Jodie Pierce's Ink Slinger's Blog: Tara Fox Hall & The Good Year

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Tara Fox Hall to my blog today! I am supporting her A Good Year series tour.

AUTHOR BIO

Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include nonfiction, erotica, horror, suspense, action-adventure, children’s stories, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal fantasy Lash series, the paranormal romantic suspense Unhallowed Love series and the paranormal romantic drama Promise Me series. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice. All of her published children’s stories to date are free reads on http://www.childrens-stories.net.

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34145627-a-good-year

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2v2eDuz

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-good-year-tara-fox-hall/1125532941

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/698474

Lulu (Print): http://www.lulu.com/shop/tara-fox-hall/a-good-year/paperback/product-23018650.html

Melange Books: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/tarafoxhall/1goodyear.html

Book Unleashed Link:

https://bookunleashed.com/books/a-good-year

BOOK DETAILS

Title: A Good Year

Author: Tara Fox Hall

Series: Unhallowed Love Series Book 1

Genre: Paranormal Suspense with Romantic Elements

Publisher: Melange Books

Publication Date: February 7, 2017

Tagline:

There's No Heaven....Like Hell

Synopsis:

Faced with losing Pandora Productions as well as her best friend Rebecca to the smarmy Paul, savvy film executive Debbie makes a pact with the demon Shaker, agreeing to bind herself to him as his human master in return for killing Paul. When the intended coup goes amiss, resulting in the deaths of both Rebecca and Paul, Debbie finds herself alone at Pandora’s helm, facing a rising tide of corporate enemies led by Paul’s duplicitous son Dante and the behemoth Titan Pictures. Shaker’s backing smoothes the way, solving some problems supernaturally, others through brutal bloodshed, even as he calls into play various preternatural and human allies to assist Debbie.

As the months pass, Debbie’s strong resolve begins to crumble under the weight of her actions, even as she guiltily concedes the pleasure she finds in Shaker’s arms is becoming something more than just affection. Is there hope for a happy ending built on so much evil? Or is Debbie doomed to lose her heart as well as her soul to a demon who has only been waiting for the chance to claim both?

Excerpt:

The demon stood, then offered its hand, each finger tipped with a shiny black claw. Debbie took a deep breath, then grasped the proffered limb, the heat now that of normal human flesh. She examined it carefully, looking for the telltale signs of makeup, prosthetics, or other fakery. There were none.

“You’re real,” she said shakily, standing on her own.

“If you are done inspecting me,” the demon uttered, “we can get to business, hopefully.”

“You want my soul,” Debbie stated. “In return for taking care of Paul, I’d gladly give it.”

“Not really,” the demon said in an offhand manner. “I want a favor from you, to be determined later. In exchange, I’ll take care of Paul.”

“How?” Debbie said.

The demon held out his hand again. This time, it held a bottle, the label ornate and handwritten. “There will be a party on New Year’s, or so your friend mentioned. Serve this to them.”

“I don’t want Rebecca hurt,” Debbie replied.

“Paul will be the only one affected,” the demon assured. “I will protect you. Once he is stricken, I’ll take it from there.”

Debbie nodded, then took the proffered bottle. “Agreed. What do I call you?”

“Shaker,” the demon said its smile of shark’s teeth chilling. “Good doing business with you, Deb.”

Behind the Songs: A Good Year Playlist

Even when life, movies, books, or everyday life can’t help me muster up the next plot twist, music never ceases to inspire. There are only a few songs referenced in my novel A Good Year, so I thought I’d share some links for readers who might never have heard them before, and also my reasonings behind using them in my book.

1. Primal Rhythm

At the celebration of demons that Debbie attends with Shaker, they dance to drumming by more demons. While the song itself is not listed, this is the one I had in mind when I penned the scene for its lusty beat.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGrCoIYCUZg

2. Bone Music

On Christmas Debbie and Shaker gather with their friends Sheila, Harp and Song, and are serenaded by Harp. These are the 2 music recordings I was thinking of when I wrote the passage.

Scene: As the party wound down to the wee hours, Harp serenaded them on his harp of bones, playing hauntingly beautiful music. While he and his instrument were at odds with the decorations, Debbie enjoyed his moving music immensely. It had all the longing inside her, all her angst, and all her joy in this night contained in its unearthly

melody. I’m so happy... 

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1-LCnGojnw

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDbNPMJPENo

3. Sympathy for the Devil by Guns and Roses

This song comes on as Debbie arrives at the Pandora New Year’s Eve party.

Scene: The large conference room was decked with black and red ribbons and elaborate banners with silhouettes of demons in red foil on a black border. Scattered braziers burned, sweet incense filling the air. Life-size cardboard statues of various Pandora heroes and villains stood here and there. The nearest one was Jett Black, as Storm of Smoke and Ashes. Debbie looked at him with delight, imagining his skin pressed against hers. Later on, it will be...

“It does look beautiful,” Sheila said. “Who is the band?”

“Some local talent,” Song said nervously. “But they play covers. I picked songs with demon references.”

As if on cue, the band began playing, the lively tones of “Sympathy for the Devil” filling the room.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAgT8FpJbPY

4. Original Sin by Elton John

This song comes on at Pandora’s New Year’s Eve party where Debbie and Shaker are celebrating their year of success, and is the signature song of the book. Shaker and Debbie are playing a dangerous game, as the song states. I also really liked the references to film in the song, such as “In the balcony, all the Romeos are bleeding for your hand, blowing theater kisses, reciting lines they don’t understand.”

Full lyrics: https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tsfkdojwczcfu2kcy6dcp2yc3c4?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-songlyrics

Scene: “...still I hunger for you when you look at me...”

Debbie had a mental flash suddenly of herself, surrounded by guests. She looked up to see Shaker watching her from across the room. He had let her see through his eyes.

“...that face, those eyes, all the sinful pleasures deep inside...”

His blue eyes suddenly flashed red, then faded back to blue as he gave her a sensual smile. Debbie smirked at him. He grinned back happily.

I didn’t know the bond worked both ways, Debbie thought to Shaker. That I could see through your eyes.

I wanted you to see you as I see you, Mistress. You look very beautiful tonight.

Giorgio patted Debbie on the shoulder, breaking her concentration. “This is a great party, Debbie.”

“I had a great team,” Debbie said graciously. “Enjoy yourself tonight.”

As Giorgio walked off, Debbie turned towards the music, trying to make out the words.

“Tell me how you know now

the ways and means of getting in

underneath my skin

Oh, you were always my original sin.”

You were, you know, Debbie thought to Shaker. I never sinned so much in one year...or had so much fun, either. I know there were some bad times, but we really made a great team, even when times were bad. Sometimes it’s hard to believe it was all real and not a dream.

The year’s not over yet, Mistress, he replied. Meet me in your office at five of midnight.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=occgl5Y_d8k