to delve into." -
Janalee Ruschhaupt - Warrior of Words.

"You will be surprised, haunted and mesmerized by Desires Unleashed" -
Night Owl Romance --Night Owl Romance







GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1396694.D_N_Simmons

There is a giveaway today from the author. It's going to be a cool bookmark. Please comment and leave your email so I can contact you if you win.

Let's all thank D.N. for joining us today and giving us some much great information on the books! Check out the websites and books!

Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce

1 comment:

  1. I missed a day somehow and almost missed that awesome interview!!! Exciting news about this "horror novel"!! Will be looking forward to more news on that one =)

    ReplyDelete